It Always Rains on Sunday
| Program section: | British Noir Strikes Back |
|---|---|
| Directed by: | Robert Hamer |
| Year: | 1947 |
| Country: | Great Britain |
| Length: | 92 min. |
| Cast: | Googie Withers, Edward Chapman, Susan Shaw, Patricia Plunkett, David Liney and others. |
Screening:
- 21. 8. 2026 | 13:15 - Central Bohemia Hall (castle - gothic kitchen) / CZ subs /
Production: Ealing Studios
Script/Based on: Angus MacPhail, Robert Hamer, Henry Cornelius
Director of Photography: Douglas Slocombe
Score: Georges Auric
The title of this British film makes it clear what kind of weather the characters will face. It is Sunday, March 23, 1947, and the relentless rain underscores the gloomy atmosphere of a working-class neighborhood in London’s East End. The wartime bombings left behind a trail of destruction that no one has yet had time to repair. People are struggling with poverty and have little reason to be happy. Tommy, an escaped convict, seeks refuge with his ex-girlfriend, who is in an unhappy relationship with an older man. However, the film also focuses on other characters, creating a vivid portrait of a segment of postwar British society. Some critics have compared it to French poetic realism due to its depressing mood and fatalistic tone; historian and critic William K. Everson called it “the definitive British noir.” The film was produced by the famous Ealing Studios under the leadership of the legendary Michael Balcon and was a box-office hit upon its initial release. (mh)
