My Brother's Keeper

Film still

My Brother's Keeper - 1948 | 96 mins | Drama | B&W

The Production Team

Director: Alfred Roome.
Asst Director: Bob Attwooll.
Producer: Anthony Darnborough.
Production Supervisor: Sydney Box.
Script: Frank Harvey Jnr. (from a story by Maurice Wiltshire)
Cinematography: Gordon Lang.
Art Direction: George Provis.
Editing: A. Charles Knott and Esmond Seal.
Make-Up Artist: W.T. Partleton.
Costume Designer: Julie Harris.
Sound/Sound Designer: B.C. Sewell.
Music: London Symphony Orchestra.
Music Composition: Clifton Parker.
Music Direction: John Hollingsworth.

The Cast

Jack Warner - George Martin
George Cole - Willie Stannard
Jane Hylton - Nora Lawrence
Bill Owen - Syd Evans
David Tomlinson - Ronnie Waring
Yvonne Owen - Meg Waring
Raymond Lovell - Wainwright
Beatrice Varley - Mrs. Martin
Amy Veness - Mrs. Gully
Brenda Bruce - Winnie Forman
Susan Shaw - Beryl

Plot Synopsis

Two prisoners on their way to a West Country jail have escaped handcuffed together. One, George Martin (Jack Warner), is a hardened criminal; his companion Willie (George Cole) is a simple-minded youth who declares he is innocent of the crime for which he is awaiting trial.

Martin steals a corporal's uniform and passes Willie off as a deserter in his charge. They make their way to a garage owned by friendly Nora Lawrence, who gives them a night's shelter. Next morning, while filing their handcuffs apart in a lonely cottage, they are disturbed by a man with a sporting gun. Martin has no compunction in killing him. A little later, their handcuffs broken, he deserts Willie. Meanwhile, the police hunt has been joined by Ronald Waring, whose news-editor disdains the fact that Ronald is on his honeymoon.

While he is being shaved in a barber's shop Martin finds. himself sitting next to the local police sergeant. Then, seeking refuge in a chapel, he. is recognised by the sergeant's wife while Willie gives himself up and is charged with the sportsman's murder. Martin telephones his wife for money. A sympathetic taxi-driver drives her from London to bring it to him. They arrive as the fugitive is cornered in the woods. With the police on three sides, he makes a final bid for freedom by entering a minefield. Watched by reporters, sightseers, his wife, and Nora, he nimbly picks his way. Suddenly there is a, flash, a roar, a spout of smoke; the pursuit is over.