ON THE NIGHT OF THE FIRE
UK, 1939, 80 minutes, Black-and-white.
Ralph Richardson, Diana Wynyard, Romney Brent, Mary Clare, Henry Oscar, Frederick Leister, Sara Allgood, Glynis Johns, Irene Handl.
Directed by Brian Desmond Hurst.
An unusual title – and considered too obscure for the American market as the film title being changed to The Fugitive.
The setting is the city of Newcastle, with some local photography, in 1939, a story set among the working class, the streets, homes, shops, the barbers, police precincts.
The story is one of guilt and its consequences – a barber, a rather sombre character played by Ralph Richardson, takes the opportunity to steal money, try to cover his tracks against police clues, and being pressurised by the police following and observing him. The money is used to pay his wife’s debts and the local lender decides to blackmail the barber. There is a fire in the neighbourhood and, on the night of the fire, confrontation between the barber and the lender, with the barber killing him.
One of the features of interest is the role of the local people, gossiping, passing on hints, drawing conclusions, ultimately confronting the police whom they say are not protecting them.
The wife is played by Diana Wynyard, affecting the Newcastle accent for her usual ladylike style. Mexican actor, Romney Brent, plays a crucial role at the end, attempting to help the barber escape. Mary Clare has a rather hysteric role as a mad woman who has seen the crime. Henry Oscar, always effectively sinister, is the lender. Included in the cast are Sara Allgood as a cleaning lady and a glimpse of Glynis Johns as a maid.
Direction is by Brian Desmond Hurst whowais to make a number of very popular British films during the 1950s.
1. A British crime drama of the late 1930s?
2. The Newcastle setting, actual location photography, studio sets for the barbershop, homes, the bars? The musical score?
3. The working class atmosphere, the streets, shops, hotels and bars, the people?
4. The introduction to Will Kobling, in the street, looking in the window, taking the money? His work as a barber, his cold manner, customers, the young boy helping? His relationship with his wife, the daughter? Going about his business? The information about the button, the clue for the police about the robbery? Asking his wife to sew the button, her realising the truth, going to buy buttons from Pillager? Her debt to him because of the dresses and keeping up with her sister? Her telling her husband? Finding the money, giving it to pillage?
5. Kit, her sister, her husband, the successful boxer, their lifestyle, their visits? Will and his antagonism? Kit later visiting her sister, taking refuge with her? Telling the truth? The sister telling her husband? The sister feeling they should have done more financially with their wealth?
6. Will, the customers, becoming fewer? The police watching him? The night of the fire, his going to Pillager, Pillager’s visit, blackmail, the attack, strangling him? Will covering of the truth, saying he went to the fire?
7. The people, rumours, gossip, repeating stories, the people in the bar, on the streets? Village mentality, the £200 reward? Speeches, smashing the barbershop windows? The antagonism towards the police not protecting the people? Not arresting the criminal?
8. The fire, the special effects, in the town, the police, the brigade? People gossiping about the fire?
9. Crazy Lizzie, her screams, distributing the pamphlets? People in the bar reacting to her? Her landlady? Talking to Jimsy Jones? Her realising she had seen Will on the night of the fire? Her fears, not wanting the money, carrying on? The women getting the information from her?
10. Kit being sent away, Will by himself, the chief of the police, agreeing for the young officer to have surveillance, the police on the corners, Will and his being hemmed in? The encounter with Jimsy Jones? Their haircut and shave, going to the attic, the plan for the boat? The issue of the money?
11. Getting the lady to come to do the cleaning, her finding the gun? Her gossiping?
12. The finale, Will and seeing the police, his final decision, walking towards the police, their gathering, with the gun, his being shot?
