THE FAMILY WAY

UK, 1967, British, 118 minutes. Colour.
Haley Mills, Hywel Bennett, John Mills, Marjorie Rhodes, Murray Head, Barry Forster, Wilfred Pickles, Liz Frazer. Directed by Ray Boulting.

The Family Way is based on Bill Naughton's play All in Good Time. (Naughton is the author of Alfie and Spring and Port Wine).

This is a very likeable film although it has its darker moments and a rather sombre ending. It is very down-to-earth kitchen sink English drama, but with the light touch and a lot of humane wisdom and humour.

Hayley Mills had grown up by this film and does well. Hywel Bennett does the first of his sensitive heroes (Twisted Nerve, The Buttercup Chain, The Virgin Soldiers). But John Mills is outstanding in his rather Alf Garnett-like portrayal of the boy's father. Majorie Rhodes is effective as the boy's mother. Murray Head (of Superstar fame and Sunday Bloody Sunday) and Barry Forster (Frenzy) have small roles. Direction is by Roy Boulting who married Hayley Mills.

1. Did you enjoy this film? Why? What was so attractive about it?

2. How did the wedding preparations during the credits set the tone for the film? How happy was the tone?

3. What were your first impressions of Arthur and Jenny as young persons, their jobs, English provincial city attitudes, their love for each other?

4. What were your first impressions of both sets of parents and of their children's relationships to them?

5. Were Jenny's father and mother good parents? Their relationship to each other? Possessiveness of the mother against the father?

6. Were Arthur's father and mother good parents? Their relationship to each other when we first see them?

7. How humorous and natural was the wedding (and the dropping of the ring), the reception, the singing and drinking? How did the film create its atmosphere here? (Arthur and Jenny's walk to the reception)?

8. When did the tensions start to emerge between Arthur's parents? Why? Who was in the right and wrong? the singing, the rivalry, the elbow contest and Arthur's saving his father's face, etc.

9. Why was Arthur so upset at Jenny's laughing at the collapsing bed? How shy were they? How natural? What really prevented the consummation of the marriage? What influence did the house and lack of privacy have?

10. How humiliated did Arthur feel in not consummating the marriage? Why did they go to such lengths to keep up appearances? What effect did this have on them? What did Arthur fear about the marriage? What did Jenny think about herself?

11. Why did the situation deteriorate over the weeks?

12. What influence did his father have over Arthur? What really was the relationship between them? What could each have done? Why did his father hate Arthur reading?

13. What influence did his mother have? Did she really love her husband? Could she have improved the situation at home? Did she try? Why wasn't Dennis affected by it?

14. Did you understand the Billy situation? Why did Arthur's father cherish his friendship and memory when he had not seen him for years? What was the mother's attitude to Billy? Was the conversation with Jenny's parents the only opportunity she had of getting across to her husband the truth?

15. Why did Jenny confide in her mother? Should she have done so? Did her mother have the right to tell others?

16. Was Uncle Fred a help to her? How?

17. How humorous was Arthur's visit to the Counsellor? How helpful?

18. What were your reactions to the gossip in the town? Why?

19. Should Jenny have gone out so much with Geoff? The effect on Arthur?

20. How important was the fight with Thompson? what did it do to him? What was his reaction to Jenny? Why was he able to consummate the marriage?

21. Was the happy ending for Jenny and Arthur appropriate for the film? How important was Arthur's asking for advice?

22. How important was the realisation that Arthur was Billy's son? How did this affect the family, the audience, the ending of the film, the mood and seriousness of the film?

23. How did Majorie Rhodes and John Mills' performances add to the film (e.g. John Mills and the desperate sequence where he finally realised the marriage was not consummated)?