THE BRYLCREEM BOYS
UK, 1996, 107 minutes, Colour.
Bill Campbell, William Mc Namara, Angus Mc Fadyen, John Gordon Sinclair, Oliver Tobias, Gene Butler, Joe Mc Gann, Gabriel Byrne.
Directed by Terence Ryan.
The Brylcreem Boys is an unusual film for the 1990s – it takes up themes very popular in the 1950s in the aftermath of World War Two, especially prisoner-of-war camps and possible escapes.
This film is rather different, it focuses on an RAF pilot who is shot down at the same time as a Luftwaffe pilot who has been gunning for him. They land in Ireland? Because the country is neutral, both pilots are interned in the same prisoner-of-war camp. Gabriel Byrne is the commander of the camp, a more lenient camp than we are used to in the movies. It includes having day passes out – although, if they try to escape, they will be sent back to Ireland by their governments. The RAF pilot is a Canadian (Bill Campbell) and the German pilot is played by Scots Angus Mc Fadyen. However, of course, they both fall in love with the same girl, fight over her in a pub, are both put in jail. There, believe it or not, they resolve their differences. Miles is the winner in the love stakes.
Another prisoner is returned, Sam Gunn, played by William Mc Namara. He talks about the difficulties of the war, especially in Britain after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. There is a breakout with the Canadian saving the German from a burning building. There is information at the end that most of the escapees were recaptured but the Canadian did get to England but died in battle.
The film attempts a re-creation of the period, some humour in the camp as well as some serious themes as well as the romance.
1.A film of the 1990s? Reminiscent of the films of the 1950s?
2.The Irish setting. The 1940s, the prisoner-of-war camp, the town, the local farms? The musical score and the songs from the period?
3.The plot twist: the RAF pilot, the Luftwaffe pilot, their fighting each other, shooting each other down? Landing in Ireland? Both in the same camp?
4.Miles Keogh, the Canadian, fighting for the RAF? His personality, style? His interactions with Rudolf von Stegenbek? The contrast between the Canadian and German styles? The day passes? Falling in love with Matty, meeting Matty, the fight with von Stegenbek? Miles and his apology to Matty, their night together?
5.Von Stegenbek, the German style, in the prisoner-of-war camp, his personality, meeting with Matty, falling in love? The fight at the pub, the jail sentence? Their discussions in jail, finding their common humanity? Von Stegenbek and the escape, Keogh saving his life?
6.Matty, working the farm, the Irish girl? Singing? The attraction for both men? Their fight? Her reaction? Miles’s visit, love?
7.Commandant O’ Brien, in charge, benign authority, his assistant? With the men, the rules? His final comments about the recapture?
8.Sam Gunn, in the camp, his escape, returned? News from the outside? Post- Pearl Harbor? The war effort in the UK? His influence on the Allied soldiers, their resolving to escape? The breakout?
9.The blends of humour and the serious? A memoir of the 40s, the war and the camps?
