What Is The Green Man About?
The premise of The Green Man in 285 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a lightly rain‑slicked corner of the English coast sits the isolated Green Man hotel, a place where the genteel conventions of a seaside retreat clash with a nervous undercurrent of intrigue. The film dresses this setting in the dry, dead‑pan humor of classic British dark comedy, letting the absurdity of bureaucracy and the occasional flirtation of sly sex coexist with a palpable sense of danger that never fully darkens the mood.
Harry Hawkins appears at first glance as a meticulous watchmaker, content to spend his days repairing gears and keeping time for a respectable clientele. Beneath that respectable façade, however, he doubles as a contract killer employed by shadowy overseas patrons, a paradox that fuels much of the film’s dry wit. His latest assignment—eliminate a political figure meeting a secretary at the remote hotel—places his precise, almost mechanical professionalism against a backdrop of seaside charm and eccentric locals.
Enter William Blake, a young vacuum‑cleaner salesman whose ordinary day takes an unexpected turn when he stumbles across Hawkins’s covert agenda. Blake’s earnest curiosity and bumbling determination make him an unlikely foil, and his interactions with the hotel’s colorful staff and guests generate a cascade of comedic misunderstandings. As he tries to piece together what he’s seen, the tension between his plain‑spoken honesty and Hawkins’s cold efficiency creates a dance of wits that drives the story’s rhythm.
The ensemble of flamboyant secretaries, pedantic waiters, and pretentious landlords adds layers of satire, each character reflecting a different facet of British social mores. Together, they swirl around the central premise like the tide around the cliffs, keeping the audience perched between laughter and the thrill of a ticking clock that promises mischief without ever revealing its final shape.
What Happens in The Green Man?
The complete story of The Green Man, from the first scene to the last, in 801 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 12 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Harry Hawkins [Alastair Sim] is a freelance assassin hired to blow up Sir Gregory Upshott [Raymond Huntley], a pompous London businessman. Through his courtship of Upshott’s spinster secretary, Marigold [Avril Angers], Hawkins learns that Upshott will spend a weekend with one of the firm’s typists at a seaside hotel called The Green Man, where he plans to plant a bomb concealed in a radio and leave it in the hotel lounge. The setup promises a tense, dryly humorous collision of wit and danger as the plan edges toward completion.
When Marigold travels to Hawkins’s home to confront him, she is attacked—though the moment isn’t shown to the audience—and left for dead by Hawkins’ assistant McKechnie [John Chandos], who discreetly hides the body in a grand piano. The grim discovery comes when William Blake [George Cole], a young vacuum cleaner salesman, arrives and goes next door, accidentally alerting Hawkins. Hawkins’s accomplice then moves the body, while the unsettled Blake alerts Reginald Willoughby-Cruft [Colin Gordon], whose fiancée Ann [Jill Adams] becomes entangled in the ensuing panic. Reginald returns to find the two in a precarious position under the bed, and his furious exit compounds the strain on their engagement. The tension escalates when the supposed “corpse” lurches into the house through the French doors, collapses again, and cryptically tells the terrified pair that Upshott will be blown up that night at precisely 22:28 in The Green Man.
At The Green Man, Upshott arrives with his shy secretary Joan [Eileen Moore], hesitating to register before a drink. The hotel waiter [Michael Ripper] reminds guests they must order food before 10 pm because of the Catering Act, a bureaucratic quirk that heightens the domestic comedy of the evening. Hawkins enters and sits in the lounge, feigning appreciation for a violin concerto performed by the Leader of Trio [Vivien Wood] and her two fellow musicians. The bomb itself sits hidden inside a radio tucked into Hawkins’s suitcase, and he uses the lounge’s musicians as a distraction while the plan unfolds, even as he moves the trio into the bar as Upshott and Joan rise to dine.
Not knowing which name Upshott will use to register, Ann and William press their search, convinced that Upshott will be alone and using a false name. They fix on the name Boughtflower and pursue the lead, inadvertently aligning themselves with the hotel’s other guests. As the clock nears 22:28, the tension in the lounge becomes almost unbearable, and the trio resumes playing while Hawkins urges them to quicken their tempo, pulling the audience deeper into his dangerous game.
Back in the dining and lobby areas, Ann and William clash with the landlord as they try to convince him of the danger and evacuate everyone. Hawkins has the radio on in the lounge, and its programmed time announcements fuel the suspense: the broadcast claims 22:24, prompting William to realize the hall clock has misled everyone. He acts, guiding a cautious evacuation and attempting to save Upshott from his own vanity-driven peril. In a final, kinetic moment, William hurls the radio toward the sea seconds before it explodes, ending Hawkins’s plan in a collision of metal, police intervention, and a chaotic getaway by Hawkins and his assistant.
As the aftermath unfolds, Reginald Willoughby-Cruft’s public radio appearance—a dramatic reading that unexpectedly veers into a scathing diatribe against Ann—adds a bittersweet coda to the evening. The couple, who have weathered a night of fear, finally share a tender moment of relief and connection as they drive away, having escaped the hotel’s explosive climax and found solace in each other’s company.
The film features a colorful ensemble that threads its way through the farce and menace, with standout turns from the tight, sardonic wit of Alastair Sim as Hawkins, the pompous bravado of Raymond Huntley as Upshott, and the soft-spoken tension of George Cole as William Blake. The supporting cast adds texture and texture to the comedy of errors: Avril Angers as Marigold, John Chandos as McKechnie, Jill Adams as Ann Vincent, Colin Gordon as Reginald Willoughby-Cruft, Eileen Moore as Joan Wood, Vivien Wood leading the Trio, Michael Ripper as the waiter, Arthur Brough as the landlord, and Richard Wattis the doctor who threads through the hotel’s corridors of comedy and peril. In the wings, the film’s wider world—police, the hotel’s staff, and other guests portrayed by the ensemble—keeps the tension balanced with humor, misdirection, and a dash of seaside charm.
The atmosphere combines sly, dry humor with a pervading sense of threat that never fully tips into darkness, maintaining a playful menace as the characters maneuver around the ticking clock, the misnamed Boughtflower, and the ever-present threat of disaster. The result is a brisk, entertaining ride that respects its intricate setup while delivering character moments that feel lived-in and true to the film’s spirit.
The Green Man Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Hawkins accepts the job and studies Upshott” to “Finale: a kiss after danger on the road”. 12 events name a place, across 8 locations.
- 1
Hawkins accepts the job and studies Upshott
Hawkins is contracted to blow up Sir Gregory Upshott. He begins gathering details on Upshott's routine and how to approach the hit without arousing suspicion. He formulates a plan around using a concealed bomb in a hotel setting.
Where:Hawkins' residence
- 2
Marigold confronts Hawkins
Marigold, Upshott's secretary, visits Hawkins' place to warn him off, but the encounter reveals his ruthless determination. She confronts him with the danger he is courting. The scene foreshadows the peril hanging over Upshott's weekend.
Where:Hawkins' residence
- 3
Hawkins' assistant hides the body
McKechnie hides Marigold's body in a grand piano at the neighboring house after the attack. The act silences a witness and deepens the mystery surrounding Hawkins' plot. The hidden corpse will later surface as the investigation unfolds.
Where:Next-door neighbor's house
- 4
William Blake discovers the concealed body
William Blake, a young vacuum cleaner salesman, arrives at the house and discovers Marigold's concealed body. He reports the finding and triggers a chain of reactions that pull Hawkins' plans into the open. The discovery raises the stakes for everyone involved.
Where:Next-door neighbor's house
- 5
Blake warns Hawkins and Ann
Blake first goes to alert Hawkins about the corpse, then warns Reginald's fiancée, Ann, about the nearby danger. His warnings connect the murder to Upshott's evening and force the conspirators to react. The night begins to spiral toward a confrontation.
Where:Hawkins' residence; Reginald's home
- 6
Reginald returns to find danger
Reginald comes home to find Ann and William terrified and hiding. The discovery intensifies the emotional stakes and tests the fragile relationship between Reginald and Ann. The atmosphere grows tense as fear spreads through the household.
Where:Reginald's home
- 7
Upshott arrives at The Green Man
Sir Gregory Upshott arrives at The Green Man with his shy secretary Joan, intending to have a drink before the meal. The hotel becomes the stage for the planned explosion. The waiter notes the Catering Act rule, adding a practical wrinkle to the dinner scene.
Where:The Green Man hotel
- 8
Hawkins carries the bomb into the lounge
Hawkins sits in the lounge, pretending to enjoy a violin recital by three mature ladies while the bomb sits concealed in a radio inside his suitcase. He moves among guests, maintaining a calm demeanor as the countdown looms. The hotel atmosphere masks the looming danger.
Where:The Green Man hotel lounge
- 9
Ann and William locate Upshott
Ann and William locate Upshott by assuming the name Boughtflower, though they remain unsure of his exact registration. They race to warn him and evacuate the guests before the blast. The frantic pursuit tightens the suspense as the clock ticks down.
Where:The Green Man hotel
- 10
The countdown and evacuation unfold
The hotel timepiece and the radio countdown clash, showing 22:24 as a warning that the timer is in the radio, not in a wall clock. Ann and William scramble to evacuate the lounge and identify the bomb's location. The chaos heightens the urgency of stopping the explosion.
When:22:24 Where:The Green Man hotel lounge
- 11
The bomb is thrown into the sea
William realizes the device is on a timer in the radio and hurls the radio toward the sea seconds before it explodes. Hawkins crashes into his assistant's car as the police intervene and halt their escape. The immediate threat is prevented, but the night leaves a stunned hotel and uneasy aftermath.
When:22:28 Where:The Green Man; road to London
- 12
Finale: a kiss after danger on the road
Driving back toward London, Ann and William hear Reginald speaking on the radio, delivering a venomous diatribe about Ann. He interrupts with a bitter tirade, but the moment shifts as Ann and William share a kiss. The scene ends on a personal note of connection amid the night's chaos.
Where:On the road toward London
Who Are the Main Characters in The Green Man?
12 characters, among them Harry Hawkins (Alastair Sim), Sir Gregory Upshott (Raymond Huntley) and Marigold (Avril Angers): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- HH
Harry Hawkins (Alastair Sim)
Played by Alastair Sim
A cool, calculating freelance assassin who plants a bomb in a radio and manipulates events from behind the scenes. He maintains a calm, charming exterior while orchestrating the plot, revealing his ruthless pragmatism when confronted with resistance.
- 🗡️ Assassin
- 🧠 Mastermind
- 🕵️ Plotter
-
Sir Gregory Upshott (Raymond Huntley)
Played by Raymond Huntley
A pompous London businessman whose weekend at the seaside hotel becomes the target of a calculated plot. His vanity and social standing draw others into the scheme and shape how the night unfolds.
- 🎩 Elite
- 🎯 Target
- M(
Marigold (Avril Angers)
Played by Avril Angers
Upshott's secretary whose proximity to the target makes her a potential ally or victim as the plan unravels. She confronts Hawkins, adding emotional tension to the dangerous night.
- 🧭 Confidante
- 🗝️ Witness
- WB
William Blake (George Cole)
Played by George Cole
A young vacuum cleaner salesman who stumbles upon the crime and inadvertently triggers a chain of events. His discovery pushes the plot toward a race against time.
- 🧑💼 Amateur sleuth
- 🧭 Catalyst
- AV
Ann Vincent (Jill Adams)
Played by Jill Adams
Reginald Willoughby-Cruft’s fiancée who navigates fear and confusion as the danger closes in. Her presence intensifies the urgency for truth and evacuation.
- 💃 Fiancée
- 🕊️ Courage
- RW
Reginald Willoughby-Cruft (Colin Gordon)
Played by Colin Gordon
The house owner whose social circle and relationships complicate the hotel drama. His interactions with Ann and other guests influence the course of events.
- 👔 Socialite
- 🛡️ Authority
- A(
Annabel (Lucy Griffiths)
Played by Lucy Griffiths
A hotel guest whose presence adds tension to the lounge dynamics. She contributes to the atmosphere of unease as the night progresses.
- 👗 Guest
- 🧭 Tension
- TW
The Waiter (Michael Ripper)
Played by Michael Ripper
A hotel waiter who helps stage the lounge’s social routine and becomes part of the misdirection that surrounds the plot.
- 🍽️ Service
- 🗝️ Connector
- LO
Leader of Trio (Vivien Wood)
Played by Vivien Wood
One of the three mature violinists who provide musical cover for the unfolding drama. Their performance amplifies the contrast between elegance and danger.
- 🎻 Performer
- 🎭 Ambience
- L(
Landlord (Arthur Brough)
Played by Arthur Brough
The hotel landlord who manages guests and logistics, maintaining appearances while the danger brews beneath the surface.
- 🏨 Manager
- 🧭 Authority
- M(
McKechnie (John Chandos)
Played by John Chandos
Hawkins' loyal assistant who helps conceal the crime, including hiding the corpse, escalating the stakes and complicating the investigation.
- 🧩 Co-conspirator
- 🗝️ Accomplice
- D(
Doctor (Richard Wattis)
Played by Richard Wattis
A medical figure who appears amidst the crisis, providing rational observation in the chaos and representing authority.
- 🩺 Medical
- 🧭 Authority
Where and When Is The Green Man Set?
The Green Man is set in The Green Man seaside hotel (1950s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1950s
The events unfold in mid-20th-century Britain, a world of radios, telephones, and formal social cues. The era’s catering rules and hotel etiquette heighten the tension, making every interaction a potential clue or cover. Time itself, down to the minutes, drives the plot toward a dramatic culmination in the hotel lounge.
Where
The Green Man seaside hotel
The Green Man is a bustling seaside hotel that serves as the tense battlefield for a planned assassination. Its lounge, bar, and corridors become stages for deception, near-misses, and crowded social rituals. The hotel’s regular dining and musical acts contrast with the lurking danger, creating a constant undercurrent of suspense.
- 🏨 Hotel
- 🌊 Seaside town
- 🕰️ 1950s setting
What Are the Themes of The Green Man?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Deception, Timing and Social Facades.
-
01
Deception
The plot relentlessly relies on lies and misdirection, with a bomb concealed in a radio and characters assuming false identities. Trust is tested as guests, staff, and performers blur the line between friend and foe. The setting amplifies how civility can mask deadly intent.
-
02
Timing
A precise countdown—22:28—binds the characters to a single fatal moment. The near-synchrony of plan and panic creates mounting suspense as everyone rushes to evacuate or uncover the truth. The narrative hinges on how a small misread of time can change everything.
-
03
Social Facades
Public rituals and genteel behavior conceal fear, greed, and scheming. Guests, staff, and performers wear social masks that hide dangerous motives, and the hotel’s polished atmosphere becomes a playground for manipulation. The interplay of appearance and danger drives the drama.
What Kind of Film Is The Green Man?
Tense in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A brisk and suspenseful dark comedy that blends dry wit with playful menace, as a ticking bomb and a cast of eccentric characters collide in a farcical seaside hotel setting.
- suspenseful
- dry humor
- anxious
- brisk
- playful menace
- sardonic
- assassination plot
- mistaken identity
- crime farce
- dark humor
Content notes: murder, dead body.
Quiz
How well do you remember The Green Man? Test yourself on the story.
