Information
- BFI identifier39638
- Date1949-07-27 (Release)
- Production countryUnited Kingdom
- Production company
- SynopsisDrama about the varied lives and backgrounds of the inmates of a prison, that reveals the story of how they found themselves in jail. (Synopsis) The varied lives and backgrounds of men in jail and their adjustment to prison life. Four new arrivals include Tufnell, condemned to hanging for murdering a man who insulted his reformed prostitute sweetheart; Roberts, a bank clerk caught embezzling money in order to impress his fiancée who leaves him and marries his friend; Spencer, a shoplifter, who claims to be an RAF pilot; and Richards, a sensitive ballet dancer, who has committed a violent, jealous attack. The established inmates of the block include Paddy, an Irish saboteur; Brown, a bigamist; Anderson, a black sailor caught smuggling; Medworth, a doctor convicted of medical negligence (possibly an abortion); and Smith, a fraudster. As the days go on the men experience the tensions and strains of prison life overseen by the two main prison warders, Jackson and King. The routine is interspersed with appointments with the Governor, prison visits and, in Tufnell's case, visits from his sweetheart and the padre. Tufnell's reprieve fails to come through and the death sentence is carried out amidst nervous tension which finally breaks out into a noisy demonstration by the prisoners. The routine continues. Brown and Medworth are released having served their sentences and the rest continue their routine. (Shotlist)
- Work historyNo © details on film. Title reads NOW BARABBAS was a robber... Trade show 20th May 1949; released 27th June 1949 at 7869ft. Reissued 1953 with 22 minutes cut. The BBFC awarded an A certificate (10th May 1949) for the film on the understanding that cuts were made. It can be assumed that the cuts centred upon the homosexual storyline. The developing relationship between Paddy (the Irish saboteur) and Richards (the sensitive ballet dancer) is never shown but is alluded to by Medworth (the doctor) to the Governor, in such vague terms as to confuse the viewer. There is then a cryptic interview between the Governor and Paddy. Soon after Richards is moved to another prison which causes Paddy to attack Medworth. After Roberts is abandoned by his fiancée, Paddy befriends him. The homosexual content, or lack of it, is referred to by The Tribune review... "the homosexual implications...should have been cut altogether if this was all the film dared to say about them." Also in a letter from Lily Rowland she refers to a review by Jim Phelan in which she quotes from the review "`Plainly the film has been heavily cut by the censors, for what reason I do not know'. The reason is this: the British Board of Film Censors does its best to eliminate sex perversion or any reference to it". She calls for an overhaul of film censorship. Although Medworth's crime is shown in flashback it is not made clear if it is a botched operation (he takes a swig of alcohol before the operation) or if it is an abortion. One critic at the time referred to it as an "illegal operation". The playwright William Douglas-Home used his experiences in Wormwood Scrubs prison when he was a `military prisoner'. He was imprisoned for refusing to bomb French cities during World War II. Peter Doughty, who plays the ballet dancer, also performed in the original stage play and this was his film debut. Some references cite Gordon Parry as the screenwriter - he is not listed in the film credits as such. Note: although not explicity stated there is a homosexual relationship between Paddy and Richards, certainly this was the case in the stage play.
- Genre
- Subject
- CreditsDirector: Gordon Parry
Production Company: Anatole de Grunwald Ltd
Production Company: Warner Brothers First National Productions
view all - Cast
Title
Now Barabbas Was a Robber... (Original)
Now Barabbas (Alternative)
EIDR identifier
10.5240/FF80-BC19-ABFE-03CE-CEB1-5Category
FictionThis work is included in the BFI Filmography.
This work is available to view in the Mediatheque at BFI Southbank.
- Collections
- Film / Video
LTO5 - Video - MP4 - Viewing
LTO5 - Video - MP4 - Viewing
35mm BW Positive - Safety - Combined - Viewing
35mm BW Positive - Acetate - Combined - Viewing
view all - Scripts / DocumentsScript - Script type: Release script - SCR-13369
Ephemera: publicity - PBM-39638
Medium pressbook held. For example of postcard advertisement see CINEMA EPHEMERA: LONDON (Studios One and Two). See FILM PROGRAMMES List.
view all - StillsPhotograph: print - Landscape - Black and White - bfi-00m-l3g
Photograph: print - Landscape - Black and White - bfi-00m-l3f
Photograph: print - Landscape - Black and White - bfi-00m-l3e
Photograph: print - Landscape - Black and White - bfi-00m-l3d
view all - ArticlesFilm Industry v6 n39 13 Jan 1949 - Credits, Prod. DetailsFilm Industry v6 n41 10 Feb 1949 - Prod. ReportFilm Industry v6 n40 27 Jan 1949 - Articleview all
- +Now Barabbas Was a Robber...
Work - 39638 - 1949-07-27 (Release)
United Kingdom - Film - Fiction
Hierarchy Display