THE DISAPPEARANCE
UK/Canada, 1977, 100 minutes, Colour.
Donald Sutherland, Francine Recette, David Hemmings, John Hurt, David Warner, Peter Bowles, Virginia Mc Kenna, Christopher Plummer.
Directed by Stuart Cooper.
The Disappearance is an entertaining and always interesting thriller, quite complex in its plot and interaction of characters.
Donald Sutherland is a hit-man whose wife disappears. He is employed to do another killing – and gradually suspects that this has something to do with the disappearance of his wife. He is further drawn into complicated plot details until a final confrontation and solution.
Donald Sutherland appeared in many films in his native Canada and had a strong career over more than forty years. He appears here with his wife, Francine Recette.
The other Canadian principal actor in the film is Christopher Plummer, always reliable for roles in Canadian films but with a starring career on stage and screen for more than fifty years. However, the supporting cast is particularly strong consisting of a number of British character actors including John Hurt and David Warner as well as stage and television star Peter Bowles and a rare later appearance of Virginia Mc Kenna. David Hemmings, at this time, was pursuing a career both in acting and directing.
American director Stuart Cooper had a thirty-year, mainly in television, especially with the series AD.
1. A satisfying thriller? Their appeal, interest, excitement, mystery, motivation?
2. The qualities of this Canadian production? Canadian and English locations? Score? The contribution of' the stars?
3. The title in its focus, themes, mystery?
4. Donald Sutherland's style as Jay Mallory? His character, audience sympathies, the disappearance of his wife? The discovery of his job, his skill as an assassin, the illustrations of this? The initial pursuit and where audience sympathies lay? The superiors and their visit, instructions, contracts? The world of international assassins? .his acceptance of violence in his life, his relentlessness in his skill?
5. The disappearance of his wife and its effect on him, the memories and flashbacks, the tenderness of the relationship, his meeting her, the way that this was built up, the sensuality of the relationship? Her ex-husband and his presence? Association with Mallory?
6. The contract, his obligation to work, the money and his spending it for Celandine, his being trapped into carrying out the contract?
7. The lead to England., his going to England, his ability to track, the garage attendant and his information?
8. The world of the English gangster, the confrontation with him, the pursuit around the house, the violence and his death? Fulfilment of the contract? Celandine and her relationship with the gangster and the irony of Mallory's killing him?
9. The gangster's wife, Mallory's visit, the confrontation with her, information about Celandine, the irony of her terminating, the contract? A sophisticated and well-mannered lady?
10. The climax for Mallory in the carrying out of his contract? The discovery of Celandine? His return and the violence of his death?
11. The background of the sordid context? its standards of behaviour, motives, betrayal, control? For this kind of murder thriller?
