Brighton Rock (1947)

100% of critics liked it
(15 reviews)
86% of users liked it
(2,044 ratings)

This unsparing, brutal look at the British criminal underbelly stars Richard Attenborough as Pinkie Brown, a pock-marked gang leader. While leading his men in a racetrack robbery, Pinkie kills a man. He convinces pretty waitress Rose (Carol Marsh) to provide him with an alibi, promising to marry her… More This unsparing, brutal look at the British criminal underbelly stars Richard Attenborough as Pinkie Brown, a pock-marked gang leader. While leading his men in a racetrack robbery, Pinkie kills a man. He convinces pretty waitress Rose (Carol Marsh) to provide him with an alibi, promising to marry her in exchange. After the wedding, the sociopathic Pinkie conducts a slow and careful campaign to drive his young wife to suicide. A moody, well-acted film with a stunning performance by the 24-year-old Attenborough, Brighton Rock is notable for bringing a new vicious realism to British crime cinema. Adapted by Terrance Rattigan and Graham Greene, from Greene's novel, the screenplay is superlative. The grim realism and sordid subject matter of the film is striking, handled by twin filmmakers Roy and John Boulting, who use mood and dark, stark photography to convey an almost palpable sense of dread. The American distributor of Brighton Rock, smelling disaster with that ambivalent title, renamed the film Young Scarface, and while it was quite controversial in its day, the film can't quite recapture the impact it had upon its initial release. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: John Boulting
Written By: Terence Rattigan
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Nov 7, 1947 Wide
Studio: Rialto Pictures

Critic Reviews

Vadim Rizov, Village Voice
A seedy noir, equal parts concealed-camera atmosphere and tense set pieces.
Variety Staff, Variety
This tends to prove that Britain can turn out a gangster picture as brutal as any Hollywood had devised.
Shaun Munro, What Culture
Brighton Rock is a classic example of filmmaking that remains hugely accessible despite its age...
Kent Turner, Film-Forward.com
As brassy, boozy, and blonde entertainer Ida Arnold, [Hermione Baddeley] is a blast of smoky and stale music-hall air.
Keith Uhlich, Time Out New York
The future Lord Dickie's sinister stylings are what linger, especially the vitriolic audio recording he makes for his betrothed, done as if damnation were the most casual of enterprises.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A brutal look at the British underworld -- as seen through the amoral eyes of teenaged thug Pinkie Brown, played brilliantly by the 24 year-old Attenborough.
Chris Cabin, Filmcritic.com
nuanced and subtle
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
Attenborough's Pinky is ... one of the scariest noir villains of all time.
Ian Nathan, Empire Magazine
Director John Boulting brings the fabled Greeneland, that vile landscape ripened on sin and betrayal at the black heart of all his novels, to sensuous life.
, Film4
Brighton Rock takes the US noir thriller formula and blends it with a striking vision of the British seaside town in the 1930s.
Jake Arnott, Guardian [UK]
Brighton Rock is worth another viewing simply as a reminder that gangster films are meant to be unsettling.
Jamie Russell, BBC
John Boulting's adaptation of Graham Greene's classic novel stakes its claim as one of the darkest films ever to be made on these shores.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
If you have any kind of feel for noir films, this one is in the don't miss category.

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Lady D

An enjoyable film, but the storyline is a little one-dimensional. I have to admit to loathing those weak women portrayed in these type of films, but is obviously a sign of it?s time. Enjoyed the ending.
Anthony L

A great film but I?ve always had issues with the ending. I always thought we shouldn't have ever heard Pinkie in the voice recording booth but should have found out what he said at the end. Still, that aside, the film is fantastic as are the cast but its Attenborough who steals… More
A great film but I?ve always had issues with the ending. I always thought we shouldn't have ever heard Pinkie in the voice recording booth but should have found out what he said at the end. Still, that aside, the film is fantastic as are the cast but its Attenborough who steals the show as Pinkie, a villain who's up there with Al Capone, Jaws and Satan!
Cindy I

Well-done Brit gangster flick in the style of Little Caesar and Public Enemy. Richard Attenborough is creepy as hell as the cold-blooded sociopath Pinky who lets a smitten waitress in on that he killed someone and then marries her so she can't rat on him. Attenborough will chill… More
Well-done Brit gangster flick in the style of Little Caesar and Public Enemy. Richard Attenborough is creepy as hell as the cold-blooded sociopath Pinky who lets a smitten waitress in on that he killed someone and then marries her so she can't rat on him. Attenborough will chill your spine with his performance -- brilliant move on his part to have his character NEVER blink -- and Hermione Baddeley is fun as the woman who was last with the man who is said to have committed suicide but she believes Pinky hit. This is my first Brit gangster film, and I'll have to seek out more them.
Shauna R

Excellent British Gangster classic. Richard Attenborough gives a fantastically menacing performance as mob leader Pinkie Brown, Carol Marsh is also good as the very innocent and naive Rose. A dark, suspenseful gangster thriller with sharp and clever dialogue to top it all off.… More
Excellent British Gangster classic. Richard Attenborough gives a fantastically menacing performance as mob leader Pinkie Brown, Carol Marsh is also good as the very innocent and naive Rose. A dark, suspenseful gangster thriller with sharp and clever dialogue to top it all off. Brighton Rock is an underrated classic.
Stella D

awesome brit gangster classic with a great performance by a young richard attenborough as a chilly psychopath
Sarah G

Pinkie Brown (Richard Attenborough) is a small town hoodlum who's gang run a protection racket based at Brighton race course. When Pinkie orders the murder of a rival, Fred (Alan Wheatley), the police believe it to be suicide. This doesn't convince Ida Arnold (Hermione… More
Pinkie Brown (Richard Attenborough) is a small town hoodlum who's gang run a protection racket based at Brighton race course. When Pinkie orders the murder of a rival, Fred (Alan Wheatley), the police believe it to be suicide. This doesn't convince Ida Arnold (Hermione Baddeley), who was with Fred just before he died, and she sets out to find the truth. She comes across naive waitress Rose (Carol Marsh), who can prove that Fred was murdered. In an attempt to keep Rose quiet Pinkie marries her. But with his gang beginning to doubt his ability, and his rivals taking over his business, Pinkie starts to become more desperate and violent. This has to be one of the best British films ever. Has a very film noir feel to it as well. This contains a brilliant script, brilliant film-making and a very well paced story and one excellent performances by Dickie Attenborugh. I don't think I've ever seen him quite like this . Brighton is obviosuly known as a seaside resort town and entertainment and pier, we see a very dark and disturbing side to this relaxed holiday town. There is a sinister feel throughout the film and is shot and edited very very well. However it is very difficult to understand the dialogue at times. Overall a highly recomendable film to all.
Walter M

"Brighton Rock" starts with gangster Pinkie Brown(Richard Attenborough) hearing that Fred Hale(Alan Wheatley), a reporter responsible for outing a member of his gang and therefore getting him killed, is back in town. Pinkie and his guys corner him in a bar which leads to a… More
"Brighton Rock" starts with gangster Pinkie Brown(Richard Attenborough) hearing that Fred Hale(Alan Wheatley), a reporter responsible for outing a member of his gang and therefore getting him killed, is back in town. Pinkie and his guys corner him in a bar which leads to a chase through Brighton, eventually leading to the pier where Fred attaches himself to Ida(Hermione Baddeley), a boozy chanteuse, for safety. But in the time he loses her, Pinkie finds him and finishes the job. Even though the police do not suspect foul play, Pinkie cannot rest easily, making the acquaintance of Rose(Carol Marsh), a young waitress, to perfect the alibi. "Brighton Rock" is an atmospheric thriller that is helped by a superb performance from Richard Attenborough as a gangster struggling to hold onto his turf between the wars. As the opening statement says, this was a period of high crime in Brighton that existed until the police stepped in. And as one policeman tells Pinkie, he does not care that the criminals kill each other but will intervene when innocent bystanders are threatened. As one, Rose is rather naive but she is only seventeen, about the same age of Pinkie, and has little knowledge of the way the world works. In contrast, Ida is older and wiser and cannot be easily fooled, running her own investigation. So, in the end, crime goes down once the citizens take control of the city, making Brighton a safer, if more boring city.
Lesley N

The classic Brighton film. Attenborough as a chubby faced thug.
Emily B

An excellent Brit Noir, with an outstanding performance by Richard Attenborough as the ruthless young gangster "Pinkie".