L'Île des réprouvés

The last film produced by Ealing Studios is a disappointing tale in which four men led by escaped prisoner Aldo Ray hold a family hostage on a tiny island off Sydney Harbour called Pinchgut with the intention of having his case reviewed. There might have been some mileage in exploring the desperation of an innocent man going to such desperate lengths, but writer-director Harry Watt shows little interest in delving too deeply into the matter. The film is almost completely devoid of tension as it lumbers clumsily towards a predictable conclusion.

Three men break a convicted criminal out of jail. Their escape plan falters when their boat breaks down off Fort Dennison - "Pinchgut " - an island in Sydney Harbour. The caretaker of the island recognises the felon and the game is up. The four hold the caretaker and his family hostage, resulting in a deadly standoff with police.

An interesting enough hostage drama. The initial setup is well done, with the ambulance and hospital scenes being particularly exciting. The climax of the film is also quite exciting.

However, the middle section, the back-and-forth between the gang and the police, is a bit of a drag at times. The lack of character engagement here is quite telling as, while you're initially made to think that the felon was wrongfully convicted and is in the right, his actions throughout the film are hardly endearing. The police largely act quite professionally (with one glaring exception) so are not the villains of the piece. Still, it's hard to pick a side, especially as there are some good elements within the gang.

One major positive is the views, as we get some great shots of Sydney Harbour (pre-Opera House), including of the Harbour Bridge and from the Harbour Bridge. The Sydney Harbour views are, for me, the highlights of the film.

Neil McCallum breaks his brother, Aldo Ray, and three others out of prison. Ray wants a retrial, and talks about getting the public on his side, while the others just want away, but go along, with grumbling. But the boat they are on wrecks its piston, and they put up at Fort Denison in Sidney Harbor, aka, Pinchgut Island. They take the keeper, his wife and daughter hostage, and plan to get away the following evening, after the tourists have left. But that goes wrong, too, and they come up with a third plan: there are shells inside the disused fort, and a working gun, and a ship in the harbor with 15,000 tons of explosives. A shell in that ship will destroy miles and miles of Sidney. The authorities are paralyzed. They could destroy everyone in the fort, but then what would public opinion say about the keeper and his family? The only man who can order a retrial for Ray is out of town and refuses to act.

The last movie produced by Ealing Studios under Michael Balcon is in no wise a comedy, although there are some funny bits as the harbor area is evacuated. Instead, it's about the men under pressure, the authorities who refuse to budge because of red tape and conviction, and the increasingly frenzied behavior of Ray, as his brother expresses doubts.

Director Harry Watt had become a director in the GPO unit under Humphrey Jennings. He directed the fine NIGHT MAIL, and did uncredited direction on LONDON CAN TAKE IT. During the War he moved to Ealing. After the War he directed their overseas movies. After this, he went to TV and eventually back into documentary work. He died in 1987 at the age of 80.

The movie "Four Desperate Men" or "The Siege Of Pinchgut" while B grade and enjoyable has some great Sydney Locations.

I have worked and still am currently employed by TCN Channel 9. I started in 1979 about twenty years after the making of the movie.

41 years later working for Nine at Media Hub and this is my first viewing of the movie.

TCN 9 went on air on September 16th 1956 (The first television station in Australia to go on-air) and the first OB Van (Outside Broadcast Van) which is featured for a brief moment in the movie. The OB Van was used mainly used for transmission of Horse Racing remotes.

If this was filmed in the us I would give it only 6, but as an Australian it give a fascinating insight into Sydney in the 50s. The story line is not the greatest and would pass if not filmed here.