Customer Reviews

Fallen Sparrow [VHS]

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of John Garfield's most unheralded films, in my opinion, mostly because it has been nearly impossible to see or obtain for many years. VHS copies were rare and highly-priced, bootleg copies were hard to come by, and it was rarely shown on TV or in theaters. Recently, it was made available through the Warner Vault series, and this is a really good thing for Garfield fans. In it, Garfield plays an American who had fought with the Spanish against the Nazis, was captured and then tortured and brain-washed while being held. It is plain to see he is extremely traumatized, and the film is a very accurate portrayal of PTSD in the clinical sense.

But it is first and foremost an impassioned and suspenseful war-time drama that explores the meaning of loyalty and integrity, and the need to confront and eradicate evil. Parallels between these themes are drawn in the realms of friendship, family ties, romance, and partiotism, and in this sense the film is rather complex. Still, it never stops being entertaining and engrossing. The performances by Garfield and Maureen O' Hara are solid, taut, and highly energized; I think they call it "chemistry" and there is plenty of it. Walter Slezak is perfectly despicable as the amiable villain. The film has some proto-noirish overtones in its use of voice-over narration and the evocation of nightmarish inner states, but still falls strongly in the realm of a war-time thriller, and would make a great double bill with something like 13 Rue Madeleine. It's just so satisfying when Nazis bite the dust! Would that we had that kind of clarity in today's world!!!

My only suggestion to the potential buyer is to look at the TCM website for much better pricing (under $20) than can be currently found on Amazon. But if you want to make your life easy, and just want to see a great Garfield film ASAP, click away and let this sparrow flutter on in...

Dorothy Hughes' best selling suspense novel translated into one of the best early film noir movies made. In a role originally offered to Jimmy Cagney, Garfield hit a magnificent major chord of acting. In an era before visual flashbacks of the mind, Garfield's voice-over and facial expressions nail a psychiatric basket-case destroyed by torture at the hands of the German secret police during the Spainsh Civil War. The plot is a little dated, but Maureen O'Hara gives one of her best performance and Walter Slezak is a great villian, oozing EVIL from every pore..

RKO masterfully and faithfully adapted the 1943 movie version of Dorothy B. Hughes's novel THE FALLEN SPARROW (TFS), condensing the novel without watering it down. The film brings us into the mindset of troubled yet determined hero John "Kit" McKittrick (John Garfield). Kit's boyhood friend Louie had helped him escape the Spanish prison where he'd been tortured for two agonizing years after the Spanish Civil War. Back in New York City, Kit's stunned to discover Louie's been killed in a 12-story fall from a window at a party for wartime refugees Dr. Skaas (Walter Slezak) and his nephew Otto (Hugh Beaumont, pre-LEAVE IT TO BEAVER). Hell bent on proving Louie's death was neither accidental nor a suicide, Kit starts sleuthing. His grim goal: killing Louie's killer.

Kit's suspects include the women in his upscale circle. Was it Kit's alluring old flame Barby Taviton (Patricia Morison)? Lovely, sad-eyed refugee Toni Donne (Maureen O'Hara)? Songbird Whitney Parker (appealing Martha O'Driscoll. By the way, this character's name was "Content Hamilton" in the novel)? Kit's biggest obstacle: he has what we now call Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, haunted by the memory of the mysterious limping man who tortured Kit in his dark cell, trying to make him reveal where he'd hidden his regiment's battle standard. Kit imagines hearing the drag and thump that signaled his sadistic tormentor's arrival -- or IS he imagining it? Terror mounts as Kit realizes his enemies may have followed him home, maybe even planting their spies into every aspect of Kit's life, placing not only himself in danger, but also his friends and loved ones...

The role of Kit, a working-class, self-described "mug" in gent's clothing with a heart full of all-but-shattered ideals, fits John Garfield like a glove. Garfield's toughness, tenderness, and humor have us rooting for Kit. As Toni Donne, the guarded beauty with a terrible hold over her, lovely Maureen O'Hara is an unexpectedly effective femme fatale, conveying Toni's inner fear and regret in her poignant, soulful portrayal, winning my sympathy. O'Hara has great chemistry with Garfield. Walter Slezak's performance as Dr. Skaas is silkily sinister, though his true evil nature is telegraphed earlier than in the book, with his interest in "the cruelties of men towards other men" and "comparing modern scientific torture with the methods of the ancients." TFS keeps the paranoia percolating and the suspense simmering, even keeping much of the novel's best dialogue. Today's audiences might not understand Kit's obsession with the battle flag, even with the explanatory scene at Toni's home -- but then again, I bet the men and women fighting overseas will get the significance of a battle standard and what it symbolizes.

RKO Radio Pictures presents "THE FALLEN SPARROW" (1943) (94 min/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- Kit is an idealistic Spanish Civil War veteran who survives two torturous years in a fascist prison --- Upon returning to New York, he is pounced upon by Nazi agents, who hope to learn the valuable secrets that Kit would not reveal to his captors during his ordeal --- Among the methods of persuasion utilized by the Nazis is the beautiful Toni.

Although "The Fallen Sparrow" isn't one of Garfield's greatest parts or films, he's on target in every scene. Yes, it's called "talent, star quality," and Garfield's got "it."

John Garfield was borrowed from Warner Bros. by RKO Radio for the tense espionage melodrama

The Fallen Sparrow was based on the best-selling novel by Dorothy B. Hughes.

Under the production staff of:
Richard Wallace [Director]
Dorothy B. Hughes [Novel]
Warren Duff [Screenplay]
Robert Fellows [Producer]
Roy Webb [Original Music]
Nicholas Musuraca [Cinematographer]
Robert Wise [Film Editor]

BIOS:
1. Richard Wallace [aka: Clarence Richard Wallace] [Director]
Date of Birth: 26 August 1894 - Sacramento, California, USA
Date of Death: 3 November 1951 - Los Angeles, California, USA

2. John Garfield [aka: Jacob Julius Garfinkle]
Date of Birth: 4 March 1913 - New York City, New York
Date of Death: 21 May 1952 - New York City, New York

3. Maureen O'Hara [aka: Maureen FitzSimons]
Date of Birth: 17 August 1920 - Ranelagh, County Dublin, Ireland (now Ranelagh, Dublin, Ireland)
Date of Death: Still Living

the cast includes:
John Garfield - John 'Kit' McKittrick
Maureen O'Hara - Toni Donne
Walter Slezak - Dr. Christian Skaas
Patricia Morison - Barby Taviton
Martha O'Driscoll - Whitney 'The Imp' Parker
Bruce Edwards - Ab Parker
John Banner - Anton
John Miljan - Inspector 'Toby' Tobin
Hugh Beaumont - Otto Skaas

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 94 min on DVD ~ RKO Radio Pictures ~ (08/04/2009)

He's known as Kit by his many friends, some who had given him up for dead. He's a traumatized POW from the Spanish civil war. He has been mentally & physically tortured by the Nazis for two years in Spain several years before WW II. He has PTSD in today's parlance. They were seeking a flag, a standard of some sort. He had it, they wanted it. He wouldn't give it up. He still knows where it is. Back in New York he is seeking the killers of his best friend & man who sprung him from prison. He is also hunting his tormentor who is also in The United States. The movie was made in 1943 but takes place in 1940 before we were at war. He careens from scene to scene, parties, night clubs, drawing rooms, women's apartments, trying to prove that his friend Louie did not commit suicide as the police believe. Lots of beautiful women, including Maureen O'Hara as Toni. Compelling villains you'll love to hate.

Great to finally see this 1943 gem available on dvd! Many noir films deal indirectly with the effects of war on protagonists' psychology, the complicated intrigues that govern life from behind the scenes, etc. This movie makes all the connections explicitly, but without being pedantic--part spy thriller, part detective story, with an excellent cast, cinematography, and sound design. Really a must-see.

Very good movie!John Garfield is great as always! Good plot and acting by other people in the story as well

This 1943 RKO film THE FALLEN SPARROW
turns out to be a WW2 era espionage film set in NY in Nov, 1940.
John Garfield plays a veteran of the Spanish Civil war suffering
from the after effects of two years of "Nazi" torture who returns home
to solve the murder of a friend only to discover the Nazi menace has
followed him to the city that never sleeps.
While smeared as "propaganda" most WW2 films made during the War
itself are usually pretty honest and straightforward though obviously
anti-Axis and patriotic(It is this that makes modern liberals view them
with such contempt) however there was always the exception when the
subject concerned Communists who were cobelligerants against the
European Axis. There the movies had to....well....lie.
This film always had a negative reputation among film
historians/critics who are upset because the film does not blatantly
identify Garfield's character as being a Red so ergo portraying
Communists as heroic, articulate and clean. Instead Garfield is just
identified as being an "idealist."
But honestly? Garfield's character is a Red if you pay attention. He
makes a lengthy speech about how it is important for "freedom fighters"
to allow innocents to be killed if it will further the "cause." And a
major plotpoint is how you must inform the police on a loved one if
they are not good Party members. Also Garfield has a long speech
describing "Nazi" torture which is actually a good description of how
the Reds in Spain tortured THEIR prisoners so a little projection going
on there. The film treats Spain as if it were a suburb of Berlin which
would have been news to Franco who kept everybody during WW2 at arm's
length. The title "Fallen Sparrow" is really another phrase for "broken
eggs." So while the Commie prop is laid on with a coating of sugar but
it IS there.
Techincally as a film, it is about average. The limping mystery
villain is obvious.(Hint it is the guy in the wheelchair who likes to
talk about torture who has third billing in the credits). The plot
moderate MALTESE FALCON retread.
That said. You can ignore all of the above and enjoy this
espionage/film noir thriller which has more than a dash of Val Lewton
shadows. A score by Roy Webb and was edited by Robert Wise. Besides
Garfield playing his usual former Lower East Side mug made good
character, we have Maureen O'Hara, an impossibly young John
Banner(Schultz from HOGAN'S HEROES) , Patricia(DRESSED TO KILL)
Morison, Nestor(CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON Paiva and Walter(The
CLOCK KING from BATMAN) Slezak. Everyone has a cigarette in one hand
and whiskey in the other. Whenever Garfield starts having torture
flashbacks he either lights up or starts hitting the sauce. I could
hear the modern day PC cops shrieking in horror!! It is all quite
glorious.

Very pleasant if not spectacular viewing. Happy I saw it. You will be too.