As a film, Brighton Rock can be defined as a good character study of different people who find themselves directly or indirectly involved in a crime involving Brighton's gangsters. The film is able to strike a fine balance between childish entertainment and taut thriller. There are good performances by all actors but famous British director Richard Attenborough is able to carve a separate identity for himself for his chilling portrayal as a young hoodlum with blood on his hands. For most English tourists Brighton is a small town in England which is famous for its seaside resort. Its popularity soared immensely when famous British writer Graham Greene wrote a novel about its vicious criminal gangs who firmly held on to their Christian beliefs. It was in 1947 that director John Boulting's film "Brighton Rock" was released for general public. The film was an immediate success with both critics as well as viewers as it remained as close as possible to the original book. For this purpose Graham Greene collaborated with famous British dramatist Terence Rattigan. In recent times,a remake has been made which presents a new version of the story with additional colors.

Complex, disturbing noir character study/thriller about a 17 year old baby-faced gang leader named 'Pinky', played by the director-to-be Richard Attenborough in an astonishing performance. Based on a Graham Greene novel, and co-written by Green and Terrence Rattigan (The Browning Version, The Winslow Boy), Pinky is a tremendously complex character, a sociopath to be sure, but one with a heart still beating somewhere deep down inside. Tortured by his Catholic upbringing, and repressed sexually, he vents his teen angst in violence that becomes increasingly uncontrollable, while finding his heart touched in spite of himself by a girl he marries ostensibly just to keep her from giving evidence against him. This is a tough picture, no Hollywood softened edges here. And arguably one of the better gangster films ever made.

Brighton Rock is a psychological based drama set around the motives and actions of Pinkie (Richard Attenborough), whose gang is invested in the protection racket. Following the death of a journalist in which Pinkie is connected the narrative follows his attempt to isolate himself from any involvement of the crime whilst trying to prove himself as a leader.I have categorised Brighton Rock as a psychological based drama as the film focuses in depth on the emotions of the characters through various techniques which makes it stand out long in the memory. Most of this attention unsurprisingly goes to the protagonist Pinkie. Its established early on with his fascination with a piece of string, a recurring motif of the expression of his dangerous thoughts. Lingering in the forefront whilst playing with his string, he suddenly snaps and causes damage to some bar glasses. How fast Pinkie's mindset can turn indicates to the audience the dangerous personality he can be. I was particularly impressed by the cinematography in highlighting the emotions of the characters. A pivotal scene being as the camera zooms in close as Rose (Carol Marsh) looks on lovingly at Pinkie oblivious to the fact he is describing her in a derogatory manner which conveys the naivety of her character in terms of Pinkie's motive behind their relationship. These are only a few of many examples in which the micro techniques of Brighton Rock convey the depth of emotions.It was this impressionist style Brighton Rock sustained as a result of studying the character's emotions is what I found most intriguing about the film. It raises Brighton Rock to a higher status than just the usual crime drama. It not only shows us the dangers and consequences of the gangster lifestyle but in a way we are placed into their environment by being shown Pinkie's inner thoughts from murderous to cowardliness. Overall an interesting story with great character studies.

After the end of World War 2,and England was picking up the pieces & rebuilding,the British film industry started to guess that people will eventually want to start flocking back to the movies again. 1947 brought 'Brighton Rock' (released in the U.S. as 'Young Scarface'),from the celebrated crime novel by author Graham Greene. It is the story of Brighton's criminal underground (Brighton,being a sea side holiday area). The story centers on Pinkie Brown,a young,up & coming career criminal (played here by Richard Attenborough,years before he became Sir Richard Attenborough),and the gang of slimy criminals he obviously wants to be the head of,someday. Between gang hits on various targets they want done away with,forever,Pinkie takes a fancy to Rose,a young attractive waitress,working at a sandwich shop in Brighton (played here by Carol Marsh),whom he eventually marries. Pinkie's success as an underworld crime figure is in danger of being found out by a brass,loud mouthed,but well meaning woman,named Ida Arnold (played by a then young,Hermonie Baddeley,forever known for playing domestics in such films as 'Mary Poppins'),who adds some nice touches of humour to the dark goings on. A nice plot twist ending (I'm not saying what)compliments the film,nicely. John Boulting ('I'm Alright,Jack','Rotten To The Core')directs a taut,well written screenplay by Graham Greene & Terrance Rattigan,from the novel by Greene. The film's sumptuous black & white photography,which brings out the atmospheric balance of light & shadow is by Harry Waxman,with tight editing by Peter Graham Scott. This is film noir at it's best (make no mistake about it),that easily takes it's place among noir classics such as 'This Gun For Hire',the original 1949 version of 'D.O.A.',and others. Not rated by the MPAA (as it had not been organized as of yet,but films were overseen by the National Board of Review,back then),this film has some flashes of violence,that were quite bloody for that era (the film received an 'A' certification from the British Film Censorship Board,for adult content---the board's censorship seal was always spliced into the first reel of every film that played in the United Kingdom)