THE INTRUDER
UK, 1954, 84 minutes, Black and white.
Jack Hawkins, Hugh Williams, Michael Medwin, George Cole, Dennis Price, Duncan Lamont, George Baker.
Directed by Guy Hamilton.
A short and interesting British drama of the early fifties. Though brief, it attempts to be an allegory of post war Britain. The original novel, Line On Ginger, was written by Robin Maugham, son of W. Somerset Maugham. He co-wrote the script. Direction in by Guy Hamilton, one of several British directors like Lewis Gilbert and John Guillermin, who began with small budget British films in the fifties. moved to bigger budgets in the sixties and made a number of spectacular films in the sixties and seventies. Hamilton was responsible for several of the James Bond films. The film has two plot lines: an ex-officer surprising one of his men as a burglar in the years after the war and trying to trace him through contacts with men in the unit as well as the flashbacks of the war experience. The screenplay is rather contrived an it moves from character to character and illustrates him in the present and in the past. However. there is a good British cast and the film is held together well by Jack Hawkins.
1. An interesting drama, British portrait of the post war years? A study of characters? Themes of war and rehabilitation after the war? The impact in Britain in the fifties? Parallels with other wars? Impact now?
2. Black and white photography, British style? The impact of the war sequences, the contemporary sequences? The musical score?
3. The importance of the structure, the two plots and the simultaneous development of each? The contrast of the characters in peace time and in war? The build-up to the climax and Merton's choices? Edward's choices?
4. Jack Hawkin's presence as Morton? The introduction to him playing golf, seeing the tanks? Surprising Edwards in his home and his reaction? His decision to search for him? His motives? The encounters with each of the men and his memories of them? His final tracing of Edwards? His decision to help him? The effect on Edwards in giving himself up? The portrait of an important man in war, a decent gentleman after war?
5. The picture of Edwards? seeing him intruding into Morton's home? The contrast with his bravery, comradeship during the war? Running with Somers to the tank to send the message? The encounter with Perry and his saving the wounded man? The jokes with Slake and the girl? His returning home and the encounter with his brutal uncle and the death of his brother, Tina and her new boy friend? The cumulative effect and his being imprisoned for manslaughter? His escape? Reliance on Somers and hiding, his hiding in the house and Morton's finding him? His desperation at the end? His reasons for giving himself up and saying Merton and the others? The possibility of a future with the support of a man like Merton?
6. The sketch of Somers? his work after the war and helping Edwards, the friendship and the heroism with Edwards and the tank, the story of his being made an officer and his embarrassment at the long story and manners at the officers' mess. his fooling out of place, drinking with Ginger, the rebuke by Merton but Merton's insisting that he be an officer? The film's comment on British gentlemen, British soldiery, the differences?
7. The sketch of Perry and his arrogance after the war, calling the police, antipathy towards Merton? His presence at the mess table and his attitudes towards Somers, reporting him to Morton? His abandoning the tank, his watching the others rescue the wounded man, his arm being wounded and his hysterical laughter? The film's condemnatory attitude towards him and his class?
8. Blake and his headmastership, the classes, the humour of his appeal, the encounter with Dora in the tank, his embarrassment with the photo? His marriage and the admiration of the boys getting Morton's autograph and the comments about Blake's photo?
9. The friend who hid Edwards in his house, the daughter giving the information away? The encounter with the police? His being saved by Edwards giving himself up?
10. The war sequences and their impact? Heroism under fire, the ordinary solider? Cowardice, heroism? snobbery, duty? Command? Irresponsibility’s of war? The impact of war on men returning? Settling back into civilian lift?
11. Friendships and their support? Friendships and the law?
12. A final optimistic view of people's ability to change and work for the better?
