THE OUTSIDE MAN

France/Italy, 1972, 104 minutes. Colour.
Jean- Louis Trintignant, Ann Margret, Roy Scheider, Angie Dickinson.
Directed by Jacques Deray.

The Outside Man is a effective thriller. Audiences welcome thrillers and here is a good one by a French specialist in the genre. American stars feature in Jacques
Deray's excellent The Outside Man, particularly Ann- Margret and Roy Scheider. However the thriller uses the conventions of the American gangster film in a Los Angeles setting. A French slant on a familiar style is quite engrossing but the film is also a fine character study of a gunman, Jean- Louis Trintignant, hunted inexplicably, who has to survive in this alien city and culture.

1. The significance of the title and its reference to Lucien? To the professional gunman? The original French title was 'A Man is Dead'. Was that more appropriate?

2. The impact of the film as a French-made film on location in Los Angeles? The authentic atmosphere of the thriller, the American thriller style as presented by a Frenchman with a French touch?

3. Comment on the importance of the use of the city of Los Angeles, the way it was photographed, the environment with the aerial shots at the beginning, the details of the streets and buildings, the signs and advertisements. the varying aspects of the way of life eg. the Roller Derby? How was it obvious that it was a Frenchman observing the particular world of America its environment and effect on characters and way of life? How helpful was this for the understanding of America and its way of life?

4. The initial impact of Lucien, his arrival, the mystery about his identity, the sequences at the hotel, his entry into the Kovack's house? The fact that he seemed to be expected, the sudden killing of Victor Kovack? The horror of audience reaction at his murdering someone? How was there a transition to sympathy as he was pursued, became a victim? His capacity for survival? How well delineated was his character? An enigmatic gunman, a seeming professional, the revelation of the truth about his deaths and his reason for his being in Los Angeles. the encounter with the American gunman the humanizing aspects of his experience in America, the people he met, the violence he experienced, the ingenuity that he began to use, his vengeance in finding out the truth, the ultimate violence? How important a portrayal of a human being? A man who was outside society, a man who ultimately was dead?

5. The presentation of the world of the Kovacks, their house, the indolent way of life, money, the crudeness of the criminal? The impact of victor Kovack and his death? The irony of Alex and Jackie and their liaison, and the obvious nature of their conspiracy? The presentation of the scenes in their home and their arrogant way of life, the background of money and the Mafia, the police in the Kovack's pay, gunmen in their pay? The encounter between Jackie and Lucien at the shop? The irony of the funeral, the lavish Los Angeles style of the funeral and their deaths?

6. How well done dramatically was the turning of the tables on Lucien? The importance of the gunman pursuing Lucien in the streets, the detailed nature of the chase? The irony of Lucien hiding in the housewife's car? The presentation of the wife, her coping with the situation, preparing the meal, the phone call, her rather stunned reaction and compliance with Lucien? The boy and his listening in on the phone and the fact that this was a lead for the ultimate resolution of the film? The irony of the American gunman also confronting the housewife later? The ironic humour in her identifying the bodies, the interviews on the television, her coming to expect the television? The comment on the ordinary American?

7. The contrast to the sequence with the bikies and their leading Lucien in the wrong direction. the religious fanatic and the confrontation, the significance of Lucien's being questioned about his values in the framework of Christianity? The sudden impact of the man's death?

8. The world of Nancy, her relationship with the French criminals, her work in the nightclub, her shrewdness in assessing situations? Ann-Margret? and her style? Glamour, sexuality and sensuality? Her support of Lucien, her growing affection for him, the possibility of love? Her reaction to staying the night in the house, arranging for the passport? Her growing concern?

9. The importance of the cat and mouse atmosphere for the two gunmen pursuing each other, the American seeking out information, waiting at the motel, the various pieces of information, his shooting the nun who prepared the passport? The confrontation at the pier as lengthy episode and the mounting of tension? The involvement of Nancy?

10. How interested and how sympathetic were we when Lucien tricked Jackie in the shop? The consequent tricking of the American gunman in the motel, the seeming alliance and yet the American gunman wanting to finish his contract?

11. The bizarre impact of the funeral, of Victor Kovack's being dead and in state, the comments of the people at the funeral parlour and their attitude towards death and serving their customers? Comment on the detailed preparation for the shootout at the funeral? Lucien's preparation, the arrival of his colleagues from Paris and Nancy's meeting them? The placing of the various people in the funeral parlour, the atmosphere of burial and ceremony and the transition to shooting? The irony of Alex Kovack's death in the coffin, the chase and the death of the French gunman? Audience response to Lucien's being wounded?

12. The comment on the themes with Nancy's vain waiting at the airport?

13. Comment on Lucien's death and the impact of a death scene. The little boy watching the car, the car parked in the stormwater channel? The long focus on Lucien's face as he died, becoming more and more remote from the world, puzzled about what had happened to him, the death of an outside man? The final freeze frame?

14. How well did the film use the American gangster thriller convention of guns, chase, double crossings, death? Did it transcend them? A French use of American conventions? The exploration of themes of society, guilt, violence, the American environment and this kind of violence and death?