MY REPUTATION
US, 1946, 94 minutes, Black and white.
Barbara Stanwyck, George Brent, Warner Anderson, Lucille Watson, John Ridgely, Eve Arden, Jerome Cowan, Esther Dale.
Directed by Curtis Bernhardt.
My Reputation is a Warner Bros ‘woman’s picture’ of the mid-1940s, especially for the atmosphere in the immediate post-World War Two period. Curtis Bernhardt directed a number of films like this at the time as well as Bette Davis vehicles like A Stolen Life as well as the story of the Bronte sisters, Devotion. These three films were all from 1946.
Generally Barbara Stanwyck played strong roles. This time she has the opportunity to play more vulnerable as a widow from World War Two. She also has a dominating mother played by Lucille Watson, a familiar role for her. George Brent is the hero – who many consider one of the most stolid of romantic leads in Hollywood but who appeared in a great number of films with the stars of the studio including Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins.
The lonely widow is dominated by her mother, expected to remain in mourning for her husband. She is taken by friends to a ski resort and chances to meet a major. She falls in love – friends report her behaviour to her mother and she is under suspicion. Hence, the title.
The film is very emotional – and, as always, is given more strength by the presence of Barbara Stanwyck.
1. The appeal of this kind of soap opera? The basic ingredients of soap opera in terms of characters, plot issues? The perennial appeal?
2. The film and the style of the forties, black and white photography, music, studio sets, stars, etc.? The appeal of this now?
3. The emphasis of the title, audience response and expectations, the irony, the ironic use of the title as illustrating a theme throughout the film?
4. The importance of the audience responding well to Jessie? Barbara Stanwyck and her style, the characteristics of Jessie as a widow, mother, belonging to the upper class, brought up in formality, the strong influence and dominance of her mother, her friendships, her friendship with the lawyer? Our first seeing her after the funeral, her decision about her boys going to the football, decision about mourning clothes, attitudes towards her mother? Her strengths and weaknesses of character? Her need for coming out of herself? Her timidity?
5. How well portrayed was her mother? Her snobbery and class awareness, her arrogant style, her impact on her daughter, her ruling of everybody that she met? How well did the film show the consequences in Jess of this mother domination?
6. The influence of Jess's dead husband? Memories, loneliness, mourning?
7. The issues of reputation about the behaviour of widows, the dictates as to what should be dons or not done, Jess's attitudes towards these?
8. Her decision to go on the holiday? Its effect on her, happiness and relaxation, the encounter with Scott, the safety of encountering him with her friends? The puzzling and growing effect on her?
9. How credible was her fascination with him on her return? Her decision to pursue him? Her fears and her changing her mind? People noticing and gossiping about her? Her decision to defy Jess and pressures?
10. The culmination of this in the New Year's Party and the attitudes of her children, the gossip? How well did she defy her mother, her taking Scott to the party and defying her friends? Was this the right thing to do?
11. Was Scott a credible type of hero? His military background, not wanting to marry, his encouraging Jess to come out of herself, facing the issues about marriage, love, the children?
12. The significance of the children's response to their mother's falling in love? The melodrama of their running away? Jess's mother and her handling of this situation? The reconciliations and the explanations?
13. How satisfying was the ending? For this kind of film?
14. What important values about life, relationships, other people's feelings, men and women and their relationships?
