The Small Back Room (1949)
Although not as famous as more florid films like Black Narcissus (1947) and The Red Shoes (1948), Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s follow-up to the latter is a fascinating look at how deftly their aesthetic could translate to a more realistic, intimate story. David Farrar of Black Narcissus stars as an embittered scientist, one of the men working in “small back rooms” to help win World War II. Despite the best ministrations of his lover (Black Narcissus co-star Kathleen Byron), he’s self-medicating to deal with pain from a prosthetic leg when he’s called on to help defuse Nazi mines dropped on England. His personal struggles make for tense drama, with a memorable 17-minute climax as thrilling in its own way as the 17-minute Red Shoes ballet.
d. Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger, 106m, DCP