The Quare Fellow (1962)

73% of users liked it
(59 ratings)

Brendan Behan, the quixotic, eternally sloshed Irish poet/playwright, peppered his play The Quare Fellow with plenty of "gallows humor." The film version dispenses with most the play's morbid jests, leaving us with a grim, straightforward account of a Dublin death-row prison guard (Patrick McGoohan)… More Brendan Behan, the quixotic, eternally sloshed Irish poet/playwright, peppered his play The Quare Fellow with plenty of "gallows humor." The film version dispenses with most the play's morbid jests, leaving us with a grim, straightforward account of a Dublin death-row prison guard (Patrick McGoohan) and his growing empathy with two condemned prisoners. One could understand the removal of the play's comic elements had the film been made in timorous Hollywood. But since Quare Fellow was financed and produced in Ireland, it seems a inappropriately glum tribute to one of the country's boldest and most brilliant talents. Quare Fellow was directed by American "B" specialist Arthur Dreifuss, who also adapted Behan's play for the screen. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Arthur Dreifuss
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Feb 19, 1963 Wide
On DVD: Dec 9, 2008

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The only thing carried over from Behan's play is the bleakness.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

Finally a movie starring Patrick McGoohan, I don't know why he didn't do more movies, he's a great actor. This movie is a really good drama, dealing with the inner turmoil of a new prison guard, and the wife of the prisoner who is about to be executed. It's… More
Finally a movie starring Patrick McGoohan, I don't know why he didn't do more movies, he's a great actor. This movie is a really good drama, dealing with the inner turmoil of a new prison guard, and the wife of the prisoner who is about to be executed. It's really suspenseful, and I recommend it.
Walter M

In "The Quare Fellow," Thomas Crimmin(Patrick McGoohan) is a newly hired prison guard under the supervision of veteran guard Regan(Walter Macken) who is looking forward to a promotion but is instead being forced out at the end of one last task. That turns out to be a double… More
In "The Quare Fellow," Thomas Crimmin(Patrick McGoohan) is a newly hired prison guard under the supervision of veteran guard Regan(Walter Macken) who is looking forward to a promotion but is instead being forced out at the end of one last task. That turns out to be a double hanging which turns into a single when the guards learn through the prison grapevine that one of the condemned has been given a reprieve. Now, they are left with the difficult task of telling Kathleen(Sylvia Syms) that it was not her husband. While it certainly has its share of flaws(I don't know how small this town is but what are the odds of Kathleen and Thomas ending up at the same boardinghouse?) and whose punch has probably been diminished with time, "The Quare Fellow" is still a gritty look at prison life in Ireland which serves as a microcosm of the country in general. The former rebels from the time of the Troubles are now in charge while islanders are treated by most as outcasts. Of central concern is the hypocrisy surrounding the death penalty which is connected to the outside population as well.

Cast

            Patrick McGoohan as Thomas Crimmin

            Sylvia Syms as Kathleen

            Walter Macken as Regan

            Harry Brogan as Dunlavin

            Jack Cunningham as Chief Warder

            Dermot Kelly as Donnelly

            Hilton Edwards as Holy Healy

            Marie Kean as Mrs. O'Hara

            Philip O'Flynn as Prison Governor

            Leo McCabe as Dr. Flyn

            Pauline Delaney as Mickser's wife

            Geoffrey Golden as 1st Customs Officer

            Tom Irwin as Customs Officer

            Agnes Bernelle as Meg

            Dominic Roche as Prison Chaplain

            Arthur O'Sullivan as Himself

            Aubrey Morris as Silvertop

            Robert Bernal as Mickser

            Brendan Cauldwell as Shamrock Attendant

            Marie Conmee as Publican Woman

            John Cowley as Cleary

            Eddie Golden as Reception Warder

            Eric Gorman as Neighbour

            Michael Hennessy as 2nd Publican

            T.P. McKenna as Walsh

            Derry Power as Stretcher-Bearer

            Norman Rodway as Lavery

            John Welsh as Carroll

            Joseph O'Donnell as Poet

            David Kelly as Reception Clerk

            Gerry Alexander as Kelly

            Charlie Roberts as Dock Worker

            James Brennan as Old Patriot

            Aiden Grennell as Food Orderly
See full cast