The Informer (1935)

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

Dudley Nichols (screenplay)
Liam O'Flaherty (story)

Release Date:

9 May 1935 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

In 1922, an Irish rebel informs on his friend, then feels doom closing in.

Plot Keywords:

Comrades | Reward | Whiskey | Black And Tan | Remake

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Victor McLaglen	...	Gypo Nolan
Heather Angel	...	Mary McPhillip
Preston Foster	...	Dan Gallagher
Margot Grahame	...	Katie Madden
Wallace Ford	...	Frankie McPhillip
Una O'Connor	...	Mrs. McPhillip
J.M. Kerrigan	...	Terry
Joe Sawyer	...	Bartly Mulholland (as Joseph Sauers)
Neil Fitzgerald	...	Tommy Connor
Donald Meek	...	Peter Mulligan
D'Arcy Corrigan	...	The Blind Man
Leo McCabe	...	Donahue
Steve Pendleton	...	Dennis Daly (as Gaylord Pendleton)
Francis Ford	...	"Judge" Flynn
May Boley	...	Madame Betty
Grizelda Harvey	...	English Girl
Denis O'Dea	...	Street Singer (as Dennis O'Dea)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Barlowe Borland	...	Man (uncredited)
Eddy Chandler	...	House Patron (uncredited)
Clyde Cook	...	Flash patron (uncredited)
Earle Foxe	...	British Officer (uncredited)
Frank Hagney	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	British Officer (uncredited)
Robert Homans	...	Detractor (uncredited)
Cornelius Keefe	...	House Patron (uncredited)
Frank Marlowe	...	Admirer (uncredited)
Arthur McLaglen	...	Man (uncredited)
Frank Moran	...	McCabe (Bouncer) (uncredited)
Pat Moriarity	...	Admirer (uncredited)
Jack Mulhall	...	Man at Wake (uncredited)
James Murray	...	Bit (uncredited)
Anne O'Neal	...	Singer (uncredited)
Robert Parrish	...	Young soldier (uncredited)
Bob Perry	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Pat Somerset	...	British Officer (uncredited)
Harry Tenbrook	...	Admirer (uncredited)

Directed by
John Ford

Writing credits
Dudley Nichols		(screenplay)
Liam O'Flaherty		(story)

Produced by
John Ford	....	producer
Cliff Reid	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Max Steiner

Cinematography by
Joseph H. August

Film Editing by
George Hively

Art Direction by
Van Nest Polglase

Set Decoration by
Julia Heron		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Walter Plunkett

Makeup Department
Robert J. Schiffer	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Art Department
Charles M. Kirk	....	associate art director (as Charles Kirk)

Sound Department
Hugh McDowell Jr.	....	sound recordist
Robert Wise	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Harry Redmond Jr.	....	special effects (uncredited)
Harry Redmond Sr.	....	special effects supervisor (uncredited)

Stunts
Gil Perkins	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Burnett Guffey	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Music Department
Maurice De Packh	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Bernhard Kaun	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1935) (USA) (theatrical)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1936) (France) (theatrical)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1947) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1955) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV)
• Fox Hills Video (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• Nostalgia Merchant, The (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• Turner Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• RKO Home Video (USA) (VHS)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (original rating) (1935) | Finland:K-16 (re-rating) (1935) | West Germany:12 (f) | Australia:PG | Argentina:16 | Sweden:15

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

Another reason why RKO was reluctant to make the film was because a version of the story had already been filmed in the UK in 1929.

Quotes:

Gypo Nolan: And now the British think I'm with the Irish, and the Irish think I'm with the British. The long and short of it is I'm walkin' around without a dog to lick my trousers!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Around the Corner (1937)

One of the all time greats of cinema

Magnificent and unforgettable, stunningly atmospheric, and brilliantly acted by all.

I really cannot understand what sort of people are panning this masterpiece and giving the preponderance of votes as 8 (and nine ones!)

This, along with Grapes of Wrath, is John Ford's greatest movie. I would say that Long Voyage Home is next in line, though quite a way back.

Rating: 10. It deserves a 12.