The Gentle Gunman (Limited Edition) 4K Ultra HD Review

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Historical Context and Critical Positioning

Often overshadowed by its more celebrated contemporaries – Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat’s I See a Dark Stranger (1946) and Carol Reed’s Odd Man Out (1947) – Basil Dearden’s The Gentle Gunman has struggled for recognition. Adapted by Roger MacDougall from his own 1950 play, the film plunges into the murky world of the IRA during World War II, specifically drawing inspiration from the organization’s real, but largely forgotten, 1939 bombing campaign in England. This campaign, designed to exploit British wartime vulnerability, included suitcase bombs in transport hubs and sabotage attacks. The film implicitly references the tragic Coventry incident where a misplaced IRA bomb killed civilians, an event that decimated public support for their cause. Set against the backdrop of the London Blitz in 1941, the film explores the complexities of Irish neutrality and the British government’s strategic concerns over Irish ports, while focusing intimately on the internal struggles within an IRA cell. Despite its relevant historical grounding, the film was critically dismissed in its time for a perceived “flaccid message about violence being futile” and its leads’ unconvincing Irish accents (John Mills and Dirk Bogarde). It rarely received credit for its balanced refusal to glorify or demonize the IRA outright or its efficient plotting. A notable framing device features witty exchanges between a pragmatic Irish doctor (Joseph Tomelty) and a blustering English official (Gilbert Harding), setting the stage for the human drama.

Narrative Strengths and Weaknesses

The Gentle Gunman presents a tightly constructed thriller narrative centered on the Sullivan brothers: Terry (Mills), a seasoned IRA operative experiencing a crisis of conscience, and Matt (Bogarde), his younger, more impulsive sibling newly arrived in London seeking purpose. The plot hinges on Terry’s growing disillusionment with the IRA’s violent methods, particularly after being tasked with planting a bomb in a crowded London Underground shelter (a tense sequence filmed at Holborn station disguised as “Camden Road”). His rejection of violence marks him as a traitor within his own organization, forcing him into hiding. Simultaneously, Matt is drawn into the cell, volunteering for the very mission Terry abhors. When IRA members Connolly and Patsy are captured, both Terry and the local IRA commander, the ruthless Shinto (Robert Beatty), vow to rescue them from Belfast, but clash fundamentally over tactics. MacDougall, unburdened by deep public knowledge of IRA internal structures at the time, crafts characters whose motivations are often sketched rather than deeply explored, focusing instead on the immediate pressures and moral dilemmas of their situation. While the central message opposing violence is clear, the film’s strength lies in its suspenseful rescue mission and its depiction of factional conflict within the republican movement.

Characterizations and Performances

The film’s character dynamics drive its modest intensity. John Mills delivers a compelling performance as Terry Sullivan, embodying the “man of violence” who pragmatically shifts towards peace. His Terry is clear-minded, resourceful, and untroubled by personal danger, yet convincingly portrays the weariness of lost idealism. He articulates his change of heart powerfully, describing feeling like “an anarchist in the middle of an air raid with a parcel of home-made bombs and a bagful of answers to questions that people have stopped asking.” Dirk Bogarde, conversely, struggles with the underwritten role of Matt, a naive country boy whose motivations are still hazy; it’s a part reportedly undesired by the actor and it shows. Robert Beatty is effectively menacing as the hardline Shinto, isolated and reliant on limited manpower. Elizabeth Sellars, as Maureen Fagan, provides a fascinating presence. Filmed by Gordon Dines with striking noir-ish flair – often confined in cramped spaces or silhouetted romantically – she embodies a dangerous idealism. Her mother (Barbara Mullen) bluntly accuses her of being “in love with death.” Maureen’s complex relationship with Terry, particularly a brilliantly filmed quasi-love scene through the gaps of a prison door where loyalties and affections clash, is a highlight. Terry’s wry, affectionate observation about her – “I’m thinking if Maureen ever had a child, he’d be born in uniform with a Tommy gun for a rattle” – perfectly captures her tragic fervor.

Visual Style and Conclusion

Cinematographer Gordon Dines elevates the material significantly. His work creates a suitably tense and shadowy atmosphere, particularly in the London sequences and the claustrophobic Irish safe-house settings. The standout visual moment is the charged conversation between Terry and Maureen through the prison door, captured in evocative alternating close-ups. The London Underground bomb sequence is also effectively staged, generating genuine suspense amidst the Blitz backdrop. While The Gentle Gunman may lack the poetic depth of Odd Man Out or the charm of I See a Dark Stranger, and is hampered by Bogarde’s performance and accent issues, it remains a worthwhile and underseen drama. Its virtues include a taut, suspenseful plot, a refreshingly non-polemical view of the IRA conflict for its era, a strong central performance from John Mills, a memorable and visually striking portrayal of fanaticism by Elizabeth Sellars, and assured direction from Dearden. The film offers a gritty, human-scale exploration of idealism, disillusionment, and the personal costs of political violence during a fraught historical moment.

The Video

The Gentle Gunman was restored in 4K SDR from the original negative by StudioCanal. Additional work to produce the 4K HDR master was undertaken by Fidelity in Motion. It’s presented on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray in a 1.37:1 HEVC 2160p (4K UHD) Dolby Vision encodement. The black and white 35mm source looks gorgeous, stunning, and whatever other adjectives you can apply to it. It is starkly contrasted with rich yet not overblown white levels, inky blacks with nuanced shadows, crispy, organic grain and palpable textures.

The Audio

The original monaural mix for The Gentle Gunman is provided in LPCM 1.0. It is clear and surprisingly dynamic given its age and limited frequency range and number of channels.

The Supplements

Indicator supplies a feature rich release with a number of interviews and a full, 40-page booklet, a continuity script and more.

• Limited edition exclusive 40-page booklet with new essay by Robert Murphy, archival production reports on the making of the film, extracts from the film’s pressbook, an overview of contemporary critical responses, new writing by Jeff Billington on All Hands, and full film credits, and information on the transfer
• Limited edition of 5,000 individually numbered units (3,000 4K UHDs and 2,000 Blu-rays) for the US

Bonus Features:

• James Dearden: Battle for the Soul – An introduction to The Gentle Gunman (1080p; 00:07:46) –Director and screenwriter James Dearden introduces his father’s work
• The Guardian Interview with Dirk Bogarde – An audio-only interview that plays over the film. Archival audio recording of the great actor in conversation with Tony Bilbow at the National Film Theatre, London
• A Closer Look at The Gentle Gunman with Mathew Sweet and Phuong Le (1080p; 00:33:40)
• Image Gallery (1080p)
• Dialogue Continuity Script
• All Hands (1940) (1080p; 00:11:17) — Short film produced by Ealing Studios for the ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’ campaign, starring John Mills

The Final Assessment

This release, a world premiere on 4K UHD from Indicator, continues to stun and impress as most Indicator releases often do. The Gentle Gunman, with its topical plot and noirish visual palette is ready for reassessment and there is no better way to do it than this sumptuous, feature-rich 4K package from Indicator.

The Gentle Gunman (Limited Edition) is out on 4K Ultra HD June 24, 2025, from Indicator

Details

• Rating Certificate: Approved
• Studios & Distributors: J. Arthur Rank Organisation | Ealing Studios | Michael Balcon Productions | Indicator
• Director: Basil Dearden
• Written By: Roger MacDougall
• Run Time: 86 Mins.
• Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
• Video Format: HEVC 2160p (4K UHD)
• HDR Format: Dolby Vision (HDR10 Compatible)
• Primary Audio: English LPCM 1.0
• Subtitles: New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Street Date 24 June 2025