"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!" Fun Fact: This is the only film to win the New York Film Critics Circle award for Best Picture by a unanimous vote on the first ballot. Budget Friendly Fact: This was the first of RKO's three-picture deal with director John Ford and, despite its deserved reputation and multiple Oscars, it was a low-budget production--it came in at a mere $243,000. The Rest Of The Story Fact: Victor McLaglen was at one time the heavyweight boxing champion of Britain, and fought Jack Johnson for the world championship. He lost. In WWI Victor McLaglen, serving in the British army, was the military governor/provost marshal (chief of police) of Baghdad, Iraq. Method Director Fact: John Ford kept Victor McLaglen continually off-balance (and thus in character) by getting him drunk, changing his schedules, verbally abusing him on and off the set and filming scenes when he'd told McLaglen that they were only rehearsing. For the crucial rebel court scene, the story goes that Ford reduced the actor to a trembling wreck by promising him the day off only to bring him into the studio early and extremely hung over, insisting that he spit out his lines. McLaglen was so furious with Ford over this that he threatened to quit acting and kill the director.
I recall Victor McLaglen's version of the fight with Johnson. It was called an exhibition match, but it was basically a glorified sparring session for Johnson. Put on a show for the rubes, type o' thing. But Victor tried to have a real go at Johnson. Which amused the hell out of Johnson. He laughingly brushed off Victor's attacks. And causally crushed him with body shots until Victor could barely stand up. Victor calmed down considerably after that, lol. He and Johnson finished the exhibition. Victor's version comes off as, "I shouldn't have done it. He made me pay for it. What was I thinking?" iirc Victor is the only professional boxer to win a best actor Oscar.
Victor McLaglen was tall and well built. I'm not surprised he was a professional boxer. John Ford did too much to McLaglen... Anyone would be furious when treated that way. Thanks for sharing! 😊
Some background information for you, The civil war between British forces and the Irish rebels occurred between 1919 and 1921, a cease fire was declared in July 1921 and peace talks arranged which resulted in the Anglo-Irish Treaty being signed in December 1921 which gave self government to the 26 counties of Ireland that supported the rebellion but provided the six counties that did not support the rebellion an opportunity to opt-out and set up their own government. In January 1922 governance of the 26 counties was handed over to the provisional government of Ireland led by Michael Collins who had been one of the primary leaders of the rebellion. The civil war that occurred in Ireland between 1922 and 1923 was between the Irish rebels that approved the treaty and ran the provisional government and the Irish rebels that rejected the treaty and refused to serve in the provisional government. Therefore Gypo Nolan could NOT have informed on his friend to the Black and Tans because they were a British force of ex soldiers deployed by British Government and had been disbanded by the end of 1921. It would have been to the provisional Irish Government he would have informed and denouncing an anti treaty Irish rebel.
An engaging film although Ford hadn't quite developed his cinematic iconography at this time although 3 Bad Men is more "Fordian" than The Informer. 1939 and onward is the year Ford's films really had a specific stamp and signature that had appeared in various degrees in earlier films like Judge Priest or Steamboat 'Round the Bend which are more Fordian although somewhat dated in terms of 'oolitical correctness" but still at times poetic and even sometimes politically. The Informer feels more like Fritz Lang's M. satirical
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Great reaction to a great movie! This movie feels timeless to me. Catching up on your incredible library of reactions!
I haven't seen it for a long time, but what a great movie. Conscience is a difficult court to pass.
"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!"
Fun Fact: This is the only film to win the New York Film Critics Circle award for Best Picture by a unanimous vote on the first ballot.
Budget Friendly Fact: This was the first of RKO's three-picture deal with director John Ford and, despite its deserved reputation and multiple Oscars, it was a low-budget production--it came in at a mere $243,000.
The Rest Of The Story Fact: Victor McLaglen was at one time the heavyweight boxing champion of Britain, and fought Jack Johnson for the world championship. He lost. In WWI Victor McLaglen, serving in the British army, was the military governor/provost marshal (chief of police) of Baghdad, Iraq.
Method Director Fact: John Ford kept Victor McLaglen continually off-balance (and thus in character) by getting him drunk, changing his schedules, verbally abusing him on and off the set and filming scenes when he'd told McLaglen that they were only rehearsing. For the crucial rebel court scene, the story goes that Ford reduced the actor to a trembling wreck by promising him the day off only to bring him into the studio early and extremely hung over, insisting that he spit out his lines. McLaglen was so furious with Ford over this that he threatened to quit acting and kill the director.
I recall Victor McLaglen's version of the fight with Johnson. It was called an exhibition match, but it was basically a glorified sparring session for Johnson. Put on a show for the rubes, type o' thing.
But Victor tried to have a real go at Johnson. Which amused the hell out of Johnson. He laughingly brushed off Victor's attacks. And causally crushed him with body shots until Victor could barely stand up. Victor calmed down considerably after that, lol. He and Johnson finished the exhibition.
Victor's version comes off as, "I shouldn't have done it. He made me pay for it. What was I thinking?"
iirc Victor is the only professional boxer to win a best actor Oscar.
Victor McLaglen was tall and well built. I'm not surprised he was a professional boxer.
John Ford did too much to McLaglen... Anyone would be furious when treated that way.
Thanks for sharing! 😊
Some background information for you, The civil war between British forces and the Irish rebels occurred between 1919 and 1921, a cease fire was declared in July 1921 and peace talks arranged which resulted in the Anglo-Irish Treaty being signed in December 1921 which gave self government to the 26 counties of Ireland that supported the rebellion but provided the six counties that did not support the rebellion an opportunity to opt-out and set up their own government. In January 1922 governance of the 26 counties was handed over to the provisional government of Ireland led by Michael Collins who had been one of the primary leaders of the rebellion. The civil war that occurred in Ireland between 1922 and 1923 was between the Irish rebels that approved the treaty and ran the provisional government and the Irish rebels that rejected the treaty and refused to serve in the provisional government. Therefore Gypo Nolan could NOT have informed on his friend to the Black and Tans because they were a British force of ex soldiers deployed by British Government and had been disbanded by the end of 1921. It would have been to the provisional Irish Government he would have informed and denouncing an anti treaty Irish rebel.
Thanks for clarifying 😊👍🏻
An engaging film although Ford hadn't quite developed his cinematic iconography at this time although 3 Bad Men is more "Fordian" than The Informer. 1939 and onward is the year Ford's films really had a specific stamp and signature that had appeared in various degrees in earlier films like Judge Priest or Steamboat 'Round the Bend which are more Fordian although somewhat dated in terms of 'oolitical correctness" but still at times poetic and even sometimes politically. The Informer feels more like Fritz Lang's M. satirical