Completed in 1937, but not released until 1940, The Green Cockatoo is a taut little thriller based on a Graham Greene story, directed by the American William Cameron Menzies, and featuring a stellar cast and crew. After witnessing the murder of a racketeer (Robert Newton), a young woman (Rene Ray) is pursued by both gangsters and the police. She is aided by a Soho entertainer (John Mills), who is the brother of the victim. Often cited as one of the earliest of the British Noirs, this cinematic rarity helped set the stage for the classical period of Brit Noir, which flourished in the years following WWII.