DAYBREAK

UK, 1946, 81 minutes, Black and white.
Ann Todd, Eric Portman, Maxwell Reed, Edward Rigby, Bill Owen, Jane Hylton, Maurice Denham
Directed by Compton Bennett.

Daybreak is a brief British melodrama from the mid-'40s. It was written by Sydney and Muriel Box and directed by Compton Bennett (The Seventh Veil, King Solomon's Mines). It is a melodrama about a hangman who has a double identity as a barber, as the heir to a barge company on the Thames. He meets a wandering girl, Frankie, marries her and takes her to the barge. In the meantime he still functions as the executioner. Eric Portman is the hangman. Ann Todd is the woman. Maxwell Reed also appears as a Danish sailor to whom she is attracted. He precipitates the crisis of the film and the extremely sombre ending. Edward Rigby is in support as the elderly bargeman. Maurice Denham can be glimpsed at the end as an inspector. A very serious piece of film writing - especially for entertainment in the mid-'40s.

1. Impact of the film? In its time? Now? Human drama and issues?

2. Black and white photography, British locations, the river? Prison? The musical score?

3. The title and its ironies, executions at daybreak, Eddie and the disasters that he experienced at daybreak?

4. Themes of responsibility, capital punishment, crime, guilt and innocence, identity, relationships?

5. The structure of the film: Olaf to be executed, Eddie as executioner? His inability to perform the execution? The puzzle for Olaf? His breaking down and telling his story?

6. Eddie and his work as executioner, efficient? As barber and his separate identity? His inheritance, proving his identity? Bill and his support? The chance encounter with Frankie, taking her home, his love for her? Life on the barge and his good management? His still going on the executions, keeping it a secret from Frankie? Going to the barber shop, his friend there? His not being suspicious of Olaf? The delayed execution, his return home, the confrontation between Frankie and Olaf and himself? The fight and his falling overboard? Surviving? At the barber shop? The discovery of Frankie's killing herself? Olaf being condemned? His being the executioner? Crisis of conscience?

7. Frankie, the wanderer, friendship with Eddie in the pub? Going with him, setting up house, her enjoying her life? The attraction of Olaf, her fears, being left alone? The friends and the card nights, Eddie's phone calls? Going dancing? Olaf and his continued attentions? Her asking Bill to stay? The confrontation, Eddie's death, the police interrogation, her blaming herself, killing herself?

8. Olaf, the Dane, working on the barges? Self-assurance, attraction to Frankie, pursuing her, the dances, the romance, at the barge? The fight with Eddie, condemned to death?

9. The barber shop and its style, barbers and customers? The barge and the life on the river, Bill, the pubs? The sailors?

10. Authentic atmosphere - but grim entertainment?