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THE DEADLY TOWER
US, 1975, 100 minutes, Colour.
Kurt Russell, Richard Ynigues, John Forsythe, Ned Beatty, Clifton James, Pernell Roberts, Alan Vint, Gilbert Roland (narrator).
Directed by Jerry Jameson.
The Deadly Tower is a very grim telemovie. telling the story of the capture of the University of Texas tower by a sniper who caused many casualties before he was caught. Kurt Russell has a different kind of role as the sniper and there is good support from Ned Beatty and John Forsythe. Action director Jerry Jamison (Airport 77, Raise the Titanic) gives a semi-documentary tone to the proceedings.
1. The impact of the film as a television movie: the strong theme brought into people's homes? The violence, the madness, the incitement to similar violence as a possibility?
2. The significance of the title and the emphases on words, the visual presentation of the tower, the tower as a symbol, as a real place of death? The structure and the presentation of the two men: introduction of themselves, background of themselves, families, work? The editing and cross cutting until their final confrontation? As a means for interest, identification, building up of character, situation, suspense?
3. What was the effect on the audience of watching this deadly tower and deadly killing? Audience identification, repulsion from Whitman, understanding his madness? Was he a mystery? The fact that this was part of American history ? American violence?
4. The film as a picture of America: violence, madness, panic, ability and inability to cope?
5. The portrayal of Whitman, the impact in the opening, his medical background. madness and tumour? Was this a satisfactory explanation at the end? his sense of being alone, military background, guns and knives, the build-up to the killing of his mother, his wife, notes? His tension and fear? His arrogance in buying the gun? Ingenuity in getting up the tower?
6. How well could the audience understand Whitman's violence, the nature of his aggression and the origins, his behaviour on the tower, his lunch, listening to the radio, the violence of his shooting people and indiscriminate choice, the build-up to his own death?
7. The presentation of the Austin police, their work, the atmosphere of police headquarters, techniques, pressures?
8. The introduction of Martinez: his efficiency in his work his racial background, the question of promotion? Picturing him in his home life, relationship with his wife, his resentment towards the police force? The challenge in the deadly tower situation? His leadership qualities and being involved? His ordinary courage, his ingenuity and its effect? The dramatic impact of his wife coming to watch? Her concern? The contrast between Whitman and Martinez?
9. The film's portrayal of Alan Cram, his work at the university, his build and age, his willingness to help, his contribution to the solving of the problem?
10. The presentation of the police at work, the confusion, their ability to cope, the use of the plane and its being shot at?
11. The presentation of the people, their fear and panic, the visualisation of people being shot by such a sniper and dropping dead in the streets, the mystery and fear? How alarming for a telemovie audience? Why?
12. What is the value of recreating this kind of episode? The value of interpreting this episode for the television audience?