The Green Cockatoo is a British crime drama set in London’s underworld. The story begins when a young woman, freshly arrived in the city, becomes inadvertently caught up in a gangland murder. Seeking refuge, she crosses paths with a nightclub dancer whose brother is connected to the crime. Together, they find themselves pursued through the city’s streets and alleys, with the glamorous but dangerous Green Cockatoo nightclub at the center of the intrigue. The film mixes suspense with romance, wrapped in a gritty atmosphere of 1930s London nightlife.
Genre: Crime Drama
Director: William Cameron Menzies
William Cameron Menzies (1896–1957) was an American production designer, art director, and filmmaker renowned for his pioneering visual style. He became Hollywood’s first credited production designer and was instrumental in shaping the look of many classic films. Menzies won an Academy Award for his work on The Dove (1927) and later designed and co-directed epics such as Gone with the Wind (1939). Though primarily celebrated for his design innovations, he also directed films, including Things to Come (1936) and The Green Cockatoo (1937), bringing a highly visual approach to storytelling.
Star Cast:
- John Mills as Jim
- Rene Ray as Eileen
- Robert Newton as Dave Connor
- Graham Moffatt as Charlie
- Bruce Seton as Terence
- Allan Jeayes as Inspector
The film received mixed reviews at the time of release. Some critics admired its moody settings and striking visual style, trademarks of Menzies’ work, while others felt the story was thin compared to American crime dramas of the same period. However, it later gained recognition for featuring early performances by John Mills and Robert Newton, both of whom went on to become significant figures in British cinema.
Fun Facts:
- The Green Cockatoo was based on a story by Graham Greene, one of Britain’s most acclaimed novelists and screenwriters.
- The film marked an early role for John Mills, who would go on to enjoy one of the longest and most distinguished careers in British film.
- Robert Newton, later famous for playing Long John Silver in Treasure Island (1950), appears in one of his early tough-guy roles.
- William Cameron Menzies’ reputation as a designer gave the film a distinctive look, with stylized sets and atmospheric lighting that elevated its crime story.
- The film is considered a minor classic of British crime cinema, though it was overshadowed internationally by Hollywood’s flourishing gangster films.
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