PEOPLE WILL TALK
US, 1951, 110 minutes, Black and White.
Cary Grant, Jeanne Crain, Finlay Currie, Hume Cronyn, Walter Slezak, Sidney Blacker, Basil Ruysdael.
Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.
People Will Talk is a very interesting - if talkative - movie about doctors and healing, about prejudices and ambitions in academia, about falling in love, about friendship and standing up for others' rights.
The film was written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, a celebrated writer and director who won Oscars for his A Letter to Three Wives and All About Eve. Other films include his version of Julius Caesar, The Barefoot Contessa and, later, Cleopatra and The Honey pot.
The film is very literate - beginning with a most enjoyable verbal encounter between Hume Cronyn and Margaret Hamilton (who unfortunately disappears from the film after this). Cary Grant is at his most urbane and charming in this film, making his Dr Praetorius a quite believable character (though not quite so believable on paper). His wit, verbal delivery, sense of empathy stand him in very good stead. Jeanne Crain is attractive as the young woman who falls in love with him. Finlay Currie has a very interesting role as Mr Shunderson, Dr Praetorius's close friend, a mystery man who intrigues the academic staff with his final story. The supporting cast includes Hume Cronyn as a jealous colleague and Sidney Blackmer as Jeanne Crain's father.
The film raises questions about medical ethics, medicine and healing - raising questions of psychology and counselling somewhat before their time. This theme makes the film of greater interest in later decades. Literate entertainment.
1.The title, gossip, people in need of talking - and the potential for healing in listening and counselling? People's reaction to gossip?
2.Black and white photography, 20th Century Fox production? The strong cast? The reputation of Mankiewicz for writing and direction? The film adapted from a play? Musical score?
3.The opening and the gossip between Dr Ellwell and the former housekeeper? Her gossip and primness, his curiosity - and audience curiosity? The closing of the door and her revelations? Dr Ellwell and the anatomy class and his being insulted by Dr Praetorius? His pursuit of the matter, finding out information, setting detectives on Shunderson, the photograph? Making his report to the dean, the accusations at the meeting? His mean-mindedness and the board's reaction? The final encounter with Mr Shunderson and his explanation that Dr Ellwell was a little man?
4.Dr Praetorius and his reputation, as personified by Cary Grant with his urbane charm? With the anatomy class and people wanting to listen to him, his pleasant manner, Deborah's fainting, his treatment of her, the discovery of the pregnancy? His talking things over with her and her response? Her attempted suicide? Her escape and his finding out where she was, going to visit her, the encounter with her father and the mean-minded Uncle John? Listening to her father and liking him? The tour of the farm, the dairy, her declaration of love, his response and proposal? The marriage, going to New York - the return home, enjoying the company of her father and Shunderson, his friend Leon? Conducting the orchestra and the humorous rehearsal with Leon? His ability to listen, the visiting of the patients, his talk to the woman about the happiness of death and his being in coma? His ability to help people to be at ease, to be more themselves? Playing with the trains? Taking the opportunity to tell Deborah the truth about the pregnancy? Her fears, the reconciliation? The summons, his presence at the board, his sense of integrity and answering questions? Mr Shunderson's story - the amazing story, its plausibility? The story of his going to Goose Creek, the butcher, the healing, building up money and opening his own practice? His vindication? The final conducting of the orchestra? A genial and good man?
5.Deborah, in the anatomy class, her fainting? The attraction to Dr Praetorius? Her telling the truth about the pregnancy and her embarrassment? Her attempt to kill herself? Her not wanting to hurt her father? Running away, at the farm, her strongest stance? The declaration of love? The marriage, her happiness, home, Dr Ellwell and her encounter with him? The accusations? The truth about the pregnancy, her immediate reaction, being reassured by Noah wanting to be the father of the child? Her coming into the meeting - and the happy ending?
6.Shunderson, the mystery of his presence, always attendant on Dr Praetorius, doing all the work, silent and slow? His control of the collie dog (and later keeping it)? Wanting to help the cook? Ellwell's suspicions? His photo being taken in New York? The build-up to the climax? His coming into the meeting - and his story of his girlfriend, the alleged murder, the 15 years in jail, finding that the man was still alive, the subsequent killing? His trial, condemned to death, the hanging - and his survival? His service of Dr Praetorius?
7.The portrait of the patients, their range of illness, the help of talk and understanding rather than too much medicine? The response of students? Staff and their demands - everybody eating at the same time, being washed at the same time, going to sleep on duty?
8.Deborah's father, the story of his life and failure, his dependence on his brother? His brother, mean-mindedness, routines, tax rebates?
9.Leon, the humour of the rehearsal, playing with the trains, his defence of Praetorius?
10.Interesting adult drama, literate dialogue, interactions - and themes of medicine and healing?
