GEORGY GIRL

UK, 1966, 98 minutes, Black and white.
Lynn Redgrave, James Mason, Alan Bates, Charlotte Rampling, Rachel Kempson, Bill Owen.
Directed by Silvio Narrizano.

Georgy Girl is one of those popular, constantly re-released films, that also turns up frequently for discussion purposes. Georgy was well-popularised by the Seekers' hit song, used at the beginning and end of the film.

Lynn Redgrave, nominated for an Oscar for her performance, emerged as a major star from this film. Georgy is a large, likeable lump of a girl who serves by standing and waiting. Friendly and affectionate, she is continually overlooked except by her father's ageing employer (whose wife is ailing and bed-ridden). Neglecting traditional-style life, Georgy flats with a permissive room-mate, is caught up in this permissiveness, but has enough sensitivity and responsibility to tide her through her own and others' difficulties. This study of Georgy in her urban London environment is a search for values in to-day's society. Georgy questions, errs, succeeds and her quest is both enjoyable and moving.

Lynn Redgrave is just right as Georgy and Alan Bates and Charlotte Rampling give fine performances embodying young irresponsibility, on the one hand, and vain selfishness on the other. James Mason takes a not unusual role.

Georgy Girl shows how English 'kitchen sink' drama moved to a more permissive mood in showing individuals searching for identity (e.g. Alfie, Darling and so on, made at the same time).

1. How do the words of the song comment on Georgy 'e behaviour (getting her hair set, etc.) while the credits are screened?

2. Is Georgy likeable? Do people like her or take her for granted - of. her father, he? father's employer, children, Meredith, Joe? Do they try to like her?

3. Why does she refuse the contract with her father's employer?

4. What is her relationship with Meredith? With Jos? What is her attitude towards their relationship? Towards the abortions? Towards Meredith's having the baby?

5. How does the film show Meredith's self-centredness? Discuss her irritation with Georgy, the scenes in the hospital, her refusal to touch 'the thing' that gave her so much pain, her look of satisfaction as men turn to look at her after she leaves hospital.

6. How does the film show Joe's irresponsibility? Why does he easily leave Meredith, Georgy and the baby?


7. Were you surprised at Georgy's affair with Jos? What was Georgy's reaction afterwards?

8. How is her father's employer different from Jos in his proposition to Georgy?

9. Did Georgy make the right decision at the end?

10. The song says Georgy ought to come down from the shelf 'because there is so much inside her; it also says that she was a mother at heart, that's what she wanted right from the start. Is that correct?