It Always Rains on Sunday (1947)

Director: Robert Hamer

Starring: Googie Withers, Edward Chapman and John McCallum

More Info: IMDB

Tagline: The secrets of a street you know

Plot: An escaped convict tries to hide out at his former lover's house but she has since married and is far from keen on the idea.

My Rating: 7/10

Will I watch it again? Yes, but with as many film noirs I've yet to see, I'll go to them first.

Feeling more like a slice-of-life of a burb of East End, London, it's more drama and observation (at times) than crime or film noir. It definitely has crime elements but it's with the lower class residents of this post-war neighborhood that we really get know as they go about their daily business.


It moves at a leisurely pace with a moment or two of tension as Rose hides Tommy, her former criminal lover, in her house and tries desperately to keep her husband and family from finding out. The customary chase at the close of the film is shot at night on the wet streets and provides a bit of suspense. Will he make it?


THE LADYSPOILERS...

Tommy ends the chase at the trainyard by throwing himself on the tracks before an oncoming train. One of the coppers pulls him off at the last second and they take him back to prison. Sigh...but still, it's pretty neat.

END OF SPOILERS...YARRRRRR!!!

Considering this is from Ealing Studios who were mostly known for comedy (that's all I've seen from them), it's a nice relaxing effort that appears to give you insight into a world not widely filmed at that time.