THE OCTOBER MAN
UK, 1947, 91 minutes, Black-and-white.
John Mills, Joan Greenwood, Edward Chapman, Kay Walsh, Joyce Carey, Catherine Lacey, Felix Aylmer, Frederick Piper, Patrick Holt., James Hayter.
Directed by Roy Baker.
The October Man has fine credential thrillers, written and produced by Eric Ambler, writer of novels as well as scenarios of many films in the 1950s like The Cruel Sea.
There is a pleasant opening with John Mills entertaining a little girl on the bus – but then the bus crashes with the girl being killed and Mills having to spend a long time recovering his physical and mental health. His doctor is played by Felix Aylmer. He is allowed out from the hospital and takes up a job in engineering, working with a friend, Patrick Holt, and is introduced to his sister, Joan Greenwood.
He has accommodation at a boarding house managed by Catherine Lacey. Amongst the guests are a caustic woman, Joyce Carey, a young woman who is a model and is having an affair with a married man from Birmingham, Kay Walsh, a reticent businessman who seemed to be jealous of the young model, Edward Chapman.
When the young woman is murdered on the common, Jim Ackland (Mills) is suspect, the police blaming his mental history. He himself wonders whether he murdered the woman and cannot remember. He starts in investigations himself, supported by Jenny (Joan Greenwood), a frantic drive to Paddington Station and a search for left luggage there because the murderer is planning to leave the country.
Jim Ackland has had suicidal thoughts, with several sequences showing him looking over a railway bridge caught up in the smoke – and this he returns to but decides not to kill himself, is rescued by Jenny and the truth is revealed.
Roy Ward Baker made a number of dramas in Britain the 1940s and 50s and some in Hollywood, including Don’t Bother to Knock with and Bancroft and Marilyn Monroe.
1. A British murder mystery? Detection? Issues of mental illness?
2. The British settings, the mid 1940s, the bus and the crash, the asylum and treatment, the doctor’s office, London, the boarding house and the interiors, the Common, the workplace in the laboratory, homes and flats, the railway lines? Atmosphere? Musical score?
3. The title, Molly and her identifying people, astrology, the months, characteristics? Jim as October, Molly as June?
4. The atmosphere of the opening, Jim and the little girl, the handkerchief and making the ragdoll? The crash and is trying to protect her? His own injuries, the long time in recuperation, therapy, the role of the doctor and his advice, Jim and his suicidal tendencies, blaming himself for the little girl’s death?
5. Jim returning to work, in the factory, the friendship with Harry and the collaboration? Going out to the company dance, meeting Jenny, the immediate attraction, dancing, talking, the dates, every night, the bond between them?
6. The boarding house? Miss Selby, her welcoming? The old lady always wanting more: the fire? The room, the dining room, the group playing bridge and Jim reluctant? Mrs Vinton, the cards, her caustic observations, critical, self-centred? The others at the table? Mr Pope and his presence? The presence of Mr Peachey? His reputation, businessman, keeping to himself? Molly, her modelling, genial, behind in her rent, the clashes with Mr Peachey? Friendly with Jim? Giving him the kiss to annoy Peachey? Calling him darling? The later borrowing the £30?
7. Jim, the burdens of the past, the suicidal thoughts, standing on the railway bridge, the smoke? The culmination of the story with his standing, the train coming, the smoke, Jenny calling to rescue him, his not falling to his death?
8. Jim walking on the Common, Molly and her posting the letter on a Sunday, her being attacked, strangled? The Chronicle cheque beside her?
9. The police, the investigations, the interviews? All the people at the boarding house? Mrs Vinton and her mother’s, listening to Mr Peachey, repeating his observations to the police? Mr Pope by contrast and his friendliness? Miss Selby?
10. The police getting Jim’s background, his own fears that he did the murder without remembering? His denials? Jenny and her continued support? Harriet and his being wary, protecting Jenny – and is later apologies?
11. The evidence against Jim, no alibi, the cheque, the police inspector being particularly hard, his theory about Jim’s mental illness, the records?
12. Jim, confronting Mrs Vinton, her being upset, his getting the evidence about Mr Peachey? Confronting him in his room, Peachey confessing, threatening, leaving?
13. Molly, her relationship with a married man, his alibi, his coming to London, searching the room, hitting Jim? Jim going to the hotel, confront him?
14. Jim and Jenny, their concern, try to track down Peachey? His story about going to class go and his bookings? Discovering the airline ticket? The tension with going to London, tracking the train, the taxi driver mechanic, Jim and his talking with the porters, the tip, going to the luggage, getting the information? The police being trapped off, his being pursued?
15. Jenny, the information, the police making phone calls, trapping Peachey with his correct name, delaying him, his arrest?
16. Jim, in despair, on the railway bridge, not jumping, Jenny rescuing him – and a hopeful future?
