'The Green Man (1956)' is interesting because its initial protagonist is a straight-up villain, an assassin who uses bespoke bombs to eliminate his targets. The picture eventually introduces a would-be vacuum salesman to act as his foil, but even then it's arguable that this do-gooder is actually the antagonist since he stands in the way of the killer's goal. The film is a dark comedy of errors that goes to some unexpected places and maintains a persistent pace across its relatively short runtime. Adapted from a play that was shut down due to World War II, the flick finds most of its success in the witty banter between its ever-so-slightly wacky characters. Alistair Sim's sinister bomber is a delightfully devilish character, capable of switching on the charm when needed but often dropping his friendly facade in favour of a cold and calculating demeanour. It's a great performance, actually. The other actors all do well with the high-energy material, which ratchets up the tension by including a number of frustrating misunderstandings as it makes its way towards its explosive finish. It isn't hilarious but it's often humorous. It also moves at a clip and keeps things fresh. It has a few flaws and is only ever so compelling, but it's a solid slice of cinema that should put a smile on your face more than once.
Review of The Green Man
