THE GUINEA PIG
UK, 1948, 97 minutes, Black and white.
Richard Attenborough, Sheila Sim, Bernard Miles.
Directed by Roy Boulting.
The Guinea Pig is an interesting and entertaining film of the immediate post-war period in Britain. It was made by the Boulting Brothers who were quite a force in British cinema at the time, for example, Seven Days To Noon. They were to make films throughout the fifties and sixties and even into the seventies with mixed success.
Their peak period was probably the late fifties and early sixties with a number of social comedies like Private's Progress, I'm Alright Jack, Heavens Above. They then moved to thrillers and light comedies, especially with Hayley
Mills who had married Roy Boulting.
The Guinea Pig is an interesting social comedy drama, observing the education question after the war. It
reflects on such themes as English education, class, the atmosphere in which a boy was to grow up. Richard Attenborough, who was beginning to be a force as an actor, portrays a teenage boy when he himself was 25. He is quite convincing in the central role. The film can be linked with such studies of schools as If... or The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.
1. The interest of the film, its appeal? For what audience? Themes of growing up, social themes, education?
2. The film as a product of Britain in the forties. the post-war film production, social interests in Britain at the time?
3. The technical side of the film, black and white photography, music, the authentic atmosphere of London, of the English school? Richard Attenborough's adult performance as a young boy?
4. The importance of class structure in Britain as a basis for the film, its plot and its themes? The film's look at the lower classes? The world of London, the shop, the parents and their lack of education, their manners, their ambitions for their son? The examples of their way of life which brought this home best?
5. Jack as a good boy within this particular atmosphere, his hopes and ambitions? His response to what his parents wanted?
6. The significance of the title, its reference to educational experiments, the discussion about British schools after the war, the pros and cons of letting boys like Jack in? The nature of the experiment in theory and practice? The values for modern Britain underlying the experiment? The possibility of success? How relevant is this kind of theme in modern Britain? In countries outside Britain?
7. The importance of the English setting, England's belief in itself after World War Two? Traditional class structures, traditional attitudes? The effect of these attitudes on people of all classes? The lack of possibility for ready communication? How is this evident throughout the film?
8. How interesting was the picture of the school? The detailed presentation of events, its style? Audience response for and against this way of education? The detailed presentation of a boy's life, train rides, farewells, arrivals and all the ritual associated with this, classes and study, sports, getting to know boys, friendships and hostilities, meals etc.? The importance of the initiation? Audience response to this? The upholding of it an a tradition? The effect on Jack?
9. Why was Jack so out of place in this school? The effect on him and his straightforward response? His being hurt? His suffering? The comment of the film on boys at this age and their reactions on one another? The needs for education?
10. The presentation of the staffs, the impact of the war, their educational abilities, the various views on education that they represented? The importance of Nigel. his beliefs and style, his interest in the boy?
11. How was the audience meant to admire Nigel and the values that he stood for? A sympathetic character, his understanding of Jack, educating him, friendship yet treating him directly,
his welcoming of Jack's parents?
12. The importance of the sequence where the parents visited Jack? The tour of the school? Their seeming out of place and yet the school trying to adapt?
13. The contribution of the minor characters, the contribution of Lynne and her help?
14. Jack gradually assimilated the values of the school and its style? How did this happen? How convincing? was the effect on him good? The film's showing of the changes over the years?
15. How valuable is a film like this in its exploration of educational issues? Its impact in its time? The importance of
this kind of film now?
