PERSONAL AFFAIR

UK, 1953, 83 minutes, Black and white.
Leo Genn, Gene Tierney, Glynnis Johns, Pamela Brown.
Directed by Anthony Pelissier.

Personal Affair is a brief drama from the early '50s. A British production with an American star - Gene Tierney. She portrays the nervous wife of a respected schoolteacher who is blamed for having a crush on a student and causing her death. The student is played by a 30-year-old Glynnis Johns.

The material is familiar - and the style of the film tends to the rhetorical rather than the dramatic. There are many long speeches which seem artificial and contrived.

Leo Genn is strong in the central role and Glynnis Johns quite persuasive as the student. Gene Tierney is forced to act with a histrionic style. However, the supporting cast includes Pamela Brown in one of her familiar sinister roles as a repressed aunt. Megs Jenkins is the mother. Direction is by Anthony Pelissier. The film seems somewhat dated - although the material is always relevant.

1.Interesting drama? Issues? Education, relationships, sexual harassment, teachers and minors?

2.Black and white photography, English town setting? Musical score?

3.The title, the focus on Barbara, Stephen? The affair - and the lack of an affair? The response of the townspeople? Suspicion and slander? Its effect on all the characters?

4.Barbara as an adolescent, her crush on Stephen? In class? After class? At his home for the special coaching? Her relationship with her family? Her disappearance - and the suggestion that Stephen murdered her? Her return, three days away, not realising the repercussions for her family, for Stephen? Her asking forgiveness? The reaction of Evelyn? Her future and learning from the experience?

5.Stephen - the schoolmaster, his Latin class, his urbane style? Awareness of the students' response? His coaching Barbara? The phone call and trying to explain the matter to her? The drama at the river? His return home, suspicions, the town against him, gossip, newspapers, his being sacked from his job? Being taken to the police station? His love for Kaye, explanations to her, concealing some details and hence open to lying? His response to Barbara's concern, reconciliation? A man of integrity suffering persecution?

6.Kaye, the American in England, finding it difficult, loving her husband? The touch of neurosis? Her reaction to Barbara and talking to her? Love for Stephen, suspicion of him? The growing pressure and her seemingly suicidal concern, hearing the voices? The reconciliation?

7.Barbara's family, her father and his work at the newspaper, his support, suspicions? The search, caring for his wife? Barbara's return and his strong response? Ordering Evelyn from the house? Barbara's mother and her loving concern? Evelyn, the story of her affair, her bitterness? Going to Kaye and slandering Stephen? Her wanting to support Barbara? Her leaving the house?

8.The headmaster and his behaviour, visiting the house? The police?

9.The portrait of people in the town, willing to be suspicious, gossip, slander? The pupils in the class? The film's comments on people ready to believe the worst?

10.Themes of relationships, adolescent crushes, the possibilities of sexual harassment and violence? Marriages and marriage tension?