The Informer
About The Informer
During the Irish rebellion, Francis McPhilip, a member of an outlawed party, kills the chief of police in a gunfight and is sent into hiding. His friend Gypo Nolan wants Francis's girl, Katie Fox. When Francis comes back and Gypo thinks Katie still loves him, Gypo goes to the police. The reward money gives him away. Katie, jealous when she hears he gave the cash to another woman, tells party leader Dan Gallagher, and Gypo goes out to face the men.
Cast & crew
More about The Informer
Arthur Robison directed this part-talkie for British International Pictures. Benn W. Levy wrote the dialogue and Rolf E. Vanloo also worked on the script, from Liam O'Flaherty's 1925 novel. Werner Brandes and Theodor Sparkuhl photographed it. Emile de Ruelle edited it. Hubert Bath and Harry Stafford wrote the music. Wardour Films released it on October 17, 1929, in sound and silent versions.
Themes
Background
O'Flaherty's novel is set in the Irish conflict that produced the Irish Free State. The film places the betrayal in the rebellion around 1917 and softens the politics into a love triangle.
Making
British International Pictures made both a sound version and a silent version, a common practice in 1929. The camera is free in the silent half, including a long take that follows Gypo through a crowd to the police-station door.
Reviews
BFI Screenonline records that critics at the time thought the European cast and crew missed the political atmosphere of O'Flaherty's novel, a quality later credited to John Ford's 1935 film.
Look
Werner Brandes lit the streets and rooms and shot the long take of Gypo pushing through a crowd to the police station. Theodor Sparkuhl shared the photography. Emile de Ruelle cut the chases.
Music
Hubert Bath and Harry Stafford wrote the score. The sound version mixes that music with effects and, in the second half, dialogue.
Preservation
The British Film Institute holds a 35mm print. Sound and silent versions were both released. A copy is on Wikimedia Commons.
Notes
- Lya de Putti plays Katie Fox. Lars Hanson plays Gypo Nolan. Warwick Ward plays Dan Gallagher. Carl Harbord plays Francis McPhilip.
- The first half of the sound version is staged like a silent film, with a synchronized score and effects and little dialogue. Spoken scenes come later.
- A jazz record Katie plays to cover Francis's escape keeps going through her fight with Gypo, until he smashes a glass and the music stops.
- John Ford directed a new version in 1935.
Scenes
- Gypo walks through the crowd and stops at the police-station door.
- He smashes a glass and cuts off the jazz record Katie had left playing.
- He drops the reward money where Gallagher's men can see it.
Influenced by
- Liam O'Flaherty's novel The Informer (1925)
Also available
- Wikimedia Commons (The Informer (1929) by Arthur Robison.webm)
