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The Man Within (film)

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The Man Within
British quad poster
Directed byBernard Knowles
Written bySydney Box
Muriel Box
Based onthe novel by Graham Greene
Produced byMuriel Box
Sydney Box
StarringMichael Redgrave
Jean Kent
Joan Greenwood
Richard Attenborough
CinematographyGeoffrey Unsworth
Edited byAlfred Roome
Music byClifton Parker
Production
company
Production Film Service
Distributed byGeneral Film Distributors (UK)
Release date
  • 2 April 1947 (1947-04-02) (London)
Running time
109 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£161,800[1][2]
Box office£128,100 (by Dec 1949)[1] or £155,300[2]

The Man Within is a 1947 British, Technicolor, adventure, crime, drama film, directed by Bernard Knowles and starring Ronald Shiner as Cockney Harry, Michael Redgrave, Jean Kent, Joan Greenwood and Richard Attenborough.[3] In the United States, it was released in a slightly shorter version, retitled The Smugglers.[4] It was produced by Triton Films and Production Film Service. The film was also presented by J. Arthur Rank and the Rank Organisation. The film was adapted from the 1929 novel The Man Within by Graham Greene.

Plot

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The story is told from the point of view of Seaman Andrews (Richard Attenborough), the ward of 19th-century smuggler chieftain, Carlyon (Michael Redgrave). Feeling persecuted by his stern disciplinarian guardian, Seaman Andrews jumps ship and turns Carlyon over to the customs officials. A deadly fight ensues, during which both Andrews and Carlyon escape and head their separate ways.

Upon befriending the stepson of a customs agent who was killed by Carlyon, Andrews agrees to testify against his onetime friend and protector in court. To bind the bargain, Lucy (Jean Kent), mistress of the Crown's Attorney, makes love to the impressionable, misguided Andrews. Finally realizing that the forces of justice are no more ethical than his fellow smugglers, Andrews refuses to testify against Carlyon, and is himself thrown into prison. However, a happy ending results from all this intrigue.

Cast

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Reception

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The film lost an estimated £6,500.[1] According to one account the film earned producer's receipts in the UK of £81,000 and overseas of £74,200.[2]

Greene later described the film as "terrible".[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Spicer, Andrew (5 September 2006). Sydney Box. Manchester University Press. ISBN 9780719059995 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b c Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945-1985. Edinburgh University Press p 353. Income is in terms of producer's share.
  3. ^ BFI.org
  4. ^ "The Man Within (1947) - Bernard Knowles | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
  5. ^ GREENE CRITICIZES FILM ADAPTATIONS OF HIS BOOKS AP. New York Times, Late Edition (East Coast); New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]06 Sep 1984: C.17.
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