THE GIRL IN THE RED VELVET SWING

US, 1955, 109 minutes, Colour.
Ray Milland, Joan Collins, Farley Granger, Luther Adler, Cornelia Otis Skinner, Glenda Farrell.
Directed by Richard Fleischer.

The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing takes up one of America's turn-of-the-century lurid crimes. It focuses on noted architect Stanford White and his infatuation with a chorus girl and a subsequent killing. Joan Collins had come from England and was at the height of her Hollywood career at this time, eg. Land of the Pharaohs, and performs well in this particular role. She has been repeating something of this same style during the 70s - only she is twenty years older. Ray Milland is convincing as Stanford White and Farley Granger was adept in the 50s at portraying jealous and demented lovers, e.g. Strangers on a Train. This was one of the earliest of the Cinemascope films and took pains to re-create turn-of-the-century New York.

The film is of interest because it was directed by Richard Fleischer, who has turned his hand to a great variety of films over the decades, ranging from Tora Tora Tora to Dr. Doolittle to The Incredible Sarah and Mandingo. During his career he has made several films about bizarre murders and this takes its place amongst them: Compulsion, Crack in the Mirror, The Boston Strangler, Blind Terror, The Strangler of Rillington Place.

This story formed part of the novel, film and musical of E.L.Doctorrow's Ragtime.

1. Why do audiences like this kind of drama? The dramatics and the romance, the crime? The film as an interesting piece of American history? of American scandal?

2. How successful was audience interest and involvement in the plot? How successful was the film as a romantic drama, court drama? The use of widescreen, colour, lush and period settings?

3. The importance of the prologue about the people involved and the authentic nature of the film?

4. The picture of American society, wealth, class distinctions, the turn of the century atmosphere, the morality of the time, the styles in high living, the arrogance of the people in this strata of society?

5. The film's focus on Stanford White: as a celebrity and architect, his career, the initial presentation of his marriage and fidelity, the true picture of his infidelity, the love nest? His attraction to Evelyn, his fighting the attraction, the reason for his final succumbing? The nature of his love, jealousy, protectiveness? His capacity for being hurt, his hurting Evelyn? What kind of man was he? His respect and love for his wife? His wanting to treat Evelyn well? The significance of the scene of the dedication of his building? His sending Evelyn to the school? His letting go of her and their later encounters? What insight into this figure did his film give?

6. The focus of the film on Evelyn: her background, her prettiness, her mother's ambitions, as a photographer's model, her work in the chorus, the dinner with the theatre party? Her involvement with White? The games at his house? Her falling in love with him? The sequences of her teeth getting fixed? Her returning to his love nest? The growing involvement, the significance of the red velvet swing? The effects of White's wanting to break the love affair? Her going into the school and her nervous breakdown? Her escaping by Harry Thor (after the sequences of his unwelcomed attentions?) The Swiss sequences and the lack of communication between Thor and Evelyn? The failure of the marriage? The murder itself and its effect? On Evelyn's participation in the trial, her decision to lie? The Thors despising her, her refusal of their money? The sad irony of the Vaudeville sequence at the end with the swing? The fact that the film was based on Evelyn Nesbitt's testimony? How much audience interest in and sympathy for this character?

7. The character of Thor: the initial arrogance, his lavish style, his wanting to prove himself, party for the theatre group, indications of Thor's violence? His obsessive hatred of White? The sequence of his proposal in the shop? His following Evelyn and then his marrying her? was this credible? The persecution, the jealousy, the credibility of the shooting, his arrogant behaviour at the trial? His arrogant behaviour at the prison, his disregard of Evelyn?

8. The insight into Mrs. Nesbitt’s character and influence on Evelyn? Protective, taking moral stances, ‘comprising these?

9. The contrast with the Thors and their arrogant attitudes? The influence of their wealth and their style? Their despising of Evelyn and their trying to buy her off?

10. How did the film give the picture of an era, its flavour, New York at the turn of the century?

11. What were the main highlights of the film and their impact? Why do audience enjoy such films? The values explored? Popular human interest? Did the film exploit its theme in any way?