Green for Danger

"Murder... weapon or clue?"

1946 1h 31m EN

👍

6.7

SOLID

★6.7TMDB · 104

MysteryCrimeThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In the midst of Nazi air raids, a postman dies on the operating table at a rural hospital. But was the death accidental?

“Murder... weapon or clue?”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Criterion ChannelSubscription

BloodstreamSubscription

Cast

Leo Genn
Mr. Eden
Alastair Sim
Inspector Cockrill
Trevor Howard
Dr. Barnes
Sally Gray
Nurse Freddi Linley
Rosamund John
Nurse Esther Sanson
Judy Campbell
Sister Marion Bates
Megs Jenkins
Nurse Woods
Ronald Adam
Dr. White

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Sidney Gilliat
Writers: Sidney Gilliat, Claude Guerney
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

80 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Sidney Gilliat, shot by Wilkie Cooper. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by William Alwyn. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Thelma Connell shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Leo Genn and Alastair Sim and Trevor Howard carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Murder... weapon or clue?".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0038577 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Sidney Gilliat directs. Wilkie Cooper behind the camera. William Alwyn scores. Thelma Connell cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

180 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Directed by Sidney Gilliat, shot by Wilkie Cooper. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by William Alwyn. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Thelma Connell shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Leo Genn and Alastair Sim and Trevor Howard carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "Murder... weapon or clue?".
7IMDB entry: tt0038577 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Classified under 23 themes, including "operation", "police", "bomb", "nurse".

The technical file

Cinematography: Wilkie Cooper
Original score: William Alwyn
Editing: Thelma Connell
Production design: Peter Proud
Runtime: 91 min · 1h 31m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: Green for Danger (1946)

Also by

Sidney Gilliat

Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2018-10-10
★ 9/10
In view of my failure - correction, comparative failure. Inspector Cockrill (a brilliant Alastair Sim) investigates a weird double murder that has taken place in a British WWII emergency hospital. Sadly this seems to be a largely overlooked British film, brought to us from the excellent Gilliat & Launder teaming, Green For Danger is as good a British mystery that was ever made. Boasting the acting talents of Alastair Sim, Trevor Howard, Sally Gray, Leo Genn and Rosamund John, this adaptation of the Christianna Brand novel feels like an Agatha Christie staple. Twisty and deep with whodunit shenanigans, it plays out to its finale with a seamless sense of joy. Everyone involved appears to be enjoying themselves and this only heightens the warmth that oozes out from the screen. The scripting is simple and light, and the direction as tight as one could hope for. Hugely enjoyable piece that puts the Great into Great Britain. 9/10
CinemaSerf2022-07-07
★ 7/10
Alastair Sim is perfect in the role of the ostensibly bumbling "Insp. Cockrill" who arrives at a rural hospital to investigate the suspicious deaths of two of the patients. When he arrives, he encounters a staff including Trevor Howard, Leo Genn, Sally Gray, Judy Campbell & Megs Jenkins who all appear to be quite capable of being responsible - if, indeed, anyone is actually responsible - for the crimes. With V2 rockets landing all around, the race is on to prevent further killings amongst this mistrusting group of clinicians - and Christianna Brand's hero must sort it out, and pronto! The cast work really well together - even Trevor Howard who does take a while to settle in. Leo Genn is always good value, as is Jenkins and they all help to keep us guessing for much of this cracking little murder mystery. As in the best Agatha Christie tradition, the ending is a bit left field, and almost irrelevant, but that doesn't really matter; it's the performances and detection process that make this film stand out - and stand out it does.