INFORMER, THE (1935) Lobby card

Vintage original 11 x14″ (28 x 35 cm.) lobby card, USA. Victor McLaglen, Heather Angel, Preston Foster, Margot Grahame, Wallace Ford, Una O’Connor, dir: John Ford; RKO.

Victor McLaglen plays poverty-stricken and destitute Gype Nolan, who has resorted to desperate means during the Irish Rebellion of 1922. Driven by a need for money, he has turned his IRA leader in to collect a reward.

This study of Gypo’s conscience won McLaglen an Oscar for Best Actor. John Ford’s superb and tense atmospheric direction earned the film a Best Picture nomination as well. Filmed in just 17 days on a modest budget, Ford was so impressed by F. W. Murnau’s Sunrise that he brought the element of German Expressionism to his film. By keeping McLaglen off-center during the filming (mostly intoxicated), and by verbally abusing him, Ford pulled out the perfect performance from the actor as the simple Gypo.

In this image we have (l-r): Victor McLaglen, Joe Sawyer, Preston Foster, Neil Fitzgerald and Heather Angel. There are pinholes along the left and right side blank white margins as well as a few small tears and creases. Three of the four corners are gone. NEAR VERY GOOD.