THE SCARLET THREAD
UK, 1951, 85 minutes, Black and white.
Kathleen Byron, Laurence Harvey, Sydney Tafler, Arthur Hill, Dora Bryan.
Directed by Lewis Gilbert.
The Scarlet Thread is a post-war thriller, with the theme of gangsters operating in London but also set in Cambridge amongst the world of the dons. The film was based on a play, this is evident in some of the scenes and the dialogue. However, it has been opened up, especially for action in central London as well as a robbery in Cambridge.
The film is vivid in its photography of London of the early 1950s as well as a view of Cambridge and the colleges.
The film is conventional enough in its presentation of a pickpocket who is taken under the wing of a higher-class criminal whose life he has saved. Their robbery in Cambridge is a failure, someone being shot. They take refuge in a college and it emerges that the senior criminal was a student there. He encounters the daughter of a professor (ironically at the end we find he was the man who was shot) and her friend, a professor.
Sydney Tafler is the criminal, Laurence Harvey in very early role is the pickpocket. Kathleen Byron is strong and rather more gentle than some of her other screen performances as in Black Narcissus and Prelude to Fame. Canadian actor Arthur Hill is a surprising member of the cast. (He was working in England at this time in theatre, transferred to the United States in the late 1950s, making a name for himself on the stage as well as in American films and television.
The film was directed by Lewis Gilbert who directed a number of effective action features and dramas during the 1950s and went on to make other films like Alfie, The Spy Who Loved Me, Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine.
1.An interesting 1950s thriller? The style of the times? Black and white photography? Atmospheric score? The tradition of the American film noir?
2.The London settings, Piccadilly Circus, vivid photography? The suburbs? The photography in Cambridge, the city, the colleges? Authentic atmosphere?
3.The title, the reference to the beauty of the beloved and her lips as a scarlet thread in Song of Songs? The scarlet thread on the handkerchief which revealed the truth about the crime?
4.The focus on Freddie, seen as a pickpocket, his failing with Marcon? Macron taking him home, the kind of relationship, sexual undertones? His saving Marcon's life with the intruders? Macron training him, dressing him properly, taking him to clubs? The other criminals? Accusing Freddie of cowardice?
5.Going to Cambridge, the attempted robbery, the man standing in front of the car, his being shot, the driver going off, leaving the car in the countryside, stealing another car? The later discovery of the body?
6.The pursuit through the streets of Cambridge, the students? Freddie and Marcon hiding? Going into the college?
7.The introduction of Josephine, her relationship with Shaw, at Cambridge, looking after her father? Bored with Cambridge? Wanting adventure? Freddie and Marcon and their encounter with her? Her inviting them in, hospitality, discussions? Shaw and his wariness, wanting to ring the police? Aunt Eleanor, witnessing the crime, her glasses knocked off, unable to identify the criminals?
8.The afternoon, the tensions, the relaxation, Marcon at home, his having been a student at the college, the reverend identifying him, Shaw's suspicions allayed?
9.Freddie, the attraction to Josephine, their spending time together, discussions? Friendly with Aunt Eleanor? The dance, the kiss, the invitation to stay the night? The innuendo?
10.The library, Shaw and his taking the jewels? Going to the police? The irony of the police coming and telling Josephine about the death of her father? His being the victim of Freddie's panic? The reaction of Marcon and Freddie?
11.Aunt Eleanor coming down, the handkerchief, Josephine realising the truth? Freddie and his blaming Marcon? The gun, the missing jewels? The tension between the two, taunting Freddie, his shooting Marcon? Escaping with Josephine, Marcon letting her through?
12.The sudden ending of the film and audience presumption that Marcon would die and that Freddie would be arrested? The effect on Josephine, on Shaw?
13.A satisfactory crime thriller, a satisfactory drama about relationships and tension?
