The Fallen Sparrow

1943
Approved
1h 34m

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

YOUR RATING

Maureen O'Hara, John Garfield, Patricia Morison, Martha O'Driscoll, and Walter Slezak in The Fallen Sparrow (1943)

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Film Noir Psychological Drama Spy Suspense Mystery Whodunnit Mystery

In 1940, an American former Republican prisoner during the Spanish Civil War, John McKittrick, is determined to find the killer of NYPD Lieutenant Louie Lepetino, who had helped him escape.In 1940, an American former Republican prisoner during the Spanish Civil War, John McKittrick, is determined to find the killer of NYPD Lieutenant Louie Lepetino, who had helped him escape.In 1940, an American former Republican prisoner during the Spanish Civil War, John McKittrick, is determined to find the killer of NYPD Lieutenant Louie Lepetino, who had helped him escape.

Director
- Richard Wallace
Writers
- Warren Duff
- Dorothy B. Hughes
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

YOUR RATING

Director
- Richard Wallace
Writers
- Warren Duff
- Dorothy B. Hughes
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 nomination total

Waiter
(uncredited)

Symona Boniface

Guest
(uncredited)

Patti Brill

Dancer
(uncredited)

Jack Carr

Danny
(uncredited)

André Charlot

Pete
(uncredited)

James Conaty

Nightclub Patron
(uncredited)

William Edmunds

Papa Lepetino
(uncredited)

Fely Franquelli

Gypsy Dancer
(uncredited)

Director
- Richard Wallace
Writers
- Warren Duff
- Dorothy B. Hughes
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
RKO bought the film rights to Dorothy B. Hughes' novel for $15,000 expressly as a vehicle for Maureen O'Hara according to contemporary articles in The Hollywood Reporter.

Goofs
The bust which is knocked through the window and crashes out on the street, appears in its original position in the next shot.

Quotes
Inspector 'Toby' Tobin: Why do you want to carry a gun?
John 'Kit' McKittrick: [grins and lets out a little laugh] To shoot people with, sweetheart.

Crazy credits
Opening credits: "...in a world at war many sparrows must fall ...

Connections
Featured in The John Garfield Story (2003)

Soundtracks
Beware
Written by Harry Revel and Mort Greene
Sung by Martha O'Driscoll (dubbed by Martha Mears)

User reviews38

Review

Featured review

7/10

Garfield in a propaganda film

"The Fallen Sparrow" is a 1943 film starring John Garfield, Maureen O'Hara, Walter Slezak, and Patricia Morison. Directed by Richard Wallace, from the novel by Dorothy Hughes, the story concerns John McKitrick, a Spanish Civil War vet who escaped from a prison camp, where he was tortured. He's suffering from severe post-traumatic stress, but he has returned to New York to find out who killed his best friend. He has something he brought back with him from Spain, and Nazi agents are on his trail for it. McKittrick doesn't know whom he can trust, and that includes the beautiful Toni Donne (O'Hara), the mysterious wheelchair-bound refugee doctor (Walter Slezak), or even an old friend (Martha Driscoll).

Though Garfield is excellent as a former prisoner of war, and his performance is well worth seeing, the plot of "The Fallen Sparrow" is confusing; the film moves slowly and has very little action. The best thing about it is the cast - the stunning O'Hara, the glamorous Patricia Morison, and the sinister Slezak rounding it out.

Reminiscent of "The Maltese Falcon," but Warners didn't score big with this one. Nevertheless, anything John Garfield did during his short career is worth seeing.