The Prisoner (1955 film)
| The Prisoner | |
|---|---|
.jpg) U.S. half sheet poster | |
| Directed by | Peter Glenville |
| Written by | Bridget Boland |
| Starring |
Alec Guinness Jack Hawkins |
| Music by | Benjamin Frankel |
| Cinematography | Reginald H. Wyer |
| Edited by | Frederick Wilson |
Production company |
Facet Productions London Independent Producers |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures Corporation |
Release date |
|
Running time | 91 minutes (U.S.) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Prisoner is a 1955 drama film directed by Peter Glenville and based on the play by Bridget Boland. The film stars Alec Guinness and Jack Hawkins.[1]
Plot
In an unnamed East European country that has recently come under Communist tyranny in place of Nazi tyranny, a Cardinal (Alec Guinness) is falsely accused of treason. The Interrogator (Jack Hawkins), an old friend of the Cardinal's but now a Communist, is given the task of persuading him to make a public confession of treason.
The Interrogator eventually breaks though by showing how the Cardinal became a priest to escape from his childhood. To purge his sin, in the show trial the Cardinal confesses to every lie of which he is accused, and is released to face a silent, bewildered crowd.
There is a subplot about a young warder (Ronald Lewis) who is in love with a married woman (Jeannette Sterke), who wants to leave the country and join her husband.[2]
Cast
- Alec Guinness as The Cardinal
- Jack Hawkins as The Interrogator
- Wilfrid Lawson as The Jailer
- Kenneth Griffith as The Secretary
- Jeanette Sterke as The Girl
- Ronald Lewis as The Guard
- Raymond Huntley as The General
- Mark Dignam as The Governor
- Gerard Heinz as The Doctor
Production
The Cardinal was based on Croatian cardinal Aloysius Stepinac (1898–1960), who was a defendant in a show trial in Croatia (as a result of the similarities, the film couldn't be shown in Yugoslavia until the fall of the communist government)[3] and on Hungarian cardinal József Mindszenty (1892–1975), who was charged in Hungary. The film was shot in England and Belgium (at Ostend and Bruges).[2]
Reception
The film was controversial. It was seen as "pro-Communist" by some in Ireland; while in France, where the film was prohibited from being shown at Cannes, the film was labelled "anti-Communist." Likewise it was banned from the Venice Film Festival due to its being considered "so anti-Communist that it would be offensive to Communist countries". Some in Italy saw it as "anti-Catholic", but despite this the film was given an award by the International Catholic Office of the Cinema, and commended by Cardinal Griffin.[4][5]
The Radio Times, while praising the two main performances, wrote, "Peter Glenville's theatrical direction won't do much to persuade those without religious or political convictions to become involved".[6] TV Guide wrote, "basically a photographed stage play, and although there are a few other actors, Hawkins and Guinness are center stage most of the time--their mano a mano a delight to watch. Director Glenville had to use all of his expertise to keep the film from being little more than talking heads, but his touch is sure".[4]
The New York Times called The Prisoner a "grim and gripping drama—which also happens to be an equally revealing motion picture, one of the best of the year...a film that will make you shiver—and think."[7]
References
- ↑ "The Prisoner". BFI.
- 1 2 "The Prisoner". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 19 October 1955. p. 65. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ↑ http://www.jutarnji.hr/kardinal-stepinac-u-ocima-hollywooda/414207/
- 1 2 "The Prisoner". TV Guide.
- ↑ "The Prisoner" Wins Catholic Film Award, Catholic Standard, July 20, 1956
- ↑ David Parkinson. "The Prisoner". Radio Times.
- ↑ "Movie Review – The Prisoner". NY Times.
External links
- The Prisoner on IMDb