The Good Die Young (1954) Brit Noir

"Its my money, I earned it!!!!"

Wow a nice surprise!  

After seeing this I'm wondering why it's never been on TCM or could I have possibly I've just missed it. You'd think it would be more known and you'll know exactly why after you watch it. 

For American audiences it has well known American Noir stars John Ireland as Eddie Blaine, Gloria Grahame as Denise Blaine, Richard Basehart as Joe Halsey, and a few Brit stars who you will immediately recognize, Laurence Harvey (The Alamo, Room At The Top, BUtterfield 8, Walk On The Wild Side, Of Human Bondage, The Manchurian Candidate, Welcome to Arrow Beach) as Miles 'Rave' Ravenscourt, and Joan Collins (Judgement Deferred, I Believe in You, Turn The Key Softly, The Big Sleep) as Mary Halsey. The one Brit star that might be new to most is Stanley Baker (Hell Drivers, Hell Is A City, Zulu) as Mike Morgan.

If you are all familiar with Laurence Harvey he's really good at playing insufferable douches, he's in excellent form here. 

Directed by Lewis Gilbert (Cast A Dark Shadow, Sink The Bismarck, Alfie, You Only Live Twice).

Written by Vernon Harris and Lewis Gilbert and based on the Richard Macaulay novel. Excellent Cinematography by John Asher (The Snorkel,  Room 43, The Mummy, The Hound of the Baskervilles). Music was by Georges Auric.

The rest of the cast has Rene Ray as Angela Morgan, Robert Morley (The African Queen, Beat The Devil) as Sir Francis Ravenscourt, Rave's father, Margaret Leighton as Eve, Rave's wife, Freda Jackson as Mrs Freeman, Mary's mother, James Kenney as Dave, Angela's brother, and Lee Patterson as Tom Maslin. 

Story

Night. London. A 1951 Jaguar Mk.VII is bounding, almost slithering down rain slick Cowcross Street in Farringdon, with only its parking lights on. This also doubles as the title sequence. We cut to the Jags interior. Driving we see Miles 'Rave' Ravenscourt, in the passenger seat is Mike Morgan. In the back seat are Joe Halsey and next to him Eddie Blaine. Rave, Mike, Joe and Eddie.

Laurence Harvey as Rave

[first lines] [four men are seen inside a moving car]

Narrator [Voice Over]: Four men. Four men, each from a different walk of life: a clerk, an airman, a prize fighter, and a gentleman of leisure. A few weeks ago, they were strangers. Now, here they are driving together to... what?

The Jag finally pulls up near the Farringdon Underground Station 39 Cowcross Street.  Mike asks Rave why did he have to steal a car, why didn't he use his. 

Stanley Baker as Mike

Rave: This one was faster. 

Rave tells Mike to grab the attache case on the floorboards and open it. Mike lifts the top and 4 revolvers are revealed. Rave passes them out. 

Eddie: I thought you said no violence?  

Mike begins to protest. 

John Ireland as Eddie

Mike: I'm not going to use it Rave.

Rave: If you do as you're told, you wont have to.  

Narrator [Voice Over]: Four men with four guns, why? 

Richard Basehart as Joe 

Here is the point where we go into a flashback starting with Joe Halsey as his image in the jag goes watery and we ripple back a handful of months and Joe fades out and the Manhattan skyline fades in.

Its's more pedestrian Manhattan rather than landmark skyline, the setback architecture giving you the classic ziggurat "Bagdad on the Hudson" vibe.

The Voice Over continues, the camera pans, telling us that Joe Halsey is an American citizen age 34, occupation clerk, No criminal record... The skyline dissolves into a wood paneled office. The boss man is a heavy set and balding. He wearing glasses and is looking at a ticker tape. Joe comes into the office to ask the boss for a week off. 

Its's more pedestrian Manhattan rather than landmark skyline, the setback zoned architecture giving you the classic 30s ziggurat  "Bagdad on the Hudson" vibe.

The Voice Over continues, the camera pans, telling us that Joe Halsey is an American citizen age 34, occupation clerk, No criminal record... The skyline dissolves into a wood paneled office. The boss man is a heavy set and balding. He wearing glasses and is looking at a ticker tape. Joe comes into the office to ask the boss for a week off. 

Right away the boss, reminds Joe that the firm held his job open while he served in Korea. Joe replies that his wife flew to London and hasn't come back as she was scheduled to. He's worried that something else is going on. 

The Boss continues telling him that another employee took his load over without any extra pay. Joe replies that you just rewarded him with a promotion. Joe, frustrated, just picks up the phone and tells the firms operator to him to an airline, while the boss tells him that he's fired. 

We cut to a shot of a Pan American, Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, taking off from what would be still called Idlewild. (Don't know if it's real or just some stock shot) Cut to a close up of Mary Halsey at London Airport. She is watching the gate for husband Joe. She smiles when she sees him, runs to give him a hug. 

Joan Collins as Mary Halsey

Joe concerned, pulls her off to the side and asks why she hasn't returned. Mary replies about mother's condition but adds that she hasn't been feeling well either these days. She explains that she didn't mention it because she was coming home. Joe's worry turns to joy when she tells him that she's pregnant.

Joe takes Mary back to her mother's. Mary's mother is a real piece of work, nasty and resentful of Joe. She gets hysterically obnoxious whenever Joe mentions heading back to the states with Mary. 

 Freda Jackson as Mrs Freeman

Here we ripple out of the Joe flashback and into the Mike Morgan flashback

Narrator [Voice Over]: Four men with four guns, here is Mike Morgan, British, age 31, professional boxer, served honorably with the navy, no criminal record.

Mike is on the card for a big fight. Here we get familiar boxing locker-room sequences, i.e. the doc looking at a fighter and then getting an argument from his trainer, Mike and his manager discussing his future. 

Mike's wife Angela is in the hall. Mike comes out and reassures Angela that this is his last fight, tells her not to watch, and then goes back into the locker-room. 

Rene Ray as Angela Morgan

He runs into his cut man and confides to him that he hurt his right hand sparring two days before. 

The cut man takes one look and advises Mike that he's basically outa his mind to fight, but Mike tells him its his last fight anyway, and to bind it good and tight. 

During the first round Mike gets knocked down two or three times almost going the count before he gets up. 

Mikes Fight

Watching the fight is Miles 'Rave' Ravenscourt along with his wife Eve who is giving the eye to Mike's opponent. 

Margaret Leighton as Eve, Rave's wife

During round two this guy gets so overconfident at his success in the first, that he keeps glancing at Eve and this is his undoing, because he leaves himself wide open and Mike gets in a knockout punch and wins the fight.

During round two this guy gets so overconfident at his success in the first, that he keeps glancing at Eve and this is his undoing, because he leaves himself wide open and Mike gets in a knockout punch and wins the fight.

Mike tells his manager that he's through and it's his last fight. His manager, the way he reacts, gives you the impression that he's heard this all before.

Mike meets Angela at the cafe where she is waiting, he tells her he won and again tells her he's done. He passes her his hundred quid. he tells her to put in in the post office with the rest of his savings which now adds up to a thousand quid.

(BTW 100 quid was roughly $280, and a thousand quid $2,800 in 1950s US dollars). 

While Mike and Angela are celebrating, who shows up to put the dampers on the festivities but Dave, Angela's brother.

James Kenney as Dave, Angela's brother

Dave's got on a trench coat with black shirt and a light colored tie for contrast, a wanna be hood. Dave tells them he bet against Mike and now owes money to the bookie. 

James Kenney as Dave, Angela's brother

Mike tells him no. Dave replies that he can't welch on a bet or they'll put the strongarm boys on him. Angela tells him that he can go back to prison for all she cares. Just before he leaves he turns to Angela and blurts out something along the lines of "so this is how you promised mom you'd look after me...."

Angela notices Mike swollen hand and as they are leaving she says shell bandage it. 

Here we ripple into Eddie's flashback.

Narrator [Voice Over]:The third man with a dun is Sergeant Eddie Blaine. 

Our view is of a string of portrait photos of Denise Blaine in various costumes, an actress.

Narrator [Voice Over]: This is his wife, a film actress, occasionally. Eddie Blaine is with the American Air Forces in England. Age 36. A war hero. No criminal record. 

Eddie is drinking and studying the photos. Its a posh flat. When he hears a commotion outside the flat window, he walks over and pulls back a curtain to take a look. 

A light colored Jag convertible has pulled up and a bunch of teenage autograph hounds rush up. The cars occupants are Tom Maslin, and Denise Blaine. All the autograph seekers flock to teenage heartthrob Tom. 

It annoys Denise enough to make her jab Tom to get his attention. Tom picks up on her annoyance and he makes her and introduction to the teenagers. When Tom suggests to the teens if they want her sig, Denise feigns indifference for a fraction of a second, then almost feverishly signs her name as if she's been famished for lack of attention. 

We cut back to Eddie, who tosses the curtain back in disgust.  Eddie has cooked a dinner for Diane.

Diane is a piece of work. She affects a cliche movie star self important persona making Eddie seem crude by contrast. It just pisses him off. She's late, the dinner dried out. 

She tells him it was the studio that delayed her. Eddie asks was that Tom Maslin that drove her home? Denise replies yes, and that he's the biggest thing in pictures at the moment and that he's giving her a part in his next film. Eddie replies sarcastically that it looks like he got his hair curled. 

Gloria Grahame as Denise Blaine

Eddie and Denise verbally spar with each other, finally Eddie tells her that he's been transferred to Germany. He tells her that he didn't tell her yesterday because he didn't want to spoil his homecoming. 

Eddie: You know it's funny Denise, you don't give a damn about me and I know it, but I'm crazy about you.

Denise: Do you darling. [kisses Eddie on chin] That's alright then... isn't it.

Eddie asks if she wants to go to some swank restaurant, some dinner, and dancing and have some fun.  Denise tells him you go have fun Eddie, and that she is going to bed. Eddie replies that she has to eat don't you and Denise responds that she had a sandwich with Tom on the way home.  

Eddie: You had a sandwich? Well that's fine. That makes my day. Maybe you'd like me to go back to camp tonight so as not to disturb your beauty sleep. 

Denise: No. But if you come in late try not to wake me, I'm on call tomorrow and have to be out of here by seven.

Eddie reaches out and grabs his jacket that's lying under Denise on the couch, with a jerk, and heads out the door. 

Denise: Good night darling have a good time. 

Here we ripple to Rave's flashback.

An artists sketch pad appears. Finishing touches are being put on by a woman's hand, on a drawing of Rave's face. 

This pans up to an artists studio where we see a painting of Miles in uniform holding a riding crop, and another of Miles with a polo pony, and another of him holding a tennis racket.

Narrator [Voice Over]: And lastly Miles Ravenscourt, aged 30, only son of Sir Francis Ravenscourt, age 30, occupation gentleman, decorated at El Alemein, likewise no criminal record. 

Into this tableau, arrives Miles himself. The woman doing the sketch is his wife Eve.

Rave: I'm so sorry darling I've had so much to do today.

Eve: Huh

Rave: I'm sorry I'm late.

Eve: What time is it?

Rave: It's ten thirty [looking at his watch] Oh, I'm sorry. Dinner, oh I am. sorry. 

Eve: It doesn't matter it's too late to go out now. Ah. There's something wrong with your eyes. 

Rave: See yourself as others see you, at a thousand guineas a time. And to you with all the money in the world it's absurd.

Eve: Its unjust, isn't it. 

Rave: It isn't. I think I'm very lucky. I think we're both very lucky. think?

Eve: No, dear.

Rave [laying it on thick]: You know there's not many people who have been married as long as we have and are still perfectly happy. 

Eve: Will you go on being happy 

Rave: Why certainly.

Eve: Provided I continue to keep you in the manner to which you are accustomed. 

Rave: You took the words right out of my mouth my darling.

Eve: Well.

Rave [pulling a blanket off Eve's lap]:Your looking very attractive tonight. But then you always do.

Eve: What is it this time?

Rave: You read me like a book don't you.

Eve: Don't overdo your boyish candor Rave, That's a trick of yours I know. 

Rave: That's a trick of mine you like.

Eve: What do you want?

Rave: I gave Harry a check for a thousand tonight and I'm afraid there's nothing in the bank

Eve: Then why did you give it to him?

Rave: Because I lost it playing poker. Anyway as long as you put the money in first thing in the morning...

I'm sorry Rave, you're getting no more money from me.

Eve adds later that she thought she married a man not a sponger. She also tells him that she's going to back Kenya where her father lives. 

We ripple back to Mike's flashback, just as Rave is in the middle of trying to use sex on Eve, to get her to change her mind, about both going to Kenya and giving him money. We also get cuts to him looking at Eve's open checkbook while putting the moves on Eve. lol.

We fade from Eve's face to a closeup of Mikes bandaged hand. Its throbbing he can't sleep. He's going to apply for a job today. Angela tells him to wait a day till he feels better. 

We cut back to Rave and Eve the morning after. Rave is fussing about getting his wife's breakfast. He's all chipper, probably convinced Eve not to go to Kenya. 

He calls her to the tray he's fixed. On the tray is the morning mail and one of her checks which he's made out for 1,000 quid. Things look like they are going his way until she opens her mail. 

Its a report from a private detective about Rave's extramarital flirting and relationships with other women. Eve rips up his check.

Cut to Joe and Mary about to board their flight to NYC. They get a phone call. Mary's mother has attempted suicide. 

They have to cancel their flight, rush back but Joe figures out after questioning the Doctor, that its just another attempt at interference in her daughter's life. 

Joe agrees to wait a month for Mary's sake but he has no job and the money refunded would need to be replaced when they rebook their flight. He's got something like 12 quid in his pocket and announces that he's off to get drunk.

Cut to Mike going for his job interview. At the gate of the firm he has an accident when the gate swings shut on his damaged hand. He passes out. We cut to a hospital waiting room where the doctor tells Angela that Mikes damaged hand had developed gangrene and they had to amputate it.

We cut to a hospital waiting room where the doctor tells Angela that Mikes damaged hand had developed gangrene and they had to amputate it.

We next get a sequence some weeks later where Mike, now out of hospital, is again looking for work. It's raining again and he slips into the Four In Hand pub. 

Mike pulls out a cigarette and asks Joe sitting at the bar for a light. The barkeep asks Mike what he wants with Pete interrupts telling the barkeep that the pint is on him. 

Cut to a gentlemen's club where Rave is attempting to ask his father for his money. Sir Francis Ravenscourt tells him he won't get any money until after he's dead. 

Here, we find out from Sir Francis that Rave's war hero account was all BS and that only one of the Germans he shot were conscious at the action, insinuating that he murdered the rest in cold blood. Nice. Rave is getting no money from his father.

It all starts tipping Noirsville when in quick succession... 

Eddie catches Denise and Tom being a bit too friendly.  

When he's at the station ready to catch the train back to the base, he instead decides to go AWOL to keep tabs on Denise.

Eddie then ends up at the Four In Hand pub and runs into Joe, who he knew in the service, and in turn, he gets introduced to Mike. 

Then soon after on a different day, Rave is making a call at the Four In Hand to a bird he knows working across the street at the post office. When done, he walks up to the bar and orders a drink, and then turns and recognizes Mike. Rave intros himself and tells Mike that he's watched his fights and was there at his last fight. He says he's sorry to hear about his hand.. 

While chatting Mike relays to him that he's having a hard time finding a job, and he he's only got 1000 quid to his name. Rave suggests that he invest in a business, relating that he knows of a tobacconist shop (like a Newsstand here with magazines and newspapers "newspaper nests" as Tom Waits calls 'em) that he can get into for 1000 quid. About this time Eddie and Joe walk in and our four men are now on their way to becoming drinking buddies. 

When Mike gets home, he opens the door and is turning to turn the lights on when Angela asks him not to. He walks in and sees Angela sitting on a settee, head down.

Mike: What's up?

Angela: Oh it's nothing, just a headache , that's all. Did you find anything dear?

Mike: No same ol story, but I've got some other news for you though. I met a feller in the pub, he gave me an idea. Sez he can fix it up for me. 

Angela: What idea?

Mike: A business of our own. A shop Angie. 

Angela: A shop.

Mike: Yeah a tobacconist.This fellow knows of one going. Sez he can get it for a thousand. 

Angela: A thousand pounds. 

Mike: Yeah our thousand. 

Angela: Angela drops a plate, and starts to bend down to retrieve it.

Mike: Never mind that. It's great isn't it Angie? Just think of it, our own shop with a flat above it. No more worrying, no more lugging around for work I can't do. I thought you'd be pleased Angie. 

Angela: Oh Mike [turns away] 

Mike: But its a good idea Angie. 

Angela: It could have been. Last week. 

Mike: Last week. Eh, somethings up. What is it?

Angela [turns to face Mike]: Mike, you haven't got your thousand pounds anymore. 

Here when Angela turns we cut to a Dutch angel camera work, and we just passed the signpost entering Noirsville.

Mike: What? Where is it?

Angela: It's Dave he was arrested. I paid bail for him for a thousand pounds. He said he could prove his innocents if he had a little time. 

Mike: Well I get it back after the trial.

Angela: No you won't. he's gone. Ran away, out of the country said he's never coming back.

Mike: But what about my thousand?

Angela: The police have got it we can't get it back. I've asked about it.

Mike: Its my money, I earned it!!!!

Now all four men are desperate for money.

Noirsville

This is an excellent Brit Noir. It's surprising that its not better known here in the states. I wonder if this is the root of a lot Harvey's subsequent performances as variations of a smarmy pompous jackass. He's a silver tongued conniver. Also impressive are the sequences between Basehart and Collins and Baker and Ray. Ireland and Grahame as a couple come off more unaffecting, because Grahame is a character playing an actress, if you know what I mean. A phony with no pathos.  

The cinematography of John Asher which, apart from the opening sequences before the flashbacks, stays pretty conventual until Angela breaks Mike the bad news. Then we are treated to a fever dream that is slowly ratcheting up to nightmare. 8/10