Private Potter (1962)

A military mission is interrupted when a soldier claims that God had appeared to him in a transcendental vision.

Director:

Caspar Wrede

Writers:

Ronald Harwood, Caspar Wrede

Stars:

Tom Courtenay, Mogens Wieth, Ronald Fraser

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Tom Courtenay	...	Pvt. Potter
Mogens Wieth	...	Yannis
Ronald Fraser	...	Doctor
James Maxwell	...	Lt. Col. Harry Gunyon
Ralph Michael	...	Padre
Brewster Mason	...	Brigadier
Eric Thompson	...	Capt. John Knowles
John Graham	...	Maj. Sims
Frank Finlay	...	Capt. Patterson
Harry Landis	...	LCpl. Lamb
Michael Coles	...	Pvt. Robertson
Jeremy Geidt	...	Maj. Reid

Storyline

While serving in Cyprus with the British Army, Pvt. Potter and the rest of his platoon is assigned to a night patrol with the intention of capturing a rebel leader. The mission is ruined when Potter screams loudly and gives their position away. His superiors are intent on making an example of him and Potter is brought up on charges. His defense is that the reason he shouted out is that he saw God. His commanders are thrown for something of a loop. The Medical Officer can find nothing wrong with him but the padre believes Potter has undergone some type of religious revelation. The commanding officer, Lt. Col. Harry Gunyon, wishes he could make it all go away but it's too late for that with the papers already having been sent up to Brigade. There is little doubt however that Potter is having an effect on all of those around him.

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Plot Keywords:

soldier | cowardice | bicycle | religion | british army

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Frank Finlay.

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Connections

Featured in Casper och den förbjudna filmen (2009)

User Reviews

Poor...

I really didn't understand what this movie was trying to say, and why - even at only 90-ish minutes - it took so long to say it (or not say it, if you see what I mean). Only Tom Courtenay, in one of the few roles that ever really suited his glum and reserved screen persona, sparks any kind of interest in what, potentially, could have been a powerful and incisive movie.

Unfortunately, the first ten minutes of the film, which shows the events during a mission that is crucial to the plot, are marred by night-time photography that is so dark it's virtually impossible to figure out what is going on. I almost gave up watching because of this, and have to say that, while it is worth sticking with the movie through this confusing intro, it's only just worth it.

The film's thin plot concerns the alleged cowardice of a young private during a WWII night mission, which eventually leads to the death of a comrade. The private's claim that he cried out during the mission because he saw a vision of God causes all manner of consternation and conflict amongst his commanding officers, and sets the strict military code against religious dogma as they struggle to decide what to do with him.

Courtenay's military superiors are too often portrayed as either asses of the 'blithering' and pompous kind, or stiff-upper-lipped gentlemen who feel inclined to throw the book at the weak and withdrawn Potter, but who are prevented from doing so by conscience and doubt. It's all a bit like an episode of 'Blackadder Goes Forth' played straight at times. Unfortunately, there's no equivalent of Baldrick to lighten up the proceedings.

Having introduced the moral dilemmas relatively swiftly, the film then proceeds to ramble interminably until it just kind of peters out at the end

• its conclusion is especially unsatisfactory. All in all, a

disappointing effort.