WATERFRONT
UK, 1950, 80 minutes, Black-and-white.
Robert Newton, Kathleen Harrison, Avis Scott, Susan Shaw, Robin Netscher, Richard Burton, Kenneth Griffith, James Hayter, Hattie Jacques.
Directed by Michael Anderson.
This is a little known slice of life, a family in Liverpool after World War I, into the 20s and experiencing the Depression. It was directed by Michael Anderson, his second film, but within a few years he was directing the Dam Busters, 1984 and the Oscar-winning Around the World in 80 Days, continuing his career into the 1990s.
Robert Newton, eyes rolling again, just after Treasure Island and before his further adventures as Long John Silver and Blackbeard the Pirate, is the father, a sailor, absent from home. The ever-reliable Kathleen Harrison is the long-suffering mother. Avis Scott and Susan Shaw of the daughter’s and there is a group of solid British character actors in support.
However, in retrospect, the film is interesting as one of the earliest performances by Richard Burton – who, by 1954 and began to make his mark with The Robe and other films. Kenneth Griffith also appears as one of the daughter’s rather smarmy suitors.
After 14 years, the father returns, his older daughter hostile, discovering that he has a son. He is involved in a barroom brawl and kills his opponent, taken to jail. His wife takes the young boy to meet his father – who accept his fate and is proud to have seen his son.
Brief, an interesting look back into British family life in the earlier years of the 20th century.
1. A small and topical drama from Britain in the 1950s? Looking back over 20 years? Post-World? War I? The depression and its consequences?
2. The local photography, overviews of Liverpool, the waterfront, streets and homes, the ships, the bars, prisons? The musical score – and the opening and closing with Liszt’s Prelude?
3. A family story, hard times, sailors and the absence, lack of financial support, the family managing? The patient, hard-working mother, benign towards her absent husband? The older daughter, reliable, steadfast, working, resenting her absent father? The second daughter, carefree, wanting the high life? The birth of the young boy, his father not knowing, his name after the actor, George Alexander, growing up, playing sport, winning the scholarship?
4. The family surviving, the daughter is working, the boy at college, sport and debating?
5. Nora, responsible, caring for her mother, her work? The visit to the Empire, celebrating George Alexander scholarship? His knocking the man in front? Ben, glancing and Nora, meeting her afterwards? Their being in love, the depression, his losing his job, two years searching for a job, their not marrying?
6. Connie, younger, carefree, her job, going out, the relationship with Maurice Bruno, defying her family, clashing with Nora, his coming to dinner and their preparations, his taking Connie out, the restaurants, the champagne, going to the house, his lascivious behaviour, her saying she knew what was going on, his reaction on the news about her father, never wanting to marry her, her disillusionment?
7. Ben, successful engineer, courting Nora, the depression, not marrying, searching for a job, coming across the news of the murder, hurrying to the ship, asserting himself, getting the job, the trip to Manchester, his return, the wedding?
8. Robert Newton as Peter Mc Cabe, his eye rolling performance? Sailor, absent, leaving again, no contact for 14 years? His return, his being reported, the interview with the Capt, his resigning, going home, clashes with Nora, drinking with the neighbour, the discovery of his son, the family out, going to the bar, his enemies from the ship, the fight, the knife and his killing his opponent, the arrest, going to jail?
9. The police arriving, the news, the effect on the family? The journalist wanting the mother to sell her story to the papers? Connie wanting it? The money?
10. Mother, taking George Alexander, going to the prison, reconciliation, Peter happy to see his son, reciting the Latin with his cap on, his accepting his fate?
11. British slice of life, 1950s style?
