The Gentle Gunman (1952)

IRA member Terry modifies his violent views after working undercover in wartime London. When his co-conspirators are arrested, he ensures that his brother Matt escapes back to Ireland. ... See full summary »

Director:

Basil Dearden

Writers:

Roger MacDougall (play), Roger MacDougall (screenplay)

Stars:

John Mills, Dirk Bogarde, Robert Beatty

Cast

Complete credited cast:
John Mills	...	Terence Sullivan
Dirk Bogarde	...	Matt Sullivan
Robert Beatty	...	Shinto
Elizabeth Sellars	...	Maureen Fagan
Barbara Mullen	...	Molly Fagan
Eddie Byrne	...	Flynn
Joseph Tomelty	...	Dr Brannigan
Liam Redmond	...	Connolly
James Kenney	...	Johnny Fagan
Michael Golden	...	Murphy
Jack MacGowran	...	Patsy McGuire (as Jack McGowran)
Gilbert Harding	...	Henry Truethome

Storyline

IRA member Terry modifies his violent views after working undercover in wartime London. When his co-conspirators are arrested, he ensures that his brother Matt escapes back to Ireland. Terry follows and the local group have to decide what to do about him and about their imprisoned colleagues being shipped to Belfast.

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Plot Keywords:

ealing | based on play

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Taglines:

They Branded Him a Coward...and paid in full for their mistake.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 October 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bombe im U-Bahn-Schacht

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Michael Balcon Productions, Ealing Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Edward Byrne, Michael Golden, and E.J Kennedy had also featured in a 1950 TV play in different roles.

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Soundtracks

"Moonshiner"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Arranged by Delia Murphy

User Reviews

Grumpy Gilbert Harding Acting!!

I could only rate this 5/10 mainly because of the atrocious casting.I do not accept Ealing Films could not cast this film in 1952 with more authentic Irish actors in the principal roles.Consider they casted these leads:John Mills, Dirk Bogarde (English) wobbly accents, Robert Beatty (Canadian) wobbly accent, Elizabeth Sellars (Scottish) wobbly accent.Ironically Eddie Byrne whom I always thought as Irish was actually born in Birmingham, England and Barbara Mullen was actually born in Massachusets, USA.A real mixed bag of actors and accents which completely destroyed the believability of this film for me.I suppose their drama academies had not taught them authentic Irish accents and had dredged every vernacular out of them in their quest for received pronunciation.

The part of "The Gentle Gunman" I enjoyed most were the verbal duels of Gilbert Harding ("What's My Line 1950s BBC TV version;Face to Face with John Freeman) with the actor who played old doctor O'Loughlin (from "A Night To Remember" 1958) and a Mrs Doyle (Father Ted) type woman operating the telephone exchange at an Irish post office.Film producers have an awful tendency to romanticise IRA type figures in films.