I See a Dark Stranger (1946)

A young Irish woman hates England so much she becomes a Nazi spy.

Director:

Frank Launder

Writers:

Frank Launder (by), Sidney Gilliat (by)

Stars:

Deborah Kerr, Trevor Howard, Raymond Huntley

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William G. O'Gorman	...	Danny Quilty (as W. O'Gorman)
Harry Webster	...	Uncle Joe
Liam Redmond	...	Uncle Timothy
Deborah Kerr	...	Bridie Quilty
Kathleen Murphy	...	First Irishwoman
Josephine Fitzgerald	...	Second Irishwoman
Eddie Golden	...	Terence Delaney
Marie Ault	...	Mrs. O'Mara
Raymond Huntley	...	J. Miller
Tony Quinn	...	Galley Guide
Brefni O'Rorke	...	Michael O'Callaghan
John Salew	...	Man in Bookshop
James Harcourt	...	Grandfather
Olga Lindo	...	Mrs. Edwards
Trevor Howard	...	David Baynes

Storyline

Determined, independent Bridie Quilty comes of age in 1944 Ireland thinking all Englishmen are devils. Her desire to join the IRA meets no encouragement, but a German spy finds her easy to recruit. We next find her working in a pub near a British military prison, using her sex appeal in the service of the enemy. But chance puts a really vital secret into her hands, leading to a chase involving Bridie, a British officer who's fallen for her, a German agent unknown to them both, and the police...paralleled by Bridie's own internal conflicts.

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Plot Keywords:

woman | 

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Taglines:

She is the Prey...

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

First of nine films from Individual Productions, formed in 1945 by Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat.

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Goofs

In Devon in June 1944, sunset would be after 10 pm (Double Summer Time), and indeed when the clock strikes 9 and Bridie suddenly ends her date with David we see them moving against a daytime sky. Yet in the prisoner scene occurring simultaneously, it's fully dark.

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Quotes

Bridie Quilty: Will there be anything else you require, please? It's me half-day.
Lt. David Baynes: No, I don't think so, thank you.
Bridie Quilty: Thank you.
Lt. David Baynes: Oh, I suppose you wouldn't know anyone who could show me around the town this afternoon, by any chance?
Bridie Quilty: I would not.
Lt. David Baynes: No, I... I only wondered.
Bridie Quilty: You're awful quick, aren't you?
Lt. David Baynes: Sorry. I've been working very closely with the American Army.

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Connections

Referenced in Enigma (2001)

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Soundtracks

Kelly the Boy from Killane
Irish folk song
Sung by the men in the pub

User Reviews

Comedy/ Drama

Enjoyed seeing how young Deborah Kerr appeared in this picture at the age of twenty-four years. Deborah plays the role as Birdie Quilty who works in her families pub in England and heard all kinds of stories told by people who visited the pub about how Ireland fought against the British years ago and she starts to form a hated toward the English Government. Birdie becomes of age and wants to go to Dublin, Ireland to live and work and she meets up with some very strange people who have listened to Birdie talk about England and they decide to utilize her hatred towards the British Nation for their own benefits. Birdie finds herself in some very difficult situations until she meets up with a British Lt. David Baynes, (Trevor Howard) who seems to fall madly in love with Birdie at first seeing her and on other dates, it becomes serious. However, Birdie has so many dark secrets that she does not want to show any affections towards David and this still does not stop David from following her from one country to another. This is a very great film with plenty of funny moments and at other times can be very dark and mysterious. Enjoy.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English French

Release Date:

5 August 1946 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Adventuress

Filming Locations:

County Wexford, Ireland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Individual Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1