THE MEN

US, 1950, 80 minutes, Black and white.
Marlon Brando, Teresa Wright, Everett Sloane, Jack Webb, Howard St. John.
Directed by Fred Zinnemann.

The Men is an unobtrusive but excellent film partly documentary, partly message, but always interesting, It shows the effects of war injuries and rehabilitation on paraplegics, their bitterness, anguish and struggles to start a new kind of life. Set speeches by a doctor are included in the film for instructive purposes and there are many accurately observed hospital details. Into this framework, a psychological story is placed.

This was Marlon Brando's first film and shows his ability from the beginning of his film career, Direction is by Fred Zinnemann (High Noon, From Here to Eternity, The Nun's Story, A Man for All Seasons).

1. How effective were the opening sequences during the credits - war and quiet military music? What response to war and suffering did they evoke? Why?

2. Was it reasonable that Kenneth Welchek should be so bitter about his paralysis? Why? Did he over-react in bitterness? Why?

3. Did the reality of the paralysis to the paraplegic come across effectively to the audience - "Glad I'm still half alive".

4. Was the lecture by the doctor effective in communicating these realities to people? Was it good cinema or too artificial? What was his point about paraplegics and people’s reactions to them?

5. Why wouldn't Welchek respond to kindness and treatment? Was it too harsh putting him with the others? (Did the doctor's rounds of the wards help you to understand the variety of personalities suffering paralysis?)

6. Did you like Norm Butler, Leo Doolan, the clown, and Angel Lopes? Why? Were they too hard on Welchek at first? Why did their therapy ultimately work?

7. Why was Ellen so sure of herself, "the beat judge of her own emotions"? How much did she love Bud? How much did she pity him? How much was romantic self-pity? What was the impact of the first meeting? Why was he so resentful of pity?

8. Ken was an orphan. How self-centred was he? Did he have real regard for Ellen?

9. How important was the sequence where he tried to lift himself up? What impact did it have within the film?

10. What was the point of the sequence of the visit from the girl from the drive-in? What did it reveal about Norm? (and his quoting Hamlet?)

11. Why did Bud and Ellen foster the unreal hopes about his legs - note the pin-jabbing sequence, his spasms? "Before you can change the world, you. have to accept it as it really is". Why did the doctor burst out and speak about a sense of responsibility?

12. How was Bud affected by the visit to the night-club and people staying, by Angel's death?

13. Why did Bud and Ellen became engaged? Did they love each other sufficiently? Had Ellen contracted to be his nurse? Why was she disappointed in her parents? Were they right? Was she presumptuous about Bud's legs as well as her capacity to cope?

14. How did the engagement boost Bud's morale - the exercises, basketball, standing up?

15. Why was the wedding so tense? How was this sequence so effectively filmed?

16. Why did they quarrel so quickly? Whose fault was it? Was it a delayed facing of the truth? What should each have done to be reconciled?

17. Why did Bud react so badly, smashing windows, drunk, fighting? Why was he so irresponsible?

18. Was the tribunal (especially Norm) fair in voting to dismiss Ken? Sow did this bring him to his senses? Dr. Brook's advice?

19. How effective was the reconciliation? How did the film illustrate its tentative nature? "Do you want me to help you up the steps?" "Please”.

20. Was this a humane film? Why?