Le déserteur

Although I saw this on a very poor DVD transfer it held my attention from beginning to end. Yes, as other reviewers have pointed out, there's nothing new here, but it's expertly done, and it's interesting to know that there were apparently 20,000 deserters on the run in the UK in 1949, and one imagines that many of them were as hard-done-by as our hero, but I won't spoil anything by revealing why he deserted. The film is certainly sympathetic to those 20,000 men who get the blame, by several representative members of the cast, for everything that's wrong with post-war Britain. Derek Farr is excellent in the main role as the deserter who has to raise some money when Kenneth More, who had served in the same outfit, happens into the pub where he's working under an alias and decides to blackmail him. While he's trying to pawn a gun the pawnshop is robbed and a policeman killed making him one of the suspects. Joan Hopkins is the sympathetic woman who helps him. Edward Chapman is the inspector investigating the case with ever-increasing impatience. Laurence Harvey, although billed fourth, has little to do as a sergeant with a soft spot for Hopkins. Plenty of noir atmosphere. Recommended.

What you will remember of this film is the local atmosphere from the post war London with its rather weary aspect both in people and their minds and the shaggy streets, ultimately leading you down to old Wapping with one of the most genuine pub atmospheres found in any film, but there is a long way to go before that.

You will also remember the difficult case of 20,000 deserters after the war, many of them turning to criminality for having no other choice. That's the clinch in which our hero finds himself, when a burglary takes place the moment he is trying to pawn his old gun without bullets, the two robbers in desperation shooting both the clerk and, when on the run, a policeman fatally - the first casualty in the film. The clerk recovers and gives a description of our hero, whom he saw, while the two burglars were masked. So our hero finds himself wanted for murder. Could you get into any deeper sea of trouble?

It's also memorable for the fine performance by Joan Hopkins, who plays a widow who believes in our hero's innocence, Kenneth More has a small part in the beginning, which turns out fatal for our hero on a constant run, and Laurence Harvey is a policeman - neither is sympathetic. Derek Farr plays our hero convincingly enough, a completely ordinary man with an inordinate amount of bad luck, having lost practically all his family in the war. It's a sad story but well made, and the beautiful music adds some extra romantic and melancholy charm to it. In spite of the poor technical quality, I must give it almost a full score for its interesting story of an eloquent script, fluent tempo and excellent cinematography.

Most enjoyable and fast moving film from Lawrence Huntington in an amazingly crisp and clear Blu-ray print. Not incredibly original story as the title may suggest but the twist here is the background of some 20,000 deserters in the UK desperately trying to evade capture and survive on the fringe of society. Wonderful location shooting on the edge of Soho, Seven Dials and Mayfair plus some unbelievably effective set design and not forgetting the village of Corfe Castle at the start. When we shift to Wapping the pub interior is so authentic I am trying to work out just which one it is but its all done in the studio, fantastic job. Performances are fine, some of us groan when we see Kenneth More at the start, in one of his earlier films, but he is only a bit part as is Alfie Bass who we see for about two seconds. It is Derek Farr and Joan Hopkins who play the leads, perfectly adequately and more to the point convincingly and fortunatley a young Laurence Harvey doesn't have too much to do. A great watch and makes one wonder how many other gems there might be of this period.

The blu ray cover says this is a key post war British noir unseen since the first release. I don't think it is a key film compared to It Always Rains On Sunday or The Blue Lamp. I like the film,it looks good. The pub sets look great,I want to eat in that cafe,is it Fitzrovia maybe? But the tone of the film is stiff and dated compared to Waterloo Road or It Always Rains on Sunday. Don't get me wrong,it is not a bad film but it is not daring compared with It Always Rain. Indeed They Made Me A Fugitive is similar in theme to this and a better film in my opinion.

The great shame of unused female actors in British cinema is far too long; Joan Greenwood was an example, and rarely given roles that were truly worthy of her. Joan Hopkins is another and even less well known than Greenwood or many others. A pity because she had a statuesque beauty, and a quiet charm and in some shots her beauty almost rivals Greta Garbo. Opposite Derek Farr there is good chemistry, and for once she is pivotal to the film and not only decoration. Farr is a deserter from WW2 and on the run not only for that, but for a murder he is suspected of committing. Hopkins takes him into her flat and the two fall in love. I liked too the atmosphere of the UK after the war, with its turmoil at getting back to a previous life that will never come again. A fluctuating chaos that lasted through the late 1940's and the mid to late 1950's. The film is rich on detail, and there is Kenneth More as a war veteran in a small but significant role. Well directed,, and in the main well acted, it is worthy of hunting down for all those interested in this period of history, and the run down houses peeling with damp and cold bear no resemblance to the wealth there today. These films are essential to UK history and the passing of times, and the poverty and wealth that goes with it. And Joan Hopkins is quite simply excellent.