Green for Danger (1946) (1947)

80% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
81% of users liked it
(959 ratings)

At a World War II emergency hospital, a postman dues under anesthetic during a relatively minor operation. One of the nurses who was present announces that the man's death was no accident, but a murder -- and then she, too, is murdered. The police are called in, led by Inspector Cockrill (Alastair… More At a World War II emergency hospital, a postman dues under anesthetic during a relatively minor operation. One of the nurses who was present announces that the man's death was no accident, but a murder -- and then she, too, is murdered. The police are called in, led by Inspector Cockrill (Alastair Sim) of Scotland Yard, and he soon determines that any one of the five surviving members of the surgical team might have had a motive for the murders. In the course of his investigation, he also uncovers an array of both eccentric and ugly personal information about most of those present, but no killer that he can ascertain for certain. He must finally draw the murderer out by putting one of the suspects at risk. In the midst of the suspense are moments of droll comedy, of the sort that one would expect from a movie made by the authors of The Lady Vanishes, along with a palpably rich late wartime atmosphere which, surprisingly, did not repel war-weary audiences on either side of the Altantic. Indeed, Sim is so beguilingly witty and charismatic in his eccentric way as Inspector Cockrill, that the wonder is that there was never a follow-up movie or even a series built around his character. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: Sidney Gilliat
Written By: Christianna Brand, Sidney Gilliat, Claud Gurney
Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1946 Wide
On DVD: Feb 13, 2007
Studio: Eagle-Lion Distributors Limite

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
The plot is too laboriously constructed, and the reason for the murders appears too incredible.
Thomas M. Pryor, New York Times
Green For Danger will give the aisleside sleuths a better workout than they have had for months and it also will rest easily with those who are content just to sit back and let the story resolve itself.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Loved this first-rate Brit whodunit that's set in an emergency cottage hospital during WWII.
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
a murder mystery with all the expected twists and turns and convenient red herrings and also an eccentric comedy of manners that only a British film could pull off
Jay Antani, Filmcritic.com
the quintessential British murder mystery of the period.
, Time Out
One of Launder and Gilliat's most likeable films.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Absolutely splendid murder mystery with a great Alastair Sim performance.
Laura Bushell, Film4
A hugely likeable gem of postwar British film.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
An unfairly overlooked delight in the annals of British film history.

Read all 9 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Lanning :

The film debut of Alastair Sim. What an actor! All the signs are here of the brilliant career ahead. Too bad he got started so late in life. Kind of like John Houseman and Richard Fansworth. Just wish they'd started sooner.<p>This is a delightful whodunit, really,… More
The film debut of Alastair Sim. What an actor! All the signs are here of the brilliant career ahead. Too bad he got started so late in life. Kind of like John Houseman and Richard Fansworth. Just wish they'd started sooner.<p>This is a delightful whodunit, really, thanks to Sim's acting. Definitely a different kind of murder mystery.
familiar s

Kinda felt like someone was reading a story to me in lieu of watching a movie. Found it more enjoyable for its funny moments than the whodunit part. IMO, the whodunit part was the weakest link of the movie. The actors were incredibly terrific, though, which provided quite a lot of… More
Kinda felt like someone was reading a story to me in lieu of watching a movie. Found it more enjoyable for its funny moments than the whodunit part. IMO, the whodunit part was the weakest link of the movie. The actors were incredibly terrific, though, which provided quite a lot of relief.
jay n

Excellent whodunit in the English fashion. Terribly reserved and proper with tight direction, good perfomances and a wonderful one from Alastair Sim as the inspector.
Arash X

Feels a bit rushed & ridiculous at times but overall enjoyable & the detective's character is great
Ken S

Really twisty British whodunit. Great dialogue and dark cinematography make this Criterion release worth seeking out.
danny d

this is a solid scotland yard murder mystery. the cast was good and the end ofthe film was very satisfying despite a slow and pointless opening to the film. this was a simple film, the murderer is caught with a suprisingly easy explination, but it was still compelling. good film.
Stella D

unusual and veddy british murder mystery. i do enjoy trevor howard and alistair sim is great as the eccentric inspector from scotland yard
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"Green for Danger" is an atmospheric if disappointing film set at a hospital during World War II with an unsatisfying mystery at its core. However, it does end with one humdinger of a kicker. Despite some intriguing foreshadowing to not only introduce… More
[font=Century Gothic]"Green for Danger" is an atmospheric if disappointing film set at a hospital during World War II with an unsatisfying mystery at its core. However, it does end with one humdinger of a kicker. Despite some intriguing foreshadowing to not only introduce the characters but also the first victim, Joseph Higgins(Moore Marriott), the postman, who dies on the operating table after suffering injuries from an aerial bomb, the movie takes too long to get started, wasting time on various melodramas.(Which just goes to show you that even as bombs fall, life goes on.) This is not the first time something like this has happened to Dr. Barnes(Trevor Howard), the anesthesiologist. Four years previously, a girl also died under his care. He has other problems like breaking up with his fiancee, Nurse Linley(Sally Gray), who may be falling for the dashing Dr. Eden(Leo Genn). But once the second murder is committed(which the viewer can see from a mile away), Inspector Cockrill(Alastair Sim) steps into the fray and Sim's energetic performance carries the day.[/font]
Doctor S

Interesting mystery with effective cast of culprits gets knocked up a notch with Alastair Sim's offbeat, drolly amusing portrayal of the investigating detective.

Read all 9 featured audience ratings

Cast

Alastair Sim
as Inspector Cockrill
Leo Genn
as Mr. Eden
Trevor Howard
as Dr. Barney Barnes

Sally Gray
as Nurse Linley
Rosamund John
as Esther Sanson
Judy Campbell
as Marion Bates

See full cast

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