I SEE A DARK STRANGER

UK, 1946, 112 minutes, Black and white.
Deborah Kerr, Trevor Howard, Raymond Huntley.
Directed by Frank Launder.

I See a Dark Stranger (also known as The Adventuress) is an entertaining war and spy story. It has its tongue in cheek. The film is from the team of Frank Launder and Sydney Gilliat, prominent writers and directors in Britain in the 40s and 50s whose films range from the entertaining Green for Danger to the St. Trinians comedies. The film has an Irish setting, has some reminiscence of the 1916 troubles, highlights the antagonism of the Irish towards Britain and their sympathies for Germany during the war.

Deborah Kerr portrays a young girl who is filled with the ideals of this tradition, who leaves home for England and who gets caught up in espionage - trying to do the right thing, then fearful of what she has done. She is an intrepid heroine portrayed with touches of humour. Trevor Howard is the British military man who falls in love with her. The film would have been somewhat controversial on its first release in the mid 40s after Britain had won the war, the defeat of Germany - and the ambiguous attitudes towards the Irish.

1. Entertaining adventure? Post war Britain? The atmosphere of Irish and British relationships? Espionage with the light touch and some ironies?

2. Black and white photography, the Isle of Man, Ireland and England? The musical score?

3. The title, Bridie and her attitudes towards war, filled with heroic stories, seeing herself as an adventuress and a patriot?

4. The Irish yarns, Bridie filled with then, her own yarn and story for tradition?

5. The Irish atmosphere, the bar, the talk of 1916, action and death, heroics? The men in the bar, Bridie overhearing, the effect on her and her voiceover commentary?

6. Turning 21, determined to go on the trip, the train? Her contacts with Miller? Irish patriotism? The possibility of becoming involved? David, Baynes, his attentions to her, falling in love?

7. Bridie, the documentation and picking it up, the dangers of the trip, the contacts? Going to see family friends? The leads, the drama, the melodrama? David and his pursuit? Military intelligence?

8. Bridie and the information, the mock village, the invasion and the possible danger for the British? Her torn loyalties? Her burning the book? The rescue by David?

9. The effect of the whole experience on her, questioning of the Irish tradition, the real dangers of World War 2, her sense of responsibility, the love for David? and the irony of Oliver Cromwell Art at the end?

10. David, British, military intelligence, attracted to Bridie, following her, the investigations, saving her?

11. The military, the officials, espionage, the police?

12. The plan for the invasion, the mock village with its advertisements and sign posts? The danger for intelligence?

13. An entertaining blend of the serious and the comic, British 40s style?