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The Informer

The Informer is a title used by multiple films, most notably a 1935 American drama thriller directed by John Ford and a 2019 crime thriller directed by Andrea Di Stefano.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Informer is a title used by multiple films, most notably a 1935 American drama thriller directed by John Ford and a 2019 crime thriller directed by Andrea Di Stefano. The 1935 film is an adaptation of Liam O'Flaherty’s 1925 novel and won four Academy Awards. The 2019 film follows an FBI informant who is forced back into prison to continue an undercover operation.

1935 film

The 1935 adaptation centers on a disgraced Irish Republican who informs on former comrades during the Irish War of Independence. It is one of the best-known versions of the title and received major Academy Awards recognition.

2019 film

The 2019 film follows Pete Koslow, a former special operations soldier and FBI informant who is forced back into prison to continue an undercover operation. The cast includes Joel Kinnaman, Rosamund Pike, Common, Ana de Armas, and Clive Owen.

Source material

Both major films under this title are adaptations. The 1935 film is based on Liam O'Flaherty’s novel The Informer, while the 2019 film is based on the Swedish novel Three Seconds.

Awards and reception

The 1935 film won four Oscars, while the 2019 film was released as a crime thriller with a later streaming and home-media presence. Reception details vary by version and distributor.

Key facts

  • The title refers to more than one film, so it is disambiguated by release year.
  • The 1935 version is an American drama thriller directed and produced by John Ford.
  • The 1935 film won four Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Actor.
  • The 2019 version is a crime thriller directed by Andrea Di Stefano.
  • The 2019 film is based on the novel Three Seconds by Roslund & Hellström.
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Canadian context

Canadian viewers may know The Informer through international television, streaming, and home-media distribution, but the title has no specific Canadian production or subject connection in the provided sources.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Informer?
The Informer is a film title used by multiple movies, especially the 1935 John Ford film and the 2019 Andrea Di Stefano film.
Is The Informer a remake?
The 2019 film is not a remake of the 1935 film; it is based on a different novel, Three Seconds by Roslund & Hellström.
Who directed The Informer (1935)?
The 1935 film was directed and produced by John Ford.
Who stars in The Informer (2019)?
The 2019 film stars Joel Kinnaman, Rosamund Pike, Common, Ana de Armas, and Clive Owen.
What awards did The Informer (1935) win?
It won four Academy Awards: Best Director, Best Actor, Best Writing Screenplay, and Best Score.
What is The Informer (2019) about?
It follows an FBI informant who is sent back into prison to continue an undercover operation against organized crime.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Informer_(1935_film)
    Supports: 1935 film director, plot, source novel, cast, and Academy Awards
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Informer_(2019_film)
    Supports: 2019 film director, screenplay, cast, and source novel
  3. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/81161855
    Supports: 2019 film premise, cast, and genre
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_informer_2020
    Supports: 2019 film genre and plot description