THE POWER
US, 1967, 108 Minutes, Colour.
George Hamilton, Suzanne Pleshette, Michael Rennie, Aldo Ray, Yvonne de Carlo.
Directed by Byron Haskin.
The Power is reasonably lavish science fiction, strong in ideas but not so impressive in execution. Produced by George Pal, who made such films as Destination Moon, Tom Thumb, it is directed by Byron Haskin who made such films as War of the Worlds and Robinson Crusoe on Mars. The film has a strong cast in character actors but the screenplay is not always clear. There are some very good sequences, especially in the initial presentation of the experiments, and George Hamilton pursued and bombed in a desert field. It is an average science fiction.
1. Audience response to science fiction, especially social science fiction, power games, technology?
2. The science fiction background, the detective story and murder mystery aspects? Their blending? The retaining of audience interest in each theme?
3. The importance of Panavision, colour, the visual presentation of technology, the special effects, especially in the deaths? The heavy musical score and its contribution to atmosphere?
4. The setting of the film in tomorrow? The credibility of the technology, the presentation of America, of human behaviour, of such power in one individual, in two? The look of tomorrow as the look of today and therefore audience identification? How plausible was the hypothesis of the Power? Its explanation, its use? The power for good, the power for evil and destruction, the clash of the two powers and their repercussions for ordinary people, for scientists, for world power? How sympathetic a hero was Tanner? The initial presentation of him in his work, his getting the sack, his fear and moves towards self destruction, car chases, the visit to the town for Hollson's family, the bombing, the various threats to his life? His bond with Marge and trying to discover the truth? The detective work? Audience identification with him on his quest? Marge as scientist, heroine, her love for Tanner? Her contribution to his detective work?
8. The gallery of scientists and their particular personalities, suspicions? Hollson and his anxiety, the committee meeting, the violent swirling of his death? Van Zandt and his sacking of Tanner, at home with his wife, their being burnt to death? Helniker and his threat to Tanner, his death at the party with the humorous touches about his dancing and then the sudden death? Scott and ultimate suspicions, his presence in the theatre, the pathos of his being shot?
9. How suspicious were the audience of Nordlund? His initial appearance, presiding at the meeting, seeming innocent, contriving suspicions, his identification as Adam Hart? His death and the visualising, especially of his heart? A credible villain?
10. The presentation of Hollson's parents and their lack of communication, Bruce and his work and his protecting Adam Hart and trying to kill Tanner, Flora and the atmosphere of sexuality and suspicion? The atmosphere of the small desert town?
11. The presentation of technology in the laboratories, the human guinea pigs at the beginning and audience response to this kind of research on endurance? Comment on the impact of the various crises eg. the merry-go-round, bombs, the car chase, the fall from the bridge, the shooting of Scott?
13. The police work and detection work - conventional material?
14. Science fiction hypotheses and implications?
