THE MAN
US, 1972, 93 minutes, Colour.
James Earl Jones, Martin Balsam, Burgess Meredith, Lew Ayres, William Windom, Barbara Rush, Georg Stanford Brown, Janet Ma cLachlan, Patric Knowles, Robert Do Qui, Anne Seymour.
Directed by Joseph Sargent.
The Man has excellent credentials. Joseph Sargent was a competent director, especially of television movies for over four decades. He also made the cinema feature at this time, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. The film was based on a novel by popular writer Irving Wallace and was adapted for the screen by Rod Serling (The Twilight Zone).
The President and the Vice- President of the United States are killed in an accident, the next in line declines. The candidacy falls to the fourth in line, the temporary president of the Senate. The interesting feature of the film is that he is African American. He is played with great dignity – as always – by James Earl Jones who, four years later, was to become well known as the voice of Darth Vader (and later of CNN).
Needless to say there are many political complications in the plot as well as elements of racial bigotry. The film was made less than ten years after the march on Washington and Martin Luther King’s speech. However, in the succeeding decades, the closest any African American came towards presidential nomination is Jesse Jackson. And, in 2008 came President Obama.
The film has a very strong supporting cast of character actors, many of them from old cinema days including Burgess Meredith, Lew Ayres and Barbara Rush. (Morgan Freeman also appeared as President of the United States in 1998 in Deep Impact.)
1. Audience expectations of this film, Irving Wallace and his reputation as a novelist, the fact that the film took only a portion of the novel? Expectations of a controversial topic an regards race, politics? How satisfying was the overall film?
2. The significance and emphasis of the title, black reference, the President of the United States, the reference to Dilman himself?
3. The importance of the preamble and its tone: Jack Benny and his comic style, a Presidential political charity, the imported man being disturbed and alarmed, the sense of alarm for the audience, anticipation of disaster, an invitation for involvement?
4. The presentation of American law, the details of its proparation for Presidential succession? The decisions facing the administrators of Government? Eaton and his attitude towards the law and not pushing himself? Audience interest in and comment on the provisions of law?
5. How well did the film highlight the issues of having an African American as American President? How well handled was the theme? How well handled the questions of race, the role of blacks in America, their number, influence, relationship with whites? The Presidential issues in terms of home politics, international politics, the human elements, the necessary integrity of a President? The reality of people of politicians towards a President?
6. How interesting and impressive a person was Doug Dillane? His background as an academic, the political gesture in having him in charge of the Senate, a man of dignity, his reaction to being named President and his being overwhelmed, his relationship with his daughter? His handling of the Presidency, presidential aides and advisers ignoring him? The effect on him, his going along with them especially in the press conference? His invitation to take a stance at the press conference and the consequences for him? The importance of hie making a big mistake in estimating Wheeler? A man of principle and outspoken? Was he a good candidate for the Presidency?
7. How interesting was the South African issue? How surprised were you at the film's outspokenness against South Africa? Was it justified or was it biased? The presentation of Wheeler and his telling lies? The President believing him? Did the audience believe him? The President's invitation to help him, the reasons for this? The gradual build-up of the evidence? Audience dismay at Dilman's making a mistake? His attitudes towards justice and the handling of the case irrespective of race? Was the film strong on this international issue and focusing on Americans’ reactions to it?
8. The character of Eatons as Secretary of State and his skill there, as a presidential aide, his attitude towards the lay? His relationship with his wife and her taunting him? His skill at his work, his disagreeing with the President, his reaction to his answer, not being used at the conference? His embarrassment at the dinner? His decision to be a rival to the President? How interesting and credible a character in American politics?
9. The film's emphasis on Mrs Eaton? Her inheritance, tradition, position in Washington society, her bitchiness, her attitudes at home, at the dinner? What American attitudes did she dramatise and represent?
10. The President’s aide his helping of the President his being like Eaton, his growing to support the President and being his standby?
11. What did Senator Watson represent? His prejudice against Dillman, against blacks, his representing the South, his wheeler-dealing, his style? His legislation? His dealings with the South African Ambassador? His victory over Dillman as regards Wheeler?
12. The picture of American politics, the running of Government, conferences and diplomacy, secretaries and discussions about policy, briefing of the President? How interesting its effect on the President? The white aides, the advice from the black aides?
13. The game of the Press conference, the President's looking for the answer, his changing his pace? The importance of Ma Blore and her support?
14. The growing pressure of the dilemma, Dilman's coping, hie making decisions?
15. The dramatics of his encounter with Wheeler and his lawyer? A lot of straight talking? Integrity?
16. His daughter's reaction, her prejudice, her disregard? Was her change of attitude credible?
17. The build-up to the Democratic Convention? the use of footage from a convention? Dillman becoming a hero. becoming the Man?
18. How well do films like this present real issues?
