TWO GENTLEMEN SHARING
UK, 1970, 107 minutes, Colour.
Robin Philips, Hal Frederick, Judy Geeson, Esther Anderson, Norman Rossington, Rachel Kempson.
Directed by Ted Kotcheff.
Two Gentlemen Sharing is an interesting drama of 1970. It traces themes of English class and has a particular focus on racism, especially attitudes of British born to immigrant Jamaicans. Themes of sexuality and latent homosexuality are also presented and explored. Robin Phillips, who appeared in such films as Decline and Fall and who also works as a director, e.g. Miss Julie, plays the sensitive central role. He is very much in the vein of a young Dirk Bogarde. Judy Geeson plays a sympathetic heroine. The film reflects the modern style of 1970. Direction is by Canadian Ted Kotcheff. He had made Tiara Tahiti and Life at the Top. After this film he came to Australia to make Wake In Fright. Subsequent films have been the western filmed in Israel, Billy Two Hats, the Canadian The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz and Fun With Dick and Jane.
1. How interesting a film,, entertaining? A film of 1970 and reflecting issues and styles? Impact then, now? The importance of its social and human content? The psychadelic style of the late 60s?
2. How authentic was the atmosphere of the film? In dealing with real human problems in real situations? London, swinging London? The background of English traditions, especially in family life? Buildings and manners? The contrast of the Jamaicans in London and their style of life? The world of law, the world of advertising? The difference of the class areas in London in which the characters moved and interacted?
3. The use of colour? English locations, sense of place? The importance of the musical score with the varying moods, nationalities?
4. The implications of the title and the way it was illustrated? The focus on gentlemen? On sharing? The social and racial overtones, the sexual?
5. What insight into racial situations in England? The nature of the racial themes, racial prejudice? The landlady and her comment on Roddy's heroic decision in having Andrew to board? The exploitation of the race issues? Snobbery? Offensive remarks and behaviour? Jamaicans in London, segregation? white curiosity about Jamaican behaviour, attitudes, even to private life and sexuality? The mutual patronising? Were these issues resolved or well illustrated?
6. The themes of work in the modern urban world? The visual presentation of advertisingf dog food etc.? The personalities involved? Artificiality? The amoral attitudesf especially of Phil and his irresponsibility, sexuality? Racial attitudes? The contrast of the world of law and its stability? Andrew as rising within this world and the possibilities of success? Which world was the more real?
7. How much insight into class issues: the notions of education and the backgrounds of education? The importance of Andrew aping the English styles with his talk. manner and dress, playing cricket, Oxford? Roddy and his upper-class background and its decline?
8. Themes of snobbery and inverted snobbery? In what ways were each of the main characters snobs? Sense of inferiority?
9. The treatments of the themes of sexuality and relationships? Between Andrew and Caroline and the landlady's reaction? To marriage, to permissiveness, to racial relationships? The importance of Roddy and his engagement to Ethne? The expected behaviour? The relationship between Roddy and Jane and the genuine friendship and Jane's detection of his semi-impotence? The importance of the implications of latent homosexuality, Roddy's relationship with Andrew in the discussion about homosexuality, in his having him in, in his self-consciousness about Andrew's presence, eg at the bath? His futile attempts to break out into heterosexual behaviour of a frenzied nature? With Jane at his parents' home? The significance of the final party and his behaviour? The significance of Marcus and his presence? Roddy's fascination with Marcus? His going with him to the room at the end., the discussion and Marcus' attack on him?
10. The importance of the theme of latent homosexuality, or the repression of basic homosexual instincts? How well were these alluded to? How real were they? The focal significance of Marcus at the end? What was Roddy left with?
11. Themes of power of one person over another, the hold that each character had over the other? Roddy and his hold over Andrew, going to search for him, desperate? His wanting to have a hold over Jane? People reacting against this power over them?
12. How was Roddy meant to signify the ordinary young Englishman? As a type, his appearance, work and his apartment? Home background, parents? His way of speaking, interests? Relationship with Phil at work? With Ethne and the discussion with her parents? His going to the West Indian dance? Relationship with Jane, visit to her parents? His relationship with her, taking the group for a weekend? His jealousy, his fascination with Marcus? Growing desperation and the throwing of the party?
13. What crisis did he undergo at the end? How would he resolve it?
14. The contrast with the character of Andrew; his west Indian background, his own prejudices? The limitations of his future? Relationship with Caroline? His being insulted by the landlady? His going with Caroline and Roddy searching him out? The decision and crisis that he was faced with about his job? Why did he opt out?
15. Caroline and her background, her snobbery, her lies about her origin? Her genuine regard for Roddy and Jane?
16. The contrast between Ethne and her family and the in way of speaking and living with that of Jane and her family? What point was being made here about the English way of life?
17. How well did the film capture the difficulties of a young man in modern society, trying to understand, trying to relate? The torment of this kind of young man?
