PAYMENT ON DEMAND
US, 1951, 90 Minutes, Black and White.
Bette Davis, Barry Sullivan, Jane Cowl, Kent Taylor.
Directed by Curtis Bernhardt.
Payment on Demand is a Bette Davis vehicle, made at the beginning of the 50s when she was moving into roles which more suited her age than the dramatic heroines of the 30s and 40s. The film is quite effective as a study of marriage and divorce.
Bette Davis is matched this time with Barry Sullivan as her husband. The film is brief, has a strong performance from Bette Davis and has much to say about marriage. Direction was by Curtis Bernhardt who had directed her in Deception.
1. The title, tone and significance? Alternative title "Story of a Divorce"?
2. The film as a Bette Davis vehicle? An older Bette Davis? Relying on her reputation of the past? The film as a successful soap opera? Black and white photography, music?
3. The importance of the flashbacks, flashback structure: the announcement of the divorce, Joyce's memories? Her gradual realization of what had happened? Carrying the audience forward into understanding the situation?
4. The importance of the first impressions of Joyce: with her daughters, her snobbish attitude to the boyfriend, her style, her attitude towards her husband and encounter with him? How were the first impressions justified or changed?
5. The impact of the sequence with the announcement of the divorce? The casual encounter of husband and wife in the room, David telling her, the effect on her?
6. The flashbacks as the immediate effect of this news? Joyce looking into the mirror, the effect of this. her looking into the past? The gradual explanation of her character her behaviour? Did her memories justify her? Justify the divorce?
7. The flashback of initial romance, and lyric love? The communication of the origins of the love and marriage? The use of shadow to illustrate the younger Joyce and David?
8. The impact of the sequence where Joyce helped David to get his big job? Her first lack of scruples? The association of this with the coming baby? The revealing of this to David, his disgust? Joyce's treatment of his partner? The repercussions of this later?
9. How credible was their gradual growth in wealth, status? Their children, San Francisco society? The importance of Joyce's manoeuvres into this society? The society wife and the identifying of their same attitudes?
10. Her gradual domination of David, asserting her power and influence? Saying he was nothing without her? The effect on him?
11. The effect of the separation on Joyce, on her daughters, on the lady gossips who wanted to tell her what was going on?
12. The meaning of David's affair, the discussion about the music and memory, the spying photographers, the use of the photos for divorce proceedings? The effect on the other woman?
13. The sequences of the legalities, the tone she took? Her taking all and payment on demand? What was she trying to do to David? His allowing her to do it? The daughter choosing to stay with her mother because of need?
14. The growing loneliness as illustrated on the voyage, her disillusionment? The visit to the bitchy wife and being horrified at her isolation, being the patron of the gigolo? The encounter with the married man, his further disillusioning her?
15. The importance of the wedding, the return.. the effect of seeing David again in her loneliness?
16. How real was the reconciliation, the basis for permanent union?
17. The soap opera as a way of exploring themes of men and women and their relationships, love, marriage power, status and wealth?
