---
title: "Odd Man Out: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/odd-man-out/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/odd-man-out"
critics_score: 79
critics_reviews: 7
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Odd Man Out (1947): what the critics said

Critics' score 79 from 7 reviews: 7 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative.

The reviews lean firmly positive, with praise clustering around Robert Krasker’s atmospheric black-and-white photography and James Mason’s performance. Most critics see more than a suspenseful manhunt: they emphasise the film’s humane character study, bleak tragedy and attention to conflict within people. Carol Reed’s direction also draws praise, while the expressionistic imagery is repeatedly singled out for its contribution to the atmosphere.

The differences are largely matters of emphasis, though Mason’s performance prompts a clear disagreement. Variety praises the cast’s teamwork but finds him less effective in a largely passive role, and registers a mild reservation about the moralising. Elsewhere, critics respond more warmly to Mason’s wounded Johnny, while the shift from suspense towards metaphor helps explain why several accounts focus as much on the film’s humanity and tragedy as on its thriller mechanics.

## Radio Times — David Parkinson

Rating 5/5. 

The critic describes the film as agonising and exceptionally powerful. They praise James Mason’s performance and Carol Reed’s direction, alongside Robert Krasker’s atmospheric photography.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-s9ed33/odd-man-out/)

## Slant Magazine — Jordan Cronk

Rating 4/5. 14 April 2015. 

Cronk finds the film a humane, atmospheric character study wrapped in a sociopolitical thriller. He particularly praises Robert Krasker’s expressionistic cinematography and the film’s evocative black-and-white imagery.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/odd-man-out/)

## Empire — David Parkinson

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2014. 

The critic views the film as a stark, suspenseful thriller whose suspense gives way to metaphor. He praises James Mason’s performance and the brooding monochrome photography.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/odd-man-review/)

## Variety — Variety Staff

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1946. 

The review is strongly positive about the film’s careful artistry and storytelling, with a mild reservation about its moralizing. It singles out the cast’s teamwork for praise, while finding James Mason less effective in a largely passive role.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/1946/film/reviews/odd-man-out-1200415028/)

## The New York Times — Bosley Crowther

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 24 April 1947. 

The headline identifies a New York Times review, but the blocked page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. Its praise or complaints cannot be verified from the accessible text.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1947/04/24/archives/odd-man-out-british-film-in-which-james-mason-again-is-the-chief.html)

## Time Out — Dave Calhoun

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 29 August 2006. 

The page presents the film positively, calling it Carol Reed’s first great postwar film. It singles out the opening preamble’s emphasis on conflict within people.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/odd-man-out-1)

## Eye for Film — Anton Bitel

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2006. 

Bitel finds the film a beautifully bleak tragedy that rises above a conventional manhunt thriller. He praises James Mason’s compelling performance as the wounded, fading Johnny.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/odd-man-out-film-review-by-anton-bitel)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/odd-man-out.md