22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Landmark of Cinema, June 26, 2006
Years before "Citizen Kane" John Ford revolutionized the language of American cinema with "The Informer". Atmosphere plays as much a character here as the actors themselves. Shadows, darkness, and fog forbode the doom of Gyppo Nolan(Victor McLaglen) as much as his guilty conscience for informing to the Black and Tans on his former brother in arms. This is a literate film that explores the psyche of a barely literate man. Gyppo ostensibly informs on Frankie McPhillip (Wallace Ford) to gain passage to America for himself and his streetwalker girlfriend(Heather Angel). The bloodmoney proves too much of a cross to bear so he literally gives it away to ease his burning guilt. This proves his undoing as the scent of his illgotten gains attracts the Republican Army to his trail of deceit. McLaglen won an Oscar for one of great performances in American screen history. McLaglen assays all the complexities of a seeming simpleton who commits the unthinkable and makes him sympathetic and ultimately worthy of redemption. "The Informer" is ultimately a film that will transcend the ages because it's themes are as universal today as they were in 1935.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Victor McLaglen, as you've never seen him . . ., April 23, 2007
If ever there was a film that defines a "timeless classic", this is it.
Victor McLaglen, your favorite comedic and gruff cavalry sergeant in westerns, gives a stunning dramatic performance which won him an academy award in this 1935 John Ford masterpiece. McLaglen is Gyppo Nolan, a somewhat dim witted, hulking, and shunned IRA Soldier in war torn Dublin of the early 1900's. Gyppo fell out of favor with the IRA, is penniless, without friends, and in love with a streetwalker named Katy. Gyppo informs on a fellow IRA soldier wanted for murder by the British, and for this, he receives twenty pounds, the price of steerage passage to America for Katy and himself. His friend, Frankie Phillips, is killed by the British. Driven by remorse, Gyppo goes on a drunken spree, spends the twenty pounds, is taken and interrogated by the IRA, and . . . is eventually killed by them for being the "The Informer". The entire film was shot on a sound stage using darkness and shadows for effect. And - the effect, although now seventy two years old, is dramatic.
This is a keeper.
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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
the first of john ford's great irish movies, September 5, 2006
my estimate is that in my life ive seen in excess of 3000 movies, yet im bewildered at the number of acknowledged classics ive missed. so cross another off the list. john ford helmed this claustrophobic character study of one day in the life of a brute (no negatives attached to the word here) who betrays his best friend for money and learns to live (& die) with the results of his actions. victor mclaglen gives a perfect performance in the title role, and anyone who is accustomed to the expanses of fords monument valley films will be amazed at what he accomplishes with minimal, nearly expressionistic sets. great movie.
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