The Heart of the Matter (1953)

Director:

George More O'Ferrall

Writers:

Ian Dalrymple (writer)
Graham Greene (novel)

Release Date:

8 February 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Awards:

Nominated for 4 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Trevor Howard	...	Harry Scobie
Elizabeth Allan	...	Louise Scobie
Maria Schell	...	Helen Rolt
Denholm Elliott	...	Wilson
Gérard Oury	...	Yusef
Peter Finch	...	Father Rank
George Coulouris	...	Portuguese captain
Michael Hordern	...	Commissioner

Runtime:

105 min | USA:100 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:16 | Finland:S | UK:PG | USA:Approved | Sweden:15 | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

London Film Productions

Trivia:

Pat Nye was first offered the role of Dr. Sykes.

an excellent film and good remake of Greene's novel

A fairly good remake of the Graham Greene novel. Though the ending is different from the novel, the tragic theme is prevalent throughout the film. Trevor Howard brings out Scobie's inner torment credibly - as the principled police officer scared of the misery around him. The colonial aspects of the time period are handled well, you can almost feel the heat and humidity and the occasional fevers that rack the body. This combined with good acting, flesh out the Greene novel faithfully. A terrific movie about the machinations of the human conscience, and what it can lead to.