LEOPARD IN THE SNOW
UK/Canada, 1978, 94 minutes, Colour.
Keir Dullea, Susan Penhaligon, Kenneth More, Billie Whitelaw, Gordon Thomson, Jeremy Kemp, Tessa Dahl.
Directed by Gerry O’ Hara.
Leopard in the Snow was the first film made from Harlequin/Mills and Boon romances. Because it was not so successful in the late 70s, there was a delay in following through with successive films like Hazard of Hearts. During the 80s some of these films were very popular – but finding their place best on television.
This is exotic romance – the focus on a woman experiencing a car crash, encountering a young man who had been a racing car champion. Despite prickly aspects to their relationship, they fall in love. American Keir Dullea is the driver. Susan Penhaligon is the woman. There is a stronger supporting cast than usual with Kenneth More, Billie Whitelaw and Jeremy Kemp. Director Gerry O’ Hara filmed mainly in television. However, some of his films for the big screen were a touch sensational like The Brute, The Bitch and Fanny Hill. Here he is at PG-rated level.
1. A successful romantic film? The publishers of the original novel collaborating with the film makers, audience expectations of popular romance?
2. The significance of the title? The presence of the real leopard, the symbolism of the leopard, especially in connection with Dominic?
3. British and Canadian co-production? The particular styles of each country? The Canadian locations for England ? The stars ? The atmosphere of Canada for England? Music?
4. How authentic were the persons, situations - how real did they seem? Did they emerge from the original novelette or have more strength? Did this govern the type of response to the characters, their romance and their crisis?
5. The appropriateness of the settings, Helen lost in the snow, Dominic’s remote house, the house as an escape from London, the London settings, the hospital?
6. The focus of the film on Helen? As a personality, as a type? Her background and expectations for marriage, relationship with her father, step mother? Her escaping, her being lost? The initial encounter with Bolt and her being welcomed into the house? her expectations from the encounter with Bolt and Dominic? Its becoming a prison for her, Bolt constraining her, her curiosity, but discovery of the truth about Dominic and its effect on her, growing devotion, love, helping him? His spurning of her and her reaction? Going home? The party atmosphere? Her return, phone call, visit to the hospital, confrontation? Was she free from her fiance, from her family, ready to help Dominic? How well drawn a character, a modern girl in search of freedom?
7. The contrast with Dominic and the mystery about him? The film's revealing more about his past, the flashbacks and the visual impact of speeding cars and accidents? His life, reliance on Bolt, his guilt feelings ? The significance of the leopard? His moodiness with Helen, hostility? worry about his work, injury? The attraction, the clashes? his letting her leave ? His decision about the operation, his change at the end? An authentic character?
8. The presence of Bolt, the man-servant character, his presence in the house and the work that he did, his influence on Dominic, and Helen? His part in letting her get away?
9. The details of incidents building up the atmosphere and throwing light on the characters and plots, the car and getting it back to the house, the meal sequences, Dominic’s nightmares, the massage, their talking. ?
10. The world of Sir Philip and Isabelle? Their reactions to Helen's romance? Sir Philip and his business attitudes and his attitude as father, Isabelle and the hostility at her speaking words of wisdom?
11. How real a modern world? Its view of the world/ romance?
