CARRIE

US, 1952, 118 minutes, Black and white.
Laurence Olivier, Jennifer Jones, Miriam Hopkins, Eddie Albert, Basil Ruysdael, Mary Murphy.
Directed by William Wyler.

Carrie is based on a novel by Theodore Dreiser, Carrie Nation. Dreiser was also the author of An American Tragedy which had just been filmed as A Place in the Sun.

Dreiser was exploring American morals and mores in the late 19th century. Jennifer Jones portrays Carrie Meeber, a young woman with high hopes who goes to Chicago. She meets Charles Druitt, (*??) played by Eddie Albert, who sets her up in a job and in his apartment. She also encounters George Hurstwood, a married man (Laurence Olivier) who is infatuated by her and eventually follows her to New York, hoping to make a new life after embezzling money from his restaurant. However, tragedy ensues – although Carrie survives and achieves all her ambitions.

Dreiser offers a wry comment on the American dream.

Laurence Olivier received great critical praise for this performance. Jennifer Jones is very good as Carrie. Miriam Hopkins portrays Olivier’s wife.

The film was directed by William Wyler, one of the most successful directors in Hollywood. He won Oscars for Mrs Miniver, The Best Years of Our Lives, Ben Hur. He directed many stars to Oscars as well. In the 1950s he made such films as Detective Story and The Heiress. He followed Carrie with Roman Holiday, The Desperate Hours and Friendly Persuasion.

1. What was the main impact of this film? Based on a classic, was it a classic? The type of treatment given by production? The seriousness of the tone? The stars and the quality of their performances? Was this an important film? An important human and humane film?

2. What were the main features of the early fifties style: the serious¬ness of the treatment, the heaviness of approach, the emphasis on dramatics, the questioning of daring themes yet a restrained manner, the black and white photography, the heavy music, the Chicago and New York locations (on the Hollywood lot), the tenement background etc? What did these contribute to the film? How different would it be today?

3. What insight into America and its society did this story give? American society and its struggle for survival, the quality of society, the place of love, lies and deception, weakness, the status of respect¬ability, the measuring yard of success? what judgment was being made on these facets of American history and society?

4. How important was the structure of the film and what did it contribute to impact: the movement to the city of an innocent country girl, the background of ambitions and realism? The gentility of George and his helping Carrie, the intertwining of their lives, the changes in respectability, the power of Carrie over George, George's decline, Carrie helping George in contrast to the beginning?

5. How well was the character of Carrie portrayed? The qualities of Jennifer Jones's performance? How sympathetic a character for the audience, the country girl and her simplicity, the naivety of her ambitions, the helplessness of her being involved with Charley, her need for work, relationship with her sister, a victim of Charley? How free was she in her relationship with Charley? The question of responsibility and respectability? Money? How easy was she in her moral change? The impact of George, his courtesy, the growth of love, this changing her? Her disillusionment in his not telling the truth about his marriage? Why did she not realize he would suppress the truth in other situations? The impact of the elopement? The reasons for her being hard on George? Her support of him in Hew York? Her acting and her career? The wisdom of her decision to leave George, her misunderstanding the situation? Carrie at the end as she had grown up? The pain of growing up: the prospects of success for the future? What insight into a woman growing up in the world and American society did this character give?

6. How well was George portrayed? The qualities of Laurence Olivier’s performance? An Englishman acting as an American? The initial dignity and style of George, his educated background, as well as being self-made? His concern and courtesy for Carrie? Friendship with Charley? The importance of his home-life and the hostility of his wife, his relationship with his children? How did Carrie fulfil a need in him? Did he love her? How desperate did he become? His giving up of reputation, his taking the money, his eloping? Was this daring aspect of his life consistent with his character? the impact of New York, repaying the money, not being able to work, the change in relationship with Carrie? The pathos of his seeing his son and not identifying himself? That he was so misunderstood by Carrie when she left him? What impact did seeing him down and out in the shelter have on audiences? The pathos of his asking for the handout at the end? Why did he walk away? Would Carrie find him again? What insight into a man, his strengths and weaknesses, need for love and success did Olivier’s performance give?

7. How did the film contrast brash Charley with George? Style, showmanship, naivety? Charley as seducing Carrie (paralleling George's seduction) yet not as socially acceptable? If George was hurt, so was Charley, Charley as instrumental in telling Carrie the truth?

8. The importance of the portrayal of George's wife: at home, her hostility, money questions? The scene in the restaurant, George’s attack on her and her fear? Her callous attitude towards him in getting the money and the deal about the divorce? What comment on respectable marriages did this
make?

9. How well did the film explore the theme of truth and reality? The harsh¬ness of truth and the fears of reality?

10. Insights into love and relationship and the demands that they make?

11. The film's comment on human weakness, the sadness of people's lives and the inevitability of sadness?

12. How good an American film was this? A humane American film, with an understanding of America?