The Green Man (1956) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A bomb plot against Sir Gregory Upshott is thwarted by William Blake's discovery, quick thinking, and last-second intervention.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

A Contract and a Hidden Body

Hawkins accepts a contract to kill Upshott and prepares a bomb disguised as a radio. After his secretary confronts him, she is attacked and hidden, and William discovers the body.

Key Events

• Hawkins Takes the Contract — Hawkins is contracted to assassinate the businessman Sir Gregory Upshott. Characters: Hawkins, Sir Gregory Upshott Location: London
• A Seaside Weekend Revealed — By courting Upshott's secretary, Hawkins learns about the planned seaside hotel visit. Characters: Hawkins Location: London
• The Radio Bomb Prepared — Hawkins hides a bomb in a radio intended for the hotel lounge. Characters: Hawkins Location: London
• The Secretary Confronts Hawkins — After discovering his treachery, the secretary confronts Hawkins at his house. Characters: Hawkins Location: Hawkins's house
• The Body Is Hidden — Hawkins's assistant attacks the secretary and hides her in a neighboring house. Characters: Hawkins Location: House next door to Hawkins's
• William Finds the Body — Vacuum cleaner salesman William Blake discovers the hidden body. Characters: William Blake Location: House next door to Hawkins's

Warnings and a False Alarm

William is accidentally noticed by Hawkins, then alerts Ann. Reginald's furious departure complicates matters before the supposedly dead secretary delivers a warning about the planned bombing.

Key Events

• Hawkins Is Accidentally Alerted — William goes next door first and accidentally alerts Hawkins, who has the body moved. Characters: William Blake, Hawkins Location: Hawkins's house
• William Alerts Ann — William alerts the house owner's fiancée after the body is moved. Characters: William Blake Location: Reginald's house
• Reginald Finds Them Hiding — Reginald returns and finds William and Ann hiding together under the bed. Characters: William Blake, Reginald Willoughby-Cruft Location: Reginald's house
• Reginald Leaves in Anger — Reginald's furious exit raises doubts about the future of his relationship with Ann. Characters: Reginald Willoughby-Cruft Location: Reginald's house
• The Warning Returns — The supposedly dead secretary staggers inside and warns that Upshott will be bombed. Characters: William Blake Location: Reginald's house

The Hotel Countdown

Upshott and Hawkins arrive at The Green Man, where Hawkins keeps the bomb in the lounge. William and Ann misinterpret the Boughtflower name while time pressure and disbelief obstruct their efforts.

Key Events

• Upshott Arrives at the Hotel — Upshott arrives with his secretary and wants a drink before registering. Characters: Sir Gregory Upshott Location: The Green Man hotel
• Hawkins Enters the Lounge — Hawkins sits in the lounge as the trio plays, with the bomb concealed in a radio in his suitcase. Characters: Hawkins, Leader of Trio Location: The Green Man lounge
• The False Name Misleads — William and Ann mistake the Boughtflower name for Upshott's false identity and track it down. Characters: William Blake, Charles Boughtflower Location: The Green Man hotel
• The Deadline Is Misread — At the apparent deadline, Hawkins draws the trio back toward the bar while the bomb remains in the lounge. Characters: Hawkins, Leader of Trio Location: The Green Man lounge and bar
• The Landlord Rejects the Warning — William and Ann fail to persuade the landlord and try to evacuate the hotel themselves. Characters: William Blake Location: The Green Man hotel

A Last-Second Escape

William discovers that the hall clock is wrong and recognizes that the bomb is timed inside the radio. He throws it toward the sea, Hawkins is stopped by police, and the journey back to London ends with a first kiss.

Key Events

• The Radio Reveals the Time — A radio announcement reveals the actual time, and William realizes the hall clock was wrong. Characters: William Blake Location: The Green Man lounge
• William Evacuates the Hotel — William realizes the bomb is timed inside the radio and begins evacuating the hotel. Characters: William Blake Location: The Green Man hotel
• The Bomb Is Thrown Seaward — With Upshott near the radio, William throws the bomb toward the sea seconds before it explodes. Characters: William Blake, Sir Gregory Upshott Location: The Green Man and the sea
• Hawkins Is Stopped by Police — Hawkins crashes into his assistant's car, and police stop them as they try to drive away. Characters: Hawkins Location: Road outside The Green Man
• The Radio Outburst and Kiss — William and Ann hear Reginald's angry radio outburst, stop driving, and share their first kiss. Characters: William Blake, Reginald Willoughby-Cruft Location: Road back to London

Story Breakdown

• The Assassination Contract — Hawkins learns where Upshott will be and prepares a concealed bomb.
  • Target Selected — Hawkins is contracted to kill Upshott.
  • Radio Bomb Prepared — Hawkins hides a bomb in a radio intended for the hotel lounge.
• The Hidden Secretary — A confrontation leads to an attack and the concealment of the secretary.
  • Treachery Discovered — The secretary learns of Hawkins's plan and confronts him.
  • Body Discovered — William finds the secretary hidden in a neighboring house.
• William Raises Alarm — William's discovery brings him into a chain of alarming encounters.
  • Hawkins Alerted — William's visit next door accidentally alerts Hawkins.
  • Reginald's Anger — Reginald finds William and Ann hiding together and leaves furiously.
• The Hotel Warning — The secretary's warning sends William and Ann toward the hotel as the deadline approaches.
  • Bombing Revealed — The secretary warns that Upshott will be bombed at the hotel.
  • False Name Pursuit — William and Ann mistake the Boughtflower name for Upshott's alias.
• The Countdown Confusion — The hotel guests remain at risk while William struggles to make others respond.
  • Clock Misleads Them — The hall clock gives William and Ann a mistaken sense of the time.
  • Warning Rejected — The landlord does not believe their story, so they try to evacuate the hotel.
• The Radio's Last Journey — William identifies the timer and removes the bomb from the hotel before it explodes.
  • Timer Recognized — The radio announcement helps William realize the hall clock is wrong and the bomb is timed.
  • Bomb Thrown Seaward — William throws the radio toward the sea seconds before the explosion.
• The Aftermath — Hawkins's escape is stopped, and William and Ann reach a romantic resolution.
  • Police Stop Hawkins — Police stop Hawkins and his assistant as they try to drive away.
  • First Kiss — After hearing Reginald's radio outburst, William and Ann stop the car and kiss.

Directed by

Robert Day, Basil Dearden

Key Cast

• Alastair Sim — Hawkins
• George Cole — William Blake
• Terry-Thomas — Charles Boughtflower
• Jill Adams — Ann Vincent
• Raymond Huntley — Sir Gregory Upshott