Drama

Once a Sinner

Impoverished British bank clerk John Ross is hopelessly in love with drop-dead gorgeous Irene James. Ross will do anything to win Irene's affections - including embezzlement. She ends up marrying him, but she can't give up her true love, slimy counterfeiter Jimmy Smart...

Release Date : 1950-07-01

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : John Argyle ProductionsButcher's Film Service

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Irene James (as Patricia Kirkwood)

Original Name : Pat Kirkwood

Gender : Male

Character Name : John Ross

Original Name : Jack Watling

Gender : Male

Character Name : Vera Lamb

Original Name : Joy Shelton

Gender : Female

Character Name : Jimmy Smart

Original Name : Sydney Tafler

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. James

Original Name : Thora Hird

Gender : Female

Character Name : Lewis Canfield

Original Name : Humphrey Lestocq

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Ross

Original Name : Gordon McLeod

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Ross

Original Name : Edith Sharpe

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bill James

Original Name : Harry Fowler

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ticker James

Original Name : Danny Green

Gender : Male

Character Name : Inspector Rance

Original Name : Stuart Lindsell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lil

Original Name : Olive Sloane

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bridges

Original Name : George Street

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Lamb

Original Name : Rose Howlett

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mr. Lamb

Original Name : Charles Paton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Charlie

Original Name : Stuart Latham

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Barker

Original Name : Cameron Hall

Gender : Male

Character Name : Barman

Original Name : Norman Williams

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Barker (uncredited)

Original Name : Nora Gordon

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bus Conductress (uncredited)

Original Name : Ann Sullivan

Gender : Female

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

The Reformatory Girl. There is very little known and written about as regards Lewis Gilbert's Once a Sinner. It's one of those British "B" noir productions that hasn't been readily available to Brit Noir completists. Thankfully some stalwart noir peeps have kept it topical via internet forums and it does have an official DVD release now. Once a Sinner is very British. The backdrop is quintessentially of the British period, a place of terrace houses, smoky public houses and working class citizens trawling the wet streets that are dimly lit by bulbous lamps. The dialect and delivery is also very correct in the British mannerisms of the time, and crucially the class divide and society's reaction to our main character is born out by the film makers. Adapted to the screen by David Evans from the novel "Irene" written by Ronald Marsh, it's a film dealing with a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who steals the heart of a well to do man and subsequently flips his life upside down. Peer and parental pressure snobbery is abound as Irene James (Pat Kirkwood) and John Ross (Jack Watling) try to battle through the emotional maze pitched in front of them. But with a crooked ex-lover (the wonderful Sydney Tafler) refusing to go away, Irene's chances of finally making a go of life seems remote. For the most part the pace is slow and the picture is very dialogue heavy. Ronald Binge's musical score also confuses the issue of just what type of film this wants to be, it's all very breezy and akin to one of those lovely old Ealing comedies that were made with some wry social commentaries. That is until the last quarter is reached and the piece moves onto a different plane... Gilbert and cinematographer Frank North introduce ominous visuals as Binge's music becomes more sinister in tone. It is here where Once a Sinner earns its noir badge, the narrative becomes devil like and the pay off is straight out of noirville. It's most assuredly a fitting reward for those having the patience to stay with Gilbert's movie during the more laborious passages. 6.5/10