The Informer

1935

The Informer

Critics Consensus

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93%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 14

78%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,074
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Movie Info

The Informer, Liam O'Flaherty's novel of the the Irish "troubles" of the early 1920s, was first filmed in England in 1929, with Cyril McLaglen in the lead. When director John Ford remade The Informer in 1935, the role of the tragic Irish roisterer Gypo Nolan went to Cyril's brother Victor McLaglen. The scene is Dublin, during the Sinn Fein rebellion. Gypo has tried to join the IRA, but has been bounced because he lacked full commitment to the cause. Gypo's best friend is Frankie McPhillip (Wallace Ford) a fugitive from the British "Black and Tans" with a price on his head. Hoping to start a new life with his streetwalker girlfriend Katie Madden (Margot Grahame), Gypo informs on Frankie, collecting the twenty-pound reward. Frankie is cornered and killed by the British troops; Gypo briefly suffers the pangs of conscience, but is too simple-minded to grasp the full impact of his betrayal. Suspecting that Gypo has turned in Frankie, IRA commander Gallegher (Preston Foster) orders his men to keep tabs on the big lout. As Gypo stupidly squanders his money on food, drink and entertainment, Gallegher's lieutenants keep tab of every penny spent. Finally dragged before the rebel court, Gypo tries to bluff his way out of trouble, fingering another man (Donald Meek) as the informer, but this subterfuge quickly falls apart. Sobbingly, Gypo confesses his treachery. Before his execution can be carried out, he escapes, but his hiding place is given away inadvertently by Katie. Regretfully, because they realize Gypo is too childish to be fully responsible for his actions, the IRA members shoot the man down. With his last ounce of strength, Gypo drags himself into the church where Frankie's mother (Una O'Connor) prays for his son's soul. "Twas I informed on your son, Mrs. McPhillip," Gypo weeps, "Forgive me." "Ah, Gypo, I forgive you," the grieving mother replies. "You didn't know what you were doing." Exultantly, Gypo looks heavenward, and, just before succumbing to his wounds, bellows "Frankie! Frankie! Your mother forgives me!" The Informer earned Victor McLaglen an Oscar, as well as several other nominations; the film did poorly at the box office, but John Ford had anticipated this reaction, reportedly waiving his considerable salary just to make certain that picture--a labor of love for the director, who was himself a native of Ireland--would be completed. The film was remade in 1968, relocated to the black ghetto of Los Angeles and retitled Uptight!.
  • Rating:
    NR
  • Genre:
    Classics, Drama
  • Directed By:
    John Ford
  • Written By:
    Dudley Nichols
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Media Home Entertainment

Cast

Victor McLaglen
as Gypo Nolan
Preston S. Foster
as Dan Gallagher
J.M. Kerrigan
as Terry
Wallace Ford
as Frankie McPhillip
Heather Angel
as Mary McPhillip
Margot Grahame
as Katie Madden
Una O'Connor
as Mrs. McPhillip
Joe Sawyer
as Bartley Mulholland
Neil Fitzgerald
as Tommy Conner
Donald Meek
as Pat Mulligan
D'Arcy Corrigan
as Blindman
Leo McCabe
as Donahue
Gaylord "Steve" Pendleton
as Daley
Francis Ford
as 'Judge' Flynn
May Boley
as Mrs. Betty
Grizelda Harvey
as An Obedient Girl
Denis O'Dea
as Street Singer
Jack Mulhall
as Lookout
Robert Parrish
as Soldier
Clyde Cook
as Flash Patron
Barlowe Borland
as Man at Wake
Frank Moran
as McCabe
Joseph Sauer
as Bartley Mulholland
Arthur McLaglen
as Man
Griselda Harvey
as An Obedient Girl
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Critic Reviews for The Informer

All Critics (14) | Fresh (13) | Rotten (1)

View All Critic Reviews (14)

Audience Reviews for The Informer

  • May 05, 2014
    After an Irishman informs against his IRA compatriots, he spends the money on a night on the town. John Ford's The Informer shows Ford's Irish sympathies with the same gusto that The Quiet Man did, but here he's more political, shaming an Irish informant for ninety-one minutes. The film's politics are anti-establishment, but the strength of this film is the performance by Victor McLaglen whose burly size and imposing physique belie the vulnerability with which he carouses through the story. It's a remarkably human portrayal in a remarkably political film. Overall, McLaglen keeps the film grounded and interesting.
    Jim H Super Reviewer
  • Nov 04, 2013
    This early work on the troubles is not one of John Ford's best. You can see flashes of brilliance in film making but otherwise, it is something pretty without much substance.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Dec 04, 2009
    Fantastic film from John Ford with an outstanding performance by Victor McLaglen. A perfect example that fog can be used to set a mood. I was surprised by the intensity that the film showed in some scenes and also mixed with some really funny moments.
    Tim S Super Reviewer
  • Feb 18, 2008
    Pretty good for 1935
    Karl V Super Reviewer
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