THE GREEN MAN
UK, 1956, 80 minutes, Black and white.
Alastair Sin, George Cole, Jill Adams, Terry- Thomas, Avril Angers, Dora Bryan, Colin Gordon, Raymond Huntley.
Directed by Robert Day.
The Green Man is a brief, entertaining Alastair Sim comedy from the mid '50s. During the '50s Sim had emerged as an excellent comedian in such films as The Happiest Days of Your Life, The Belles of St. Trinians. Here he has the opportunity to be an eccentric assassin who covers his tracks as a clockmaker. George Cole is the bumbling romantic lead, Terry- Thomas appears late in the film as his usual eccentric gentleman. There is an interesting supporting cast of British character actors. The film was written by Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat, veterans of British thrillers and comedy from the '30s (The Lady Vanishes).
There is a deal of satire, especially on English politicians - The Green Man is an inn of lesser repute where couples go and sign themselves as Mr and Mrs Smith. The film begins quite inventively though it tends to run out of steam and the ending is rather lame. Nevertheless, it is enjoyable British comedy.
1. An entertaining black comedy? Comic characters and situations? Satire?
2. Black and white photography, English character acting style? The opening with the collage of Hawkins' career? The comedy with the various assassinations? The comedy and pace with the farce touch for the murders and Hawkins stalking Sir Gregory Upshott? The musical score?
3. The title and the reference to the hotel? The irony in the politician going for the weekend to The Green Man? The tawdry aspects of the hotel? The farcical culmination in The Green Man?
4. Alastair Sim's comic style and presence? His voiceover commentary on his career? The quick outline of his school career and the death of the teacher, his setting out on the road of assassinations (with a respite during the war while others were doing it better)? The comedy of his various disguises and the skill in his killings? The encounter with Sir Gregory Upshott and his plans to kill him? The amoral tone of the story? Hawkins and his infatuation with Marigold, pumping her for the information, her discovery of the truth, his luring her to the house, the attempted murder and its failure? His playing chess with the policeman? His bumbling offsider making mistakes? Blake's visit and the confusion from the house next door? Hawkins ringing the police and cutting the phone? Building the bomb, putting it in the radio?, His going to The Green Man, his flirting with the three ladies playing the music, the almost successful attempt, his escape, the crash into,, his accomplice's car, being taken by the police? Sim's facial expressions, voice, one-liners? The enjoyment of watching his comic skill?
5. George Cole as William Blake, demonstrating the vacuum cleaners, coming to the wrong house, his encounter with Anne, Reginald and his reappearances and suspicions, their suspicious behaviour? The discovery of the body, the help of Hawkins, Marigold's recovery, the doctor's visit, the discovery of The Green Man, their frantic attempts, the hotelkeeper's chasing them, their implication, Reginald and his intrusions, disappointment, reading his poems over the BBC and the happy ending for a romantic couple?
6. Sir Gregory Upshott and his arrogance, his speech, going for a weekend rendezvous, his secretary and her nervousness, questions about signing the book, his vanity in listening to himself on the radio, his almost being killed? The satire on British politicians? Marigold and her devotion - and it almost killing her?
7. Terry- Thomas and his being identified as the politician, his flirting with the maid, his seeming to be discovered, his anxiety - and Terry- Thomas style comedy?
8. The gallery of minor characters from Richard Wattis's doctor to Dora Bryan's assistant at the hotel? British comedies and their reliance on such characters?
9. Themes of honesty, integrity, career, and the black comedy about assassinations? How effective?
