Watch The Quare Fellow

The Quare Fellow is a gripping drama film that was released in 1962. Directed by Sidney Lumet, the movie is set in Mountjoy Prison in Dublin, Ireland, and is based on the stage play of the same name by Brendan Behan. The movie explores the experiences of several prisoners as they contemplate their impending death sentences, and their interactions with each other and the prison staff.

The main character of the movie is the titular "Quare Fellow," a nameless prisoner who has been condemned to death for an unnamed crime. The Quare Fellow is never seen on screen, but his presence is constantly felt throughout the movie, as the other prisoners and the prison guards discuss his fate and what it means for them. The Quare Fellow's execution is scheduled to take place on the morning after the events of the movie, and the tension and anxiety among the prisoners are palpable.

The plot of the movie centers around a group of prisoners who are housed together in a cellblock. One of the prisoners, Thomas Crimmin (played by Patrick McGoohan), is a political prisoner who refuses to wear the prison uniform as a protest against British rule in Ireland. Crimmin is a principled man who is deeply committed to his cause, but he finds himself at odds with the other prisoners, who perceive him as aloof and unapproachable.

Other prisoners in the cellblock include the veteran criminal "Neddy" (played by Walter Macken), who is resigned to his fate and spends his days reminiscing about his past crimes, and the young and naive "Jimmy" (played by Dermot Kelly), who is terrified at the prospect of his impending execution.

The prison guards are represented by two characters: the stern and authoritarian "Warder Regan" (played by Patrick Magee) and the more sympathetic "Warder Fallon" (played by Geoffrey Golden). Regan is a hard-line prison guard who believes in maintaining strict discipline and enforcing the rules without exception. Fallon, on the other hand, is a more compassionate character who tries to connect with the prisoners on a human level.

As the day of the execution approaches, tensions rise in the cellblock. Crimmin's refusal to wear the prison uniform becomes a source of conflict, and the other prisoners are divided over whether to support him or shun him. Meanwhile, Neddy tries to make peace with his impending death, while Jimmy is consumed with fear and regret.

The Quare Fellow is a powerful and thought-provoking movie that explores themes of justice, mortality, and the innate humanity that exists within even the most hardened of criminals. The film is shot in stark black and white, with a gritty and realistic style that gives it a raw and uncompromising edge. The performances are uniformly excellent, with McGoohan in particular delivering a standout performance as the conflicted and complex Thomas Crimmin.

In conclusion, The Quare Fellow is a must-see movie for fans of drama and social commentary. It's a bleak and unflinching look at the lives of those on the fringes of society, and a poignant reminder that even those who have committed terrible crimes are still human beings who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

The Quare Fellow is a 1962 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8.