Search - The Informer on DVD

Landmark of Cinema

David Baldwin | Philadelphia,PA USA | 06/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Years before "Citizen Kane" John Ford revolutionized the language of American cinema with "The Informer". Atmosphere plays as much a character here as the actors themselves. Shadows, darkness, and fog forbode the doom of Gyppo Nolan(Victor McLaglen) as much as his guilty conscience for informing to the Black and Tans on his former brother in arms. This is a literate film that explores the psyche of a barely literate man. Gyppo ostensibly informs on Frankie McPhillip (Wallace Ford) to gain passage to America for himself and his streetwalker girlfriend(Heather Angel). The bloodmoney proves too much of a cross to bear so he literally gives it away to ease his burning guilt. This proves his undoing as the scent of his illgotten gains attracts the Republican Army to his trail of deceit. McLaglen won an Oscar for one of great performances in American screen history. McLaglen assays all the complexities of a seeming simpleton who commits the unthinkable and makes him sympathetic and ultimately worthy of redemption. "The Informer" is ultimately a film that will transcend the ages because it's themes are as universal today as they were in 1935."

The first of john ford's great irish movies

Jonathan Lapin | Brooklyn, NY USA | 09/06/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"my estimate is that in my life ive seen in excess of 3000 movies, yet im bewildered at the number of acknowledged classics ive missed. so cross another off the list. john ford helmed this claustrophobic character study of one day in the life of a brute (no negatives attached to the word here) who betrays his best friend for money and learns to live (& die) with the results of his actions. victor mclaglen gives a perfect performance in the title role, and anyone who is accustomed to the expanses of fords monument valley films will be amazed at what he accomplishes with minimal, nearly expressionistic sets. great movie.
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A Great Classic (But With a Caveat)

Terry Knapp | Santa Rosa, CA United States | 07/05/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"While I concur wholeheartedly with the superlatives applied to this film by the other reviewers, I feel that I must point out that this release appears to have been mastered from a release print rather than one from the vaults. The film has not been restored. There are long, deep scratches running throughout the film that could have been remedied by careful restoration. Warners is usually much better about this. Please don't let this deter you from purchasing this film. It is truly a classic, but could have been better handled."

The Informer

John Farr | 06/21/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This blistering adaptation of Liam O'Flaherty's novel by John Ford features a searing, Oscar-winning performance by McLaglen, who plays the barrel-chested Irish boozer and Troubles-era traitor with gut-wrenching pathos, especially when he delivers his last line. A labor of love for Ford, outfitted with Joseph August's atmospheric evocation of foggy Dublin and a superb score by Oscar winner Max Steiner, "Informer" is the kind of full-blooded political drama we rarely get to enjoy today. And McLaglen's turn as the desperate, deeply remorseful brute makes the tragic story of betrayal and redemption even more worthy of struggle."