The Clouded Yellow

Synopsis: When Secret Service agent David Somers is fired, he takes a quiet job with the Fentons at their country estate - cataloging butterflies, hence the title insect. David grows fond of Jess Fenton's niece, a fragile, fey young woman named Sophie. Because he hates traps of any kind, he reacts quickly when Sophie is framed for the murder of Hick, the nasty handyman. He helps her escape London by using his agent's skills and a network of old friends. The pair lead the police and David's ex-employers an exciting chase, from Newcastle to the Lake District to Liverpool. As the fugitives try to catch a ship for France, everyone, including the murderer, join in the finale.
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Director(s): Ralph Thomas
Production: General Film Distributors
 
IMDB:
7.0
APPROVED
Year:
1950
95 min
64 Views


Hello, Mac...

Good morning, Sir.

I'll tell Mr Chubb you're here.

Mr Somers is here, Sir.

Yes, Sir...

He'll see you now, Sir.

Well... you managed to get out.

Only just.

So I heard.

You used the emergency route...

Why?

I had to... the frontier was blocked.

Besides, I had a bit of trouble.

Let's see, you joined us in 1939...

1940...parachuted into Bavaria...

...captured by the Gestapo...

...interrogated... escaped

with Professor Jacob Werner...

'43...Paris... liaison Darrieux...

Returned Germany...

Led the escape for Professor Karl Cesare

and wife....

'44...'45...

In charge counter-espionage U.K....

...and the northern headquarters...

Liverpool...Hamburg...

details of mine defences...

Yes... quite a good record...

...until now.

Aren't I allowed one mistake?

No.

I see.

What happens now?

You're where you came in.

You're not a regular.

You would have had to go

sooner or later, anyway.

I used to be a newspaper man, once.

Do you think there'd be any future

in the real life story of the Secret Service?

I should think a very short future,

Major Somers.

Very short.

You've got a little money,

haven't you?

Well, then... forget all this...

Go back to real life again.

Real?

How do I start?

Well, to begin with...

you stop carrying a gun.

You're going to miss me. you know.

I'm one of the best men you've got.

"Had" is the operative word, old boy.

You ought to start thinking

about a job for yourself.

Something quiet in the country.

I might be able to help you.

So that you can keep tabs on me!

Something like that... yes.

Oh, that's sad.

Goodbye, Sir.

Goodbye, David.

And thanks.

I suppose you haven't a working knowledge

of Commercial Portuguese?

No...I'm afraid I haven't.

There is one here...

I don't necessarily recommend it...

I just mention it in passing...

Why... is it dangerous?

Well... no... not exactly...

I think I should tell you we have had

the greatest difficulty...

...getting people to even consider it.

What is the job?

Cataloguing butterflies.

Do I have to know anything

about them?

Well... no... the only necessary qualifications...

...seems to be a sound general education,

and an amiable disposition.

You appear to have both,

if I may say so.

Thank you.

But I think I must point out...

...that in our opinion,

there's very little future in it.

Butterflies.

Well, I could think about it,

I suppose.

Yes...I'm afraid that's what

they ALL say.

Hello, Willy... have a drink.

Hello, old boy... thanks.

How's the job-hunting?

-Fine...I'm all fixed up...

I'm celebrating.

-Good.

What'll you have?

-Scotch?

2 whiskies please.

Hello...Chubb?

Shepley here.

Well, he's fixed up.

Yep... all OK.

Nice quiet family...

Nice quiet place.

Cataloguing butterflies.

I say!..

I'm looking for a house called "White Lodge".

Are you now!?

-Do you know it?

Yeah, I know it.

Well, do you mind telling me

how to get there?

I'll do better than that...

I'll show you.

I'm going there myself.

Why, that's jolly decent of you.

Do you know the Fentons?

No, do you?

Yeah, in a manner of speaking.

What manner would that be?

You'd better ask the Fentons.

Everyone knows me around here.

Well, that'll be your personality,

of course.

Are you the chap that's come to help

with the butterflies?

That's right.

Nice part of the country, this...

...if you stick to butterflies.

"Colias croceus"

"Clouded Yellow"!

Where's Sophie?

Oh, Jess... the light!

You're blocking the light.

Nicholas, do stop for a minute

and listen to me.

I always listen to you, my dear.

I can do almost anything

at the same time...

...and still listen to you.

Nicholas...I'm serious.

Oh, Jess... let's have peace.

Where is Sophie?

Over in the far meadow...

trying to find "Clouded Yellows".

Why?

Well, this man who is coming...

this Somers...

He must be warned about her.

Oh, Jessie my dear, that's a bit clumsy...

What's he to be warned about?

After all, he's just a young man

who's coming to stay with us...

...and do a little work.

You know Sophie,

just as well as I do...

But I really don't see

what could happen.

A local young man, I can deal with...

But this is something quite different.

Somebody here... living in the house.

Don't let's start off

imagining things!

I don't like a stranger here...

talking to Sophie...

...asking her questions.

You had no business to arrange it,

without consulting me.

Well, I'm sorry, my dear...

but it's done now.

I'm David Somers.

Makes a nice change to come

round to the front door...

I've brought a couple of rabbits

for you Mrs Fenton.

Take them round to the back, will you?

Anything you say, Mrs Fenton.

How do you do!?

I'm so pleased to meet you.

I think my husband is here...

Nicholas, this is Mr Somers.

How do you do, Sir.

-How are you?

I see you've begun

making friends already...

Hick's quite well known 'round here.

Isn't he dear?

I'll tell Addie to bring your bags

to your room.

I'll show you where to put your car.

Come in... hello sir...

Our Addie has brought up your bags, I see.

Please go on.

Usually she has to be

told things twice...

You must have made

an impression on her.

By the way... there's a bigger room

at the back of the house, if you prefer it...

But this is the one that has the view

of the garden.

This is perfect, thank you, Sir.

Good...Well I hope

you'll be comfortable.

I'm sure I shall.

If you don't mind my saying so...

you hardly seem to be the sort of man that would...

Want to catalogue butterflies?

Well, yes.

Of course you made it quite clear in your letter

that you're not interested in butterflies...

But I can't help wondering

what attracted you to the job.

Your references were really excellent.

They did make it clear to you

that it was only temporary, didn't they?

Yes, they did, Sir.

Well, it's simply that I got rather tired

of people and cities, and...

The thought of 2 or 3 months doing something

quiet and peaceful in the country...

...seemed to me just what I wanted.

Oh yes...I understand.

A convalescence of the mind.

Peace... that's what we all strive for,

don't we?

I well understand.

I hope you'll be happy.

Thank you, Sir.

We're very quiet here...

there's just my wife and myself...

...and my wife's niece.

I feel there's something

I ought to tell you about Sophie.

Your wife's niece?

Yes... we're her guardians.

She's not had a very happy life...

...and you may find her

a little strange in certain respects.

I thought I'd just tell you that...

She's a sweet child,

but she's very highly strung...

...and she isn't always quite reasonable

in the things she says...

But Jess, my wife, understands her.

Now, please don't think too much about it

but I thought I'd let you know.

I'll remember, Sir.

Well, that's that!

Tea will be a little late today...

My wife always goes down to Tapgrove

on Tuesdays and Fridays...

So it'll be 5 o'clock instead of 4.30.

Well, I'll leave you to it.

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Janet Green

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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