Waterfront (1950)

Waterfront: Directed by Michael Anderson. With Robert Newton, Kathleen Harrison, Avis Scott, Susan Shaw. A worthless sailor walks out on his young family leaving them to fend for themselves in the Liverpool slums. They make a go of their lives and the eldest daughter is not happy her father’s decides to return.

“Given that this film was set in Liverpool what one has to ask is why are the actors all using different accents.For some reason the director clearly equates anywhere up North with a mancunian accent instead of the scouse accent.Of course dear old Robert Newton eyes rolling in anticipation of his part as Long John Silver,veers from Cockney to mumerset.Newton was such a fine actor your attention is drawn to him from beginning to end.He is supported by such a great cast.A very young Richrad Burton as a jobless ships engineer,Kathleen Harrison as the usual harassed mother and Kenneth Griffiths playing what one assumes to be a spiv.The camera work is first class particularly eye catching being the fight outside the pub.One could almost call this a British film noir.This film is sadly neglected and doesnu0026#39;t get any showing on TV.”