THE GREEN HELMET
UK, 1961, 88 minutes, Black and White.
Bill Travers, Ed Begley, Sidney James, Nancy Walters, Ursula Jeans, Megs Jenkins.
Directed by Michael Forlong.
The Green Helmet is yet another racing car story. The screenplay was written by Jon Cleary, based on one of his novels. It is fairly conventional material but given good treatment by such actors as Bill Travers and Sid James. There is nothing particularly new, the same themes of danger, death, rivalry, career and marriage, promotion of products. Since the film was made, such spectaculars as Grand Prix, Winning and Le Mans have made this film somewhat out-of-date and superfluous.
Other films from Cleary novels have been The Sundowners, You Can't See Around Corners, The High Commissioner and Scobie Malone.
1. An entertaining racing car film? As a product of the early sixties? Comparison with the later spectacular films of the 60s and 70s?
2. How conventional was the film - fraternal rivalry, the unknown designer's car, tyres, losses of nerve, fatal crashes, final win, romance? Were these presented in the conventional way - or better than average? Why the appeal of the racing car film to wide audiences? The car and its speed and glamour?
3. Black and white photography - appropriate for the film? The authentic locations especially of the race tracks? The special photography with the camera on the speeding cars? Special effects with the various crashes?
4. How credible was the plot in terms of realism, in terms of the conventions? The Rafferty family as a racing family? The background of Greg's father's death, his mother's grief, her extracting a promise from her sons that only one would race at a time? The encounter with the Americans, the testing out of the tyres? Ritchie and his background in making cars? The preparations for the race, difficulties, death, final triumph? Why does this always appeal to audiences?
5. The focus on Greg Rafferty, his skill as a driver, his smashes and his nerve? His interest in working with Bartell? His falling in love with Dianne? His criticism of Bartell's tyres and Bartell's reaction? The bond with Ritchie and the preparation of the cars? The humane touches, especially in contact with Ritchie and his wife? His response to his mother and her pressures for only one to race at a time? The rivalry with his brother Taz? His being upset with Taz’s reaction? The retracing of his father's final route and his grave? The irony of Ritchie's death and its effect on him? His final decisions as regards the race, Dianne, leaving his career?
6. The presentation of Mrs. Rafferty as the grieving widow, the elegant lady in England, her religious motivation, her love for her sons, her meeting the Bartells, her accepting the inevitable?
7. The presentation of the Bartells - Mr. Bartell as the typical American businessman, his hopes, his designs for breaking into the tyre market? His high-pressurised salesmanship, gruff manner? His love for his daughter, her failing in love with Greg? The conventional romance within the racing situation?
8. The depicting of the supporting characters - Taz and his resentment and rivalry, his final reconciliation with Greg? The other drivers, especially Zaraga and his death? Ritchie with the humane touch - the Australian background - and his skill with cars, the pathos of his death? Kitty and her support of Ritchie, her fear of injury, the news of his death? The importance of introducing Jack Brabham for some authenticity?
9. The racing sequences and their vivid presentation and audience response to these?
10. The traditional values incorporated into the racing car drama - heroism, romance, adventure and excitement, glamour, competitiveness, the desire to win? How well did the film present these and give themes for reflection?
