THE DEAD
UK, 1987, 83 minutes, Colour.
Anjelica Huston, Donal McCann?, Dan O'Herlihy, Donal Donnelly.
Directed by John Huston.
The Dead was director John Huston's last film. A writer in the '30s and early '40s, he made his film directing debut with In This Our Life. The film was succeeded by such classics as The Maltese Falcon, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Moby Dick, The Man Who Would Be King, Prizzi's Honour. For the last film, his daughter Anjelica Huston won the Oscar as Best Supporting Actress. Anjelica Huston is the star of The Dead and gives a very moving performance. Also within the family, James Joyce's short story from The Dubliners was adapted for the screen by Huston's son Tony.
The film is brief, focuses on an evening in Dublin in 1904, New Year's Evening. After a dinner, Gabriel Conroy sees his wife Gretta standing on a staircase and reflects on his life.
Irish character actors bring the party guests to vivid life. The atmosphere of Dublin at the turn of the century is also vividly re-created. However, the film is most appropriate as Huston's last film, a deep and reverent and affectionate look at the meaning of life.
1. The work of James Joyce? His insights into Dubliners? Knowledge of people, behaviour, relationships? Irish traditions? His use of language?
2. The relationship between literature and cinema? The adaptation of the short story to the screen? The use of language? The use of Joyce's words? Equivalent images?
3. The work of John Huston? His last film? The collaboration of his family? His living in Ireland and his appreciation of the Irish?
4. The title, the reference to the past, traditions, other days in Irish history, intimations of death? Intimations of immortality? The people of 1904 who are now the dead?
5. The period re-creation, the streets and the coaches, the snow, New Year's Eve? The house and the rooms, the furnishings, decor and environment? The knick-knacks decorating the house?
6. The musical score, the songs, the playing of the harp, the Irish atmosphere? The ballad, The Lass of Aughrim?
7. The setting and the party, the background of New Year, the aunts and their style, personalities? Mary Jane as their niece? Lily? The arrival, good manners? The talk, expectations? The welcome to the guests? The range of guests? Apprehensions? Mingling, talking, dancing? The aunt and the title? The singing? The recitation of Lady Gregory's poem? Freddie and his interpretation? The singing of Bellini, `Arrayed for the Bridal'? Gabriel and his speech? The happiness? The issues of patriotism? Gabriel and his stances? The aunt and her stance on the Pope?
8. The dinner, the table and the setting, the places? The progress of the meal? Interactions? The family, religion, the Cistercian? Songs and opera? Past voices and reminiscences?
9. The farewells and their effect? The group departing and the coaches?
10. The character of Gretta? Anjelica Huston's screen presence? Her participation in the gathering and the dinner? Her standing on the stair and listening to the song? Its meanings? Her memories? The return in the coach, the hotel, talking with Gabriel? The realisation of what had happened to her? The memory and her love? Gabriel, the monologue? The past, the love, the dead, the song? Aunt Kate and the snowfall?
11. The characters of the aunts and their diversity? The contrast with Mary Jane? Cooking, pupils?
12. The pupils and the talk, the music?
13. Mr D'Arcy and his song, the performance, the girl and the wishbone?
14. Freddie and his arrival, drunk? The toilet, the drinking? The mother and the Scot? Severity? The table and the talk, the toast, the chair, leaving?
15. Mr Brown - being of the other persuasion? His enjoying the meal, the discussions at the table, the drinking and the song, the return? Asleep?
16. Gabriel and Gretta, the focus of the film, their mingling at the party, the transformation of Gretta as she listened and the significance of Gabriel's speech?
17. Themes of Ireland, transcendent themes of humanity, memory, death and insight?
