Odd Man Out

Odd Man Out

Year: 1947

Runtime: 116 min

Language: English

Director: Carol Reed

DramaThrillerCrime

After serving twenty years in prison, James Burnell returns to Belfast seeking a fresh start and hoping to find peace. However, he finds himself entangled in the city's complex social dynamics and haunted by past grievances. As he tries to escape his former life, he becomes increasingly isolated and confronts the enduring consequences of his past actions, leading to a tragic confrontation.

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Timeline & Setting – Odd Man Out (1947)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Odd Man Out (1947). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Mid-20th Century

The story unfolds during the mid-20th century, a period characterized by socio-political unrest in Ireland. This era saw the rise of nationalist sentiments, contributing to a climate of violence and resistance against British rule. The film captures the complexities of loyalty, identity, and the consequences of revolutionary actions.

Location

Unnamed Irish Town

The film is set in an unnamed Irish town, a backdrop that encapsulates the tension and conflict surrounding the Irish nationalist movement. Known for its juxtaposition of urban life and social struggles, the town serves as a physical representation of the characters' internal conflicts and aspirations. The streets witness both love and betrayal, challenging the ideals of loyalty and camaraderie.

🏙️ City 🇮🇪 Ireland

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:26

Main Characters – Odd Man Out (1947)

Meet the key characters of Odd Man Out (1947), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Johnny McQueen

Johnny McQueen is an Irish nationalist grappling with the weight of responsibility and the ramifications of his actions. Struggling with self-doubt as he tries to lead a robbery, his character embodies the conflict between idealism and pragmatism. Despite his determination, he becomes a symbol of sacrifice, ultimately facing dire consequences for his choices.

🗡️ Hero 💔 Tragic 🇮🇪 Nationalist

Kathleen Sullivan

Kathleen Sullivan is a loyal and caring figure, deeply devoted to Johnny. Her love for him leads her into dangerous situations as she seeks to ensure his safety. Kathleen's character evolves into a tragic symbol of love and sacrifice, highlighting the personal costs of political turmoil and the lengths to which one will go to protect their loved ones.

❤️ Love 🌪️ Sacrifice 🤔 Conflicted

Dennis

Dennis serves as Johnny's loyal lieutenant and a voice of reason amidst chaos. His willingness to step in for Johnny reflects his deep commitment to their cause and friendship. However, Dennis also illustrates the burden of loyalty, navigating the tension between duty to his friend and the reality of their doomed situation.

🤝 Loyalty 💔 Friend 🌊 Troubled

Murphy

Murphy is a practical and somewhat distrustful character in the group, embodying skepticism about their plans. His instincts to leave when threatened showcase the varying degrees of trust among comrades, making him a foil to Dennis and Johnny's ideals. Murphy's actions lead to key turning points in the story.

🕵️‍♂️ Cautious 😒 Distrustful 🏃‍♂️ pragmatic

Pat

Pat is a driver who experiences the harsh realities of their criminal endeavors. His refusal to help Johnny during an escape speaks to a complex relationship of survival over loyalty. This decision impacts the group's dynamics and highlights the moral dilemmas faced by those involved.

🚗 Driver ⚖️ Moral Dilemma 🏃‍♂️ Survivor

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:26

Major Themes – Odd Man Out (1947)

Explore the central themes of Odd Man Out (1947), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Sacrifice

Sacrifice emerges as a central theme, reflecting the characters' willingness to endure hardship for the sake of love and loyalty. Johnny's struggle for survival showcases the lengths to which he and others will go to protect their ideals and loved ones, often at great personal cost. The tragic end emphasizes the ultimate price of devotion in a turbulent world.

🔫 Conflict

The film explores the theme of conflict, both external and internal, as Johnny grapples with his identity as a revolutionary and a man in love. The violent confrontation with the police mirrors the larger societal battle for national independence, illustrating how conflict can intertwine with personal relationships. This ongoing struggle raises questions about loyalty, trust, and the moral implications of one's actions.

🤝 Betrayal

Betrayal is a poignant theme in the narrative, as seen through the actions of characters like Theresa O'Brien. Her treachery not only affects the immediate outcome of the heist but also illustrates the fragility of trust among companions. This theme emphasizes the dangers of misplaced faith and the harsh realities of human relationships under duress.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:26

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about a Fugitive's Descent like Odd Man Out

A lone, wounded fugitive's bleak journey through a city that offers no sanctuary.If you liked the desperate journey in Odd Man Out, explore more films about wounded fugitives navigating hostile urban environments. These movies share a bleak tone, high tension, and a fatalistic view of a city that turns its back on those in need, leading to tragic and emotionally heavy conclusions.

desperateclaustrophobicsuspensefulfatalisticchaoticmelancholictense

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a linear but relentless path as the protagonist, often injured or compromised, moves from one fleeting encounter to another. Each interaction highlights a different facet of the city's indifference or hostility, building a mosaic of despair. The journey is not about escape but about the slow, inevitable wearing down of hope and humanity.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here by their shared core premise: a single fugitive's physical and psychological unraveling within a densely populated yet isolating city. They possess a high-tension, bleak atmosphere, a steady pacing of inevitable decline, and a focus on the moral choices of those the fugitive meets.

Bleak Moral Dramas in a Fractured Society like Odd Man Out

Stories where political violence and betrayal force impossible moral choices on ordinary people.For viewers who appreciated the complex social dynamics and moral ambiguity in Odd Man Out, this collection features dramas where political violence and past grievances force difficult choices. These films share a heavy emotional weight, a bleak tone, and explore themes of betrayal and the futility of crime within a troubled society.

bleakfatalisticheavymoral ambiguitybetrayalgrittymelancholicsuspenseful

Narrative Summary

These stories unfold through a multi-perspective structure, examining how a single catalytic event—like a fugitive on the loose—ripples through different layers of society. The plot is driven by a series of ethical dilemmas faced by various characters, from lovers to strangers, each revealing the pervasive moral decay and the high cost of principles in a corrupt world.

Why These Movies?

This thread connects films that use a crime or political incident as a lens to examine societal fracture and personal morality. The shared elements are a bleak, heavy tone, a moderate narrative complexity showing multiple viewpoints, and a central theme of the individual's struggle against an oppressive, morally ambiguous system.

Unlock the Full Story of Odd Man Out

Don't stop at just watching — explore Odd Man Out in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Odd Man Out is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Odd Man Out Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Odd Man Out, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Odd Man Out Summary

Odd Man Out Timeline

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Odd Man Out Timeline

Odd Man Out Spoiler-Free Summary

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Odd Man Out Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Odd Man Out

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