NO LOVE FOR JOHNNIE

UK, 1960, 111 minutes, Black and White.
Peter Finch, Stanley Holloway, Mary Peach, Donald Pleasance, Billie Whitelaw.
Directed by Ralph Thomas.

No Love For Johnnie is a strong British drama. It was released in 1960 at the beginning of the trend towards more serious dramas from England. It treated seamy English politics and preceded some of the revelations and scandals in English politics that took place in 1963. To that extent it is interesting looking at it in retrospect. It is also interesting to look at in comparison with the exposes of American politics that were filmed in the mid seventies after Watergate. Peter Finch was at the peak of his British career in this film. He had won a British Oscar for his portrayal of Oscar Wilde in the Man with the Green Carnation. He won another award for his performance as the strong, but weak politician, Johnnie in this film. The film is strong melodrama with ironic comment and even cynical attitude towards politics and politicians.

1. How successful a political drama was this? In its visualising of English politics? Of the drama behind English politics? Of insight into Britain and the Labor Party?

2. Although the film was political, was it more of a human drama? Why? Its focusing on the personality of Johnnie and his needs? Johnnie as a centre and his relating with other people? His using of other people, abusing of others? How successful a human drama was the film?

3. The significance and tone of the title? The irony of its truth? Johnnie's craving for love and the visualising of his searching for it? The irony at the end when there would be no love for Johnnie? What future would Johnnie have as a person, as a politician? what would happen to him after the politics?

4. How did the film communicate its atmosphere? The atmosphere of the election the excitement of the campaign, the scenes in parliament, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, the left wing groups, the Yorkshire constituents and the meetings, Johnnie’s flat and his home, his searching for friendship with Mary, his going to the strip tease, his life with Paula and her home etc.? How strong then was atmosphere for the film and what meaning did it give its themes?

5. Comment on the picture of the relationship between Johnnie and Alice. The fact that they were childhood friends, the quality of their marriage, its length, its bitterness? What did Johnnie contribute? what did Alice contribute? Why did she leave? Her communist ideology? Her decision to return? Johnnie's response to this? The accident of his refusing to ring her? The future for Alice? The contrast of Johnnie's relationship with Mary? What kind of person was Mary? how genuine? How loving? Why was she so sympathetic to Johnnie? Her response to his use of her? Was she right to break off with him? How did this contrast with his love for Alice?

6. How cynical was Johnnie? His enthusiasm as a young politician, his advice to new politicians, his disregarding of constituents, his being called to task? Is this the usual fate of politicians?

7. Why was Johnnie so self-pitying? His use of alcohol in self-pity, his use of Mary, his use of the phone, his wandering around alone? Was the audience meant to pity Johnnie in his self-pity?

8. What difference did Pauline make to Johnnie's life? Did he really fall in love with her? Was it just a matter of need? Her response to him? How genuine a person was she? Her insight into the situation? Her love, but her realisation of the gap? Her wisdom in leaving him? The desperation of his attempt to find her? Her visit to her home?

9. The jolt that Johnnie received by the reprimand of his behaviour? The significance of his speech to the meeting? The significance of the lack of confidence in him? Would he learn by this?

10. How desperate was he when Alice returned? How callous was he in rejecting her?

11. Comment on the reality of chance in Johnnie's life and his taking chances. Did it lead him to success or to ruin?

12. The importance of the sequence with the Prime minister? The meaning of the pattern in Johnnie's life and his understanding? The realisation of the role of Alice in his life and her hindering him? The realisation of his keeping outside the left wing influence? The appreciation by the Prime Minister?

13. How smug was the ending of the film with Johnnie in Parliament? How cynical was this? What was your response to it?

14. What insight into human nature and the world did this film give? Why? How important for audience response were the remarks of minor characters who commented on Johnnie: Fred Andrews and his years of experience, the Prime Minister's Secretary etc.