THE LOVES OF JOANNA GODDEN
UK, 1947, 89 minutes, Black and white.
Googie Withers, Jean Kent, John Mc Callum, Derek Bond, Chips Rafferty, Sonia Holm.
Directed by Charles Frend (and Robert Hamer).
The Loves of Joanna Godden is based on a novel by H.E. Bates (best known for The Darling Buds of May and The Purple Plain). It is set at the turn of the 19th century and the time of Edward VII. Joanna Godden has inherited a farm and decides, against the conventions of the time as well as the opinion of the townspeople, that she should manage the farm herself. She is also attached to three different suitors, each in their different way.
The film is a piece of early British feminism, also a romantic drama with touches of melodrama, the kind of film that was very popular in British cinema at the time.
Googie Withers had begun acting in films in 1935 (beginning what was to be a seventy-year career). She appeared with John Mc Callum in this film as well as It Always Rains on Sundays in 1947 and married him in 1948. They moved to Australia, appearing together on stage and in some films, she continuing to act, he acting as well as producing (they also made the forgettable film in 1971, The Nickel Queen).
It is interesting to see Chips Rafferty in the supporting cast. After beginning his career in Australia with 40,000 Horsemen, he made a number of films at this period for British studios in Australia including The Overlanders, Bitter Springs, Bush Christmas and Eureka Stockade.
The film was directed by Charles Frend who at this time directed Scott of the Antarctic. He directed a number of films at Ealing Studios.
1. The tone of the title in the 1940s and now? Was it an appropriate for the film? Why?
2. How enjoyable a film man this? A typical piece of British film-making? The presentation of British life? The conflicts of character?
3. Much stress was on Romney Marsh. How was it presented as a microcosm of British life at the turn of the century? The land itself and its people? How vividly photographed and portrayed was the countryside itself, the lanes and the crops, the seasons, the way of life of the people there, British conventions in country life? How did this make the film enjoyable as well as give insight into British history? How important was the atmosphere for the characters?
4. The countryside and the story, reminiscent of Thomas Hardy? How vivid was the life portrayed? Did it seem real or more than real? Why?
5. The dominance of Joanna in the film? Her initial approach at the funeral, her strength of character, her dedication to work, her unwillingness to fail, her ambitions for Ellen, her ambitions? for her life, her refusal to marry Arthur, her refusal of his help, her infatuation with Martin, her love for him? How strong a character was she or was she merely dominant? How attractive a person was she? Could audiences identify with her? How admirable was she when she was working with the men and the farmers, entering into their precincts, advising them about change? How pathetic was she in her failures? The fact that so much of her life and work culminated in failure? What insight into this kind of character? presentation of success and failure?
6. Why could she not marry Arthur? What was the block? Love? Ambition? What effect did this ultimately have on her and her loneliness? What effect did it have on Arthur, disregard for Joanna, his infatuation with Ellen and his disillusionment? How sorry were you for Arthur finally?
7. How did the romance between Joanna and Martin change the film? Martin and his background, his father, his gentleness, his sharing Joanna's ambitions? Did they really love each other? the idyllic day at the beach? The sadness of his death? His death sequence filmed, with Joanna asleep, the changing of the time, her search? What effect did his death have on her?
8. What kind of person was Ellen? Was it easy to understand her character? Her initial going to school, Joanna's, ambitions, Ellen's being alienated from village life, becoming a lady and lazy, her arrogance, her use of Joanna, her flirtation with Arthur? Why could Arthur not see through Ellen? The shock for Joanna of their marriage? The inevitability of Ellen's boredom, her unwillingness to love Arthur and share his work and ambitions, her callous going off? What comment on human nature did the character of Ellen make?
9. How sympathetle a person was Arthur? His failures and bitterness? The sequence at the fair and the possibilities of his happiness with Ellen? The irony because of audience knowledge of Ellen's character and her using him? What future would he have with Joanna?
10. Comment on the presentation of village life, the fairs, the gatherings, the markets, the workers and their comments on bosses, the head man for the sheep and his failure in realizing the conditions of Romney Marsh?
11. What did the film have to say about classes and class distinction in England at the turn of the century?
12. What insight into English tradition did the film give? The happiness of English traditions and the Englishman's reliance on them? His unwillingness to change for example Joanna and crops etc.?
13. Was the film a successful drama, a successful romance, did it become too melodramatic at times? Is it a successful example of British filming of the forties?
