FITZWILLY

US, 1967, 102 minutes, Colour.
Dick Van Dyke, Barbara Feldon, John Mc Giver, Edith Evans, Anne Seymour, Cecil Kellaway.
Directed by Delbert Mann.

Quite an entertaining Dick Van Dyke comedy. It is nothing particularly special, a robbery caper film with Barbara Feldon as an attractive heroine and the surprising appearance of Dame Edith Evans. This is the kind of comedy situation that Dick Van Dyke is expert at and the film takes its place amongst this kind of comedy.

1. Was this an enjoyable film? In what lay its appeal? For whom primarily was it made?

2. Was it a good comedy? What were the main features of its comedy? How well were they used? Was it merely conventional?

3. Comment on the use of colour, widescreen, the New York backgrounds, the special effects, especially the robbery in Maceys?

4. What moral stance did the film take, if any? With whom did the audience identify? What judgment did the audience make about crime and robberies? Was it important that this was a fantasy film rather than reality? The place of guilt as regards crime? Remorse? Or are these too serious questions for such a film as this?

5. How much did the film rely on audience response to characters and myths like that of Robin Hood, robbing the rich for the poor etc? Was this a valid application of those methods?

6. Fitzwilly in himself? Dick van Dyke's personality and style, assured, talented, with a special mind for deals, his control and elegance? How important was it for the film to show him succeeding in his deals? How snobbish was he in his performance?

7. Miss Vicky? What kind of person was she? How lovably eccentric, how ridiculous? The hold she had on Fitzwilly and the servants? Living in the past? Her crusades, charities, dictionary? How enjoyable was this performance?

8. Why did Fitzwilly do all this for Miss Vicky? The role of Juliet in the film to test attitudes? How did Juliet change so much in the house? Her persuasion for him to stop the crimes? The power of love?

9. How normal a character was Juliet compared with all the others? Was she an appropriate heroine for this film? her giving a moral tone to the proceedings?

10 How enjoyable was the character of Albert? The comedy in his character? His skill in crimes, his butler manners, his repentance at the end?

11. The Macey's Job? How enjoyable was this, the cinematic communication of the details, the split-second timing, the money taken, the effects on people? How was this a highlight of the film?

12. The commentary of the Miami job and the way that this was handled? Comedy, a means for pressure for the film to be brought to some kind of head?

13. Was the dictionary and its sale and the happy ending the appropriate one for this kind of film? Why?

14. What is the value of this kind of comedy? How does it test ordinary reactions to people, appearances, crimes, motivations?