RAGE
US, 1966, 103 minutes, Colour.
Glenn Ford, Stella Stevens.
Directed by Gilberto Gascon.
This is a film which stars Glenn Ford at the peak of his popularity between the mid-50s and the mid-60s. He played in a vast number of films, generally a genial personality. This time he plays an alcoholic doctor in a small town. When he meets Stella Stevens, he wants to resume his life. She appreciates him because he does not pursue her because of her looks, the experience of her life. When a man is bitten by a rabid dog in the desert, he needs to find a doctor before it is too late, Glenn Ford is willing to risk his life in order to help the man - thus redeeming his life.
1. The emphasis and tone of the title, indications of theme, examples throughout the film?
2. A Mexican production and its quality? In contrast with American films? The contrast of the Mexican atmosphere with the American atmosphere? Outer towns, isolation, atmosphere and environment, another way of life? The irony of the closeness of the United States?
3. The film's insight into people living within this environment: poverty, a peasant way of life, the ability to cope with hardship, work, child birth etc.? Industry moving in and developing? The distance of hospitals, highways and ambulance&? The whores moving around in trucks into isolated towns? A place where alcoholics can retreat and work? A place of acceptance?
4. The background of developing industry, the distant hospital, the distant town with school and buses? A modern world in the distance which can save lives? To be reached by telephone, a jeep, petrol difficult to obtain etc.? The bonds between the old world and the now, the distances?
5. The introduction to the peasant way of life with Maria and her pregnancy, being examined by Ruben? The distance from the town? The poverty of their way of life and inability to afford medication or be away from home?
6. Ruben within this context? A good man, his drinking, his care for others? The importance of the night sequence with its flash photography for his memories? The emphasis on the photographs and the dialogue voiced over the photograph and his pleading? The harshness of his life, his punishing himself, his satisfaction in punishing himself, his fear of death? Glenn Ford's portrayal of this man?
7. The contrast with Perla: the women in the back of the truck, the whores an they moved around the countryside, the dinginess and squalor of their way of life, bickering amongst themselves, their friendships, dirt and dust, pushing trucks, at the ogling and gaze of men? The shovel sequence, the dance sequence, the drinking? Perla within this context, wanting a better way of life yet accepting her lot? The attraction to Ruben? Imposing herself on him? Changing because of him? His pushing her round and rejecting her? The people in the town believing the worst? The development of her character, her encounter with Ruben after the advances of the truck driver, the inevitability of her sharing his plight? The change in her and the possibilities of the future?
8. The importance of the sequence with Fortunato and the rabies? The violence of the sequence, the horror, the puzzle of the audience as well an the people, Ruben's identifying the rabies, the harshness of treatment, the agony and pain, a symbol for the isolation and pain of this way of life? The preparation for Ruben's experience and audience understanding his fear? The visualizing of the dog with the rabies? Biting Rubon, accosting Pancho in the jeep?
9. The character of Pancho as a peasant, his love for his wife, his desperate plea to Ruben, the dilemma and forcing the gun on Ruben, his tears and abandonment, his joy at Ruben's arrival, his helping him with the birth, his helping him to get to the hospital, especially with the broken bridge?
10. Comment on the birth sequence and the use of the lights etc.? The value of human life? Ruben's satisfaction, Pancho's joy and boasting about his child?
11. Ruben's dilemma about the rabies? His succumbing to the temptation to flee, the memory of his wife convincing for his return? His work? The journey structure of the latter part of the film, the jeep and the batteries, the horse, the dust, the broken bridge and Pancho's support, the searching out of petrol, acquiring Perla, and sharing the journey, their decision to walk, the night and the fire and the encounter and the truth being told? The highway, the bus and the school children and their noise, the water and the testing of whether the rabies had gone through him? The achievement as he ran towards safety? The irony of the telephoning and the ambulance rushing and finding the empty jeep? The importance of the personal achievement?
12. The interaction of the people in this isolation, giving life and saving life, helping one another?
13. The importance of the minor characters in the town, the engineers, at the dance, the whores, the garage owner and his rheumatism etc? Maria as the life-giver?
14. The final optimism of the film and its justification, the film as pro-life?
