Main Cast: Trevor Howard, Elizabeth Allan, Maria Schell, Denholm Elliott, Peter Finch
Release Year: 1953
Country: UK
Run Time: 105 minutes
Plot
Heart of the Matter is a faithful if somewhat austere adaptation of the same-named novel by Graham Greene. Set in Sierra Leone during WW II, the film stars Trevor Howard as assistant police commissioner Scobie. While his wife Louise (Elizabeth Allan) is away on vacation, Scobie falls in love with Helen (Maria Schell), the widow of a U-boat victim. Scobie would like to get a divorce from his wife, and she from him, but their Catholicism prevents not only this break but Scobie's planned remarriage to Helen. In despair, Scobie chooses a desperate means of solving his dilemma--which only furthers to exacerbate the religious quandary in which everyone finds themselves. Posing several ethical questions throughout its 105 minutes, Heart of the Matter wisely allows the viewers to come up with their own answers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Gérard Oury - Yusef; George Coulouris - Portuguese captain; Earl Cameron - Ali; Colin Gordon - Colonial Secretary; Evelyn Roberts - Col. Wright; Michael Hordern - Commissioner; Cyril Raymond - Carter; Gillian Lind - Mrs. Carter; Orlando Martins - Rev. Clay; John Rae - Loder; Peter Burton - Perrot; Anthony Snell - Doctor; Jack Allen - RNVR Lieutenant; Judith Furse - Dr. Sykes; John Glyn-Jones - Harris; Errol John - African Policeman; Eugene Leahy - Newall; Christopher Rhodes - French Officer; Ewan Roberts - Druce; George More O'Ferrall; Jane Henderson - Miss Malcott
Credit
Julia Squire - Costume Designer, George More O'Ferrall - Director, Sid Stone - Editor, Edric Connor - Composer (Music Score), Tony Sforzini - Makeup, Peter Newbrook - Camera Operator, Joseph Bato - Production Designer, Jack Hildyard - Cinematographer, John Palmer - Production Manager, Ian Dalrymple - Producer, Ian Dalrymple - Screenwriter, Lesley Storm - Screenwriter, Graham Greene - Book Author
Trevor Howard plays Scobie, a policeman in Sierra Leone. He is unhappily married to Louise, played by Elizabeth Allan. While she is away, he begins a love affair with Helen, a European played by Maria Schell. However, Scobie's Catholic faith leaves him tormented with guilt.
The main difference between the film and the book is in the ending, which is almost equally bleak, but reversed from Greene's original story. In the book, Scobie's servant is killed (apparently an act of revenge by Yusef, here played by Gérard Oury). Scobie commits suicide. In the film, Scobie intends to kill himself, but is interrupted by a fight breaking out. He intervenes and is shot. The servant (John Akar) does not die, but instead Scobie dies in his servant's arms.
