A wounded Irish nationalist leader attempts to evade police following a failed robbery. Action takes place in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

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Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
Lukey
...
Pat
F.J. McCormick ...
Shell
...
Fencie
...
Rosie
Denis O'Dea ...
Inspector
W.G. Fay ...
Father Tom
Maureen Delaney ...
Theresa O'Brien
Elwyn Brook-Jones ...
Tober
...
Dennis
...
Nolan
Kitty Kirwan ...
Grannie
Beryl Measor ...
Maudie
Roy Irving ...
Murphy
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Storyline

Johnny McQueen, leader of a clandestine Irish organization, has been hiding in the house of Kathleen and her mother, planning a hold-up that will provide his group with the funds needed to continue its activities. During the hold-up, things go sour: Johnny is wounded, cannot make it back to the hideout, and disappears in the back-alleys of Belfast. Immediately, a large-scale man-hunt is launched, and the city is tightly covered by the constabulary, whose chief is intent on capturing Johnny and the other members of the gang. Kathleen sets out in search of Johnny. Written by Eduardo Casais <[email protected]>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

An adventure in unbearable suspense !


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Details

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Release Date:

23 April 1947 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Gang War  »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(Western Electric Recording)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Eddie Byrne plays two parts on opposing sides of IRA/British conflict. Irish audiences would recognize the actor behind the beard and assume a sub-plot. See more »

Goofs

When Johnny falls from the car into the road, the first long shot shows him in sunlight near the middle of the road and opposite a gutter. A later shot shows him still in sunlight near the middle of the road but he has now been moved back so he is opposite the intersecting road, so that when he rises he can run straight down that road. See more »

Quotes

Inspector: I'm sorry father but it's my duty to bring this man to justice.
Father Tom: That's the duty of all of us.
See more »

Connections

Featured in Performance (1970) See more »

Soundtracks

Symphony No. 8 (Unfinished)
(uncredited)
Music by Franz Schubert
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Frequently Asked Questions

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User Reviews

 
Unusual and Interesting Film
14 January 2005 | by (London, England) – See all my reviews

Very unusual film, this. Haunting. I'm not a big fan of James Mason but he is excellent in this.

An unnamed organisation (the IRA) in an unnamed Norhern Irish city (Belfast) carry out an armed robbery that goes wrong. Johnny ends up shot, dying and on the run. The movie tracks the multiple stalking of this wounded, dying creature. Everyone wants a piece of him for different reasons.

Why the IRA and Belfast aren't named I don't know - perhaps the politics of the time caused this.

Some aspects of the movie have dated somewhat, but much of it remains gripping and fascinating.

Harold Pinter refers to it constantly in his play Old Times and you can imagine that a young Pinter would have been influenced by this movie.

Check this one out, for sure.


20 of 23 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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