THE LONG MEMORY
UK, 1952, 96 minutes, Black and white.
John Mills, John Mc Callum, Elizabeth Sellars, Geoffrey Keen.
Directed by Robert Hamer.
The Long Memory is an old-style English melodrama - but with strong characterisation and contrivance it keeps the interest. Co-written and directed by Robert Hamer, the film focuses on the grim reality of a man released from prison after twelve years for a crime that he did not commit. Bitter and full of vengeance he seeks out those responsible. By irony, his girlfriend is now married to the Detective Inspector of the case. The film, shot in black and white with atmospheric settings on the Thames Estuary, focuses on a range of characters including a post-war migrant, a ingratiating if inquisitive newspaper man, criminals, landladies, chauffeurs etc. What the film lacks in probability, it makes up for in acting strength.
1. Interest and impact of this kind of British thriller? of the '50s? An older style? Continued interest in subsequent decades?
2. Black and white photography, atmosphere of London, the Thames Estuary and the river, the barges, the isolation? The editing for pace? Musical score?
3. The film as a John Mills vehicle of the early '50s? His personality, strength of character? His taking an offbeat role? The presentation of characters, happiness, crime, accidents, bitterness? Court cases? The vendetta by Davidson and the range of characters that he encountered? The gallery of character acting?
4. How contrived was the plot? The relationship between Davidson and Fay, her father and his shady dealings, the crime and violence? Davidson being framed? The court case and his imprisonment? His strong motivation after so many years? His relentless tracking down of people? The confrontations? The softening by the encounter with the migrant girl? The violent confrontation and Davidson running for his life? The final chase? The relationship between Fay and Lowther? truth? John Mills' style as Davidson: his being released from prison and his bitterness, audiences being curious about his past? Age, the injustice of his imprisonment. his model behaviour wet vengeance gnawing at him? His taking the barge on the Estuary? The encounter with the locals? The inquiry in the hotel and the support of people? The visit by Craig and newspaper interest? The insertion of flashbacks to an ordinary life, love for Fay, the dealings with her father, proposal, Boyd and his deals, the violence and his being framed? The experience of the court case and the lies and perjury?
5. His encounter with Elsa and her place on the barge, her softening his attitudes? The tracking down of the various connections? their fears, their situations after twelve years? escaping from him. his relentless going into the cities, visiting the homes? The deals and double deals and fears? The encounter with Fay, her son and the irony of her being married to Lowther? The gradual tracking down of Boyd and the confrontation? The bodyguards and the pursuit on the wharf? His being shot? The encounter on the beach? the friendship with the lonely man on the Estuary and his saving his life by shooting the killer? A man alone, but involved with so many people?
6. Fay and her relationship with her father, love for Davidson? The credibility of her perjury? Her anguish? Her later explanation that gradually she forgot? Marriage to Lowther? Her situation in life? her son? Davidson coming to her house? The encounter with the boy, the confrontation? Her concealing the truth from her husband? Her telling the truth at the end?
7. Lowther and his investigation of the crime, his pursuit of Davidson and the contacts after he left the prison, the variety of detectives stalking him, their contacts? Lowther and his encounters with Craig and criticism of the reporters? The final confrontation with Davidson?
8. Boyd and his deals, Fay's father, his perjury and death? Their fears? Boyd escaping and setting himself up in business? Success? Fay's visit to him and wanting the money to escape from England, her farewell note, her husband getting her? Davidson confronting Boyd? His bodyguards?
9. The range of characters? the men who gave false testimony against Davidson and his later tracking them down? Their families, wives, landladies? The detail of characters?
10. Craig and the responsibility of the newspapers, their keeping an eye on criminals and looking for stories?
11. The people in the hotel and their support, giving Davidson clues? Elsa and her gratitude for Davidson's saving her from the attackers? Falling in love with him, her moderating his vengeance?
12. The title? Justice and injustice? The burden on a man falsely imprisoned? The bitterness of his spirit? The anticipation of vengeance? The emptiness of vengeance and violence?
