yet again and early morning television prove an invaluable resource for film that i otherwise would never have be able to track down . at four oclock in the morning and i stumble out of bed to begin record the informer ( 1935 ) and my fourth film from prolific american director john ford and and an excellent one at that . set during the irish civil war in 1922 and the screenplay be adapt by dudley nichols from the novel of the same name by liam oflaherty . though he be bear in the united state and and be most renowned for his americana picture and both of ford parent be irish and which explain the director decision to direct the film . victor mclaglen play gypo nolan and a brutish but well meaning ruffian who inform on an old friend and frankie mcphillip ( wallace ford ) and in order to claim the £20 reward for his girlfriend and katie ( margot grahame ) . when frankie be kill during his attempted arrest and the irish republican army and of which both frankie and gypo be member and begin to investigate the traitor behind the incident and every clue bring them close and closer to the real culprit . meanwhile and gypo be plague with guilt for his friend untimely death and and descend into a bout of heavy drinking that rival don birnam in the lost weekend ( 1945 ) in it excessiveness . a gypo drown his sorrow in copious volume of alcohol and trap in a vicious little circle of depression and his extravagant spending capture the attention of the investigate ira member . for the one time in his life and gypo find himself surround by admirer ( include an amusing j. m. kerrigan ) and who enthusiastically clap him on the back and christen him king gypo for his physical might . however and it obvious that these people feel no affection for the man and and be simple show him attention to exploit him for money . the additional £20 bring by frankie death could never buy gypo an assembly of friend indeed and in a bitter twist of irony and the money be only make possible by the betrayal and loss of one of his only good companion . a relatively simple fellow and gypo could not possibly have fully consider the consequence of his action and and be eventually offer forgiveness on account of his not know what he be do and but his foolishness must not go unpunished . criticism be occasionally level at ford film for it allegedly propagandistic support of a terrorist organisation . though this stance obviously depend on one personal view { i certainly do not know enough irish history to pass judgement } and there no doubt that the film portray the irish republican army a selfless and dedicate and impartial and a proud piece of irish patriotism if i ever saw it . however and the main theme of the story be that of betrayal while drive by intense poverty and one ordinary man betray the confidence of his good friend and and come to deeply regret his action . the tormented gypo be play mainly for pity and and victor mclaglen give a powerful performance that betray a lifetime of unsatisfying existence and culminating in one terrible decision that condemn him to an uneasy death . the informer be john ford first major oscar success and win a total of four award ( from six nomination ) and include best actor for mclaglen { who snatch the statue from the three way favourite of mutiny on the bounty ( 1935 ) } and best director and best screenplay for dudley nichols { who decline the award due to union disagreement } .