MAN ON FIRE

US, 1957, 95 minutes. Black and white.
Bing Crosby, Inger Stevens, Mary Fickett, E.G. Marshall, Malcolm Brodrick, Richard Eastham, Anne Seymour.
Directed by Ranald Mac Dougall.

Man on Fire is a film about a husband having custody of his son after his wife walks out on them and they are divorced. It anticipated the higher profile Kramer vs Kramer by more than twenty years.

The film was written and directed by Ranald Mac Dougall, writer of many films during the 1950s ranging from Mr Belvedere Rings the Bell to We’re No Angels to the Joan Crawford vehicle Queen Bee. He directed a few films including The World, the Flesh and the Devil and Go Naked in the World.

The film offers a strong role for Bing Crosby who had proven his acting abilities in The Country Girl in 1954. He had won an Oscar for Going My Way in 1944, one of his easygoing roles which were typical of his screen presence. Here he portrays the father, loving his son, hurt by his wife walking out and marrying someone else. He is angry, quick to explode and speak bluntly. Mary Fickett (a television actress) is his wife. Richard Eastham, the government worker that she married. E.G. Marshall portrays his friend and lawyer with Inger Stevens as the lawyer’s assistant who has a crush on Bing Crosby. There is a very strong sequence where the parents go before a judge and she interrogates the young boy (Malcolm Brodrick) about who he would like to stay with. She surprises everyone by deciding that the boy should be with his mother.

Later in the film, the biblical example of Solomon’s wisdom and the two mothers petitioning him for the child is brought to bear on the decisions made by the boy, the mother, the father. The film takes a very strong stance against divorce. It raises the issues of the child and loyalties in custody issues.

1. Issues of marriage and divorce in the 1950s? The changes over the decades?

2. The black and white photography, the American city, the factory, homes, the court? A sense of realism? The score? The title song?

3. The title and Earl, his experience, his marriage, his motivation for the marriage, the birth of his son, his wife marrying another, the divorce, love for his son, his hurt and anger?

4. The screenplay and the variety of points of view? Audiences identifying with different characters? Being challenged? The questions raised?

5. The United States, the status of marriage, the law, custody issues? Moral issues? Emotional issues?

6. The introduction to Earl and Ted, the visit to the factory, Ted and his electric machine, the newspapers, the sense of dread? Gwen and her husband visiting?

7. Sam and his role, advice, the discussions with Gwen, the discussions with Earl? Earl’s anger, flying off the handle? The difficulties for lawyers, clients and their outbursts? Wanting to beware of scandal for the child? The deals? The power of attorney issue, Earl handing it over, Sam being used, for the abduction? The final angry exchanges?

8. Miss Wylie, her work, interest in the case, personal interest in Earl, assisting Sam, the challenges, her interactions with Earl, her anger with him, accompanying him for visits? Informing about the abduction attempt? Her involvement with Earl, telling him off? A future?

9. Gwen and Bryan? Their life together, the relationship, during the marriage, the divorce? The Washington job, the signed agreement about custody, the interpretation that it was done by force, the plea to Earl? Taking the issue to court? Gwen with Earl, his anger and hurt, abrupt? Her not knowing Ted, giving him to Earl for a few days before the hearing?

10. Ted, his age, the bond with his father, his father’s humour, life and lifestyle, his attitude towards his mother, the visit, not liking her, finding her emotion oppressive? Dislike of Bryan?

11. Earl, the realisation of the bonds with his son, the audience seeing it in action and appreciating it?

12. The hearing, the judge, a woman, listening to the various opinions, reading the documents, the questions, the outbursts? Her being with Ted, personalising the conversation? Hearing his side? Her decision? The audience surprised of not? Her motives for sending Ted to his mother, so that he could get to know her better? The mother’s right to be known and loved? Earl and his outburst?

13. Earl and his drinking, Miss Wylie coming to the bar? Taking him home, the next day? His continuing offhand attitude towards her and her being hurt?

14. The plan, relinquishing Ted, the power of attorney, the passports, going to the airport, abducting Ted? Their being taken off the plane?

15. Ted, leaving, with his mother? The changes? Earl and his being prepared to give Ted up? Ted’s return home – Gwen and her decision to let her son go?

16. The interchange between Bryan and Earl, the hostility?

17. The Solomon story, the various interpretations, Ted and his wanting to know what it meant? Bryan posing the question, Earl and his understanding?

18. Earl, finally giving up Ted, the future? And Miss Wylie?