The Heart of the Matter

The Heart of the Matter

Year: 1953

Runtime: 105 mins

Language: English

Director: George More O’Ferrall

Drama

Based on Graham Greene’s novel, a married colonial police chief struggles with his conscience when he has an affair with a younger woman.

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Timeline & Setting – The Heart of the Matter (1953)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Heart of the Matter (1953). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

World War II era (1940s)

Set in the early 1940s, the story unfolds under the strain of global conflict. German submarines threaten shipping off West Africa, while local authorities face moral compromises and security duties. The presence of Vichy-controlled Guinea adds a regional political dimension that affects expatriate life and choices during the war.

Location

Freetown, Sierra Leone, Esperança (Portuguese ship), French Guinea

The film is set in the British colony of Sierra Leone during World War II, centered on the expatriate community in Freetown. The city is portrayed as a wartime crossroads where policing, colonial politics, and personal loyalties collide. The action also touches on nearby French Guinea and the neutral Esperança, highlighting regional wartime tensions and the moral complexities of life in a colonial port during the era.

🌍 West Africa ⚓ Naval operations 🕰 World War II context

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:27

Main Characters – The Heart of the Matter (1953)

Meet the key characters of The Heart of the Matter (1953), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Harry Scobie (Trevor Howard)

Deputy Commissioner of the Sierra Leone Police in Freetown who is deeply unhappy and torn between love and duty. He is a devout Catholic wrestling with an affair, a promotion setback, and the burden of public responsibility during wartime. His choices and remorse drive much of the story, culminating in his death while trying to stop a brawl.

💔 Loyalty 🕊️ Faith 🗝️ Duty

Louise Scobie (Elizabeth Allan)

Harry's wife, a fellow Catholic who is unhappy with expatriate life and the climate of Freetown. She yearns for escape and resists the fraying marriage, distrusting the environment while seeking security and companionship. Her discovery of the affair adds to the couple's tension and tests their faith and vows.

💔 Marriage 🕊️ Faith 🗺️ Conflict

Helen Rolt (Maria Schell)

A young widow who has just survived a torpedoed ship and catches Scobie’s eye. She reminds him of his late daughter and becomes his lover, representing a fragile tenderness amid wartime danger. Her presence intensifies the moral crisis around Scobie’s duties and loyalties.

💖 Attraction 🕊️ Vulnerability 🧭 Choice

Yusef (Gérard Oury)

A suspected smuggler who operates on the margins of the expatriate world, pressuring Scobie to safeguard contraband diamonds and leverage the letters exchanged with Helen. He embodies the corrupting influence of black-market networks that thrive in wartime crises.

💰 Smuggling 🕵️‍♂️ Manipulation 🧭 Power

Captain of the Esperança (George Coulouris)

Master of the neutral Portuguese ship Esperança who becomes a focal point in the diamond contraband plot. He pleads with Scobie not to interfere with the letter, and his position highlights the complexities of wartime neutrality and personal danger.

⚓ Naval 🗺️ Neutrality 🕯️ Dilemma

Police Commissioner (Michael Hordern)

The retiring head of the Sierra Leone Police who is overlooked for promotion and feels the tension of transition. His presence frames the career ambitions and bureaucratic pressures shaping Scobie's decisions during the war.

🏛️ Authority 🕊️ Duty 🗝️ Corruption

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:27

Major Themes – The Heart of the Matter (1953)

Explore the central themes of The Heart of the Matter (1953), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Love vs Duty

Harry Scobie’s affair with Helen tests his loyalty to his wife, his role as deputy commissioner, and his Catholic faith. The romance unfolds under wartime strain, risking personal ruin and social judgment. Intercepted letters and the tension between desire and duty heighten the moral stakes. The conflict contributes to a tragic arc that culminates in personal and professional consequences.

🕊️ Faith and Duty

Scobie’s Catholic beliefs anchor his sense of right and wrong even as he navigates temptation and wartime pressures. The narrative contrasts spiritual obligations with public service and personal loyalty during conflict. This inner struggle intensifies the moral weight of his decisions. His death while trying to stop a brawl underscores the cost of unresolved faith and duty.

🗺️ War and Morality in the Colonies

Set against wartime colonial Africa, the story shows how ordinary people cope with danger, illicit networks, and shifting loyalties. Smuggling, contraband diamonds, and German threats complicate choices and alliances. Expatriate communities become morally ambiguous spaces under external and internal pressure. The narrative uses Scobie’s decisions to explore themes of power, responsibility, and humanity.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:27

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The Heart of the Matter Summary

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The Heart of the Matter Summary

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The Heart of the Matter Timeline

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