A 1953 Serve Of British Noir

John Mills Walks UK Mean Streets in The Long Memory (1953)

Wrong place at wrong time John Mills pulls twelve years for a murder he (in fact, no one) committed, actual perps and supposed victim at large and going unpunished until he gets out to get even. The Long Memory is low-key British noir that captures maybe too well UK austerity still in play after a devastating war, its effect felt on locations near-post-apocalyptic. Our mean streets were like yellow brick road compared with what Mills traverses here, harsh tours like The Long Memory a workout even for trench coat faddists who think they know edgy. Brit noir generally had us beat for its stripping of all glamour and star appeal from dark subjects. Players over there took work as same was found and brought no temperament to gigs they were thankful to have. It's for that and conviction otherwise that all seem born to hardships portrayed. A UK industry hanging on by thumbs was well-suited to desperate topic in any case. Continued search for noir from there is always rewarding. I've not seen one yet that missed. The Long Memory is another from VCI's Rank Collection, and quality is fine.