Odd Man Out (1947) in Color — Starring James Mason & Robert Newton

Odd Man Out (1947) — Buy This Classic in Color

Odd Man Out (1947) is a masterful British thriller directed by Carol Reed, starring James Mason in one of his finest roles. A wounded Irish republican fugitive stumbles through the streets of Belfast after a botched robbery, encountering a gallery of memorable characters as night falls and the police close in. This professionally colorized version transforms the atmospheric gaslit streets and shadowy doorways into vivid visual storytelling. Buy your colorized copy today for €15.00 and own this landmark classic movie in color.

Plot Summary

Johnny McQueen (James Mason) is the charismatic leader of a nameless political organization in Belfast. After months spent hiding in a safe house, his health weakened by confinement, he leads a daring robbery on a mill to fund the group’s activities. But the heist goes catastrophically wrong — Johnny is wounded during a struggle and accidentally kills a man in the chaotic getaway. Left behind by his panicked companions as their car speeds away, Johnny stumbles into the darkening streets of Belfast, growing weaker with every step as blood seeps from his wound.

As the long, bitter winter night progresses, Johnny encounters a remarkable series of characters who reveal the full spectrum of human nature. A sympathetic barmaid hides him in her back room, risking her livelihood and freedom. A treacherous informer calculates the reward money while feigning concern. A kindly old couple takes him in out of simple Christian compassion, only to agonize over whether to call the police. Father Tom, a philosophical priest, attempts to reach Johnny’s tortured soul and convince him to surrender peacefully. Most memorably, an eccentric painter called Lukey (Robert Newton) discovers the dying fugitive and becomes obsessed with capturing the look of approaching death in Johnny’s glazing eyes, dragging him to his studio for one final portrait.

Throughout the night, Johnny’s devoted girlfriend Kathleen (Kathleen Ryan) desperately searches the streets and back alleys for him, pleading with anyone who might have seen him. The police, led by the calm and relentless Inspector (Denis O’Dea), methodically tighten their net across the city, setting up roadblocks and questioning informants. Johnny’s own organization debates whether to rescue him or abandon him as a liability. This classic movie builds to a heartbreaking climax at the Belfast docks as snow falls and Kathleen finally finds the man she loves.

Cast & Crew

Director: Carol Reed

Stars: James Mason, Kathleen Ryan, Robert Newton, Cyril Cusack, William Hartnell, F.J. McCormick, Fay Compton, Denis O’Dea, Dan O’Herlihy, Robert Beatty

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This colorized version of Odd Man Out reveals the rain-slicked Belfast streets with their glistening cobblestones reflecting amber streetlamp light against the deep blue-black of a winter night. The warm golden glow of pub interiors contrasts sharply with the cold, hostile streets where Johnny staggers from doorway to doorway. The red brick of Belfast’s terraced houses, the muted greens of military uniforms, and the pale, drawn faces of characters caught between compassion and self-preservation all emerge with atmospheric richness. Lukey’s cluttered artist’s studio comes alive with paint-splattered canvases and flickering candlelight. The falling snow in the film’s devastating final sequence gains an almost ethereal beauty in color, white flakes drifting against the dark harbor waters. The original black and white cinematography by Robert Krasker was legendary, and the professionally colorized restoration honors that artistry while bringing the gaslit streets, painted walls, and desperate faces to life with frame-by-frame precision. Watch this restored classic film in stunning, immersive color. Now also available in colour.

Buy Odd Man Out in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

Odd Man Out established Carol Reed as one of the great British directors and paved the way for his masterpiece The Third Man two years later. The two films share a remarkable visual sensibility — expressionistic lighting, atmospheric urban landscapes, and a protagonist pursued through shadowy streets — and together they represent the pinnacle of postwar British cinema. James Mason’s haunting performance as the dying fugitive Johnny McQueen is considered one of the greatest in British cinema history, a tour de force of physical acting as he conveys a man’s slow, agonizing descent from lucidity to delirium. Robert Krasker’s expressionistic cinematography, with its Dutch angles, deep shadows, and rain-soaked reflections, won particular acclaim and profoundly influenced film noir worldwide — Krasker would go on to win an Academy Award for his work on The Third Man. The film won the BAFTA for Best British Film and earned widespread critical praise on both sides of the Atlantic. F.L. Green’s source novel was based loosely on real events in Belfast’s troubled political history. The colorization preserves every nuance of this masterpiece while making its visual poetry accessible to new generations of film lovers.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD restored
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: Original mono restored
• Runtime: Approximately 116 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Is this the complete uncut version?
A: Yes, this is the full 1947 theatrical release of Odd Man Out directed by Carol Reed, presented in its complete colorized version at approximately 116 minutes.

Q: Was this film nominated for any awards?
A: Yes, it won the BAFTA for Best British Film and is widely regarded as one of the greatest British thrillers ever made. Director Carol Reed followed it with The Fallen Idol and The Third Man.

Q: How does this relate to The Third Man?
A: Both films were directed by Carol Reed and photographed by Robert Krasker, and they share a similar visual style of expressionistic urban cinematography. Odd Man Out is often considered a companion piece to The Third Man.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: DRM-free MP4, compatible with virtually any device or media player.

Q: How much does it cost?
A: €15.00 for instant download. The colorization process ensures every scene looks stunning in color.

Q: Can I watch on multiple devices?
A: Absolutely. The file is DRM-free, so you can watch on your TV, tablet, phone, or computer.

Related Colorized Classics

• Golden Salamander (1950)
• Circle of Danger (1951)
• The Pumpkin Eater (1964)
• This Gun for Hire (1942)
• Fly By Night (1942)