THE ROSE AND THE JACKAL
US, 1990, 100 minutes, Colour.
Christopher Reeve, Madolyn Smith- Osbourne, Carrie Snodgress, Kevin Mc Carthy, Jeff Corey.
Directed by Jack Gold.
The Rose and The Jackal is an interesting telemovie with a Civil War setting. However, it does not focus on warfare (the aftermath of the Battle of Manasses is glimpsed in the returning veterans). However, it focuses on Washington D.C., the era of Lincoln, espionage in the city.
The central focus is on Allan Pinkerton, the Scotsman who began the civil service to protect Lincoln and who later established the famous detective agency. He is played by a somewhat unrecognizable, bearded Christopher Reeve, replete with Scottish accent. The focus is also on Rose Greenknow, the famous southern hostess, a widow in Washington who was a source of information for the Confederacy, who was arrested and executed. She is played quite effectively by Madolyn Smith Osbourne (Funny Farm, Revenge).
The film was directed by veteran British director Jack Gold. It is an intelligent blend of espionage, romance, Americana.
1. Entertaining telemovie of the Civil War? The focus on espionage? The focus on Washington DC in Lincoln's time, at the beginning of the war?
2. Re-creation of the period, the Washington offices and hotels? The atmosphere of the war period? Score?
3. The title and the focus on Rose Greennow and Alan Pinkertons? Symbolic?
4. Pinkerton and the initial action sequences, the plan to assassinate Lincoln, the town, the bridge and the explosives, Pinkerton and his men and the shooting, saving the bridge, saving Lincoln? His catching the train? Making the train go through the toxin to avoid the assassination attempt? Pinkerton and his life in Scotland, coming to America, the secret service, the efficiency of his staff, surveillance, gathering information, his own skills? The background to the formation of the detective agency?
5. Pinkerton and the secretary, commanding him to go to the social, his encounter with Rose at the hospital, then at her home? his suspicions of her? Her hospitality, the dancing and the talk, introducing him? The confrontation with her - the bitterness, yet the infatuation? His surveillance of her, imagining the sexual encounter with her? The background of his marriage and children? His going into the house, the confrontation, the evidence and the arrest? Senator Wilson and his testimony? The interrogations, his trying to persuade her to give information? His reaction to her imprisonment? Concern for her? His having to be present at the execution? The interlude with his wife and children? The execution, his watching, the firing, shooting, the lock and letting her escape? Re-uniting her with her daughter? The effect of what he had done, resigning from the secret service - and his founding of the agency? Christopher Reeve's portrayal and its credibility?
6. Rose Greennow, widow, hostess in the city? At the hospital, volunteer? The encounter with Pinkerton? her social, welcoming him into the house, introducing him, the dancing? The attraction? Their encounters, cat and mouse? Her contacts, the hotel, the Senator, giving the information about the Battle of Manasses? Seeing the veterans return? Her family and the loyalty to the south? The arrest, the imprisonment and the humiliation? With the soldiers, talking with them, possibility of escape? Seeing the young man's trying to escape? The interrogations, the humiliation? being prepared, the support of Alan? Seeing her daughter and wanting her to be safe? The firing, the escape - and the postscript about her death?
7. The secretary, Lincoln's Government, the anticipation of the war, espionage? The battle of Manasses? Willets hotel, discussions, indiscretions? The Southerners in the capital? The secretary and, his control over Pinkerton?
8. The atmosphere of America in the light of the aftermath of the war?
