The Informer (1935)

In 1922, an Irish rebel informs on his friend, then feels doom closing in.

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

Dudley Nichols (screen play), Liam O'Flaherty (from the story by)

Stars:

Victor McLaglen, Heather Angel, Preston Foster

Won 4 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Victor McLaglen	...	Gypo Nolan
Heather Angel	...	Mary McPhillip
Preston Foster	...	Dan Gallagher
Margot Grahame	...	Katie Madden
Wallace Ford	...	Frankie McPhillip
Una O'Connor	...	Mrs. McPhillip
J.M. Kerrigan	...	Terry
Joe Sawyer	...	Barty Mulholland (as Joseph Sauers)
Neil Fitzgerald	...	Tommy Connor
Donald Meek	...	Peter Mulligan
D'Arcy Corrigan	...	The Blind Man
Leo McCabe	...	Donahue
Steve Pendleton	...	Dennis Daly (as Gaylord Pendleton)
Francis Ford	...	'Judge' Flynn
May Boley	...	Madame Betty

Storyline

Dublin, 1920. Gypo Nolan, strong but none too bright, has been ousted from the rebel organization and is starving. When he finds that his equally destitute sweetheart Katie has been reduced to prostitution, he succumbs to temptation and betrays his former comrade Frankie to the British authorities for a 20 pound reward. In the course of one gloomy, foggy night, guilt and retribution inexorably close in...

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Plot Keywords:

national film registry | starving | comrades | reward | leitmotif | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jack O'Halloran tried to mount a remake in the 1990ss. He was living in Ireland at the time, and planned to film on location. He had hoped for Robert Mitchum to play Gypo Nolan, but the financing fell through.

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Goofs

After Gypo is shot several times in the chest and lower abdomen, he stumbles around and eventually makes his way into the church. He falls face down in the nave of the church but when he rises, there's no blood on the floor.

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Quotes

Gypo Nolan: [loudly at Frankie's wake] I'm sorry for your trouble, Mrs. McPhillip!
Bartly Mulholland: What are you shoutin' for? Don't you know there's a wake goin' on?

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: 1920 "Then Judas repented himself-and cast down the thirty pieces of silver - and departed."

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Alternate Versions

A VHS version in Argentina was lifted from an original 16mm print, in English with Spanish language subtitles, with the credits replaced with Spanish language translations.

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Connections

Referenced in Mary, Mary (1963)

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Soundtracks

The Irish Washerwoman
(uncredited)
Traditional
Arranged by Max Steiner

User Reviews

After 65 years, this film is still all too timely

This film deals with the Irish rebellion in the 1920s and more specifically one man's life after he informs on a friend for the bounty on his head and the subsequent consequences. Watching the film, I got the feeling that you could take the script and with just some minor updates, do it again and it, sadly, would still fit contemporary events. But te remake wouldn't be nearly as good. A magnificent performance by Victor McLaglen (for which he deservedly got an Oscar) and a fine ensemble cast that includes most, if not all the actors with brogues in Hollywood at the time, most of them recognizable character actors either established at the time or just starting out. A very good film well worth watching. Highly recommended.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 May 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Informer

Box Office

Budget:

$243,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (R C A Victor System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1