The Informer

The Informer, motion picture about a man who betrays a friend to the police in exchange for a reward, set in Ireland during the political unrest of 1922. Released in 1935, the film was based on a novel by Liam O’Flaherty and won Academy Awards for best director, best writing, and best score. Victor McLaglen earned an Academy Award for his performance as Gypo Nolan, the man who informs on his friend Frankie (played by Wallace Ford), then squanders the reward money on a wild night on the town. After the police kill Frankie, members of the Sinn Fein hunt for Nolan and exact revenge.

Director

• John Ford

Cast

• Victor McLaglen (Gypo Nolan)
• Heather Angel (Mary McPhillip)
• Preston Foster (Dan Gallagher)
• Margot Grahame (Katie Madden)
• Wallace Ford (Frankie McPhillip)
• Una O'Connor (Mrs. McPhillip)
• J. M. Kerrigan (Terry)
• Joseph Sawyer (Bartley Mulholland)
• Neil Fitzgerald (Tommy Conner)
• Donald Meek (Pat Mulligan)
• D'Arcy Corrigan (Blindman)
• Leo McCabe (Donahue)
• Gaylord 'Steve' Pendleton (Daley)
• Francis Ford ('Judge' Flynn)
• May Boley (Mrs. Betty)
• Grizelda Harvey (An obedient girl)
• Denis O'Dea (Street singer)
• Jack Mulhall (Lookout)
• Robert Parrish (Soldier)

Awards

• Academy Award for Best Actor (1935): Victor McLaglen
• Academy Award for Best Director (1935): John Ford
• Academy Award for Best Writing—Screenplay (1935): Dudley Nichols
• Academy Award for Best Score (1935): Max Steiner
• New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film (1935)
• New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director (1935)

Trivia

• Dudley Nichols wrote the screenplay in only 6 days. Ford shot the film in 17 days.

Quote

• Gypo Nolan (to Mrs. McPhillip, Frankie’s mother): “Twas I informed on your son, Mrs. McPhillip. Forgive me.”