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

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Barbara Mullen fares better, bringing a quiet dignity and pathos to her role of an embattled Mother trying to steer her family away from conflict and harm. Instead, you applaud both the character and the actor for taking what is literally a no filter approach in an age when we’ve come to expect nothing less than physical perfection, especially in front of the camera. Quite a few people may be surprised to learn, for example, that the IRA were operating in England during the Second World War. The bulk of the character-led side of the plot deals with Terry trying to persuade his brother that they have been mistaken to take part in violent acts for their “cause”.

It doesn’t take long to realise, in fact, that the main star of The Gentle Gunman is actually Basil Dearden himself. One of the studio’s most respected directors Basil Dearden (Dead of Night, The Blue Lamp) depicts Dirk Bogarde and John Mills as brothers waging an IRA bombing campaign during WWII. On a remote Irish quayside, Terry meets with Barney (Harry Brogan) after Patsy and Connolly are sentenced.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. Dirk Bogarde and John Mills deliver fairly engaging performances (although both are let down by some rather ropey Irish accents, with Mill’s attempt especially bad, seemingly taking in a tour around the British Isles by way of Belfast). He leaves the case on the platform but when he sees a group of children playing around it and investigating it, he has a momentary crisis of conscience. The original London cast included Henry Hewitt, Robin Bailey, Victor Maddern, Larry Burns, Michael Golden, Harry Towb, Eddie Byrne, Kevin Stoney, Louise Hampton and Maureen Pryor.

The acting performances bring a passion and warmth which makes us care about the sympathetic characters, and somewhat pity and despise their rivals.Although the police apprehend Matt as he tries to leave the station, he manages to convince them he had nothing to do with the explosion; but Terry, who has crossed his own moral Rubicon by now, informs the police of the location of the cell’s “safe house” in London. Terence ( John Mills) and Matthew ( Dirk Bogarde) Sullivan are two IRA men in London during World War II.

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. While not an example of any of the participants’ finest works, The Gentle Gunman is still a compelling film. The struggle is examined through the conflicting opinions of two brothers and those who surround them. Sympathetic, but no more so than a lefty feels for any underprivileged young man tempted into the life of a criminal. It is easy to see why Dirk Bogarde went on to such a well-respected career, when he was turning in performances like Matt in The Gentle Gunman.

Though they are ably and effectively supported by a stellar cast including Robert Beatty, Elizabeth Sellars, Barbara Mullen, Eddie Byrne and Jack MacGowran. Pat tells us that neither he or his brother can remember ever seeing the house and garage buildings seen in the film so he assumes that this must have been a set.

In London, Terence Sullivan (John Mills), a longtime gunman for the Irish Republican Army, has started questioning his loyalty to the cause, which disturbs his younger brother, Matt (Dirk Bogarde), and their colleagues back in Ireland. The Gentle Gunman is a 1952 British drama film directed by Basil Dearden and starring John Mills, Dirk Bogarde and Elizabeth Sellars. Please consider upgrading to a Pro account—for less than a couple bucks a month, you’ll get cool additional features like all-time and annual stats pages ( example), the ability to select (and filter by) your favorite streaming services, and no ads!It isn’t just his character’s opposing views, but the truth in his performance, that is so compelling.