Miller (1): Hanover Street Affair

Miller (1): Hanover Street Affair

 

            In the opening credits of the movie, Hanover Street, I found that the introduction of the picture, the presentation of the credits, and the music to give the feeling of a movie that very easily could have been produced in the 1940s. The stagnant picture while the credits are introduced, along with the writing of the names in the credits remind me of the introduction to movies made in the 1940s. The musical score too gave me the impression that it was certainly an older movie than 1979. If it had been filmed in black and white, this movie could have easily been mistake for and 1940s war movie made in that same era.

            The playful introduction of the two main characters, Lt. David Halloran and Nurse Margaret Sellinger, and their meeting on the street immediately drew me into both characters. I found that both characters seemed to have a certain degree of competiveness and playfulness about them. It actually turned into a sort of courtship between the two. Lt. Halloran sneaks onto the bus leaving Nurse Sellinger at the bus stop.  He turns to savor his victory and soon observes Nurse Sellinger, pretending to be pregnant, having stomach problems. This quickly arouses his concern and by gaining his sympathy, he disembarking the bus to check on her only to learn that she was faking. Halloran limped away, thus gaining her sympathy in return and then dancing in the street to unveil his ruse.  

            The majority of the movie was establishing the love affair between the two characters and how their admiration for one another changed each of their lives. Halloran appeared to become more cautious during his missions. During the first mission, Halloran seemed to take more risks by flying into enemy bombing far enough to ensure that they hit their designated target. Whereas, after the love affair between Halloran and Sellinger was established, Halloran was authorizing what seemed like a premature bomb deployment as evidenced by the co-pilot’s reaction shot. The co-pilot is seen staring at Halloran in the reaction shot as if to say, “You and I both know that we dropped those bombs too early.” Later when Halloran and his crew are preparing to deploy on another mission, Halloran states that he hears something wrong with engine number one. However, all of the gauges are showing normal and unremarkable readings. Halloran becomes afraid of dying and ceases to live carefree as he did prior to meeting and falling in love with Sellinger. It is later revealed as Halloran is being volunteered for a mission that the mechanic did not find anything wrong with the engine and that the rumors around that base were that he was afraid to continue bombing missions.

 

            Nurse Sellinger had some moments in the film where she seemed to be daydreaming, leaving the audience to get the impression that she was thinking of Halloran. Sellinger’s attention seemed to be elsewhere while home with her husband and daughter. This is evidenced by her seemingly extended pause in the kitchen while preparing tea. The moment struck me when Sellinger returned to Hanover Street after learning of possible demise of her husband in search of Halloran. As she waited, her character seemed to be longing for Halloran’s return as she searched the street for him. It appeared that she was at first anxiously waiting for him actively watching the street to sitting on the stoop giving the impression she had been sitting for some time as she appeared to be cold.

The plot of the movie quickly turns to its focus on the British Intelligence mission to recover the names of the double agents inside the German military. The story reveals a plan to regain possession of the list by sending in an agent to steal the list back. However, before this can happen an agent needs to be trained in the art of defending interrogation. The scene when the German soldier being interrogated is actually the lesson between Paul Seelinger and the selected agent. This is not revealed until the interrogator speaks in English to put out the cigarette, the German soldier does so and then the lights are turned on thus revealing to the audience that this was in fact a lesson. Paul Sellinger, a British Intelligence officer and husband of Nurse Margaret Sellinger, is asked by his superior if the agent is ready for the mission. Paul explains that the agent is somewhat ready but Paul voices his concerns about the agent being adaptable to an evolving situation. It is later revealed the British Intelligence agent who shows up at the airport is not the agent that was being groomed for the mission, but rather Paul Sellinger.

The plan to get back the names of the British agents is fully underway as Halloran and Paul are flying to the drop zone, where they take on enemy fire that kills the remaining crew. Both Halloran and Paul are now forced to rely on each other, more so Paul, to complete the mission. Upon their parachute landing, Halloran quickly realizes that Paul is not an experienced field agent, as evidenced by his not knowing which way is north and by his spraining his ankle as they begin to part ways. Both Halloran and Paul happen upon a farm house where they seek refuge and hide under the hay. They soon witness the French farm girl murder a Nazi soldier and then their presence is discovered. The French farm girl helps Halloran and Paul by taking the Nazi soldier’s uniform and his jeep.    

 

The two men, Halloran and Paul rely heavily on one another. Halloran becomes dependent on Paul as he is able to speak German and knows the details of the plan. Paul relies on Halloran for his survival instincts and getting them both out of Germany. Halloran discovers that Paul is actually the husband of Margaret, the woman he has fallen in love. The audience is presented with the conflict Halloran is feeling when he saves Paul on the bridge. Halloran is conflicted, should he save the husband of the woman he loves and lose her or should he allow Paul to fall to his death so he can have Margaret for himself. Halloran decides to save Paul and at the end of the movie he tells Margaret that he loves her enough to let her go.