THE ROCKING HORSE WINNER
UK, 1949, 90 minutes, Black and white.
John Mills, Valerie Hobson, John Howard Davies, Ronald Squire, Hugh Sinclair, Cyril Smith.
Directed by Anthony Pelissier.
The Rocking Horse Winner is based on a short story by D.H.Lawrence. It has been adapted for the screen by the director Anthony Pelissier. The film was produced by its star, John Mills. The film is stylishly made with a musical score by William Alwyn.
Critics at the time were not in favour of the film. They felt that Lawrence's short story had been over-extended to make a feature-length film. There was dissatisfaction with the portrayal of the cast, especially John Howard Davies in the central role. They also felt that the film had been glamorised and censorship required a moral ending (with the mother repenting of her obsession with money).
The film is an interesting portrait of a greedy and ruthless woman, her obsessed child. The film joins the ranks of the many film versions of Lawrence's novels and stories: Kangaroo, Women in Love, The Virgin and the Gypsy, The Rainbow, Sons and Lovers, Lady Chatterley’s Lover.
1. An interesting and entertaining melodrama? Character study? Study of obsessions?
2. Black and white photography, atmosphere of an English home? The special effects for the young boy's riding of the rocking horse? Musical score and atmospherics?
3. The title and its focus on Paul? As a young boy? Victimised by his mother? His wanting to please her? experience?
4. The frantic riding and the psychic?
5. The focus on Paul: a young boy, at home, his relationship with his mother, with his father? With Bassett? With his Uncle Oscar? His rocking horse and play? The riding, the frenzied riding and the experience? The vividness of h-is riding and knowing the winners? The exhaustion? His mother and her concern? His mother's use of the information? The father's concern? The support of Bassett? Uncle Oscar and his fascination? Paul and the growing obsession? Dependence? The finale? The effect of these experiences on him?
6. Hester Graham and her attitudes towards life, society? Her relationship with her husband? With her son? her obsession with gambling? Her devices to obtain money, to deceive people? The information coming from her son? Success? Failure? Her allowing her son to suffer for her own gain? The credibility of her final change of heart?
7. Richard Graham, and his relationship with his wife, his son? His, work? Finances? Tensions with his wife? her gambling? Concern about his son?
8. Bassett and his help with the boy? Friendship? The training of the horses? Using the knowledge? Support of Paul? Concern with Mrs Graham?
9. Uncle Oscar and his selfishness, humorous style, presence in the house, gambling?
10. The film as a study of British family life? British expectations? Hypocrisy - respectable surface, hidden obsessions? The exploitation of a boy? Gambling?
