THE BREAKING POINT

US, 1950, 97 minutes, Black and white.
John Garfield, Patricia Neal, Phyllis Thaxter, Juano Hernandez, Wallace Ford.
Directed by Michael Curtiz.

The Breaking Point is a remake of To Have and Have Not, released six years earlier. Warner Bros changed the title so that it would not appear as a remake. The film was later remade again as The Gun Runners.

John Garfield is good as the fisherman who hires out his boat, is under the influence of a crooked lawyer who persuades him to be involved in gun smuggling as well as the transportation of four criminals escaping from a racecourse robbery. It is the story of a quiet and good man under pressure. Patricia Neal adds glamour to the part of Leona Charles while Phyllis Thaxter is domestic as Garfield’s wife.

The film has the atmosphere of Hemingway’s original novel, the sea, the individual and his integrity threatened, the world of criminals.

1. What was the final impact of this film? How interesting and enjoyable?

2. Comment on the film and its style of the 1940s: the black and white photography, locations, picture of America, action style thriller.

3. The film was based on a Hemingway story. Comment on the picture of the Hemingway world. A Hemingway hero, his involvment in action, his crisis, his achievement, a man alone?

4. The significance of the title? The original novel is titled To Have and to Have Not. Which is the more appropriate title for this film? The reference of each title to the themes of the film?

5. How did the film create and communicate the atmosphere of the times? Post war America? the ordinary man’s world, the world of smugglers and gunrunners?

6. How sympathetic a hero was Harry Morgan? John Garfield’s style and performance? The war background, Morgan in himself, as a man, as a loser, his work and the need for more, his love for his wife and children, the scenes of him at home, his relationship with his partner? His response to crises? The temptation of money and illegal work? His dependence on Duncan, others? The choice between his career and family, what he could do well? The influence of Leona? The impact of the smuggling and the killing of the Chinese? Morgan’s conscience? His capacity for telling lies? His ambitions for money and rescuing himself, career and family by double crossing the criminals? The shock of the shooting of Vicaler? The dedication of the ordinary man, of a man alone? What was his breaking point? his proving point?

7. Morgan's wife? What kind of person? Her love and support for Harry, her exasperation? her values, the type of American housewife’s helping Harry with his job, her fears for him, her final support? how convincing was this? a resolution tor the end of the film?

8. Leona as a character? The world of glamour and wealth? As a test for Morgan? her support for him? how integral to the plot was she? Style?

9. Weeley as a friend? The suddeness of his death? Harry’s responsibility? The chorus of the black boy on the wharf singing and alone at the end?

10. The significance of Duncan and the criminal type? His influence? The surprise and justice of his death with the criminals?

11. How convincingly was the criminal world portrayed? The smuggling world?

12. The background of police, the bars, Mexico etc?

13. What was the moral climax and crisis in Harry Morgan's life? How was this a breaking point?

14. What values were to the fore in this film? It is considered something of a classic. Do you agree?