FRAULEIN DOCTOR
UK, 1969, 104 minutes, Colour.
Suzy Kendall, Capucine, Kenneth More, James Booth, Alexander Knox, Nigel Green.
Directed by Alberto Lattuada.
Fraulein Doktor is an unusual film, a Yugoslav Italian co-production directed by veteran Italian director Alberto Lattuada. However the cast is particularly British. It tells the story of a spy in 1941, portrayed by Suzy Kendall. There are conventional spy ingredients but they are given a rather exotic tone especially because of Fraulein Doktor's lack of scruple in achieving her ends. She is a rather unpleasant personality even though attractive in her way. The film portrays her career as she wreaks havoc, betrays both sides and reaches success. A very capable English cast supports Suzy Kendall in quite a different kind of war film.
1. The impact of this film as a war film, human drama?
2. The focus of the title on the Doktor? An alternative title was 'Betrayal'. Was this appropriate?
3. For what audience was this made? The film was an Italian/British co-production? The Italian slants, the British slants?
4. The importance of the colour, First World War atmosphere, recreation of sets and costumes? A war film very strong in period presentation?
5. The overall impact of the war sequences? Mayer as a focus for involvement in the war?
6. The film's attitude towards war and its violence, deaths, strategies? How strongly anti-war was it? To what audience values did it appeal? Would it have set audiences against war?
7. The dramatic impact of the initial set-up, the arrival of the Germans? Their capture? The British and Scottish background? The dramatic irony and justice of the plot to trick Mayer? The false execution? Mayer's betrayal and its effect? Mayer as a greedy and ordinary victim of war? Loyalties and honesty?
8. How did the film give the sour aspects of war? Were there any redeeming elements in the presentation of war?
9. The character of Fraulein Doktor? Her achievement as a spy, the plans as regards Kitchener's death, her visit to Scotland and her covering her tracks, the achievement of her mission. the escape into the submarine?
10. The importance for understanding Fraulein Doktor and her lack of morality, dedication to her work in the flashback with the French scientist? The implications of their relationship? Her playing on the lesbian attitudes of the scientist? Her getting the plans? Destroying the scientist? Audience sympathies and antipathy towards Fraulein Doktor?
11. The significance of her being refused the decoration in Germany? Her status with the Germans? The presentation of German Intelligence and their use of her?
12. Audience response to her being pursued by the British? The obsession of the British to get her? Her status among the British as a spy?
13. The world of double-dealing and audience response to this? Mayer being sent back to Germany, the plans for his death, for the Fraulein's death? Mayer then doing a double betrayal? Did any personal feelings enter into these machinations?
14. How did the film shift focus as it presented the war front? The gathering of all the themes of the film on that war front? The pursuit of Fraulein Doktor, her exploiting the situation, the need for help, the gas warfare?
15. The long presentation of the warfare, the trenches, the gases and the murderous effects on the soldiers, their rushing to escape, the nurses and their inability to help? Fraulein Doktor in this situation?
16. The drama of her escape, the train etc.? The pursuit of the British?
17. The number of deaths in this film? Germans and British? The futility of war, the deadly games, their effect?
18. What was the impact of Fraulein Doktor laughing at the end? Why was she laughing? Was it a revelation of human elements in her, exasperation, pity, self preservation?
19. How important is this kind of film? Its impact and message?
