Green for Danger (1946) offers a secluded setting, suspects with assorted chips on their shoulders, and a cop who's seen it all. At this point the film seems like not only a card-carrying member of the British Mystery Club but oftentimes its president. You can't really fault it, though; a lot of these movies turned out the same, separated only by their respective motives and red herrings. But it's also in such fine details where these stories found their flavor, leaving impressions in ways not noticed at first. Green for Danger operates with similar subtlety, but it carries out its duties with intrigue and cleverness, which, with Alastair Sim, Trevor Howard, Sally Gray, Leo Genn, Rosamund John and Megs Jenkins in the cast, are rarely in slim supply.

Alastair Sim

Director Sidney Gilliat's puzzle unfolds at a hospital that's less of a haven for the ill than it is The House of the Seven Gables. It's the thick of World War II, and a mansion has been fashioned into a shelter for those ravaged by the Nazi blitz. Wheeled into the operating room one evening is an innocent postman scuffed up by a recent bombing raid. In spite of every precaution, the man dies prior to surgery, prompting suspicion from all present parties. One of the staff claims foul play, and after they too fall victim to a slight case of murder, Inspector Cockrill (Sim) is summoned to investigate. Between clandestine romances and grim family histories, Cockrill has no shortage of dirty little secrets to sift through. Yet as is customary where killings are involved, the truth is rarely as it seems.

British potboilers are famous for their wit and complexity, and Green for Danger does its papas proud. It's something enjoyable to figure out because of all the possible solutions. It's usually not the most improbably innocent suspect who is the culprit. Nearly everyone is damaged goods, for even those who didn't commit murder are guilty of some indiscretion or another. There's no end to the infighting and behind-the-scenes quarrels, which Sim's character reacts to with both exhaustion and bemusement. The storytelling momentum hits relatively few snags as Gilliat establishes and resolves the core mystery with crackling precision. Tension is a constant, but it's never overbearing, which is great considering the shadow WWII casts over the story. Even as the terrible V-1 soars overhead Gilliat reminds viewers that the greatest terror of all is closer than realized.

Alastair Sim & Sally Gray

But what's a whodunit without some people who could've dunit? Green for Danger's lies and alibis are of a nice assortment, though Agatha Christie's dominance over quirkiness is in no peril. Certain actors are favored over others, so half the cast cowers in the corner while the other half gets into fistfights with one another. Much attention is also paid to the love triangle that develops between the droll chief surgeon (Genn), the volatile anesthetist (Howard), and the cutie of a nurse (Gray) just trying to end her shift with a pulse. But time comes to a virtual standstill when Sim steps into frame and addresses his fellow players in a voice so dry, it could very well set kindling aflame. Still, while Cockrill himself delights in the sway he holds over the characters, he too is allowed a couple of foul-ups to remind viewers that he's only human. In any case, the film's ensemble is a solid one and beckons interest no matter the situation.

This movie is proof that all thrillers need not play Twister with your cerebral cortex to be fun. While it's not a complete mind warp, it's enough to have folks like me wonder where the pieces fall together even on a second viewing. Efficiency is the name of the game, and Green for Danger knows not only what buttons to push but just when to push them, too.

Director: Sidney Gilliat

Writers: Sidney Gilliat and Claud Gurney (from a novel by Christianna Brand)

Cast: Alastair Sim, Sally Gray, Trevor Howard, Leo Genn, Rosamund John, Megs Jenkins

Rating: No MPAA Rating (mild violence)

Classic Movie Guide Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Run Time: 91 minutes

Studio: Individual Pictures

Format: Black-and-white, fullscreen

Photo credits: Individual Pictures