The Gentle Gunman (Vintage Classics) [Blu-ray] [2022]

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Bogarde is younger, more idealistic and pragmatic, determined to support the cause while suppressing occasional misgivings.

Goodbye Mr Chips, The Importance of Being Ernest, Billion Dollar Brain, Inn of the Sixth Happiness, Lifeboat, The Conversation, Notting Hill, The Birds, Clockwork Orange, Oliver Twist, League of Gentlemen, Malta Story, The Gentle Gunman and probably several others.Ealing Studios produced this interesting take on the Troubles with a handful of its most famous stars in front and behind the camera. Robert Beatty, playing committed IRA commander Shinto, arguably makes the biggest impression out of the central three characters, playing his role with a steely sense of cold determination. In-between these grander moments, Dearden and MacDougall ensure that the film never stagnates during its quieter, more character focused interludes, with Dearden continuously helped by Gordon Dines’ bold cinematography. It means that is hard to recommend The Gentle Gunman on its dramatic chops alone, with the film ultimately feeling, despite Dearden’s best efforts, like a bit of a damp squib as the credits roll.

Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows. The fact that, in 1952, this opens with an explicit parallel between Germany's invasive territory-grabbing in WWII and that of Britain in Ireland is quite something. Despite The Gentle Gunman’s admirable attempt at balanced rather than shallow characterisation, as well as the thrilling direction, things aren’t always perfect. When Patsy McGuire (Jack MacGowran) and Connolly (Liam Redmond) arrive at the garage, Terry's life is spared.The film focuses on brothers Terry (John Mills) and Matt (Dirk Bogarde), two IRA foot soldiers looking to further the IRA cause during the height of The Blitz. Paschal Newell and Alan Bourke confirm that this is Coliemore Harbour on Coliemore Road in Dalkey, County Dublin with Dalkey Island across Dalkey Sound in the right distance. There are copious helpings of culpable tension, acted brilliantly not least by the two leads Mills and Bogarde. Yet both MacDougall and Dearden treat this discussion (as well as subsequent ones) with a light hearted, almost comic tone.