THE HOUSE ON GREENAPPLE ROAD
US, 1970, 100 minutes, Colour.
Christopher George, Janet Leigh, Julie Harris, Tim O ’Connor, Walter Pidgeon, Barry Sullivan, Keenan Wynn, William Windom, Lynda Day George, Edward Asner, Eve Plumb, Lawrence Dane, Paul Fix.
Directed by Robert Day.
The House on Greenapple Road was made for cinemas but then cut by Universal Studios by about half an hour and broadcast as a television film. It has the character, the detective Dan August, who was to appear in a television series. He is played by Christopher George who appears with his wife Lynda Day George. He is investigating the disappearance of a wife, played by Janet Leigh. The film is interesting as a popular detective yarn and investigation. It is strong in its cast, especially with many veteran film stars who were by this time beginning to find that the place for the latter part of their career was to be on television including Julie Harris, Walter Pidgeon, Barry Sullivan, Keenan Wynn.
1. How good a telemovie? How did it differ from treatment of such themes for cinema movies? How obvious were the television techniques, use of close-ups etc?
2. How successful as a murder-mystery? Its use of conventions of police action, murder and unknown identities, various suspects, the nature of the crime, the absence of the body, the various clues, the twist? How successful was it in using these conventions?
3. Did the film try to take a realistic tone to its story and its characters? Was it credible as real? Or did the film remain within the unreal TV?drama atmosphere? Comment on the structure of the film, the murders the absence of the body, the nature of the flashbacks, the build-up of suspense, the twist?
4. Was there more to this film then merely telling a good murder yarn? In the exploration of themes and motivations, characters involved in relationships and murder?
5. How successful was the film as a police drama? The details of the police in action, headquarters and officers, relationships, authorities, comradeship, technique and know-how, the pressures by authority etc? Dan August as a typical policeman? how human, how humourless, how successful in his work? The contrast with Charlie and his humanity and humorous asides yet his technique and know-how? The chief and his Influence on the men, his support of them, to run the bureau efficiently? His relationship to the Mayor and the pressures being put on by him? His interference with the interrogations? The police and the political atmosphere of the city, the mayoral candidate interfering all the time? The interference in police work by politicians? The wanting of results for public image etc?
6. What comment was being made on police work and politics? Comment on such details of police work as dedication, rivalries, police style, personalities, the use of hunches, the application of principles of law and order to investigations?
7. How central was the character of Marion? The initial impact of her seeming death, the accumulation of information about her, the gradual build-up of the flashbacks, change of attitudes towards her, the role of sexuality, her abhorrence of her promiscuity, her husbands analysis of her character and his sympathy for her, her discovery as being alive, the quality of her confession, the punishment that it deserved? What insight into such a character did the performance give? Was she to be pitied? what made her the woman that she was?
8. How was her husband portrayed? As an ordinary man? His knowledge of the truth and his helping his wife? His wife's dependence on him? His helping her even to distract the police? His response to the interrogation and his insight into his wife? How did this contrast with the men in Marion's life? How successful were the flashback sequences? Foley at the poolside, Gilman with his crooked background, the hypocritical religious man? How did they contrast with Marion's husband?
10. The importance of Mr Dunstine and his wife? The clashes, Dunstine's encounter with Marion, the irony that it was he that was killed?
11. What did the character of Mrs Miller add to the film? Was she suspicious? her looking after the daughter, her helping her brother?
12. How well did the film build up suspense? the finding of the body washed down the harbour?
13. What did the film have to say about crime, justice, law and order? How do TV audiences respond to such films? entirely for enjoyment or is there a deeper response to themes?
