IN THE KING OF PRUSSIA

US, 1982, 90 minutes, Colour.
Daniel Berrigan, Philip Berrigan, Dean Hammer, Carl Cabat, Elmer Haas, Anne Montgomery, Molly Rush, John Schuchardt (the Plowshares Eight), Martin Sheen as the Judge.
Directed by Emile de Antonio.

In The King Of Prussia is a re-enactment of the trial in Pennsylvania of the Plowshares 8, a group of Catholics who went into the General Electric plant, called The King of Prussia, to pour blood on and dent the nosecones of nuclear missiles.

In the trial reconstruction, the eight play themselves. The most successful is Daniel Berrigan, the Jesuit priest, considered by many as the leader of the group and an activist in similar circumstances from the 60s. Berrigan is a priest and a poet and has spent several terms in jail for his convictions. He is considered by many, internationally, as an anti-war and anti-nuclear prophet. His speech explaining his life as a Jesuit and his convictions is one of the most moving parts of this film.

The rest of the characters re-enact their roles and speak out again their defence. The judge is played by actor Martin Sheen - who portrays him as a severe and biased judge. With the momentum of the trial, the audience is surprised at the severity of the court's decision.

The writer-director is documentary-maker Emile de Antonio (In the Year of the Pig, Millhouse, A White Comedy and Point of Order). The film uses the transcripts of the case and edits them effectively. The film is absorbing - and is, of course, interesting as a case of special pleading on nuclear issues.

1. The impact of the film as entertainment? Documentary? America in the 80s? As propaganda? Its dedication to the persons involved in the King of Prussia incident? To protest? The film as a reconstruction of a trial - 'docu-drama?'

2. For what audience was the film made? The converted? The unconverted? Impact for American audiences? Universal audiences? Pro- and anti-? The anti-nuclear stances? The religious motivation? The particularly Catholic background?

3. The work of Emilio de Antonio? Satire on Richard Nixon? Documentary? Underground satires? The background of critique by humour and seriousness? The director's attitude towards his own country - and the need for cinematic criticism?

4. The tone of the title, the reference to Prussia? The credits and the opening painting, the clown? Slogans and graffiti, colours? The ominous title for a nuclear plant?

5. Audience knowledge of and intellectual and emotional response to the nuclear arms race? The success of the film depending on knowledge or not? On stances or not? The film's presenting data and filling in background? American politics? Russian attitudes? Geneva discussions? Stockpiling? The amount of nuclear arms in stockpiles? Statistics about effects? The opinions of experts? The role of protest and demonstration?

6. The importance of moral stances on war, self-defence, nuclear arms and first strike? Questions of justice? Means and ends? The importance of the religious contribution to moral stances? The tradition of the Catholic viewpoint on war? Anti-nuclear protest? The Berrigans and the various groups in the 60s and 70s? The American Bishops' statement on nuclear weapons and deterrents- in 1983?

7. American law and justice? Protection of people's rights? The importance of the American Constitution and protest? The role of the jury in this case, lawyers? The nature of the evidence and its presentation? The importance of the judge and his role? His interventions in this case? Prejudicial remarks and their being challenged? His justification for his intervention? The contributions of the witnesses, the relevance of their evidence, the critique of their evidence? The film as illustrating the administrating of American justice?

8. Martin’ Sheen’s portrait of the judge? His knowledge of the persons, the case, of issues? His declarations about his patience and fairness? The dramatic impact of his outbursts? The nature of his prejudice? His reactions e.g. clearing the court? His contribution to justice about stances on nuclear weapons? Was justice seen to be done in his court?

9. The Plowshares 8 and their acting their own roles? The effectiveness of their re-enacting their own situations? The use of their words from transcripts? Acting out their actions? The role of selection and editing of the testimony? How effective, fair? The importance of the introduction to each of the eight? Their background, age, occupations? History of protest? The range of men and women? Lawyers, housewives? Anne Montgomery and her background as a nun? The Berrigan brothers? Philip Berrigan and his priesthood, his dispensation from priesthood? Daniel Berrigan as a Jesuit? Their presence, appearance? The impact of their speeches, explanations, their knowledge of the law and application of it, the quality of their defence, their self-communication in cross-examination? Their exasperation with the judge? The style of protest: hymns, demonstrations? Their credibility as witnesses? Their commitment to their cause?

10. Daniel Berrigan and his reputation? His leadership? His presence, beliefs? His contribution to the case, questions, speeches? The impact of his long speech as filmed - the focus on Berrigan, the fluid camera? His background as a Jesuit, his experience in protest, prisons? His statements on American justice? The importance of the attitude to the group about prayer before demonstrations? The Jesuit confreres and the experience in Latin America and its effect on him? His response to war? The fact that he could not "not do" what he had done? Supported by the group? The contribution of Anne Montgomery as a nun backing Daniel Berrigan's stances? Father Carl and his backing Dan Berrigan?

11. Molly as housewife, relationship with her family, their support, convictions etc.? The courage and stances of the housewife?

12. Father Carl and his presence, quoting Scripture, wearing his collar, being evidently a priest, his stances and explanation of his stances? His friends and their support?

13. The presentation of the jury: cross-section of American citizens, men and women? The importance of the inserted interview with the mechanic? His reflection on the trial, his own attitudes, the discussions of the jury about the verdict? The presentation of the verdict? Audience surprise? The linking of the verdict with Christ being hung again?

14. The General Electric witnesses: the preoccupation of their jobs, the building of the warheads, the cross-examination and their concealing of the truth, the admitting about the operation of the plant? The security officers, the managers and their statements? The importance of the re-enactment of the incident and the role of the security guard, managers etc.?

15. The judge and the prosecutor and the interventions? The nature of the objections? Relevance? The defence and the attack? The dramatic impact of such a re-enactment? The demands on audience attention? Emotional response? Sharing the experience of the jury?

16. People supporting the Plowshares 8: the demonstrations, the singing of hymns, the entering of the courtroom singing 'Rejoice'? Singing 'Kumbaya"?

17. The dramatic intercuts with the re-creation of the trial? The verbatim of the entry into the King of Prussia plant? The short time of the intervention? The Eight doing no injury to anyone? The pouring of blood on the warheads - their own blood as symbol? The proportion of the verdict and punishment to the crime?

18. The importance of the warheads, the visuals of the warheads - and the fact that they were being made in American suburbia?

19. The importance of the interviews with the variety of experts? Psychologists? Experts on nuclear war? Scientists? The force of their arguments? Their not being accepted by the court?

20. The value of this kind of docu-drama as a record of America in the 70s and 80s? As an invitation to audiences to reconsider stances? Intellectually persuasive? Emotionally? A role of committed cinema?