BOYS IN BROWN

UK, 1949, 85 minutes, Black-and-white.

Jack Warner, Richard Attenborough, Dirk Bogarde, Jimmy Hanley, Barbara Murray, Patrick Holt, Andrew Crawford, Thora Hird, Michael Medwin, Alfie Bass, Cyril Chamberlain.

Directed by Montgomery Tully.

Boys in Brown refers to the institution of the Borstal, not exactly a prison, but centres where boys and young men who have committed criminal offences are housed with the hope for rehabilitation and programs to assist this.

This is very much a film of the late 1940s, the post-war period, brief, in black and white, seasoned stars like Jack Warner (later with The Blue Lamp and his several hundred episodes of Dixon of Dock Green), Thora Hird, as well as up-and-coming actors like Richard Attenborough, Dirk Bogarde, Jimmy Hanley, Alfie Bass.

The focus here is on the character played by Richard Attenborough, a failed getaway attempt after a robbery, his going to the Borstal, trying to obey but entangled with some of those who are recalcitrant, wanting to escape. The most sinister is played by Dirk Bogarde, rather Machiavellian, something of a Iago and his sinister advice to Richard Attenborough and to bring him down.

There are emotional tangles, someone released (Jimmy Hanley) who visits the family, has a photo of the girlfriend (Barbara Murray) which Dirk Bogarde’s Iago uses to mislead Attenborough and to involve him in the escape. It comes to something of a melodramatic head with the escape and an attack on one of the staff.

This was an original play by actor in so many British films, Reginald Beckwith. Montgomery Tully was a director of this kind of film from the 40s to the 60s.

1. Title? Criminal offences, the Borstal situation, prison/rehabilitation, the role of the authorities, the programs? Written in the 1940s?
2. British film of the 1940s, the cast and their careers, Jack Warner and his status, black-and-white photography, issues? Social concern?
3. The focus on Jackie, his background, easily led, his relationship with his mother, getaway driver, failure of the car, his being chased, arrested, the sentence, Borstal? Richard Attenborough and his performance on screen presence? His intention to serve at the time? The group, entering, the speeches, the Gov and his support? The mixed reaction of the group? Encounter with Alfie and his influence?
4. Life of the Borstal, work, interactions, friendships, antipathy is? Theatre, rehearsals, Alfie and his performance? Labour?
5. The group, planning the escape, Jackie not wanting to be part, their pressure on him, Alfie and his Machiavellian manipulation of Jackie?
6. Jackie, the background, the friendship with Kitty, the photos, her visit? Jackie’s mother and his allowing her to come?
7. Bill, serving his time, his background, intentions, leaving, the Borstal is part of the record, difficulty in getting a job, being targeted? Meeting Kitty, the attraction, the dance? Bill being caught up, the return, the photo with Kitty, Alfie and his manipulation, Jack and his motivations, forced to join the group?
8. The plan, the escape, the confrontation with the member of staff, the violence, Jackie and his reaction, the man taken to hospital, the escape, everybody captured?
9. The meeting with the governor and the authorities, his reaction, speeches, the recalcitrant Casey, Alfie being exposed, Jackie and his revolution to finish his sentence?