The Heart of the Matter is a 1953 British drama film based on the 1948 book of the same name by Graham Greene. It was directed by George More O Ferrall for London Films. It was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.

Cast and production

Trevor Howard plays Scobie, a senior policeman in British Sierra Leone. He is unhappily married to Louise, played by Elizabeth Allan. While she is away, he begins a love affair with Helen, played by Maria Schell. However, Scobie s Catholic faith leaves him tormented with guilt. The film also features Denholm Elliott, Peter Finch, Gérard Oury, George Coulouris and Michael Hordern.

It contains no original score, but instead features indigenous music from Sierra Leone in West Africa, where location filming took place. The interiors were filmed at Shepperton Studios in London. The film s sets were designed by the art director Joseph Bato. The black and white cinematography was by Jack Hildyard.

Plot

Scobie, Deputy Commissioner of the Sierra Leone Police in Freetown during the Second World War, is unhappily married to fellow-Catholic Louise: both mourn the death of their only daughter. Despite his having been a police officer in the country for 15 years, when the Police Commissioner announces he is to retire, Scobie is overlooked in favour of a younger man sent out from the UK.

On a search of a neutral Portuguese ship, the Esperança, he finds an envelope addressed to Germany. When he confiscates it, the captain begs him to do nothing because the letter is to his daughter. Feeling pity, Scobie burns it. His wife does not like the climate or the other expatriates and keeps begging him to let her go to South Africa by sea but they cannot afford the fare. Eventually he accepts a loan from Yusef, a suspected smuggler.

Called up country because a local District Commissioner is in trouble, he finds the man has committed suicide because of his debts. While he is there, survivors of a ship torpedoed by the Germans are brought ashore by the Vichy police of neighbouring French Guinea. One is Helen, a young widow who reminds him of his dead daughter. Back in Freetown, he finds she has been given a hut near his house and, after he pays her a visit, they commence an affair. After an argument, he writes her a love letter but it is intercepted by a servant in Yusef s pay.

He learns that Louise is returning and Yusef tells him that he must give a packet of contraband diamonds to the captain of the Esperança or he will give his wife his letter to Helen. He complies. However, someone tells Louise about the affair.

Scobie is in torment between his love for Helen and his responsibilities to his wife, his wartime role and particularly his religious faith. He contemplates suicide but is then killed trying to stop a brawl.

Differences between film and book

The main difference between the film and the book is in the ending, which is almost equally bleak, but reversed from Greene s original story. In the book, Scobie s servant is killed (apparently an act of revenge by Yusef, here played by Gérard Oury). Scobie commits suicide. In the film, Scobie intends to kill himself, but is interrupted by a fight breaking out. He intervenes and is shot. The servant (Earl Cameron) does not die, but instead Scobie dies in his servant s arms.

Cast

• Trevor Howard as Harry Scobie
• Elizabeth Allan as Louise Scobie
• Maria Schell as Helen Rolt
• Denholm Elliott as Wilson
• Peter Finch as Father Rank
• Gérard Oury as Yusef
• George Coulouris as Portuguese Captain
• Michael Hordern as Commissioner
• Peter Burton as Perrot
• Earl Cameron as Ali
• Judith Furse as Dr. Sykes
• Evelyn Roberts as Col. Wright
• Colin Gordon as Secretary
• Orlando Martins as Rev. Clay
• Cyril Raymond as Carter
• Gillian Lind as Mrs Carter

Year	1953
ReleaseDate	1954-02-08
RuntimeMins	100
RuntimeStr	1h 40min
Plot	An unhappily married British security officer stationed in Sierra Leone during World War II falls in love with a young Austrian woman and starts an affair. He soon starts feeling guilty.
Awards	Nominated for 4 BAFTA Awards, 1 win & 5 nominations total
Directors	George More O’Ferrall
Writers	Lesley Storm, Ian Dalrymple, Graham Greene
Stars	Trevor Howard, Elizabeth Allan, Maria Schell
Produced by	Ian Dalrymple
Cinematography by	Jack Hildyard
Film Editing by	Sidney Stone
Art Direction by	Joseph Bato
Costume Design by	Julia Squire
Makeup Department	Tony Sforzini,Joyce Wood
Production Management	John Palmer
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director	Adrian Pryce-Jones
Art Department	Peter Mullins
Sound Department	John Cox,Red Law,Bert Ross,Barbara Hopkins,Dick Longstaff,Harry Tate
Camera and Electrical Department	Peter Newbrook,Eddie Earp,Gerry Fisher
Editorial Department	Stanley Goulder
Location Management	Anthony Squire
Music Department	Edric Connor
Script and Continuity Department	Betty Forster
Genres	Crime, Drama
Companies	London Film Productions, British Lion Film Corporation
Countries	UK
Languages	English
ContentRating	Approved
ImDbRating	6.7
ImDbRatingVotes	500
Keywords	africa,based on novel,wartime,conscience,psychological