THE VIEW FROM POMPEY’S HEAD
US, 1955, 97 minutes. Colour.
Richard Egan, Dana Wynter, Cameron Mitchell, Sidney Blackmer, Marjorie Rambeau, Dorothy Patrick, Jerry Paris.
Directed by Philip Dunne.
The View From Pompey’s Head was based on a popular novel by Hamilton Basso. It focuses on a New Yorker who goes back to his origins in the Deep South to investigate why royalties had not been paid to a famous author, played by Sidney Blackmer. While in the South, he meets the early love of his life, played by Dana Wynter, who is married to an exploiter, played by Cameron Mitchell.
The film is both romantic as well as being an investigation. The film was written and directed by Philip Dunne, prolific writer and director of popular films in the mid-50s, including Prince of Players.
1. An alternative title was ‘Secret Interlude’. Significance? In terms of scenery, vision of life? Indication of themes? The actual title of the film and its meaning? The View from Pompey’s Head?
2. The importance of colour, wide screen, musical background?
3. The structure of the film, its emphasis on memory, of the value of memory, the tricks of memory? The film’s plot as a secret interlude in Pompey’s Head?
4. The film as a soap opera and melodrama? Audience response to this kind of film? The best-seller atmosphere and style? The appeal of the popular ingredients?
5. How interesting the personal story of Page? His southern origins, his talents, boy for relationships, Dinah and romance, the importance of his leaving home, the wider world, his success in this world, the significance and meaning of his return? The personable hero? Audience interest and sympathy?
6. The nature of his crisis: the Wales story, meeting Dinah again, the offer of the job by Mickey, the possibility of divorce, the telephone calls to his wife, picturing of his family? His priorities, the wisdom in his choice?
7. The impact of Dinah as a personality? as a girl, as a sport southern woman, her marrying Mickey, her wanting to leave the house, her being driven by owning the house? The house versus Page? The reality of the decision?
8. The picture of Mickey as an upstart? His history, being likened to the pattern of American history, of poor men on the make, succeeding? The offer of a job to Page? The comparisons with Page in the past? His love for Dinah, owning her? His fight for her?
9. How interesting was the Wales story? As background to the romantic story? Atmosphere of mystery, personalities of the couple, the love-hate relationship? Revelation of the truth?
10. The dramatic significance of the truth? Garvan Wales telling his life story? Importance of the racist theme? Lucy’s overhearing the truth but unwilling to hear it? Comment on American attitudes?
11. The picture of American a literary view? The insight of writers into these basic themes of wealth, race, society, class struggles?
12. The insight into the race questions in the United States, the south? Human dignity? The film as a valid popular comment on the United States, people, major themes?
