Review of Brighton Rock (1948) by Art S — 06 Nov 2014

Sir Richard Attenborough (RIP this year) provides a psychotic turn as an (impossibly) young gang leader in the seaside town of Brighton. First, he hunts and kills a newspaper reporter who told too much in the press (leading to a gang member's death).

Then, in trying to create an alibi, he more or less dominates a young waitress by pretending he is in love with her to make sure she doesn't talk. Moody and with a good sense of place -- but also suspenseful (like a good detective story) when Hermione Baddeley's character gets on Pinkie's (Dickie's) trail and starts collecting evidence to turn over to the police.

The ending -- some call it a "trick ending" -- is a surprise and I think I like it (everything pushes you to expect something different, which of course must eventually happen anyway). Graham Greene wrote the original novel and the screenplay here; Catholicism does play a role.

A very good Brit noir.