THE RIGHT-HAND MAN

Australia, 1987, 97 minutes, Colour.
Hugo Weaving, Rupert Everett, Arthur Dignam, Jennifer Claire, Catherine Mc Clements.
Directed by Di Drew.

The Right- Hand Man is an entertaining Victorian melodrama set in New South Wales in the 1860s. It is reminiscent in plot and style of the many British melodramas of the 40s, especially these from the Gainsborough studios (Jassy, Hungry Hill, Blanche Fury).

As Victorian, gloom-ridden drama, it is quite well done. Locations are well used - and the Cobb and Co Leviathan is particularly effective. Direction is by Di Drew (1915 and other television films; this is her first full-length feature). British actor Rupert Everett (Another Country, Dance With A Stranger) is perfect as the soulful 19th century hero. He contrasts well with Catherine Mc Clements in her first starring role as the vigorous heroine. Hugo Weaving (City's Edge, Bodyline, For Love Alone) is the sympathetic Ned. Jennifer Claire is very good also as the hero's mother. Arthur Dignam has another eccentric character role as the doctor.

The film is a story of class distinctions, aristocracy removed from England to the colonies, love and romance, illness and depth, moral issues such as surrogate parenthood and helping people to die.

Of its style, very well done.

1. The appeal of this kind of costume melodrama? Victorian stories? Transferred to the colonies in the 19th century?

2. The New South Wales locations: the manor, the lands around the manor, the country town, the city? The action sequences with heroes, the Leviathan, coaches, trains? The flavour of the 1860s in New South Wales, the period immediately after the gold rush?

3. The contrast with the interiors of the homes: darkness, Victorian furnishings, sombre moods? The sombre and melodramatic score?

4. The title and its irony of Harry having his right hand amputated, attempt by Sarah to get a monkey to help Harry? Ned as the helper and the father of Harry's son?

5. The prologue: 1865, the horses, the stables, carriage, speed, the accident, the death? A melancholic start? The opening accident and the irony for Harry's death?

6. Rupert Everett and his presence and appearance as Harry: the Englishman in exile in the colonies, racing horses, the fainting spell, his father's death, his own injury? Secluding himself in his dark room, in bed? The doctor's ministrations? Melancholic? His childhood illness? His father's attitudes, his mother and her coping? Her hold over him? Samuel and Harry's irritation with the servant? The doctor unable to give him the diagnosis, Sarah's visit and his telling her? The preparation for the amputation? The amputation sequence -visual, suggestion? Expectations of him? His being against the world, against himself - the doctor's analysis of his character? love for Sarah, kissing her, going to her home and meeting her? Hesitation? The dream and the sexual encounter in the dream? Her presence on the bed? His love for horses, seeing Ned, going to the inn to request his services, being drunk, dumped over the fence? His accepting Ned into the household, developing the horses? The two becoming friends? The organising of the picnic for Ned and Sarah? The bonds between the three? His mother's pressure and his possibilities, death, not having an heir? Further injuries, the possible amputation of his leg? Ned's suggestion of proposing to Sarah? The tension in the house? The visit to the cave? The plan for the child's conception? The marriage? His being ready to die? the three in the bedroom? his going for the ride, the farewell to Ned, the empty carriage careering down the hill? A soulful, other-worldly man? Capacity for love, self-hatred, relationship with his mother? A 19th century melancholic type?

7. The contrast with Sarah and her vigour, her helping her father with the patients, diagnosis, going to visit Harry, her love for him, embraces, seeing him at home? The impossibility of the marriage? Her understanding of diabetes and explaining it? Getting the monkey, its death, working on it for the solution and research? Her place in the fantasy? Her staying the night? Seeing Ned bathing? The idea of the proposal, her hurrying to the house, her being hurt? The picnic, the cave? Her agreeing to Harry's plan, the union with Ned for the child? Their mutual attraction? The marriage, the three in the bedroom, her not knowing that Harry was going to his death? Watching the funeral? Her retreat into the house with Lady Ironminster?

8. Ned as the young and strong Australian, his work for Cobb and Co, the children following him after his arrival? The drink with Harry, refusing the job? Driving the Leviathan, the accident and its dangers, his arrival in Sydney and quitting? The prospect of the railways? His going to the manor, being accepted by Harry, his knowledge of horses and love for them, the bond between them? his knowing Sarah spent the night? The picnic, the suggestion of the proposal? The cave sequence? Agreeing to father the child? The love for Sarah? Helping Harry to die? His leaving, the young boy following him? The finale with the train and the Cobb and Co coach and diverging paths? A man of the future?

9. Lady Ironmaster and her strength, the news of the accident and the deaths, her hold over the household, her work in the garden? The trip on the Leviathan? Shopping? Care for reputation in the town? Her not communicating with her son, the isolation of the meals? The talks, the future, illness, not having an heir? Discussions with the doctor, Sarah, understanding diabetes? Her disdain for Sarah? The proposal sequence and her reaction? Marriage? The end and her going into the house with Sarah? Sarah becoming a similar Lady Ironminster?

10. The doctor and his skills, his treatment of Harry, unable to tell him the truth? His exhaustion? Help from Sarah? The surgery and the amputation? His discussions with Lady Ironminster? His underclassing of Harry and helping him to understand?

11. Samuel, the servant, the house, annoying Harry, working with the horses, serving at meals?

12. The impact of the horses, the different carriages, racing, the grooming of the horses?

13. Cobb and Co and its services, the big Leviathan and the sequence of the journey, the passengers (and the comedy with the ill passenger and the image of the sea), those travelling on top? The race with the rival coach? The accident? the coming of the train? The divergence at the end?

14. The country town, the gold rush, the inns, the ill, the hospital waiting room, passengers on the Leviathan?

15. The aftermath of the gold rush, talk about the gold, change, the picture of the Chinese?

16. Themes of class, the English transported and transferred to the colonies? Manners? Servants and their status? Ned as servant? Intermarriage with servants? Aristocratic behaviour, elitism? The aging of the old aristocracy? The new generation?

17. Moral dilemmas: marriage, surrogacy for children, helping people to their deaths, the treatment of illnesses like diabetes?

18. Ripe melodrama in the melancholic 19th century style?