REVENGE OF DR DEATH (MADHOUSE)
UK, 1974, 89 minutes, Colour.
Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Robert Quarry, Adrienne Corri, Michael Parkinson.
Directed by Jim Clark.
US, 1953, 100 minutes, Colour.
Gary Cooper, Barry Jones, Roberta Haynes, Moira Walker.
Directed by Mark Robson.
Return to Paradise is based on a short story by James Michener, Mr Morgan. This is the character played by Gary Cooper. Return to Paradise is a collection of stories which was the sequel to Michener’s Tales of the South Pacific.
The film was made on Samoa and incorporates a lot of the islanders in the action as well as rituals and dance. It became something of a celebrated event in Western Samoan history – for many decades afterwards.
Gary Cooper had just won his second Oscar for High Noon and is at home in this kind of tropical setting. He contrasts with British actor Barry Jones (Seven Days to Noon) who portrays a very strict pastor – interesting given the subsequent history of evangelisation of Western Samoa, especially by American groups like the Mormons and Seventh Day Adventists.
Gary Cooper portrays a drifter, clashes with the pastor, becomes involved with a young woman on the island – but still is an adventurer in the South Seas.
The film was directed by Mark Robson who began his directing career in the 40s with some horror films for producer Val Lewton. He directed a number of romantic films like My Foolish Heart, action films like The Bridges at Toko-Ri?. With The Inn of the Sixth Happiness and Peyton Place in the late 50s he moved into big-budget spectacles – and made a number of these during the 1960s including Von Ryan’s Express and Valley of the Dolls. His second-last film was Earthquake.
1. What presuppositions in an audience does a horror film like this have? Are they healthy presuppositions, are they presuppositions about enjoyment and acceptance of horror conventions?
2. Why are horror films like this so successful? what particular aspects of horror did it contain? What aspects of horror appeal to audiences? Situations, scares, death, characters?
3. How important is the personality of Vincent Price and his reputation in horror films and the same for Peter Cushing and Robert Hardy?
4. How much parody was there in this film? the picture of Hollywood and of England? Of the world? Of horror films? Of Vincent Price himself? Of the real films that he appeared in? Of their effect on people? Exaggerated characters like Dr Death?
5. What did the film have to say about the effect of horror films? On audiences? On the people who act in them? Was this realistic? is there any element of truth in it?
6. What kind of man was Paul Toombs? As we first saw him, his marriage, his career, his reaction to his fiancee’s reputation, his suffering at her death? His breakdown? Why did he agree to come to England for the TV series? What effect did this have on him? Did you over suspect him to be the murderer?
7. How grotesque was the character of Dr Death? As a creation of Paul and Herbert? As an expression of their sub-conscious and their desires? Of Dr Death and the real murderer? Of the grotesque nature of the murders?
8. Was the film too brutal in its presentation of the deaths? the fiancee, the directors under the bed, Julia and the knife?
9. How real was the presentation of the film and TV world? its glamour? People trying to push their way through in it? Elizabeth? Oliver Marshall? The field for Herbert’s ambitions?
10. Response to Flay in the film? was her character a red herring? As an indication of Dr Death’s madness? Her relationship with Paul? And at the and?
11. How attractive a character was Julia? As a relief for the film? As sensible and sane? Doing her job well? As a heroine to be frightened? Were you sorry that she was murdered? Why?
12. Was the character of Oliver a red herring? Suspicions pointing to him, to presences and absences? the sinister cynicism? But merely a TV producer?
13. How sinister was Herbert? Did you understand why he was so mod? Why he hated Paul? Of his cruelty? Was he a successful villain?
14. How exciting was the ending? the threats to Paul in the studio, the interview, the final fight and Herbert’s death through Flay?
15. Now ironic was the ending? Paul assuming Herbert’s character? Herbert being the new Dr Death? Was this successful for the film ? or too complicated?
16. What fright techniques did the film use well?
17. How implausible was the plot? Especially at the end? Did this matter?
18. What was you final reaction to all this murder and horror? Did the interview with Michael Parkinson indicate the nature of horror films and why people respond to them? How, in a sense, they are necessary?
