FORTUNE IS A WOMAN

UK, 1957, 95 minutes, Black and white.
Jack Hawkins, Arlene Dahl, Dennis Price, Ian Hunter, Michael Goodliffe, Geoffrey Keen, Christopher Lee.
Directed by Sidney Gilliat.

Fortune Is a Woman is an enjoyable routine thriller from Sidney Gilliat, a specialist in English comedies. Jack Hawkins is a strong kinda of hero and American Eyleen Dowle provides a certain amount of glamour. The film is strong in its British supporting cast. Nothing special, but interesting and enjoyable.

1. How successful a thriller? On what does a thriller's success depend?

2 The thriller conventions used? Murder, theft, mysterious identities?

3. The significance of the title? Focus on the heroine? Why?

4. How convincing and interesting the plot and its development? The structure of the film? The presentation of visual and verbal clues The significance of Oliver's dream?

5. How interesting was Oliver as a hero? The background of his life and work, his skill? The significance of the early fires? His insight into the paintings? The implications of his love? His attitude towards Mortem? Such details as those of his interaction with the promiscuous socialite? The various meetings with her? His relationship with his firm and its members? His visiting the house at the time of the fire and the death of Morten? His decision to protect the girl? His decision for concealment? The importance of justice and the repercussions of his behaviour? Did his protective relationship explain and excuse his behaviour?

7. How convincing was the heroine, a touch of glamour, the complications of their previous encounters? Suspicions of her behaviour? How reassuring was the ending?

8. How interesting were the complications of Morten and his plot for gaining wealth? The irony of his death?

9. The revelation of Mrs Morten as killing her son? Her role in the early part of the film? The influence on her son, her concealment of the truth, her final confession? How interesting a character study?

10. The presentation of the insurance firm? The English aspects, the types of men, their attitude towards justice?

11. How interesting a film of human behaviour? themes of relationships, honesty and justice?