Based on the trailer for Graham Greene’s latest version of Brighton Rock, this film might be the next big hit.
This preview of the new adaptation of his murder thriller, which originally shot Richard Attenborough to stardom in 1947, offers audiences a sneak peek at the film’s impressive cast.
Actor Sam Riley, known for his portrayal of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis in the film Control, takes on the role of the young thug Pinkie Brown.
Playing his love interest Rose is Andrea Riseborough, who portrayed the former Prime Minister in the TV movie Margaret Thatcher, The Long Walk To Finchley. She will also appear next month in the drama Never Let Me Go.
The movie, with a budget of £8million, is supported by BBC Films and Optimum Films, a production company that holds the rights to the original Brighton Rock film.
John Hurt and Helen Mirren also star, stepping into the roles of Phil Corkery and Ida, which were originally played by George Carney and Hermione Baddeley, respectively.
While the story remains set in Brighton, director Rowan Joffe, who has adapted Greene’s novel for the screen, has shifted the setting to the Mods and Rockers era of 1964.
Before filming commenced, Joffe remarked that he believed a contemporary audience would not be interested in a new film set in the Forties.
‘Censorship and societal norms during the time of the first film restricted filmmakers from exploring the violence present in the book, and to truly investigate the story, we must move away from that period.
‘The book is inherently sexual, and Greene was unafraid to challenge taboos,’ he stated.
‘At its core, Pinkie is a young man who wants to kill a girl he desires. He’s a hormone-driven teenager, and now I can depict that reality,’ he continued.
The filmmaker expressed his intention to modernize Brighton Rock, highlighting that setting it in 1964 is significant, as that year marked the last execution in the UK, and this looming threat over Pinkie is crucial to the plot.
‘Pinkie thinks Rose can implicate him in a murder, so he decides to marry her; he doesn’t want to face execution,’ Joffe explained.
‘Pinkie is a psychologically tormented child who has evolved into a cold-blooded killer. He’s a layered character, and we can fully bring him to life,’ said Joffe.
The film is set to be released next month.
by Wallace McTavish
