THE KNACK
UK, 1965, 85 minutes, Black and white.
Ray Brooks, Michael Crawford, Rita Tushingham. Donal Donnelly.
Directed by Richard Lester.
The Knack was a successful play by Ann Jellicoe. Screenwriter Charles Wood and Richard Lester have converted the play into a most unusual satire and adventure in cinema techniques. In fact the variety of techniques tends to absorb a lot of the audience's attention. Richard Lester had just made A Hard Day's Night and Help and was soon to make A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. His training in TV commercials and inventive ability is well to the fore. Rita Tushingham gives another of her country girl performances (Girl with Green Eyes, Smashing Time). Michael Crawford, a good comedian in many films, also appeared in Forum and How I Won the War for Lester. The Knack provides plenty of controversial discussion material on theme, satire and cinema techniques.
1. Was it evident from the film's technique that it came from a play or not?
2. Comment on the cinema styles that director, Richard Lester,, used for his film. What effect did they have? Were they too clever? Did you enjoy them? Why? Did you like the musical score? Was it appropriate?
3. Were the four principal persons characterisations or caricatures? Tolen and his likes of girls?; did he have the knack; How arrogant was he? Likeable? Colin - likeable? Why didn't he have the knack? Was he a good teacher? (Comment on the sequence of his imagination and of the definitions and repetitions of the schoolchildren.) Tom - how eccentric was he? Why the white room? Was he a good friend? the girl - did you like her? Was she typical of country girls arriving in the city? How did she relate to the three men?
4. How effective were the comments made by people as the girl went past, on the bed, etc.? Was this a clever technique? What did it reveal about people and the way they think?
5. Comment on the satirical use of sales patter for buying the dress.
6. The bed - what was the point of the trip through London on the bed? Was it humorous? Was it good cinema? Why?
7. Comment on the sequence where they played at being lions. Was this funny? What was its point in the film?
8. Comment on the 'rape' sequence. How comic was it? Why? What did it add to the film?
9. How was Tolen shown up as a fake? Was he? Did he deserve this? What comment did it make on types like him?
10. Why did Colin and the girl relate so well? Why would they fall in love? Did Colin have the knack? What comment did the film make on shy types like Colin?
11. What comment did this satire make on England and attitudes?
12 Are satires effective ways of communicating a message? Why?
