I THANK A FOOL

UK, 1962, 100 minutes, Colour.
Susan Hayward, Peter Finch, Athene Seyler, Diane Cilento, Cyril Cusack, Kieron Moore, Richard Wattis, Miriam Karlin, Brenda de Banzie.
Directed by Robert Stevens.

I Thank A Fool is based on a novel by Audrey Erskine Lindop. It is soap-opera, dramatic material, photographed in Cinemscope and colour. The film has a wild, Irish setting and a background and focus on respectability and mercy-killing. Susan Hayward is a glamorous heroine and audiences can easily identify with her personality as well as reflect on the moral issues.

Peter Finch is also a strong hero and his ailing wife is played with strength by Diane Cilento. There is a very good British supporting cast.

The plot is complex with romance, crises, ethical issues and responsibilities.

1. The significance of the title, the emphasis of gratitude? who was the fool?

2. The use of cinemascope, and Irish locations, the impact of the stars, the background music with its melodramatic and classical tone?

3. The quality of the film as soap opera, plausible plot, characterization? Audience interest in highly dramatized emotional situations? Psychology, the law? Traditional moral values?

4. The setting of the tone of the film with the initial death, the role of the nurse and her jealousy, her testimony in the court? Christine and her relationship to the dying man, his request?

5. The court case itself and the atmosphere of English justice, the judge and his summing up, Steven and his aggressive attitude, in prosecuting Christine, the defence and its not being able to make headway? The strong accusations against Christine and her handling of the case? Her private life being exposed in the court? Where did audience sympathies lie, Steven and his attack, Christine as a person, the nurse and her criticism, the question of mercy killing?

6. Indications of prison via the chatter of the women in the prison van?

7. The presentation of the prison life with Christine's commentary, a sense of darkness, hopelessness, loss of time?

8. The impact of the collage of her trying to get a job, people and their reasons for not employing her? Was this a necessary discrimination against a former prisoner?

9. The change of tone when Aunt Heather rang Christine, had the interview? Aunt Heather's scatty approach to things, the humour of her driving and attack on men drivers? Christine and her puzzle, sense of anticipation? The audience anticipation and hopes for Christine's future?

10. The immediate impact of Leanne? The symbolism of the beauty and the poison of the flowers? Leanne's comment on the master of the house? The ironies in this comment?

11. The dramatization of the predicament for Christine, her place in the household, Steven and his choice of her, her not wanting to accept, the human element and her compassion for Leanne? Her background as a doctor and its potential use? Should she have accepted the position?

12. Comment on Christine as a character and Susan Hayward's portrayal, the strengths and the qualities of the character, her capacity for helping, the various enquiries she made and the interviews with people to find out about Leanne? The impact of sharing life with Leanne, for example, the horse riding, the fascination with the saw, putting up with the various tantrums, her concern at the fair, the experience at the races?

13. How enigmatic a character was Steven? The ambiguity of the prosecuting lawyer and the person behind the facade? His seeming harshness, his gardening? The sinister seeming nature of his hold over everyone? His attitude towards Leanne and his seeming love for her? His not telling the truth about the phone calls etc.? His putting off the police? The parallel in terms of compassion and madness with Christine? His unwillingness to condemn Leanne to an asylum?

14. The ambiguity of the stable hand, the attraction towards Leanne, his discounting her and saying she was difficult? His liaison with Ferris? The way that he reacted towards Steven and Christine?

15. How well did the film develop the character of Leanne? The ambiguities of sanity and madness, her attractiveness and her tantrums? The odd behaviour during meals, the explanation of schizophrenia? The medical discussions about her? The necessary treatment if she was to stay at home? Aunt Heather and the letters, driving the car? Her rushing off to the fair? The tantrum of jealousy at the races and the impact on everyone? How mad was she? How curable?

16. Audience sympathy for Ferris? The revelation of the truth about his being alive, the response of Christine? The influence of Christine's taking Leanne to Ireland? Leanne's putting Ireland and her father on a pedestal and the impact of his death? The contrast with the searching out of the house, the ruined-looking home, Ferris and his women and drinking? The importance of her death and its mysterious nature? Her throwing herself over the cliff, her farewell to Christine, the motives for her poisoning herself? The impact of the funeral? The truth?

17. How much wisdom was there in Christine's taking Leanne to Ireland? The themes of fantasy and truth, violence and death?

18. The presentation of the inquest, the shock for Christine when cross-examined and the truth was revealed? The plausible melodrama in the confrontation with Ferris and his death? Audience satisfaction at the prospect of a happy ending?

19. How strong was the melodrama, how real and unreal? As a background for themes of mercy killing, madness, personal relationships?

20. A valuable film for themes and the exploration of human nature?