FATE IS THE HUNTER

US, 1964, 106 minutes, Colour.
Glenn Ford, Nancy Kwan, Rod Taylor, Suzanne Pleshette, Dorothy Malone, Mark Stevens, Jane Russell.
Directed by Ralph Nelson.

Fate is the Hunter might have been more successful if it had been released in the 70's, the decade of disaster films. This one concentrates on a crash and the investigation into it. It has a good suspense build-up as the group tries to verify conjectures about the reason for the crash. Direction is by Ralph Nelson who takes popular styles of film and treats them with a light social tone - e.g., Lilies of the Field, Duel at Diablo.

1. How was the title explained in the film? Was this significant?

2. Why is this kind of film interesting? The atmosphere of airports and planes? The types of personalities? The disaster
interest?

3. How did the film capitalise on audience interest in planes and disasters?

4. How effective was the structure of the film - the prologue of the crash before the credits, plus the building up of the characters? The flashbacks and the audience's growing knowledge of Jack Savage? The final parallel flight and the possibility of another crash? How did this create tension?

5. Who was to blame for the crash? Why?

6. What was the audience's attitude to Jack Savage through most of the film? Did it side with the public opinion? Or did it side with Sam McBain? Why?

7. What impression did the reporters make in this film? What impression did the lawyers make at the trial? Did you sympathise with the relatives of those on the plane, especially the black mother?

8. What kind of man was Sam McBain? In himself? His relationship with others, especially Jack Savage and his war-time friends? His management of the airlines? The fact that he was possibly to be promoted? Relationship to his rival? The search for the truth about Savage? Was he too heroic a figure? Playing on the noble emotions of the audience?

9. Sally - was she a credible character? What values did she stand for? What truths did she show about Savage?

10. Ralph - as a person, in the war, the truth that he told Savage?

11. Mickey Devlin - as a person, in the war, as an alcoholic; holding the key to the behaviour of Savage?

12. The fiancee - as a flighty socialite, telling lies about Savage for spite?

13. The impact of the court sequences, and McBain's speech about fate? Where were your sympathies during the court sequence?

14. Truth - how difficult is it to obtain the real truth? How difficult is it for people to believe the truth?

15. How important was the second flight? Does it show how truth can be found out? Were you glad that all was solved as it was?