THE LIGHT TOUCH

US, 1952, 93 minutes, Black and white.
Stewart Granger, Pier Angeli, George Sanders.
Directed by Richard Brooks.

This is the second film by writer-director Richard Brooks. Attractively photographed on European locations, it is a crime film with the heroine redeeming the hero. It does not exactly work but is a pleasant film. Brooks was to move to much more serious works in the fifties, sixties and seventies especially with literary adaptations of Dostoyevsky, Tennessee Williams, Conrad, and the making of Looking for Mr Goodbar in 1977.

1. The impact and entertainment value of the film? Its differing genres: crime caper, romance?

2. The title and the treatment? How seriously was it meant to be taken? How lightly? How well did the film blend the light touch with the serious tone?

3. The importance of European locations and photography? authenticity, romance?

4. The robbery caper style? The treatment of the early fifties? How interesting the basic plot of the art dealing and taking? Saw and the stealing, the doubles, the forgeries, the atmosphere of gangsters and violence, wealthy dealers and double-dealing, risks? The eluding of detection? How well presented was this basic plot?

5. The basic crime plot and the romance of Saw and Anna, and reform? The tradition of the good heroine reforming the charming villain hero? How well did this work - convincingly?

6. Stewart Granger's style as hero? The character of Saw, his involvement in the art dealing, his exploiting his position, running the risks of violence, motivation? The encounter with Anna, love, change of heart?

7. George Sanders' style as Felix Guignol? As a type, his control, his henchman?

8. The contrast with Pier Angeli as the heroine? Her involvement, skills, charm, redeeming Saw?

9. The portrait of the detectives, the gangsters, the art world and the buyers? Background for the plausibility and interest of the story?

10. 'The Light Touch' with values of right and wrong, good and evil, heroes and heroines, justice?