THE FOOL KILLER
US, 1965, 103 minutes, Black and white.
Anthony Perkins, Edward Albert, Salome Jens, Dana Elcar.
Directed by Servando Gonzalez.
The Fool Killer is a very interesting film that was shelved for several years and then released in only a limited way, especially for television. It focuses on a young boy in the 19th century who wanders America away from an oppressive family and who meets various threatening people on the way. He has a story told to him about a fool killer who is an object of fear in his imagination and who suddenly emerges in reality in his life in an unexpected way.
Filmed crisply in black and white, the film shows a cross-section of America in the 19th century, especially in the mid-west. The boy is played by Edward Albert, the son of Eddie Albert and Margo who was to emerge some years later as a young lead in such films as Butterflies Are Free, Forty Carats, The Domino Principle and the Battle of Midway. Anthony Perkins also stars and gives yet again a variation on his neurotic performance. It is quite menacingly effective in this film. Quite an interesting film which raises quite a lot of questions about America, especially with its focus on the West through the eyes of a young boy.
1. The total impact of this film? Enjoyment and interest? The purpose for which it was made? The kind of audience it was directed towards?
2. The use of black and white photography, American locations, the 19th century atmosphere of middle America and the West?
3. The bucolic style of so much of the film - the fields, farms, swimming, revival meetings, families? This in contrast with the Gothic horror of childhood fear: the fool killer, wandering, Milo and his madness? The complex audience response to these two facets?
4. The structure of the film as the American journey of the 19th century? From the land, the people, American ideals? The wandering American?
5. The central focus on the boy? His eyes? Seeing things as he saw them? Sharing his growing up? The importance of the monologues? What kind of boy was George, his background as an orphan, the various wanderings? How much sympathy and interest in his life? As the hero of the film? As a victim of people and the times?
6. Discuss the detail of the varying episodes and especially what George learned from them: the experience of his foster parents and their strictness, his running away; the encounter with Old Dirty and the sense of wonder, the illness, Dirty's story about the fool killer and its impact on his imagination; the little girl in the town, friendship and being helped; the encounter with Milo and the happiness as signified in the swimming sequence? Milo's protection and companionship, the revival meeting, encountering Milo again and the crisis; the effect of the revival meeting on George and his 'getting religion', its impact on his imagination; happiness with the family and the possibility of settling down and experiencing family love; the crisis with Milo and his need for decision; George again moving on as the film concluded?
7. How attractive was Old Dirty as a character? The typical 'old man' of the American West? His homespun philosophy and myths? His impact on the boy?
8. The character of Milo and his fitting into the atmosphere of the film? The madness from the war? The significance of his life? Friendship with George, frenzy at the revival meeting, murder? His disappointment with George and the final murderous threatening? The impact of Milo's friendship and death on George?
9. The vividness of the revival meeting and the way that it was handled? The comment on American sentiment and religious feeling? How powerful the effect of revival experience?
10. The portrait of the kind American family? The homely values of American life?
11. The melodrama of the crisis and its impact within the structure of the film?
12. The insight into America: the pioneering century, the American loner, the need for survival, superstition, fear and guilt?
13. What kind of man did George grow into?
