THE WEAK AND THE WICKED
UK, 1953, 83 minutes, Black and white.
Glynnis Johns, Diana Dors, John Gregson, Jane Hylton, Sid James, A.E. Matthews, Sybil Thorndike, Athene Seyler, Pat Heywood, Rachel Roberts.
Directed by J. Lee Thompson.
The Weak and the Wicked is a gritty film about prison life - although, by later standards, life in this women's prison was comparatively comfortable. There are the expected characters, fierce warders and the governor of the prison - although they seem to be quite mild as well.
The film was written and directed by J. Lee Thompson, who was to make a number of films in Britain during the 50s from comedies like An Alligator Named Daisy to strong dramas like Tiger Bay. Within ten years of this film he had moved to Hollywood and had directed The Guns of Navarone. He was to continue to make action films and comedies and during the 80s and 90s filmed a number of Charles Bronson action thrillers.
Glynnis Johns is the upper-class prisoner in this film, giving a rather recitative performance compared with the warmth and vitality of the performance by Diana Dors. The structure of the film is somewhat eclectic, even haphazard, suddenly moving into unexpected flashbacks, one of which involves Sid James and an eccentric shoplifting family and the other with Athene Seyler, Sybil Thorndike and A.E. Matthews.
The film is interesting as an example of the British film industry of the 1950s and its attempt to make realistic melodramas. They were also strong melodramas with social comment.
1. The film in the 1950s? Seen in retrospect? Prison life, the hardships of prison?
2. Black and white photography, brief running time, London settings, the two prisons? Musical score?
3. The title - and most of the characters seeming weak rather than wicked?
4. The structure of the film, the focus on Jean, her being sentenced to prison, her relationship with Michael, the flashbacks about her alleged fraud? Prison, the flashbacks for the Baden family, for Babs and the death of her baby, for the two elderly ladies and the death of Harry Wicks? The finale with the happy ending, anticipated by the crisis with the possibility of Betty having escaped?
5. The character of Jean, her education and background, her gambling, her debts, her defiance of the club manager? Pam as her friend, stealing the lighter, the insurance claim? Her arrest for fraud? Her accepting this, the sentence, talking with Michael, getting the powder and cream to go to prison? The brief rituals of going into prison? Meeting Betty? Life in prison, the work, the cell, meals? Discipline and silence? The governor? The woman with the scissors in the sewing room and Jean stopping her? Her injuries, going to the hospital and maternity ward, friendship with Babs, with the other women? She and Betty being transferred, the open prison, the work, the lifestyle, clothes? Being given the day outing, wanting Betty to honour her promise, the enjoyable day out, Betty's disappearance? Her being told off by the governor, her breaking down and weeping, Betty's return? The happy ending with Michael not taking his job in Rhodesia?
6. Betty, her boyfriend, seeing only good in him? Two years for covering for him? No letters, her optimistic talk? Friendship with Jean, going to the more open prison, wanting to run away, the day out, her leaving, coming back?
7. The glimpse of other prisoners, the silent young woman and the tough woman giving her advice, the tough woman and the scissors with the guard in the sewing room, Babs and the story of her being a good-time girl, the death of her child, the pregnant woman and her harsh attitudes, the mad old woman still living in the past, the old lady who had sent the blackmail message to her best friend? A glimpse of a genial range of prisoners? The guards, tough, the governor, the open prison and sympathy?
8. Michael, love for Jean, upset about her gambling, coming to see her, the decision to go to Rhodesia, her disappointment, his change of heart and meeting her at the prison?
9. The humour of the shoplifting family and their going into action, the two old ladies and the murder plan and what eventually happened?
10. A film of the 50s, showing a more genial and calm lifestyle of that period?
