The Small Back Room, also known as Hour of Glory, is a Powell-Pressburger production about a scientist, Sammy Rice (David Farrar) who during World War II works in a back room as a bomb disposal expert.
The Germans are dropping bombs - probably land mines - that appear to be booby-trapped and look like large flashlights. So far the bombs have killed three children. It's and it's up to Rice and his team to figure out how to defuse them.
Rice, however, is a troubled man. He is in terrible pain from an artificial foot, and the painkillers are no longer effective. By turning to drink he has become an alcoholic.
He is dependent on his girlfriend, Susan (Kathleen Byron) who lives across the hall. She spends time with him and tries to keep him off of the alcohol. However, his bitterness, anger over the way his department is being managed, and his lack of self-worth is discouraging her.
There are some stunning scenes in this film. To name a couple: Sammy's hallucination/dream sequence where he is surrounded by ticking clocks and a giant liquor bottle; the scene questioning a dying man who was near the bomb; and the end - a complete nail biter - are just a few.
David Farrar gives a tremendous performance as a man suffering from pain, addiction, and frustration, and Kathleen Byron is lovely as his girlfriend, who attempts to encourage him and let him know she wants more than just a man who can dance.
Beautifully photographed in black and white and very uplifting.
The Germans are dropping bombs - probably land mines - that appear to be booby-trapped and look like large flashlights. So far the bombs have killed three children. It's and it's up to Rice and his team to figure out how to defuse them.
Rice, however, is a troubled man. He is in terrible pain from an artificial foot, and the painkillers are no longer effective. By turning to drink he has become an alcoholic.
He is dependent on his girlfriend, Susan (Kathleen Byron) who lives across the hall. She spends time with him and tries to keep him off of the alcohol. However, his bitterness, anger over the way his department is being managed, and his lack of self-worth is discouraging her.
There are some stunning scenes in this film. To name a couple: Sammy's hallucination/dream sequence where he is surrounded by ticking clocks and a giant liquor bottle; the scene questioning a dying man who was near the bomb; and the end - a complete nail biter - are just a few.
David Farrar gives a tremendous performance as a man suffering from pain, addiction, and frustration, and Kathleen Byron is lovely as his girlfriend, who attempts to encourage him and let him know she wants more than just a man who can dance.
Beautifully photographed in black and white and very uplifting.