RUN A CROOKED MILE

US, 1969, 100 minutes, Colour.
Louis Jourdan, Mary Tyler Moore, Wilfrid Hyde- White, Stanley Holloway, Alexander Knox, Terence Alexander, Norman Bird, Jean Anderson.
Directed by Gene Levitt.

Run a Crooked Mile was one of Universal’s telemovies. It was made on location in the late sixties when Universal had contracts for making films in England. Thus, it is quite a stylish telemovie and features Louis Jourdan and, unusually in a dramatic role, Mary Tyler Moore. There is a strong British supporting cast with guest appearances, even of Stanley Holloway. Amnesia and murder and big business are the central themes In quite an effective and entertaining film.

1. The quality of this telemovie? in the development of telemovies? Theme and treatment for a home audience?

2. Style, use of European locations? Colour, music? The effect of the British past?

3. The significance of the title, reference to the hero and his amnesia?

4. Richard as a character? Introduction to him at his work, school, his meeting of people e.g. the boy, the headmaster? The incident with the car and his curiosity? His watching of the meeting? This as necessary for the later puzzle about his loss of memory?

5. The bizarre feature of the meeting, the disappearing tree, the cars? The staged murder? The private detective and his later corruption? Richard and his investigations and his almost succeeding when his loss of memory occurred?

6. The strange experience of waking up with two years of life lost? The communication of this experience, the Swiss background, the playboy, the wife? The effect of the amnesia?

7. Richard's reaction to this life as Tony? His disgust and wanting to change? His discovery of his wife? Falling in love with her again and getting her help?

8. The dramatic impact of his investigations? The doctor and his presence and the discovery of the truth? The build up to violence and menace and deaths?

9. The return to England, the private detective being corrupt, the revelation that the head master belonged to the group? The explanation? The rehearsal and his about to be killed?

10 How appropriate the happy ending for this kind of film?

11. The contribution of the minor characters throughout the film for atmosphere e.g. Stanley Holloway's caretaker?

12. How authentic and real was the plot? How plausible? A thriller using its conventions to symbolise conflicts and human dilemmas?