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Fresh and Exciting

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

GREEN FOR DANGER is a British murder mystery/comedy/thriller with a wartime setting. The setting is one of the strengths of the movie, with doodlebugs flying overhead at times and the constant threat of one of them hitting and blowing everybody up. A small cast of professional medical characters work in a country hospital which is beset by the machinations of a mysterious killer whose motivations are unknown. Enter a wisecracking and typically quirky Alastair Sim as a detective determined to get to the heart of the matter and figure out which of the small cast is responsible. It's said cast that makes this film work, with Trevor Howard and Leo Genn on fine form butting heads and well supported by Megs Jenkins and Judy Campbell. I found the climax completely unbelievable but at least it ends the picture in a novel and entertaining way.

Love murder mysteries, have always been fascinated by them since reading my first Agatha Christie novel ('And Then There Were None') aged twelve, and with such a great cast on paper 'Green for Danger' had the potential to be a real treat.Potential that is more than lived up to, if falling slightly short of being surpassed. Not quite a masterpiece of murder and mystery, but for a comedy-mystery thriller it's very near to it and makes one sad that one doesn't see films like this now on the most part. It is a little on the slow side to begin with, picking up the pace from the revelation at the dance that leads to a second murder and especially when Alastair Sim appears midway. The motive for the first murder (the one for the second is easier to follow) comes from nowhere and is rather confusing for anybody, like me, who didn't remember anything like that being mentioned previously, also found it explained in too hasty a way.However, 'Green for Danger' has an attention-grabbing opening line and the opening narration is the perfect way to draw the viewer in and set things up. It also ends with a very clever and amusing final line, and apart from the underwhelming motive the final twist is one of the most unexpected and most genius personally experienced in any film, was not expecting the murderer's real identity or the outcome.There are some great scenes in between. Especially good was the suspenseful build up to the second murder, the suitably eerie photography and lighting helped, and the nail-biting tension created in the second murder itself, Inspector Cockrill's introduction and a tense rescue.While 'Green for Danger' was very engaging for much of its length, much of the film flew by and made the most of the short running time, it particularly comes to life when Alastair Sim arrives on the scene and things get even better. It has been said that Sim steals the film and couldn't agree more. This is quintessential Sim and he is magnificent with his wry, witty line delivery, expressive eyes that tell so much, great energy and deliberately and deliciously contradictory body language (rarely does tremendous energy equal laziness and be so funny).Rest of the cast also fare well. Trevor Howard plays it straight effectively and he plays an uneasy character with naturalness. Sally Gray is beguiling and charming and Judy Campbell, Rosamund John and Megs Jenkins also make a strong impression. Particularly impressive is Leo Genn, his ambiguity, bringing out very subtle shades of the heroic and the villainous, was perfect for a character that one is never sure whether to trust or not and it really deepened the mystery.'Green for Danger's' mystery is a thoroughly engaging one, with a delicious dark wit and nail-biting tension in some scenes. It's complicated, with a lot of information being given mainly through dialogue, but rarely overly-so. The script has some wonderfully funny lines with Sim and is very thought-provoking elsewhere.It's a great-looking film too, the photography and lighting are very stylish and rich in atmosphere. Standing out in particular is the build up to the second murder and the murder itself, which was terrifying even when one knows that it's going to happen. Sydney Gilliat directs beautifully, while William Alwyn's score is hauntingly ominous and jaunty.Overall, a great film and a near-classic that is primarily to be seen for Sim. 9/10 Bethany Cox

The original audience must have been reasonably satisfied with this back in 1946 if only for the cast, who were mostly well known and the equivalent of flesh-and-blood comfort food. Alistair Sim, Rosamund John,Sally Gray, Megs Jenkins, Trevor Howard, Leo Genn, Judy Campbell just for openers. Depending on your point of view and cynicism in your make up Sydney Gilliat's direction is either stylish or manipulative; for example he introduces what will turn out to be the five suspects when they are gowned and masked in the operating theatre; with only their eyes visible the camera pans from one to the other as, for no discernible reason, they lay 'meaningful' looks on each other. This is textbook stuff from the 'Meaningless Meaningful Looks' section of How To Direct A Movie. It may well be that in 1944 hospitals were designed with Operating Theatres isolated from the main building so that victim number 2 is obliged to walk through tree-studded grounds to get to it but did she have to do it on the cliché'd 'dark and stormy night' allowing Gilliat to have a ball with howling wind and ominous shadows. Why not a balmy summer's eve, after all she's still going to wind up on the menu, and was it really necessary for the killer to be gowned and masked at a time when the theatre was locked for the night. If these things don't bother you then you'll enjoy this one as much as the majority of posters, and why not, it IS enjoyable AND entertaining in its modest way and probably just the thing after six years of war.

This film opens with this line and is one of the greatest opening hooks I've heard in film. These words are spoken as anonymous hands are clanging away on a typewriter. And so begins "Green for Danger".This is a great, quirky British mystery drama that I found quite entertaining. At times it's tense and scary, then its humorous - and then its almost noir. I found this kept the film interesting and the pace was quite energetic. I will say the beginning is a little slow to start after the great opening hook. It starts out looking like it will be just another doctor/nurse soap opera. But hang with it and it gets rolling. I found the black and white cinematography to be quite accomplished and loved its great use of architectural shapes, shadows, and the mix of light and dark.Alastair Sim as The Inspector was great. He has an unusual mug of a face and bulging eyes. He's tall and somewhat clumsy. And more than a little goofy. He makes quite effective use of sarcasm. I loved his line when he said "My presence lay over the hospital like a pall."It was interesting to see some of the old hospital equipment. I noticed there was a coin meter for gas utilities in the kitchen - never saw one before. My only complaint during the film was having difficulty following some of the clipped British accents.There is a nice twist at the end. The hapless inspector solves the crime, but causes harm in so doing. There is a clever closing line back on the typewriter - " I offer my resignation, in the confident hope that you wont accept it.''Quirky piece - loved it!