THE ORGANISATION
US, 1972, 107 minutes, Colour.
Sidney Poitier, Barbara Mc Nair, Sheree North.
Directed by Don Medford.
The Organisation is the third in a series which began with "In the Heat of the Night and continued with "They Call Me Mr Tibbs". Dirty Harry and Virgil Tibbs both belong to the San Francisco Police Force, in homicide. The story is akin to the New York international drug rackets of, say, "The French Connection". But clean Virgil Tibbs combats crime, not with the motiveless determination of Dirty Harry and the implied plea to give the police more power for their job, but rather the implication is that Mr. Tibbs deserves more power because he is so noble. Police pleas aside, this is quite a good routine thriller of Sidney Poitier charm and American urban crime and violence. It is more elaborate than television episodes but the same genre. And everybody seems to enjoy police and detective series.
1. This is the third of a series. Did the film seem original or did it seem that the series was working itself out, possibly in a tired way? Why?
2. How well did the film show the organisation of the San Francisco Police? Did it give insight into the running of the police? How good was Virgil Tibbs within the framework of this police department? In his work there and in the standards that he set?
3. What kind of character was Virgil Tibbs? As a man? Policeman? Negro? As embodied by Sidney Poitier with audience expectations of him? His role as a seeker of good? His independent style, his collaboration with his associates and authority? What limitations did he have as a policeman? Was the film appealing for more power for the police? If so, why?
4. Did the film fill in Tibb's background and his home-life well? Were these important to the film?
5. How well-drawn were the associate police in the San Francisco force? Which characters made the most impression? Why?
6. Was the story original? If not, how well did the film treat the plot which had been presented several times? Did it show insight into the police combating drugs? In its insight into the working of the syndicates in San Francisco? In exploiting of people for drugs and organised crime? Did the film have any message or was it merely presenting its story?
7. What were your impressions of the young San Franciscans? Their rights about combating_ drugs? In not being associated with the murder? Is there a danger in people forming vigilante groups outside the law? Why?
8. What was your response to the murders in the film? Tibb's relation to the police in this regard? His private investigations? What right did he have to do this? Was it part of his heroism?
9. The character of Mrs. Morgan? How well portrayed was she in the initial stages? The revelation that she was the villainess? were your surprised? Why had she become involved?
10. Your response to the syndicate chief being shot? Why?
11. What value does a film like this have? In recording the work of the police? In presenting sympathetically the work of the police in view of criticisms? For showing heroism of people who uphold the law? Was it valuable in this regard?
