Odd Man Out (1947)

100% of critics liked it
(24 reviews)
84% of users liked it
(1,599 ratings)

Carol Reed's taut character study (disguised as a suspense melodrama) was adapted from the novel by F.L. Green and stars James Mason in his star-making role as I.R.A. operative Johnny McQueen. Breaking out of jail, Johnny takes it on the lam, but idealism forces him out of hiding in order to raise… More Carol Reed's taut character study (disguised as a suspense melodrama) was adapted from the novel by F.L. Green and stars James Mason in his star-making role as I.R.A. operative Johnny McQueen. Breaking out of jail, Johnny takes it on the lam, but idealism forces him out of hiding in order to raise money for the I.R.A. cause he believes in so strongly. He decides to rob a bank, but the hold-up goes bad and Johnny is seriously wounded by the police. Staggering through the streets of Belfast, Johnny meets a succession of people who either want to help him or turn him over to the authorities. Johnny finally stumbles into a pub, where he is taken in by a homosexual artist (Robert Newton) who wants Johnny to pose for him in order to capture the desperation in his eyes. Johnny breaks free from the artist and tries to make his way to the waterfront in a final effort to escape ... but the police are slowly closing in. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 51 min.
Directed By: Carol Reed
Written By: F.L. Green
Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Apr 23, 1947 Limited
Studio: Universal Pictures

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
This may be Reed's most pretentious film, but it also happens to be one of his very best, beautifully capturing the poetry of a city at night.
Variety Staff, Variety
Carol Reed has made his film with deliberation and care, and has achieved splendid teamwork from every member of the cast. Occasionally too intent on pointing his moral and adorning his tale, he has missed little in its telling.
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
Odd Man Out is a picture to see, to absorb in the darkness of the theatre and then go home and talk about.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Carol Reed's Odd Man Out is one of the best political thrillers ever, with a top notch turn from James Mason.
Christopher Lloyd, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
I really enjoyed the dark atmospheric cinematography, and a wonderful, large cast. The movie kind of wanders away from itself in the second half, but I mostly enjoyed the places where it rambled.
Armond White, New York Press
This is not director Carol Reed's best film (ranking behind The Third Man,The Stars Look Down, Outcast of the Islands, Night Train to Munich), but it impressively displays Reed's command of image and atmosphere.
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York
The movie has a vaunted place in the context of British cinema, and deservedly. Today, what Odd Man Out most suggests is a desperate endgame, the potentials of a long life snuffed out in a moment of impulsiveness.
Jamie Russell, BBC
Reed's take on the material is innovative, letting realism blur into an anaemic, soul-searching delirium. Camera trickery is used to mind-bending effect and Odd Man Out's hallucinatory tone is often astonishing.
Anton Bitel, Eye for Film
a rich noir treat - and Mason has the acting chops to make even a rapidly fading, near mute half-corpse compelling to watch.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
Fascinating but imperfect.
David Parkinson, Empire Magazine
Suspense gives way to metaphor in a stark thriller that hints at the work to come from master Carol Reed.
Dave Calhoun, Time Out
Carol Reed's first great postwar film.
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Well-directed melodrama. Doesn't work on a 'tension' level, but is worth a watch.
Richard Luck, Film4
It's amongst British cinema's finest crime dramas.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jim H

After an IRA-sponsored bank heist goes wrong, a seriously wounded man wanders Belfast. I spent most of this film wondering about the title card at the beginning that pretentiously proclaimed the film was about "the hearts of men" and not the IRA. I kept looking for… More
After an IRA-sponsored bank heist goes wrong, a seriously wounded man wanders Belfast. I spent most of this film wondering about the title card at the beginning that pretentiously proclaimed the film was about "the hearts of men" and not the IRA. I kept looking for what the film was saying about the hearts of men, but the collection of characters was more varied and idiosyncratic than can be reduced to types; they don't seem emblematic of a particular political position. I felt like the film wanted to be more reductive than what I saw in it, which is a strange reversal of fortune. The action sequences, particularly the attempted escape from the bank, were often thrilling. When the film became a character study instead of an action film in the second and third acts, director Carol Reed handled that transition well, though not seamlessly. James Mason flashes bits of a fleshed-out character, but mostly the script relegates him to playing wounded, but the large, supporting cast is colorful and interesting. Overall, I don't really know what Odd Man Out is saying or what it thinks it's saying, but the characters are round and mostly interesting, which ultimately makes the film worth watching.
Randy T

There's a plethora of morals and conclusions to be drawn from Carol Reed's timeless <i>Odd Man Out</i>. A saga of hope vs. hopelessness in a duel to the bitter end. Absolutely brilliant.
jay n

Excellent British noir, perhaps a little overlong. James Mason is brilliant in the lead but it is beautifully acted by the entire cast.
Arash X

Wow, Two thumbs up, Another masterpiece by Mr. Reed
Ken S

One of the great unsung film noir's. Carol Reed's (The Third Man) other great masterpiece stars James Mason as an Irish terrorist on the hiding out from his gang, the law and head hunting citizens.
Stella D

gritty crime drama from carol reed pre-third man. nice performance by james mason as an ira man on the run after a botched robbery. progress toward reed's masterpiece is quite evident with great shadowy noir atmosphere, sharp dialogue, suspenseful chase scenes and interesting… More
gritty crime drama from carol reed pre-third man. nice performance by james mason as an ira man on the run after a botched robbery. progress toward reed's masterpiece is quite evident with great shadowy noir atmosphere, sharp dialogue, suspenseful chase scenes and interesting random characters along the way all leading to a powerful climax