It Always Rains on Sunday
Directed by Robert Hamer
Written by Angus McPhail, Robert Hamer and Henry Cornelius
1947/US
IMDb page
First viewing/Criterion Channel
George Sandigate: Always ruddy well rains on Sunday.
Ealing Studios made some nifty films noir before it got into the comedy business.
Rosie Sandicott (Googie Withers) is married to a family man 15 years her senior and helps take care of his three children. One day, she sees a headline stating ex-lover Tommy Swann (John McCallum), whom she broke up with many years ago, has escaped from prison.
Sure enough, he shows up asking for shelter. She is unable to refuse him. They survive a number of close calls. Finally, the escapee bolts and an exciting chase in a railroad yard concludes the movie. With Jack Warner as a police inspector.
I enjoyed the film which has some good acting and noir high-key cinematography. I feel it could have been tightened up by omitting some extraneous romances and the fates of three thieves.
Withers and McCallum met during the production. They wed and were married for the next 62 years.
BFI discussion
