A manic-depressive doubting Catholic who was restless and easily bored, writer Graham Greene seemed to be the perfect chronicler for an age of anxiety and divided loyalties. Narrated by Derek Jacobi, filmmaker Thomas P. O'Connor's PBS-aired documentary examines Greene's life and career, which was as eventful and interesting as that of any of his characters. Born into an academic world, Greene always strove to escape conformity, rushing to embrace danger and adventure. After struggling to get his work published, Greene finally found security with his more cinematic tales, which seemed to be a perfect fit for film adaptations. (Indeed, Greene wrote film criticism for a time, but was ultimately sued for libel when he made inappropriate remarks about Shirley Temple.) Never cut out to be a loyal husband, Greene escaped into wartime intelligence work, where he met British master spy and double agent Kim Philby. Dangerous Edge looks at how Greene's beliefs about religion, personal loyalty, and betrayal were portrayed in film classics based on his books, such as John Ford's The Fugitive, as well as The Fallen Idol, Brighton Rock, and, of course, The Third Man. After WWII, Greene's novel The Quiet American seemed to be eerily prophetic about America's growing involvement in Vietnam. Although Greene's political beliefs were sometimes shrill and contradictory, he always had sympathy for the underdog. Much of the commentary here comes from recorded interviews with Greene, supplemented by recollections from his widow, Vivien, along with appreciations from writers John Mortimer and John Le Carré. Offering valuable insights into the mind of a literary master, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)
Dangerous Edge: A Life of Graham Greene
(2012) 70 min. DVD: $24.99 ($54.95 w/PPR). PBS Video. SDH captioned. ISBN: 978-1-60883-890-5. Volume 28, Issue 5
Dangerous Edge: A Life of Graham Greene
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