Arthur Dreifuss' 1962 film adaptation of Brendan Behan's play makes a welcome debut on DVD after being out of circulation for many years. Set in a Dublin prison where the eponymous character (who, ironically, is spoken about but never seen) awaits execution, the story centers on young prison guard Thomas Crimmin (Patrick McGoohan), who finds himself lodging in the same boarding house as the wife (Sylvia Syms) of the condemned man. Discovering the circumstances that put the prisoner on a one-way trip to the gallows, Crimmins loses the zeal he brought to his work and attempts to halt the execution. Behan's peerless language is emotionally lacerating, delivered by an extraordinary mix of painfully flawed characters in a genuinely absorbing human drama that benefits from the bleak b&w cinematography. McGoohan is perhaps a bit too mature for his role as the rookie guard, but he brings a rugged personality to his performance as his character's views on capital punishment slowly shift from gung-ho advocacy to moral revulsion. DVD extras include the boisterous color documentary short “Brendan Behan's Dublin,” featuring a tuneful soundtrack by the Dubliners. Highly recommended. (P. Hall)
The Quare Fellow
Kino, 89 min., not rated, DVD: $24.95 Volume 24, Issue 2
The Quare Fellow
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