DEADLY LESSONS
US, 1983, 100 minutes, Colour.
Donna Reed, Larry Wilcox, David Aykroyd, Diane Franklin, Ally Sheedy, Bill Paxton, Ellen Geer.
Directed by William Wiard.
Deadly Lessons is a thriller, a murder mystery about a series of deaths in an exclusive California girls' school. Donna Reed, making a momentary comeback in films, plays the headmistress. Amongst the students are newcomers Diane Franklin and Ally Sheedy, who were to later make a career for themselves.
The film is a telemovie, therefore rather restrained in its presentation of horror and terror. (It indicates what might have been a trend in the cinema, except for the yen for explicit gore.)
The film is conventional in its way, interesting while it is on the screen - and with an unexpected twist.
1. Enjoyable murder mystery? In the tradition of murder mysteries and investigations?
2. The exclusive girls' school, the building, the grounds? Authentic? Musical atmospheric score? The stars?
3. Miss Wade, her prim aspects, her relationship with Ferrar? Clash with the police, not wanting the media? Her attitude towards the girls, likes and dislikes? The revelation of the truth? Overhearing Keppler? Her explanation? The loss of the school - and her son's revenge?
4. Keppler as the young policeman, attractive and ingratiating, the audience on his side, his investigations and detail, with subordinate officers, with authorities? Questions? How credible the revelation that he was the killer, his confrontation with Stephanie? Being overheard, the arrest?
5. Stephanie as heroine, audiences identifying with her? On a scholarship, nervous arrival, the taxi, the reaction of the girls? Her clothes? Friendship with Eddie? The friendship with some of the girls, classes, the red ink, the fight? Under suspicion? Her explanations? With Marita and Callie? The further deaths? The confrontation with Keppler, the fight, her being saved?
6. Marita and Callie, friendship with Stephanie, going out at night to see the boys, the attack on Callie, Mr Hartigan and his continual watching, taking Marita, the explanation of his devotion to her mother, her fear, rescue, turning up the record?
7. Althea and the other girls with problems? Temba and her being killed, Shamli and her arrogance, her horse? The reasons for their deaths?
8. Hartigan, on the prowl, watching, taking Marita, his explanations - and infatuation with her mother?
9. Eddie as suspect, his brother being arrested, his friendship, finding the electric spur for Stephanie's horse? The happy ending?
10. The police chief, wanting to hush things up? The assistant, his investigations, arresting Keppler?
11. Popular whodunnit? Themes of class distinctions and affluence? Arrogance? Retribution and the sins of the past? Madness?
