FANATIC/ DIE, DIE, MY DARLING
UK, 1965, 96 Minutes, Colour.
Tallulah Bankhead, Stephanie Powers, Peter Vaughan, Maurice Kaufman, Yootha Joyce.
Directed by Silvio Narizzano.
Fanatic is a very enjoyable horror thriller in the 'Baby Jane' tradition. This time the horror leading lady is the ageing Tallulah Bankhead. She is certainly in the Bette Davis tradition. Stephanie Powers is the threatened heroine. There is a good supporting English cast and the director is Sylvia Narizzano, who made such interesting films as Georgy Girl, Blue, Loot. The American title indicating some of the themes is Die, Die My Darling.
1. The focus of the title on Mrs. Trefoile? The alternative title 'Die Die My Darling'? Expectations from the title? why is this kind of human horror enjoyable? The macabre appeal?
2. Comment on this horror genre as developed in the 60s; as popularized by Bette Davis? The screen personality of Tallulah Bankhead? Lending her presence to a horror film from the Hammer Studios? How successful was the combination ?
3. The colour, the settings, the modern setting in London, the contrast of the old house and manners? The overtones of horror? Audience fear and identification with the heroine? The marks of a good horror film?
4. How well did the film make the audience enter into the plot? The necessary information on the part of Patricia? The mood with Patricia as wilful and going off by herself? The gradual entry into Mrs Trefoile's world, the slightly open door, Mrs Trefoile typing in the chair? Patricia's good sense leading to puzzle leading to suffering? Was this dramatically and emotionally convincing?
5. What kind of person was Patricia: her good qualities and her bad, her ordinariness, a likeable girl? Did she deserve to suffer as she did?
6. The film's portrayal of Mrs Trefoile's household: Joseph and his retarded manner, Anna and her house manager role, Harry and his violence? The family in prayer? And the consequent violence and lust? Harry as a lout, the scenes with the key and with his lust? His death? The religious overtones and yet the reality?
7. What kind of person was Mrs Trefoile? The gradual revelation of her madness? The initial meeting, the eccentricity, e.g. the meal and the food, lipstick and mirrors? The nature of her talk, the religious type, the conducting of long prayers and the reading of Deuteronomy? The background of the relationship with her son, and the gradual revelation of his suicide? How menacing a person was she?
8. The characteristics of Mrs Trefoile as cruel, wanting to reform others, puritan repression, the fanatic? The mad scene with the cupboard and the lipstick and her clothes? The basement and the picture of her son? The self-righteous persecution of Patricia? The violent murder of Harry? The final madness, deception, death? How convincing was this portrait of mental decay and madness under the guise of religion?
9. How well did the film build up the tension, the seeming impossibility of Patricia's rescue? Allan's visit, the gossip in the village, his return to the house?
10. Comment on the change in style of filmmaking towards the end: the lurid use of colour, the basement etc.?
11. How appropriate was the ending for this kind of story?
12. How much insight into the dark side of human nature do horror films provide? Did this one?
