THE CHAIRMAN

US, 1969, 98 minutes, Colour.
Gregory Peck, Anne Heywood, Alan Dobie, Burt Kwouk.
Directed by J. Lee Thompson.

The Chairman is an ideological thriller of the late 1960s. It was also called The Most Dangerous Man in the World. The reference is to Mao Tse Tung and the setting is China.

The film emerges from a cold war between the United States and China. The film has the overtones of science fiction. It is an interesting perception of how the United States looked at China at the time – with an interesting picture of some decadence in Hong Kong.

The film was a star vehicle for Gregory Peck and is directed by J. Lee Thompson who worked with Peck in such films as The Guns of Navarone and, at this time, Mc Kenna’s Gold. Peck gives his usual stalwart performance. The leading lady is a British Anne Heywood.

1. An alternative title was The Most Dangerous Man In The World. Which is the better title? Why? How is there a change of emphasis in each title?

2. How real was this film? Or was it too far-fetched? Is the plot feasible? Is it thinkable? Does this matter for this kind of science-fiction?

3. How good a science-fiction film was it? The use of Hathaway? The use of computers and bombs? The enzyme and food overtones of the story? How well was the science-fiction related to politics? Was the film an interesting political film or was China just used as background? Did the film throw light on men involved in this world? And the plight of such a world?

4. How central to the film was America and its attitudes? Its place in world power, its alliance with Russia, its relationships with China? The ideology behind the bid for supremacy in the world? How critical of American attitudes was the film? The collaboration with Russia, what comment did the film make on this? Suspicious relationships with China: again, what comments? Could the film be seen as American propaganda? As supporting a particular line for political purposes? Why?

5. What was the impact of the credits sequences? The use of colour and atmosphere? An impression of China? The drawing of sympathies or antipathy? The nature of the China portrayed?

6. How well did the film generate tension? How? Was the use of flashbacks effective? How? As centering on Hathaway and concerned with him?

7. How credible a hero was Hathaway? Gregory Peck's style, heroism, his status as a doctor, the fact that he was a widower, his retirement from politics, his attitude towards death, his attitudes towards patriotism? The fact that he did not understand what was happening to him? His reaction to the enzyme question? His being pressurized into accepting? The stealing of the enzyme for the world's benefit? Allowing himself to be monitored? The impact of lack of privacy? How interesting a hero did this all make? Which sequences illustrated this best?

8. How important for the film was Kay? Hathaway's relationship to her? The brief sequence in which she appeared, not understanding? An some kind of balance in a real world? Her function at the end of the film?

9. How convincing were the characters of Shelby and Denson? The military mind? Patriotism and an overall zeal for achievement? As characters? Did these men have personalities? Denson and his blank efficiency? Shelby and the patch over his eye - symbolic? Did they have any moral stances? Their attitudes towards Hathaway? Towards the enzyme? Towards the bomb? The way that they played God? Their deceiving themselves about their motives? The decisions about blowing Hathaway up? How important was this for the adventure, the tension, the themes of the film?

10. Comment on how the film built up its interest – the air flight, Hathaway's being monitored, the fitting in of the flashbacks, the adventures in Hong Kong (the significance of these?) The entry into China, life in China, the stealing of the enzyme, the conflict of ideologies of the daughter, the escape and its implications?

11. How sympathetic was the picture of China? The contrast with Hong Kong and its decadence - how important was this? The Red Guard and their presentation In China, their fanaticism? The picture of the esteemed scientist and his daughter in China? The working for good? Was the picture of China just?

12. How important for the themes and tension of the film was the fact that Hathaway was being monitored all the time? That Shelby and Denson could hear him? That he could speak with them? That there was no privacy? That they could hear but not help except by blowing him up?

13. How important was the escape? Credible? Exciting? Did the film present a clear case for the decision to explode Hathaway? Why? Was the countdown over-dramatic? Its impact at this stage of the film?

14. Did you sympathize with Hathaway's disillusionment? In his desire then to fight such ideology? Was this one of the points of the film?

15. What impact does a film like this have? Merely as entertainment? Or as related to the world in which we live? Why?