Odd Man Out

Odd Man Out
1947- England
Directed By Carol Reed



SYNOPSIS

A secret Irish rebel organization executes a daring robbery on a mill. It doesn't go so well, as leader Johnny McQueen (James Mason) kills a man, is shot and severely wounded, and separated from his comrades. In great pain, he makes it from hiding place to hiding place as the police close in, searching for their man.



MY THOUGHTS

Director Carol Reed is best known for his masterful film, The Third Man. Odd Man Out is not in the same league, but is still a very entertaining film.

The films are shot similarly, with a high contrast between light and shadow, creating the perfect moody, atmospheric look of a film noir in an urban landscape.
Die hard purists would discount this movie as a film noir, being that it is not American, but it fits as one just as much as The Third Man does.

The script remains exciting even though you expect the outcome almost from the start. A wounded man has little chance of evading a vast police force that has virtually locked down Belfast, even with help from citizens. The constant chase between the cops and Johnny is often reminiscent of the final moments of The Third Man, as the police pursue Orson Welles' character.

It's not made clear what organization Johnny is a member of, but you could assume it's the IRA, even though there's no mention of that name, or any reference to the politics of why the group is operating. It's not really necessary after the robbery is committed.
The film does delve into social and religious issues in addition to the limited political themes, giving it much more depth than the average film.

Johnny is not sympathetic, having killed, but you feel for him, much like many of the townspeople who offer assistance. They do so not because of politics, but because of compassion.
Much of this sympathy is due to James Mason's excellent performance. You can see just how much pain Johnny is in, even when he tries to hide it, by looking into Mason's eyes. It's very real and believable.
Mason considered this his best performance, and the finest film he did.

The film is not currently available of DVD. This is a shame.