MADELEINE


UK, 1950, 101 minutes, Black-and-white
Ann Todd, Norman Worland, Ivan Desney, Leslie Banks, Elizabeth Sellers, Edward Chapman.
Directed by David Lean.

Madeleine is based on a true story, of a marriage, of a murder, of a trial. The film has a Scottish setting.

The film was a star vehicle for Ann Todd, an English actress who had also appeared in Hitchcock’s The Paradine Case. At this stage of her life, she was married to director, David Lean, who also directed her in Breaking the Sound Barrier.

The film has a supporting cast of veteran English actors.

After Breaking the Sound Barrier, Lean was to direct Summertime with Katharine Hepburn. For the next 30 years he was to make only a few films, all of them celebrated, Oscar winners and nominees, spectacular action and pageant films: The Bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, Ryan’s Daughter, A Passage to India.

The Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia both won Best Picture Oscars as well as Best Director for Lean.

1. How interesting was this drama? It spoke of two human beings and their story? Was this the main interest? How strong was the insight into murder and the nineteenth century background?

2. Was the flashback technique successful? The focus on a twentieth century house with 20th century curiosity?

3. Your initial impression of Madeleine? How wilful and self-centered? How much part of her class in Glasgow? Her intimidation by her father? Her fear in her love, lies? The fact that she was suffering the consequences of her deceit? Was she an attractive character? presented as a heroine?

4. Was Smile an attractive character? What kind of man was he? In his social position? Did he really love Madeleine? Was he after her wealth and position? Was his brutal treatment of her justified? Was he too manic? His threats?

5. Did the film show what actually happened? Or did it merely illustrate that the case against Madeleine was not proven? Did directors and screenwriters have an attitude towards Madeleine's guilt or innocence? Which sequences could indicate this? The significance of her smile at the and? Were audiences meant to be sympathetic with her and believe in her or not? Why?

6. How important were the details of family life? The formal style of the 19th century? Which details illustrated this best? the personality of Mr Smith and his hold on his family?

7. How attractive was Madeleine’s fiance? As a contrast with Emile? Why did she consent to engagement? Did Madeleine love him ever? his reaction to her, her confronting the trial? His reaction in leaving the court?

8. The importance of the maid in the film? her having her lover in the in the house quietly as Madeleine did? the class comments as regards men/women relationships?

9. What did the film show of circumstantial evidence? Its overwhelming importance against Madeleine? The way that it could be interpreted in her favour? Can justice be done via circumstantial evidence?

10. How successful were the trial sequences? Getting audience attention and response? The visual presentation of the court? Lawyers, the public, Madeleine's performance at the trial?

11. How skilful was the prosecution? How emotional his arguments? Was it an adequate prosecution of Madeleine?

12. How strong was the defence speech? His skill in the analysis of the circumstantial evidence? After hearing his speech, could the jury have voted guilty? Was not proven as adequate just verdict? What would be the effect for Madeleine's future life?

13. What judgements of behaviour in the 19th century were implicit in the film, the surface morality and manners, the ambitions of the upper class, clandestine meetings, the way that people responded to such models, the public and the jostling of the coach seat, the newspaper headlines? How different from century to century?

14. Did the film give insight into human behaviour and motivation? Did the film invite judgements on behaviour from the audience?