DOMINIQUE

UK, 1979, 100 minutes, Colour.
Cliff Robertson, Jean Simmons, Jenny Agutter, Simon Ward, Michael Jayston, Judy Geeson, Ron Moody, David Tomlinson, Flora Robson.
Directed by Michael Anderson.

Dominique offers nothing new, just a 1970s version of the Gaslight, Suspicion plot - terrify your wife to madness and death. Despite a let-down in the too swift, unexpected solution, the screenplay has some nice shock effects (of the old fashioned variety), a stately house for terror and some mysterious atmospherics. Best is the cast: Jean Simmons is Dominique, suffering valiantly, and pleasant Cliff Robertson terrified when roles are surprisingly reversed, and a lavish supporting cast including Jenny Agutter, Simon Ward, Judy Geeson, Michael Jayston, Ron Moody, Flora Robson and David Tomlinson. I still can't quite work out how the dastardly deeds were done but this is an acceptable thriller for the middle aged.

1. An entertaining thriller, horror, suggestion of occult dram? The tradition of the husband haunting wife melodrama e.g. Gaslight? The echoes used here, the reversal of torment? The quality of the entertainment and themes?

2. The conventions of this genre? The wife and audiences identifying with her in her terror, the stately house, the devices used to upset her e.g. the hanging body? Noises? Stolen jewellery? Humiliation in front of guests? The heroine and her disability and finding it difficult to cope? The reversal of these roles as they were perpetrated on the husband? The ironies? The background of the plot, the mystery? The suddenness of the final revelation? The murders, clues, red herrings? Audience suspension of disbelief?

3. The colour photography, English locations? The special effects - and the way these were explained at the end? Decor and style? The contribution of the stars? The British cast and the guest roles? Enhancing the texture of the film with the quality of acting?

4. The plausibility of the plot - the menace, the deaths? The suggestions of the occult and ghosts? The explanation, rapidly given at the end? The characterisation and the plausibility of the torment? The contrivances?

5. The initial focus on David - Cliff Robertson and his style, American background, business? His seeming devotion to his wife? The accident, her mistakes? The discovery that he was engineering these? The suggestions of smile? His collaboration with Mrs Davis? Dominique's growing fear? Her death and his satisfaction? The reversal of roles and his inability to cope with the torment? The presence of Dominique in the house, the piano-playing etc.? His relationship to Tony and use of him as chauffeur? Ann and her presence in the house? His friends the Cravens, the doctor? The appearance of the tombstone and its inscription, the visit to the stonemason, the dismissal of Mrs. Davis? His inability to cope? Sequences at his office, at home? The climax to his death? The irony of Dominique's will, his won will? His being defeated in poetic justice?

6. The contrast with Dominique - Jean Simmons as the lame heroine, her suffering and torment? Her fears - sequences at the dining room, the jewellery etc.? Her friendship with the Cravens? Mrs Davis? Her relationship to Ann, Tony? Her death? Her reappearances and the audience thinking she was a ghost? The irony of Ann using Doirdnique's mask for the torment? The tape recording and the explanation of her vengeance on her husband?

7. Ann and Tony as villains - Ann and her taken for granted presence around the house, her consoling of David etc.? Tony and his cavalier attitude and subservient behaviour? The revelation of the truth? The relationship between the two, their clash, Ann killing Tony? Credible villains?

8. The gallery of minor characters and their contribution - Mrs Davis and her sinister presence, the Cravens and their visits? The ugliness of Dr Rogers and his presence, deceptions, the violence of his death and the search of his house? George and the discussions at the cemetery about the headstones?

9. The special effects especially Dominique as ghost, the headstone, the hanging body, the noises, the walking of the house, the conservatory etc.? Audience response to this kind of fright and suspense?

10. Themes of relationships, greed, mutual torture, revenge - how adequately communicated in the thriller techniques?