SHOUT AT THE DEVIL

UK, 1976, 147 minutes, Colour.
Lee Marvin, Roger Moore, Barbara Parkins, Ian Holm, Rene Kolldehoff.
Directed by Peter Hunt.

There's always a wide audience for the sprawling, spectacular adventure, full of wisecracking action. This English production of a Wilbur Smith actioner is lavish Saturday matinee stuff for adults as well. The team also made Gold. We have Africa, 1913, hunters, German war boats, raids and some corny comedy - Lee Marvin, grizzled and hamming it up in the familiar manner with a clipped, stolid, Roger Moore. Barbara Parkins is Marvin's vigorous daughter. Plot is reminiscent of The African Queen without that film's intensity and style. Rather, the emphasis is on big action events on land, sea and air. Yes, they do make them like they used to.

1. The meaning and implications of the title, summing up an action adventure? The importance of the period, the elements of truth and authenticity with World War I, the atmosphere of Africa at the time for Europeans and Africans? The ingredients for a successful film?

2. The use of Panavision photography of Africa, grandeur and spectacle, stunts, the Maltese locations, colour, rousing music? How do these affect audience response?

3. The initial atmosphere of Zanzibar: Flynn and his Irish- American background, ivory poaching, seediness, looking for a partner, tricks? The support of Mohammed? The pressure of the Arab merchant? Ships, the atmosphere of war, of hunting?

4. The initial impact of Sebastian, Flynn's choice of him, the tricking of Sebastian? The irony that he never found out the truth?

5. The visual presentation of the hunt, the excitement, elephants and ivory poaching? The impact of the German attack? The comic side. serious side, the background for the ultimatum about the war?

6. The establishing of Flynn and Sebastian as partners? Comment on the character of Flynn, his strengths and his weaknesses, his honesty and dishonesty? Sebastian and his English background, his wooden participation in things, his changing into an adventurer? The shared difficulties, Flynn's attack by the crocodiles, Sebastian's rescue of him? Their trek and their pursuit by the Germans? The discovery of Flynn's home, the background to the marriage, the birth of the baby. the two doting fathers?

7. The importance of the build-up with the German confrontation? The presentation of Fleischer? His being a gross character, his dominance of the natives, his vengeance on the river when he was tricked by the net, his continued pursuit? His shooting of natives and hanging them? His collecting of taxes, the murderous nature of his raids?

8. How humorous was the tax escapade? Flynn's justification because of the stolen ivory, his pretending not to know German, his volunteering Sebastian? How humorous was the tax escapade with Sebastian giving away all the money to the natives who put on such a show? The confrontation with Fleischer and the escape?

9. The significance of the long fist fight between Flynn and Sebastian? As action cinema, for the theme of their confrontation? The background to the wedding with Rosa? Her presence in the home, her love for Sebastian, wanting to marry him? The presentation of the marriage and its mock sentimentality?

10. The character of Mohammed, his loyalty to Flynn, his tricking Sebastian, his fear of Fleischer, his humour. his final loyalty and death? A conventional' character for this film or something more?

11. The importance of the retaliatory raid, Flynn and Sebastian raiding Fleischer's headquarters and all his stores? The irony of Fleischer's revenge raid on Flynn? Humour turning into seriousness and s

12. The build-up to Flynn’s war, the discussions in Malta with the British authorities, the importance of the mission, their getting Flynn's help, with the assistance of drink?

13. The action sequences of the flight and the reconnaissance of the ship? Adventure, sense of urgency in discovering the ship, audience identifying Sebastian in his first flight, the shooting and the dangerous ride back and the crash?

14. The build-up to the placing the bomb on the ship? The personalities of the German officers, their hastening the repairs of the ship, the work groups, Sebastian infiltrating, the suspense of his putting the bomb on the ship?

15. The irony of the capture of Rosa? The death of Mohammed? The time element and the necessity of rescuing Rosa? How did the film build this up? The use of the clock? Sebastian's confrontation with the German and their fight? Flynn with his and holding people off? His death as a sacrifice?

16. The inevitability of the final confrontation with Fleischer? The long background of Rosa's horror and her child's death, her revenge, her inability to love her husband until Fleischer was dead? Sebastian's attitude towards this and his responsibility for Fleischer's death?

17. What is the value of this kind of entertainment, conventional material, perennial enjoyment?

18. The presuppositions about heroes and heroics, individuals and partnership, greed, challenge, war, revenge, murder and death?