THE SQUEEZE

UK. 1977, 107 Minutes, Colour.
Stacy Keach, David Hemmings, Edward Fox, Stephen Boyd, Carol White.
Directed by Michael Apted.

The Squeeze is an above average crime thriller, toughly directed by Michael Apted with an eye to London and authentic, underworld atmosphere. He makes sure it does not seem pleasant. But it is also quite a good character study since the central character is a middle-aged alcoholic ex-policeman trying and not trying to cope. The other characters, also well drawn, especially in relation to him. American Stacey Keach portrays convincingly the failed man whose touch and skill and heroics highlight his wasted potential. A quality British cast including David Hemmings, Edward Fox, Carol White and especially an ageing-gaunt Stephen Boyd and Freddie Starr ensure the quality of this thriller.

1. The significance and tone of the title, themes?

2. The competency of this thriller, interest in the kidnapping, robbery, murders? Police work? The underworld? The blending of all these? The thriller style, character, quick action, suspense, violence?

3. The quality of the London locations, streets, hospitals, bars, apartments, underworld mansions, derelict houses etc.? The music and its stridency -appropriate for the dramatics of this film? The contribution of the strong British star cast?

4. The initial focus on Jim Naboth, during the credits, the initial focus on him as an alcoholic, his desperation, degradation, low self-opinion? The importance of the cure? Teddy and his devotion in taking him home? The revelation of Jim's relationship with his children, his wife's absence? His love for his children? His attitude towards Forman and his inability to keep his wife? The sequences with the nurse? Playing with his children - the human touch? His gradual involvement with the mystery of Jill's disappearance? His interest in the case because of his police-work, he and Teddy and their private detective firm? His skill in following Forman, recognizing Keith, discovering the relationship between Keith and Vic? His skill in breaking in to Vic's home yet its turning round with his being bashed and stripped, humiliated? His walking through the streets and the people laughing, the woman offering her coat? His sons' reaction? Their worry about school the next day? His gradual involvement with the case, following Vic, researching Keith? The importance of the encounter with Forman and Forman's wanting to kill him? His skill in working out a plan as if he were dead? Tracking down the place of Jill's prison? The rescuing of her daughter? The pathos of his wanting to opt out at various times, Teddy as a standby? Teddy's search amongst the derelicts at night? The massage parlour and his getting some self-respect? The final self-vindication and resolution"*F' His involvement, his always wanting to opt out, his suffering, low self-opinion, yet his skills? Touch and go with success? A great potential unrealized? How good a character study within a thriller?

5. The importance of the alcoholic theme? The debilitation of this kind of weakness, a study of weakness and failure?

6. The contrast with the criminals: Vic and his Irish background, his wanting status, his wealth, home, the races? His pride in his daughter? His cruelty and sadism, humiliating Jim by stripping him and beating him? His gullibility? The contrast with Keith and the first seeing of him during the kidnapping, his rough brutality, his bashing? His criminal background? His treatment of Jill, forcing her to strip, sexuality? The various thugs and their ability to bash? The three kidnappers and their treatment of Jill and her daughter? The kidnapping itself, watching the strip-tease, putting the daughter in the furnace with the rats? Their greed during the crime? The inevitability of their deaths?

7. Teddy as an engaging character, his helping Jim, as a character in himself, not drinking? His ability to steal - the humour of his parking the car, attempt to rob Harrod's? The comedy aspects? His skill and scouting out information, following criminals? His driving ability? The achievement in searching out Jim, helping him to resolve the problem? Standing by at the end?

8. How attractive a character was Jill? Whose fault was it that the marriage broke? Her lack of support of Jim, her not being able to cope with his drinking? Her leaving the boys with him? The pleasant scene in the park and the transition to the kidnapping? Her fear, her fear for Christine? Her making of the tapes and Keith's brutality and Jill asking Christine to make the tapes? The humiliation of the strip-tease and sexuality? Her presence during the robbery? Her reaction to the deaths?

9. Forman as a character, big business, his initial desperation, his following the directives of the criminals, his reaction to the order to rob himself, to kill Jim? The sequence on the yacht and his attempt to kill Jim? His agreement with the plan to conceal this? His going along with the criminals preparations? His presence and watching the violent ending?

10. How well communicated was the plan, audience interest and involvement, The overtones of brutality and violence? The build-up, the preparations, the cross-cutting to everybody involved in the plan? The violence and things going wrong?

11. The irony of Jim's using Vic's daughter in the same way as Jill's daughter had been used? Vic's relenting? Keith and the others not wanting to relent and bringing about their own deaths?

12. Did the film exploit sex & violence and brutality or did it adequately communicate these as reality of this kind of criminal world? The exploration of motivations, greed, the types of character involved in this kind of world?

13. The final achievement of Jim, the sense of pride, a future?

14. Comment on the film's attention to technical detail, structure and plot for full audience involvement and understanding of plot and themes?