Snug little Bramley End seemed safe from World War II, and the villagers welcomed the lorry loads of Royal Engineers rolling onto their quiet green acres.
They didn't know they were disguised German parachutists installing radar apparatus to disrupt England's entire network. Nor did they suspect their community leader was a traitor.
But gradually they learnt the sinister truth and bravely fought the Nazi occupation at the highest cost of all.
viewer's comments:
- Suspenseful and inspiring.
The picture begins with a narrator telling how it came to be that a number of Germans are buried here in the graveyard in the quiet English village of Bramley Green. The events that occurred there in the spring of 1942 are then shown in flashback: A platoon of British soldiers arrive who are to be billeted in the village for a few days. Residents are cooperative and gracious, providing lodging and food from their already rationed supply. Before long, suspicions arise. Why do the soldiers write the figure seven with a cross stroke? Why does one of them have a bar of Viennese chocolate?
Slowly the community realizes that the enemy is in their midst: the British soldiers are actually German paratroopers. The villagers are rounded up and locked in the church and several attempts to get word to the outside world are thwarted. Then it is discovered that the village squire (Leslie Banks) is a traitor aiding the Nazis. The vicar's daughter (Valerie Taylor) boldly shoots him, the postmistress (Muriel George) whacks her captor over the head with an ax, and the rest of the town joins suit until reinforcements finally arrive. Based on a story by Graham Greene. This film was shown at Cinefest in Syracuse NY in March 2003 and was the hit of the festival. I hope it will be released on home video soon.
- Superb British Propaganda Film
I have only managed to see 'Went The Day Well' twice and it is an absolute gem, but one that probably wouldn't appeal to many people nowadays. The events are believable and I am sure this film was very effective as wartime propaganda. Superior to 'The Eagle Has Landed,' which definitely shares many elements, starting with the soldiers graves at the beginning of the films. Excellent stuff.
- "yes the day good went"
A still chilling story of german invasion to an ordinary sleepy english village sixty years ago. This brilliantly captured the very real possibility of what could have happened during the first years of world war 2. If you tend to stay away from "older" films because they're too distant and difficult to relate to I strongly recommend this, the characters are believable and the way the story is told is very realistic and not at all sentimental. There are some quite powerful scenes which are quite shocking and totally unexpected in a film this old. (9/10)
- Excellent wartime thriller
Director: Alberto Cavalcanti
Writers: John Dighton, Graham Greene (short story "The Lieutenant Died Last")
Cast overview, first billed only:
Leslie Banks ... Oliver Wilsford
C.V. France ... Vicar Ashton
Valerie Taylor ... Nora Ashton
Marie Lohr ... Mrs Fraser
Basil Sydney ... Kommandant Orlter, alias Major Hammond
David Farrar ... Lt. Jung, alias Lt. Maxwell
Harry Fowler ... George Truscott, boy
Frank Lawton ... Tom Sturry
Edward Rigby ... Bill Purvis, the poacher
Elizabeth Allan ... Peggy Pryde, [a Land Army Girl]
Thora Hird ... Ivy Dawking, [a Land Army Girl]
Norman Pierce ... Jim Sturry
Mervyn Johns ... Charles Sims, the church warder
Johnnie Schofield ... Joe Garbett, the policeman
Patricia Hayes ... Daisy, the shop clerk
Country:UK
Language:English
Release Date:28 June 1944 (USA)
Also Known As:48 Hours
Runtime:92 min
Sound Mix:Mono (RCA Sound System)
Color:Black and White
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