CAREER

US, 1959, 105 minutes, Black and white.
Anthony Franciosa, Dean Martin, Shirley Mac Laine , Carolyn Jones, Joan Blackman, Robert Middleton, Donna Douglas, Jerry Paris.
Directed by Joseph Anthony.

Career is a title which sums up the film. The focus is on an actor who is willing to sacrifice everything so that he can be successful. Anthony Franciosa is very good in the central role – winning a Golden Globe in 1960 for best actor.

There is very strong support from Dean Martin and Shirley Mac Laine and a small role from the ever reliable Carolyn Jones.

At this time, Anthony Franciosa had made his mark in a number of films including A Hatful of Rain and The Naked Maja. Dean Martin had separated from Jerry Lewis for three years and was also making his mark in more serious films like The Young Lions. Shirley Mac Laine was also establishing her career and was teamed with Dean Martin in Some Came Running at this time.

The director is Joseph Anthony who was best known as a Broadway stage director. From the mid-1950s he made only four feature films which were striking in their way: The Rainmaker with Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn, The Matchmaker with Shirley Booth (the basis for Hello Dolly), Career and, again with Shirley Mac Laine, All in a Night’s Work.

1. The baldness and emphasis of the title, indication of themes, irony?

2. Was it evident the film was based on a play, staginess in the presentation, the emphasis on dialogue? The black and white photography? The emphasis on the stars?

3. Did the film have an authentic atmosphere? How credible was the plot, characters, crises? The flashback structure and its irony as regards Sam, his past and his future?

4. The atmosphere of the small town? Sam and his hopes after the wry hopes, the goodbye, the relationship with Barbara, and her devotion to him, even as an actor? The friends he left behind who prepared?

5. The contract with New York and its cruelty for men out of work, the length of time passing without jobs, the landlady? Barbara coming to New York, her disappointment, the marriage? Her expectations, her not being able to understand, the contrast with the friends who had made good and were wealthy, splashing money on their visits to New York? The effect on Sam?

6. The chance encounter with Maury? His style and ambitions, the pressures that he put on Sam? Sam’s work at the Actors’ Rostrum? The irony of the later Communist associations? Maury and his moving in with Sam, using him? His using Sharon?

7. Comment on the strengths in Sam’s character, his weaknesses? His talent for acting, his lack of ability? His lack of push? His desperation at auditions? The significance of the argument with Kensington? Maury’s advice of not to beg?

8. The effect on Sam of the clash with Barbara? Her miscarriage? Was it credible that she should want to opt out of the marriage? The way that she handled the divorce?

9. The strengths and weaknesses of Maury and his character? The way he used people, his skill, his use of Sharon? The transition to Hollywood, his response to being successful, his patronizing of Sam during his visit, ignoring him, wanting big names for plays and hurting Sam? The importance of the argument about Sam’s star casting in the play and telling him that he was not a star?

10. The picture of Hollywood, the contrast with acting on the road? Sam on the road?

11. The relationship between Sharon and Maury, Sam taking Sharon on the rebound? The motives for marrying her? His hope for success? Kensington's ultimatum about the relationship? The effect on his acting? Sharon and her wanting the divorce? Sam’s blackmailing Maury and Sharon? The harshness between the two, at the
rehearsals and Sam being sacked?

12. The contrast with Shirley Drake, as a person, her skill at her work, her loneliness with her mother and the cats? Her helping Sam. Liking him? Sharing his ups and downs?

13. The influence of Korea? A new chance for Sam, success? The contrast with returning home, the Red scare? His accepting work as a waiter? Building himself up and yet hoping for an acting job?

14. The contrast with seeing Maury and Sharon down? Their begging him? His spurning them? What had Maury and Sharon achieved? The Actors' Rostrum, marriage and the family?

15. The effect of the encounter with Barbara on Sam, her respect for him and understanding. as a motivation for pushing his way to the top, his work, success and applause? What had happened to him in the meantime? How ruthless, how happy?

16. Shirley's asking him was it all worth it? His response in the affirmative? Would the audience agree?