1949 British film
Now Barabbas, also known as Now Barabbas Was a Robber, is a 1949 British drama film directed by Gordon Parry and starring Richard Greene, Cedric Hardwicke and Kathleen Harrison.[1] It was written by Anatole de Grunwald based on the 1947 play Now Barabbas by William Douglas Home. The film features one of the earliest screen performances by Richard Burton and was an early role for Kenneth More.
The title refers to Barabbas, a Biblical character who was chosen over Jesus by the crowd in Jerusalem to be pardoned and released.
Plot
A set of self-contained stories about a group of men in jail.
From the Renown DVD release text:
"This ground-breaking British film was adapted from a play by politician and writer the Hon. William Douglas-Home, who had been jailed in 1944 for refusing to bomb Le Havre during the Second World War, as civilians would have been killed. He drew on his own experiences of imprisonment to create a realistic presentation of the range of issues faced by Britain’s justice system in the 1940s.
The prison drama presents a kaleidoscope of criminals from every background. Each reveals the story of how they found themselves behind bars. William Hartnell plays the tough screw who keeps them in line. Four new arrivals include Tufnell, who murdered a man who insulted his reformed prostitute sweetheart; Roberts, a bank clerk caught embezzling money in order to impress his fiancée; Spencer, a shoplifter, who claims to be an RAF pilot; and Richards, a sensitive ballet dancer, who has committed a violent, jealous attack. The established inmates of the block include Paddy, an Irish saboteur; Brown, a bigamist; Anderson, a sailor caught smuggling; Medworth, a doctor convicted of medical negligence; and Smith, a fraudster. The men experience the tensions and strains of prison life, overseen by two prison warders, Jackson and King. The routine is interspersed with appointments with the Governor and prison visits."
Cast
Production
The film was shot at Teddington Studios.
Critical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The characters are finely drawn with true insight into character. The portrayal of the prison chaplain is worth seeing as an example of how necessary tact is and how delicate the problem of religion in times of stress. The warders' flashes of kindness under gruff exteriors make good propaganda for prison officials. All parts are well played and the direction is more than excellent. There is no "sob-stuff", but there is plenty of pathos tinged with real fun. Kathleen Harrison and Leslie Dwyer provide the comic relief and their awful small boy is a gem. The photography is good and the story well knit together. It is essentially an interesting film whether from a social or entertainment point of view."[2]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "very good", writing: "Characters clearly drawn, emotions skilfully played upon."[3]
The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 3/5 stars, writing: " 'Elsie's Dad is inside again' reads the chalk message on a prison wall, one of several humorous touches in an otherwise sombre story of prison life. The assorted inmates include a bigamist, an embezzler, an Irish terrorist (strikingly portrayed by Richard Burton in his second screen role) and a well-mannered murderer about to be executed (a likeable performance by Richard Greene). Ably directed by Gordon Parry, this film version of William Douglas Home's play argues against the death penalty, but had the development of a homosexual relationship cut by the censor."[4]
References
External links
