They Made Me a Fugitive

Starring:Sally Gray, Trevor Howard, Griffith Jones, RenÃ© Ray, Mary Merrall, Charles Farrell (II), Michael Brennan, Jack McNaughton, Cyril Smith, John Penrose, Eve Ashley, Phyllis Robins, Bill O'Connor, Maurice Denham, Vida Hope, Ballard Berkeley, Derek Birch, Peter Bull, Gordon Court, Lyn Evans
Director: Alberto Cavalcanti
Studio: Kino Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

This is one of the rare British films that really capture the attitude as well as the shadowy style of American film noir. Trevor Howard stars as Clem, an ex-serviceman bored with civilian life who joins a gang of black marketeers for excitement and money. When he stands up to his sadistic boss Narcy (Griffith Jones), he finds himself the patsy for a senseless murder, and the film develops an edge of desperation and doom as the once jovial heist man becomes bitter and vengeful. When Clem breaks out of prison and a countrywide manhunt fails to stop his journey to London, he becomes (in the best noir tradition) the scapegoat for crimes committed along his escape route. A terrified Narcy goes on a rampage, torturing and murdering to cover up his complicity in the cop killing. Director Alberto Cavalcanti (Nicholas Nickleby) creates a suitably seedy atmosphere of shadowy alleys, foggy waterfront dives, and claustrophobic underground clubs, and matches the dark urban underworld setting with taut direction and tight editing. Howard delivers one of his best performances as the hate-driven criminal wrapped up in emotional scar tissue, a shadow of his former self seeping out in quiet moments. This hard-edged and unexpectedly violent thriller is one of the most impressive and understated British crime films. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

"When a man gets put away for 15 years, he doesn't curl up with a good book. ".......2007-01-06

At the end of WWII, ex-RAF pilot Clem Morgan (Trevor Howard) can't adjust back to civilian life, and he drifts into a black market gang led by the brutal gangster, Narcy (Griffith Jones). Narcy (short for Narcissus), and his henchmen operate out of a funeral home, and it's here they deal in stolen goods such as cigarettes, nylons, alcohol, and mutton.

In many ways, the cynical Clem doesn't really take his participation in the gang seriously--to him it's more or less a lark, and it impresses his gorgeous, expensive girlfriend Cora (Rene Ray). But Narcy has grown bored with his girlfriend, showgirl Sally (Sally Gray), and he's cast his eyes on Cora. When a robbery goes wrong, Narcy sets Clem up to take the fall. With Clem safely stashed in prison for 15 years, Narcy moves in on Cora, and Sally visits Clem in jail. This jail visit sets off a murderous course of revenge with Clem trying to set the record straight.

Directed by Alberto Cavalcanti, "They Made Me a Fugitive" is a gritty, bleak film noir set in post WWII Britain, and most of the action takes place in the dark alleyways and smoky shadows of working-class London. The characters are well integrated with their surroundings, and although some of the action takes place outside of London, it seems inevitable that the final gripping scenes should take place in the labyrinth of London's damp, grimy streets. The role of Clem Morgan is a change of pace for Trevor Howard, but he carries it off well, and there's a rueful carelessness to his new criminal career that seems to be a consequence of surviving the war. Class divisions and resentments are woven subtly into the plot. Working class Narcy, who was born and bred in London, concludes that Clem's criminal career is just an exercise in "slumming" and as a result Narcy fatally misjudges and underestimates Clem--displacedhuman

Revenge On The Wet Streets Of Soho, With A Fine Performance By Trevor Howard.......2005-12-07

This is a fine example of the gritty gangster movies Britain produced in the late Forties and early Fifties. We're talking wet cobblestone streets at night in Soho, brutal black marketeers who don't mind beating a woman with a studded belt, betrayal and revenge. Note that elements of the plot are discussed.

Clem Morgan (Trevor Howard), a bored ex-RAF man, is recruited by a friend, Narcy (Griffith Jones), to join his gang of black marketeers. Narcy deals in everything from whiskey to cigarettes, using his funeral business, The Valhalla of Undertaking, as a front. Narcy runs the show. He doesn't like opposition, he doesn't mind force, he has a mean streak, he enjoys a bit of cruelty. When Narcy moves to drugs, Clem says he wants out. Narcy says, "Sure," and arranges a frame-up that sends Clem to Dartmoor for 15 years on a manslaughter rap for the death of a bobby. When Clem realizes Narcy had framed him, he escapes from a work gang and heads for London and a showdown. As he says, "When a bloke gets put away for 15 years he doesn't curl up with a good book. He gets bitter. He gets a pain in his guts. He wants to lay his hands on the double-crossing swine who put him in."

Clem's only ally is a former girl friend of Narcy's, Sally (Sally Gray), and gradually the two of them become close. Clem's purpose now is not just to get his own back at Narcy, but to get Narcy to confess that he was innocent of any crime. And the police? They're close on Clem's trail. They may think Narcy was behind things, but there is no evidence that would clear Clem.

The end of the movie is bleak. Narcy is dead, but justice hasn't triumphed. With his dying words Narcy continues to implicate Clem. The detective superintendent takes Clem's arm and moves him away from Narcy's body. We'll look at all the evidence again, he tells Clem, and maybe there'll be something. Clem turns to Sally. "You must forget about me, Sally," he says. "It'll be easier than you think."
"I'll wait for you, Clem.".
"That's what I was afraid of," he says, and he's led off.

The movie is well-acted, moves briskly and has two excellent set pieces. In the first, Clem after breaking out of prison meets a woman who takes him into her home, says she'll help him and only asks one favor. The discussion of the favor over the dining room table while Clem eats is almost as odd as the favor itself, but not as deadly. The second is the climax that takes place in the Valhalla funeral parlor. It's rough and violent. Much of the action takes place in and around caskets and on the wet slate roof of the building two stories above the street.

Trevor Howard has always been an actor I've admired. He made some excellent British films in the Forties and early Fifties, went to Hollywood and then gradually settled into a long series of star character parts in mostly A-list but not very good or interesting movies. He brought a lot of skeptical intelligence to his roles, and perhaps this quality limited Hollywood's interest in him as a lead actor. At any rate, if you want to see why Trevor Howard became a star, start with these British films: Brief Encounter, Green for Danger, I See a Dark Stranger, The Clouded Yellow and They Made Me a Fugitive. Then move on to two magnificent performances in The Heart of the Matter and Outcast of the Islands. Unfortunately, Outcast of the Islands is not available, but snap it up if it ever comes out on DVD.

The DVD of They Made Me a Fugitive is not great but is certainly much better than average. There are no extras.

An excellent British crime noir-drama.......2004-04-03

Purchased on a whim, this release has been sitting on my shelf for quite awhile before I got around to watching it. I don't know, maybe the title seemed too sensationalistic for me to have taken it seriously, but don't let that stop you. They Made Me a Fugitive (1947) is an superior British film noir classic that is well worth your time.

Directed by Alberto Cavalcanti, or, Cavalcanti, as he is credited on screen and starring Trevor Howard who also starred in other films like The Third Man (1949), Mutiny on the Bounty (1962) and Von Ryan's Express (1965), to name a few. Also starring is the very attractive Sally Gray, a leading lady in 30's British cinema. The story was adapted by Noel Langley, who also wrote The Wizard of Oz (1939), as is based on a novel by Jackson Budd.

Howard plays Clem Morgan, and ex-RAF flyer back in England after escaping from a German prison camp. Life isn't so good, and Morgan ends up throwing in with a criminal black marketeering gang led by the ruthless, sadistic and psychopathic Narcy, short for Narcissus, played excellently by Griffith Jones. Gray plays Sally, Narcy's girlfriend, for the time being. Narcy brings Morgan into his organization, hoping to add a little class and respectability with Morgan's more refined manner and upbringing, but soon sours on him as Morgan discovers that one of the many things Narcy's gang deal with is dope, and Morgan wants nothing to do with the junk. This causes Narcy to set Morgan up to take the fall, and Morgan ends up in the joint, doing hard time for a murder he didn't commit. Also, Narcy had eyes for Morgan's girlfriend, which causes Narcy's current girlfriend to take exception, that is, until Narcy shows her just how nasty he is beating the tar out of her after she visits Morgan in jail to get a feel for him, and see if she can use him somehow to get Narcy back. Needless to say, after the severe beating she receives, thoughts of wanting Narcy back soon dissipate. Anyway, Morgan, now serving a long prison term, has thoughts of revenge on the brain, and soon manages to escape. Hatred is strong in this one, and he makes his way back to settle old debts. With the police hot on his heels, and Narcy and his gang preparing for Morgan's eventual appearance, does Morgan have a chance? Will he be able to clear his name? Will he get revenge on those who so richly deserve it? Maybe, but I won't tell, as I feel I may have said too much already...

I thought this was a really wonderful film filled with rich, detailed characterizations and an exceptionally strong story that kept rolling along, rarely letting up on the viewer. The dialogue was quite exquisite, reminding me much of some of Humphrey Bogart's films, with its' snappy retorts and sarcastic wit. The tense drama was perfectly offset by bits of humor in the remarks throughout the movie, really breathing life into the characters. There were one or two minor plot points that seemed contrived (see the scene at the end between the male and female character), but this only stood out for me because the rest of the film was so good. The settings are wonderful, providing a perfectly suited backdrop for the elements within the story, and just enhancing the proceedings immeasurably. Near the end, during the climatic scenes where Morgan faces off against Narcy and his gang, the tension was ripe, and I almost felt like I was watching a Hitchcock films, as I was unable to take my eyes off the screen. The cockney accents and talk did get a bit thick at times, but I found myself falling into to it nicely, and following along quite easily.

Kino presents a really good print of the film here, along with excellent audio. There are no special features, but I am completely happy to see such a wonderful film available in such good condition. If you like crime noir films, or, even if you just like good movies, you will not be disappointed here.

Cookieman108

Brit noir.......2003-09-19

Hooray for Kino on Video for continuing to locate and digitize the best available prints of often forgotten but entertaining American and international films.

American film noir style from Britain? THEY MADE ME A FUGITIVE (1947) stars Trevor Howard as a lighthearted but bored ex-GI who -- mainly for fun and money -- joins a gang of racketeers. But when he challenges his sadistic boss, he's framed for murder and put in the slammer. Now hateful and bitter, he breaks out of prison and heads to London on a rage-filled mission of revenge. The no-nonsense direction by Alberto Cavalcanti and Otto Heller's brooding, atmospheric cinematography enhance the taught script from playright Noel Langley (he wrote the Wizard of Oz screenplay). A terrific movie. Intelligent, provocative and intense.

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