The Small Back Room 4K 1949

Personally, what drew me to the film “The Small Back Room” was, above all, the performances of David Farrar and Kathleen Byron.

In 1947, the colorful drama “Black Narcissus” was released, telling the story of the clash between two worlds. The unspoiled nature of the Indian jungle, with its heightened sensuality and the dictates of instinct, clashes with the world of Christian asceticism. D. Farrar and K. Byron play not the leading roles but key ones in *Black Narcissus*. He—Mr. Dean—plays the role of an unwitting tempter. Free-spirited, self-assured, at one with this wild nature yet at the same time thoroughly civilized, he constantly provokes the believers with his frivolous (as dictated by the climate) attire.
She—Sister Ruth—is a beauty who has shrouded herself in a nun’s habit, taken voluntary vows, but ultimately could not resist and succumbed to the powerful force of nature.

Farrar-Dean is cold and aloof, which makes him all the more alluring.
Handsome and strong, the very embodiment of masculinity, he is invariably ironic and, at times, cynical. Byron-Ruth is merely a pale shadow of a woman at the beginning of the film, but under the influence of circumstances, she changes right before the viewer’s eyes, returning to her true nature.
Having cast off her gray habit, the heroine embodies an unbridled feminine passion for life and a demonic obsession with freedom.

A completely different dynamic unfolds in “The Small Back Room.”

World War II is in full swing. The Germans are already bombing London and dropping booby traps from their planes. Within Her Majesty’s government, its own battles are raging—behind-the-scenes intrigues among various departments in the pursuit of high office and personal gain. In one such department, dedicated to the invention and testing of cutting-edge technologies, works the film’s protagonist—Sammy Rice (D. Farrar)—a top-tier weapons specialist.

Troubles and hardships seem to have surrounded Sammy, striving to subdue him, break him, and ruin his life. His prosthetic limb and the endless pain—from which even medication offers no relief.
The protagonist’s integrity and intelligence prevent him from speaking out harshly, putting bureaucrats in their place, and standing up for his beliefs no matter what. A tedious and endless routine at work, a disability that is a constant reminder, and the struggle against the urge to seek relief in alcohol—such is Sammy’s reality.

But, fortunately, he is not alone. By his side is his beloved, Susan (K. Byron), whose self-sacrifice knows no bounds. While in *The Black Narcissus* the characters’ relationship has no foundation other than Rufie’s instinctive attraction, in *The Small Back Room* the directors and actors show the audience what true, all-forgiving love really is. This is especially true of the female lead. The full tragedy of her beloved is reflected in Susan’s eyes, and when circumstances demand it, she is the one who points out to Sammy his indecisiveness regarding his military service. And here, in the actress’s performance, we hear echoes of and see the unrestrained Ruth from ‘Black Narcissus’

When the situation in his personal life and at work becomes critical, the hero will face a challenge that shakes him to his core. The scene where Sammy finds himself face-to-face with a deadly threat is the best and most tense in the film. There he is, casting a farewell glance as he watches a flock of birds fly by, realizing that this might be the last thing he ever sees. How strikingly the actor transforms when reenacting that exact same scene just a moment later! The same flock of birds is still circling above him, but he looks at the sky through completely different eyes—eyes filled with the realization of his victory over his circumstances, with confidence, and with an appreciation for the value of every moment. But above all, with the awareness that he has helped save many, many lives.

"The Small Back Room" is a wonderful example of psychological drama from the directing duo of M. Powell and E. Pressburger (“The Red Shoes,” “Stairway to Heaven,” “The Tales of Hoffmann”...) and undoubtedly deserves the audience’s attention and the highest praise.