The Informer

THE INFORMER centres on Gypo Nolan, an Irish drunkard who informs on the whereabouts of his best friend, a member of the Irish Republican Army wanted by the British authorities. Nolan receives a cash reward for his information, money that he and his girlfriend need to buy a passage to the United States, but he realizes all too soon that the “reward” came at the cost of his self-respect and maybe even his life.
THE INFORMER was the second film adaptation of Liam O’Flaherty’s novel of the same name; the first version was released in 1929. For the 1935 film, Dudley Nichols wrote the script in six days, and John Ford shot it in less than three weeks. Victor McLaglen, who frequently worked with Ford, won an Oscar for his performance. Ford also received the first of his four Academy Awards for best director.
“The animal cunning of the man, his transparent deceits and his naive belief in his powers of deception are woven into the fabric of a character that is worthy the pen of a Dostoievski. Amid the murk and drizzly mists in which the drama is played out, he becomes some dreadful and pathetic creature of darkness.” (“The New York Times”, 1935)