NIGHT MOVES
US, 1975, 99 minutes, Colour.
Gene Hackman, Susan Clark. Jennifer Warren, Edward Binns, Harris Yulin, Kenneth Mars.
Directed by Arthur Penn.
Night Moves is an excellent film, but unfortunately a box office flop. It is a private eye story with Gene Hackman giving a humanely likeable performance as a harassed middle aged detective. But the details of the plot (though interesting and involving) are not the major interest. Interwoven with the plot is the interesting character study of the detective himself, probing his personality, compulsions, need for success and experience of failures. Thus the film is in the "Chinatown" genre, a popular story with many layers of psychological and social significance. Director Arthur Penn (Bonnie and Clyde, Little Big Man) directs Alan Sharp's crisp screenplay with great finesse.
1. The significance of the title: for the thriller, for the themes of the film?
2. Comment on the detective genre and its conventions. Which were used here? How well? The expected impact on audience?
3. The private eye thriller? How did this fit into the category? Was it something more?
4. The contribution of colour, Los Angeles atmosphere the 'beautiful people', filmmaking and stunt work, Florida and its atmosphere? The music? The wit of the dialogue. for instance the film references?
5. The film as a psychological study? The night moves for Harry Moseby? The atmosphere of the dark,, the house, Harry's work?
6. How well did the film's structure integrate the thriller aspects and the psychological aspects? Which predominated? How did the conventions of each illustrate the other?
7. The focus on Harry? The quality of Gene Hackman's performance? The picture of Harry at work. his way of life and its quality, the importance of the stories that he told, the fact that they weren't true his relationship with his father and his opting out of seeing him. Harry as a husband, self-sufficient and tough, yet suspicious of his wife and hurt? The warm aspects of his personality, the dedicated and earnest aspects? His interest in the case? His interest in Delly? In Paula? The fact that he became involved in the case? The effect of the case on him? His changes. disillusionment, danger? The fact that he was betrayed by people he trusted? The inconclusiveness of the ending? How accurate an exploration of a man?
8. Harry as representing the American male: middle age, career, life, relationships, meaning?
9. Harry's relationship with Ellen? His capacity for love, her lies, attempts at reconciliation? The film's detail in picturing her life to make her a credible character? Her lover and their relationship? The fact that she and Harry could not ultimately be reconciled?
10. The case itself: the clues, the following up of clues, the loose ends? The accidents of life? How interesting? How important? Their intricacy in terms of Harry's own voyage of discovery?
11. The picture of Arlene and her Hollywood background? Her relationships? Her daughter? The motivation for her wanting Harry to investigate?
12. Delly and her relationship to her mother, stepfather, boyfriends, Paula, her involvement in the crooked deals?
13. Tom and his ambiguity? Hospitality to Harry. his involvement in the criminal work?
14. Paula? What was she doing in Florida? The characterization and details of her character? Her leading Harry on? Her betraying him? Insight into a wandering woman?
15. Quinton and his seedy background?
16. Joe? His relationship with Harry? The ending?
17. Marve and the stuntman's life? Relationship with Delly?
18. Other minor characters as contributing to the themes and atmosphere?
19. How pessimistic was the outlook of the film? Why?
20. Themes of justice and the administration of law and justice? Personal integrity, its difficulties, its importance? The atmosphere of wealth and the repercussions for life, accidents, greed, morality? The film as a study of good and evil?
