Benedito Dias Rodrigues Confusing in the first half hour and hard to understand this early British noir,however states as masterpiece for many but similarity with old mysteries movies from England,the young gangster baby face Pink Brown certainly should be a study process for so enigmatic and evil character,the Brighton gang are outdated guys,nevertheless Pink be afraid of them and kill each one in your turn,psychotic to extreme deserves all movie's credits, Attenborough has an stunning performance beyond that expected,the twist in the final comes to crown this magnificent noir!! Resume: First watch: 2017 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 8.5

GusF Based on the 1938 novel of the same name by Graham Greene, this is a fascinating exploration of morality and the darker side of human nature. I read the novel six or seven years ago so my memories of it are not particularly fresh but I think that the film sticks closely to it with the exception of toning down the Catholic doctrine / damnation theme and the ending, which I will discuss later. As such, the film has a very strong script, written by Greene himself and Terence Rattigan. It is extremely well directed by John Boulting and the black and white cinematography by Harry Waxman is beautiful. Atypically for British films of the era, it was filmed on location in Brighton. This was to the film's benefit as the nice seaside holiday resort atmosphere is a great contrast to the underworld elements.Richard Attenborough is simply marvellous as the psychopathic 17-year-old gangster Pinkie Brown, a role which he reprised from the 1944 West End adaptation. It is an absolutely riveting and often chilling performance. Pinkie is not a particularly verbose character - he has only one line in the first 15 minutes, for instance - and he seldom raises his voice but the intense way in which he stares at people makes him terrifying. His face is often half in shadow, which adds to the effect. More importantly, the film does not shy away from presenting him as an amoral, callous bastard. The fact that Attenborough had a baby face and was quite a short, slight man provides a fantastic contrast to Pinkie's behaviour as, unlike many other film gangsters, he is in no way physically imposing. It is his strength of personality which makes people fear him. It is one of Attenborough's best known performances but it is interesting that he became well known for playing steadfast, deeply moral, thoroughly decent and courageous men in his most of later films.Carol Marsh, otherwise best known for playing Lucy Holmwood in "Dracula" (1958), is very good as the sweet, naive and deluded Rose. As she is aware of the fact that Fred Hale was dead when Pinkie and his gang claimed that he was still alive, Pinkie manipulates her into marrying him so that she will not be able to testify against him. Like Pinkie, she is a 17-year-old Catholic but she is far less worldly than her new husband and does not realise that he despises her. In his gramophone recording, he makes this very clear: "You asked me to make a record of me voice. Well, here it is. What you want me to say is 'I love you.' Here's the truth: I hate you, you little slut." Charming.The film has a very strong supporting cast such as Hermione Baddeley as the principled, forceful "brass" Ida Arnold, William Hartnell as Pinkie's frightening right-man hand Dallow (who eventually displays a glimmer of conscience), Harcourt Williams as the alcoholic, Shakespeare quoting lawyer Prewitt, Attenborough's future "The Great Escape" co-star Nigel Stock as Cubitt, Alan Wheatley as the murder victim Fred Hale, Reginald Purnell as Frank Spicer and George Carney, who died the very month that the film was released, as Phil Corkery. It also features a small appearance from Marianne Stone, whom Attenborough would later direct in "Oh! What a Lovely War" in which he returned to Brighton.Now, onto the ending. In the final scene, after Pinkie has committed suicide, Rose plays the aforementioned record but it becomes stuck and plays "I love you" over and over again. I have seen this described as upbeat when compared with the novel's ending in which Rose hears the full message but I can't agree. I think that it is very depressing that a very nice young girl is so deluded that she thinks that a boy who was repulsed by her and wanted to murder her was in love with her. It's less bleak than the ending of the novel but not by much. In any event, there is nothing to stop her from listening to the full message the next time that she plays it. It is a rare example of a film changing the ending of a novel without completely invalidating the original one.Overall, this is an excellent and thrilling example of film noir which pushed the limits of what was acceptable in British films in the 1940s.

Alex da Silva Pinkie (Richard Attenborough) heads a small gang in Brighton. I didn't understand the beginning and I was a bit annoyed that I had to try and figure things out. The beginning only made sense after I had read other reviews on the IMDb site. Obviously written by people who have read the book. Anyway, Pinkie ends up killing a couple of people and trying to cover his tracks until the final denouement at Brighton pier. Just go with it.There are several memorable scenes - the chase at the beginning through Brighton that ends with Pinkie taking a seat next to Fred (Alan Wheatley) on the Ghost Train as the ride starts; the scene at the pier with the suicide pact; the fight with other gang members where Pinkie gets unexpectedly attacked; the incident on the staircase - game over for Spicer (Wylie Watson); Pinkie recording what Rose (Carol Marsh) believes to be a message of love for her - he actually records a message saying how much he detests her; etc.There are a few points I feel I need to mention - the dialogue is sometimes difficult to understand; the title means absolutely nothing - "Brighton Pier" or "Kinky Pinkie" would have made a better title; I also found it unrealistic during the chase scene as Fred had got clear away on about 3 occasions. He even jumped on a couple of buses!; and the punches that are thrown are very fake.Set against this, the film portrays some violent scenes that are disturbing. Pinkie's a psychopath and is prepared to slash people in the face. Indeed, he becomes a victim of this type of attack and the story has an underlying menacing quality to it. The acting honours go to Richard Attenborough and William Hartnell, who plays "Dallow". Hartnell is a tough guy who behaves according to an honourable code, eg, he doesn't harm women. Attenborough crosses this line and this is his undoing.Hermione Baddeley, who plays "Ida", a 3rd-rate entertainer, starts the film as a figure of fun with her attempt to contact the dead and she has comedy music played whenever she appears. It was a poor decision to use this music as it takes the tension out of proceedings. However, the audience respects her by the end of the film as she sticks her neck out to help Rose, who is extremely annoying and stupid in her blind love for Pinkie. I was waiting for Rose to play the goddam record at the end to bring her down to reality and to laugh at her coz she was sooooooo annoying........I didn't get the chance. I felt cheated with the ending even though I appreciate that it is a good twist.A final mention must go to the main character. He's clearly a dangerous man but what is his name about? ....Pinkie...!!.... another British gangland poof....? Despite not being able to understand the story at the beginning, this is a good film that keeps you watching.

yourstruly2010 So much has already been said of this film its pointless to type out the story but this is absolutely without shadow of a doubt the finest British gangster film ever made and one of the greatest British films ever made. Richard Attenborough was very almost typecast as hoodlums and gangsters (the hundred pound window, London belongs to me, boys in brown, dancing with crime) his performance here is not uncagney like (via public enemy) phycotic seething brooding filled with rage fear hate and despair. He seems to bear a grudge against religious and authoritative figures he also appears to be homosexual in one scene he goes berserk to find fellow gang members and their girlfriends drinking and acting flirtatious and promiscuous he even threatens to kill when a fellow gangster says his wife is going to make a man of him on their wedding night and then the next morning after their wedding night he hasn't slept with his wife. his best friend tells her "not to worry hes just busy hes got stuff on his mind" she tells pinkies best friend "i don't want to be on his mind ever i just want be with him" implying she hasn't 'BEEN' with him in fact by the end of the film I'm not sure he has slept with her at all. You can fill in the blanks why does a 17 year old lad wind up this vicious and angry where are his parents what lead him to the place where he is now why the hatred toward religion ? even his nick name pinky brown... you have to wonder ... the relationships hes forged with other members of the gang are quite interesting also the former leader seems to have been somewhat of a father figure to pinky and hes trying to forge that same relationship with Dallow (william hartnel) who is clearly the brains of the outfit and would be the leader of the mob if he wasn't scared of pinky as everyone is he knows fine well what pinky is capable of he gets a good indication in the first few minutes of the film. Pinky isn't used of people standing up to him and not fearing him he doesn't like the fact the town is now increasingly ran by colleani he hates it and the rest of the mob know if it wasn't for pinkies murderous reputation they'd be finished. Pinkies relationship with women also worth noting the only time he shows his wife anything but hostility is when hes hurt and wants mothering.1947 Was the year england took America's crown albeit briefly as the worlds finest producer of gangster films as this They Made Me A Fugitive and Black Memory stormed onto British screens, we had previously had a few films that dealt with small scale gangsters (the man from Chicago) and young hoodlums (bad boy) but we had always been weary of the kind of film America had been producing in fact the British censors blocked an attempt to produce a screen version of the play The Blue Cafe which dealt with organised crime in London's seedy Soho district and No Orchids For Mss Blandish was filmed in America complete with fake American accents but here finally in 1947 we were treat to a reflection of our own homegrown gangsters on screen no there's no ring of tommy gun fire but believe me the violence and sheer darkness of these films are just as gripping intense and shocking.To those who question attenboroughs legitimacy as a 17 year old saying hes unbelievable i say that its a cultural difference here people leave school at 16 (at the earliest) they can leave home get a job and start a family in fact i know people doing that right now and back then people were leaving school at 14 so yes attenboroughs performance is actually a lot more believable than you'd give it credit for.Flat out Masterpiece !!!