The Green Man (1956) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

An assassin's timed bombing scheme is exposed and defeated through discovery, improvisation, and a desperate race against time.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

The Contract and the Concealed Bomb

Hawkins accepts a contract to kill Sir Gregory Upshott and prepares a bomb hidden inside a radio. A secretary's confrontation and the discovery of her body create the first threat to his plan.

Key Events

• Assassination Contract — Hawkins accepts a contract to kill the prominent businessman Sir Gregory Upshott. Characters: Hawkins, Sir Gregory Upshott Location: London
• Target Weekend Revealed — Hawkins learns that Upshott will spend a weekend at The Green Man hotel. Characters: Hawkins Location: London
• Bomb Hidden in Radio — Hawkins hides a bomb inside a radio for delivery to the hotel lounge. Characters: Hawkins Location: Hawkins's house
• Secretary Attacked — Hawkins's assistant attacks the secretary after she confronts him about his treachery. Characters: Hawkins Location: Hawkins's house
• Body Hidden — The assistant hides the apparently dead secretary's body inside a grand piano. Characters: Hawkins Location: A neighboring house

The Warning Reaches the Hotel

William Blake discovers the hidden body and learns that Upshott will be bombed at The Green Man. Upshott and Hawkins independently arrive at the hotel, bringing the target and weapon together.

Key Events

• Salesman Finds Body — William arrives as a vacuum cleaner salesman and discovers the hidden body. Characters: William Blake, Hawkins Location: A neighboring house
• Body Is Moved — William accidentally alerts Hawkins, who has the body moved before it can be found. Characters: Hawkins Location: The neighboring houses
• Warning Reaches William — William encounters a frightened witness who warns that Upshott will be bombed at The Green Man. Characters: William Blake Location: A private house
• Bombing Time Announced — William learns that the bombing is scheduled for precisely 22:28. Characters: William Blake, Sir Gregory Upshott Location: The Green Man
• Upshott Arrives — Upshott arrives at the hotel with his young secretary and seeks a drink before registering. Characters: Sir Gregory Upshott Location: The Green Man
• Hawkins Enters Lounge — Hawkins sits in the lounge with the bomb concealed inside his suitcase radio. Characters: Hawkins Location: The Green Man lounge

A Race Against 22:28

William searches for Upshott while Hawkins distracts the hotel guests. Confusion over the registration name and the unreliable hall clock allows the bomb threat to intensify.

Key Events

• Hawkins Enters Lounge — Hawkins sits in the lounge with the bomb concealed inside his suitcase radio. Characters: Hawkins Location: The Green Man lounge
• Diversion at the Bar — Hawkins takes three musicians to the bar while Upshott prepares to eat. Characters: Hawkins Location: The Green Man bar
• Rescuers Reach Hotel — William and his companion rush to the hotel and search for Upshott under a possible false name. Characters: William Blake, Sir Gregory Upshott Location: The Green Man
• First Search Fails — William and his companion wrongly assume that the registered name is false and fail to identify Upshott. Characters: William Blake, Sir Gregory Upshott Location: The Green Man
• Bomb Time Approaches — The scheduled time arrives while Hawkins continues distracting guests and Upshott remains near the radio. Characters: Hawkins, Sir Gregory Upshott, William Blake Location: The Green Man lounge

The Radio Goes to Sea

William realizes that the radio is timed and removes it from the hotel moments before the explosion. Hawkins's escape fails when his car crashes and police stop him.

Key Events

• Evacuation Attempt — William tries to evacuate the hotel and locate the bomb, but the landlord rejects his warning. Characters: William Blake, Sir Gregory Upshott Location: The Green Man
• Clock Error Discovered — William notices that the hall clock is wrong and realizes the radio itself is connected to the timer. Characters: William Blake, Sir Gregory Upshott Location: The Green Man lounge
• Radio Thrown Seaward — William throws the timed radio toward the sea seconds before it explodes. Characters: William Blake, Sir Gregory Upshott Location: Outside The Green Man
• Assassins Stopped — Hawkins crashes into his assistant's car, and both are stopped by the police while fleeing. Characters: Hawkins Location: Road outside The Green Man
• Journey Home — While driving back to London, William hears an angry radio broadcast and shares a first kiss with his companion. Characters: William Blake Location: Road to London

Story Breakdown

• The Assassination Contract — Hawkins is hired to kill Sir Gregory Upshott and prepares the central weapon.
  • Paid Killing Assignment — Hawkins receives the contract to eliminate Upshott.
  • Radio Bomb Preparation — Hawkins conceals a bomb inside a radio.
• The Hidden Body — A secretary's confrontation with Hawkins leads to an attempted concealment and William's discovery.
  • Secretary Attacked — The secretary is attacked after confronting Hawkins.
  • Piano Discovery — William finds the body hidden inside a grand piano.
• The Hotel Warning — William learns that Upshott faces a precisely timed bombing at The Green Man.
  • Bombing Time Revealed — The warning identifies 22:28 as the detonation time.
  • Target Arrives — Upshott reaches the hotel before the planned attack.
• Hawkins Creates Diversions — Hawkins positions the bomb and distracts people while the target remains nearby.
  • Lounge Placement — The bomb-filled radio is placed in the hotel lounge.
  • Bar Distraction — Hawkins draws musicians away from the lounge.
• The Search for the Bomb — William tries to identify Upshott, convince the hotel staff, and find the weapon.
  • False Registration Theory — William wrongly assumes Upshott is registered under a false name.
  • Failed Evacuation — The hotel landlord initially refuses to accept the warning.
• The Clock and Radio Twist — A timing discrepancy allows William to understand how the bomb will detonate.
  • Clock Error Discovered — William realizes that the hall clock shows the wrong time.
  • Timer Identified — William deduces that the timer is inside the radio.
• The Seaside Climax — William removes the bomb from the hotel, while Hawkins's escape collapses.
  • Radio Thrown Away — William throws the radio toward the sea just before detonation.
  • Police Stop Hawkins — A car crash enables the police to stop Hawkins during his escape.
• Aftermath on the Road — The immediate danger ends, but the final radio broadcast creates an emotional release.
  • Angry Radio Broadcast — A radio speaker interrupts a poem with an angry personal speech.
  • First Kiss — William shares a first kiss with his companion during the return journey.

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