PARRISH

US, 1960, 117 minutes, Colour.
Troy Donahue, Claudette Colbert. Karl Malden, Dean Jagger. Connie Stevens, Diane Mc Bain.
Directed by Delmer Daves.

Parrish did not receive very good reviews. However, it was very popular with world wide audiences. It was written, produced and directed by Delmer Daves. Daves had tried his hand at a number of film genres and had succeeded quite well. He was also a popular Hollywood writer. In the 40s he made thrillers. In the early 50s he made a number of serious westerns including Broken Arrow. In the mid?50s he made the significant 3:10 to Yuma. However, in the late 50s he moved into the soap-opera field with A Summer Place, Susan Slade, Rome Adventure, The Battle of the Villa Fiorita and so on. Parrish fits into this pattern.

It is big, long, glossy, treats popular American themes of wealth and romance. Claudette Colbert returned to the screen as Troy Donahue's mother. Troy Donahue appeared in a number of these Delmer Daves' soap operas and this was probably the high point of his career as a popular idol. Karl Malden gives another of his snarling performances. It is very easy to dismiss this kind of film. However, within its own limitations, and appealing to the widest possible audience, it takes on a number of American themes, including family, wealth, big business, personal integrity. Clearly this kind of film, even as soap opera, raises many questions for discussion.

1. The appeal of this kind of film? For what particular audience? The late 50s and early 60s? Later?

2. The ingredients of soap opera? The human stories, romance,, melodrama? The fact that soap operas rely on utterly conventional behaviour and attitudes? That people are good and bad, black and white, etc.? Why do audiences like soap operas?

3. Comment on the tradition and values incorporated in soap operas like this one: the questions of appearances versus reality, tyranny versus freedom, work versus weakness, rich versus poor, love versus hate, happiness versus unhappiness. What audience presuppositions are supposed and catered for in this kind of film? The audience liking to know where it stands in attitude towards the people and the issues?

4. The film's use of colour, locations the tobacco world,, music, style?

5. How realistic was the film in its presentation of place and people? Were they identifiable? Credible? A picture of America and society?

6. The background of the valley? The world of tobacco growing and processing, the fields, the selling, diseases, dangers, investing one's whole life in this world? The ethos among the people in the valley, their morale, values? The portrayal of the tobacco world as an example of American enterprise?

7. How interesting a character was Parrish himself? The film's use of Troy Donaghue's appeal, for younger audiences? What kind of person was he in himself? His youth and growing up? His relationship with his mother, his discontent. his love for her? His involvement in the ordinary work? His not being allowed in the home with Allison? His friendship and love for Lucy? His learning and experience with Lucy? His attitude towards the pregnancy? The nature of his infatuation with Allison and his wanting to marry her? His relationship with Judd's family? His treating of Paly as a young girl? His involvement in the Judd family through his mother? His attitudes towards the sons forcing them to respect his mother his blackmail? His involvement in the firm, his dedication to his work, the potential for ruthlessness? The reasons for his moving out of this, the freedom of the Navy? What did he learn? The confrontation with Judd? The decisions to go by himself, the attacks, fighting for his survival,, success? How did the audience see through the situations of business and ruthlessness through his eyes? Parrish as a man who would win?

8. The film's focus on his mother, her qualities as a woman and as a lady, her work with Allison, with Sala? Her advice, her falling in love with Judd, her comments on reputation, the marriage, her explanation of why she understood Judd, her being hurt by Parrish's rejection, standing by him? The quality of her character?

9. The contrast with Judd and his empire? A typical American businessman, building from nothing, the visual presentation of his office, his ruthless driving of Parrish, the reasons for this, checking him, his deals, his marrying his wife, his despising of his sons? The confrontation with his ruthlessness, his choices? Was he credible?

10. The character of Lucy, the ordinary farmhand girl, the background of her family, her love for Parrish, pregnancy and birth, the return with the family to help Parrish?

11. The contrast with Allison, the spoilt rich girl, the snob, trying to force herself and organize her marriage and her life, her petulance, her marriage and its failure, her lies? Parrish's mother having to save her face and reputation? How credible a woman?

12. The contrast with Paige as a young girl, growing up, corresponding with Parrish during his service, rounding up her friends to help him, her future with Parrish?

13. The presentation of old tobacco values with Sala? A model for Parrish? A good man trying to do his work and work his fields? The ups and downs of the farming as seen through his career? His investment in Parrish at the end?

14. The film was big build-up to big events: the various sequences with the crops and the diseases, the social life of the valley, the burning of the barns and the use of the water, etc.? Parrish supervising and going about his work, etc.?

15. How valuable is this kind of melodrama? Is it too glossy and unreal? Ought audiences enjoy and benefit by the presentation of its characters and issues?