GUNN

US, 1967, 94 minutes, Colour.
Craig Stevens, Laura Devon, Edward Asner.
Directed by Blake Edwards.

Gunn is a feature film version of the popular series Peter Gunn, created by Blake Edwards in the early sixties. The style of the film is the private-eye genre, made so popular in the forties, the Raymond Chandler atmosphere... There was a revival of this genre in the sixties with Paul Newman's Harper, Steve McQueen's Bullitt etc. Blake Edwards is probably better known for his comedies, especially the Pink Panther series. The plot is very complicated, the attention is on style and atmosphere. It is an interesting example of its kind but is not always appealing.

1. How interesting and entertaining a private eye film?

2. The traditions of the American private eye film? The focus on the man himself, seedy kind of background and yet integrity within his job? The ugly background of the city, crime? Murder mystery? The enigmatic place of women? How well did this film fit into the pattern? In what ways was it different? A spin-off from a successful television series? (prior to the widespread use of telemovies)?

3. Colour photography, urban atmosphere, clubs, the Mafia, the wealthy, the poor? Musical score? Special effects especially for the violent confrontations?

4. How interesting was the plot? How clear the mystery? Peter Gunn an a credible private eye? The presentation of the police, of Samantha, of Daisy Jane and the revelation of the truth? The crises in which Gunn found himself, the violence? Sufficiently authentic for the purposes of the private eye thriller?

5. The focus on Gunn - his surname, instrument? Age, skills, relationship with the police, relationship with women? With Edie and the clashes, with Samantha and jealousy? With mother? His skill in detections, his contacts, interviews? With the gangsters, with Jacoby and the other police? Dangers, for example, explosions, the yacht, the squash and the attack? The final solution to the mystery? The aging American hero, the American dream?

6. The presentation of American women - as the girl-friend, Samantha as the wandering young girl with the mystery identity, attitude towards sexuality? Mother and her running of the club?

7. The presentation of the police - Gunn and his doing his job, his assistants?

8. The presentation of the criminals: Frisco and his taking over the violence that ensued? The importance of Daisy Jane and her first impressions, the revelation of the truth?

9. The presentation of the characters associated with the sleazy underworld - henchmen, toughs, drunks, derelicts?

10. Themes of American justice, right and wrong, heroism? A good example of its kind or not?