Thomas Crimmins (Patrick McGoohan) is a new guard at Mountjoy, an Irish prison. He is young and idealistic and determined to serve his country by meting out justice to criminals (his job involves assisting at executions).
His superior, Regan (Walter Macken), however, realises that even prisoners are human beings and is sick of the “eye-for-an-eye” attitude that leads the state to execute condemned men.
Crimmins begins to see that not all is black and white in his new world, and when he becomes involved with Kathleen (Sylvia Syms), the wife of one of the condemned men – the “quare fellow” who remains unseen throughout the film – his attitude begins to change.
When new evidence arises to suggest that Kathleen’s husband may not deserve his fate, Crimmins is torn between his duty and his humanity.
The atmosphere is depressing but the performances are wonderful, and the film is remarkably unsentimental and wholly just in its argumentative implications.
The prison scenes were filmed at Dublin’s Kilmainham Gaol, which is no longer operational.
Thomas Crimmin
Patrick McGoohan
Kathleen
Sylvia Syms
Regan
Walter Macken
Donnelly
Dermot Kelly
Chief Warder
Jack Cunningham
Holy Healy
Hilton Edwards
Prison Governor
Philip O’Flynn
Doctor Flyn
Leo McCabe
Lavery
Norman Rodway
Mrs O’Hara
Marie Kean
Mickser’s Wife
Pauline Delaney
Mickser
Robert Bernal
Poet
Joseph O’Donnell
Meg
Agnes Bernelle
Minna
Iris Lawler
Jenkinson
Brian Hewitt-Jones
Silvertop
Aubrey Morris
Flaherty
Eamonn Brennan
Kelly
Gerry Alexander
Walsh
T.P. McKenna
Dunlavin
Harry Brogan
O’Connor
James Caffrey
Cleary
John Cowley
Carroll
John Welsh
Clancy
Frank O’Donovan
O’Shaughnessy
Desmond O’Neill
Lavery’s Assistant
Celia Salkeld
Director
Arthur Dreifuss