1. Odd Man Out (1947)
Dir. Carol Reed Cast: James Mason, Robert Newton, Cyril Cusack, Kathleen Ryan and William Hartnell Johnny McQueen (James Mason) is an Irish nationalist who for the last six months has been living in a small room following his escape from prison. His first time outside is taking part in a robbery, which goes wrong when he is shot and abandoned by his friends. The film takes place over twenty-four hours as a wounded Johnny staggers through Belfast, and his girlfriend, Kathleen (Kathleen Ryan), tries to find him before the police. With the 24-hour structure and Irish setting, the film is almost like a crime version of James Joyces Ulysses. Carol Reed went onto direct the more famous The Third Man and sadly this film gets looked down upon in comparison, but Odd Man Out is beautifully shot tragedy that deserves recognition. James Mason has to be one of the most reliable actors in Hollywood history. Ive seen him in bad films, but never giving a bad performance. His role as Johnny McQueen is one of his least well known, but it may well be one of his greatest. Odd Man Out plays out like a noir tragedy. Its a thrilling, heartbreaking movie.