THE GROUNDSTAR CONSPIRACY
US, 1972, 95 minutes, Colour.
George Peppard, Michael Sarrazin, James Olson, Christine Belford, Cliff Potts.
Directed by Lamont Johnson.
The Groundstar Conspiracy - espionage action fans should be fairly pleased with this film - the tough George Peppard-style excitement, involving an obvious mystery with a twist, and filmed in beautiful Vancouver locations. Those who are pleased when their entertainment also has a message should find the proceedings interesting. They reflect the increasing lack of privacy in our lives in the name of public safety, of officials using and exploiting other men as if they were God, where might is right as long as you are on the right side. The film forces its points home successfully. Peppard is as usual; Michael Sarrazin is an effective victim.
1. Was this a good adventure film? A good spy film? or was it mainly routine? Why? Why do films like this continually entertain? Did this film have a value in its questions on human dignity?
2. How successful was the film visually - especially in the opening sabotage sequence, its use of Wells' memory?
3. What was the basic message of this film? The original title was 'The Plastic Man'. Would this have been more suitable? The emphasis on the man instead of the conspiracy? What attitude did the film take towards human life, the use of human life, the taking over of the state and using human lives even for the best of reasons? What stance does the audience take?
4. How effective a hero was Tuxan? Our attitudes towards him in suspecting his use of Wells, his bucking of Wells in every aspect, his doing of his job, his impersonal relentlessness, his lack of emotions? Could the audience feel any sympathy with Tuxan and his work? Did the audience side with Wells? Even when the truth became apparent?
5. The character of Wells? How did the audience identify with his search for his identity? The dramatic device of inserting snippets of his memory, especially the atmosphere of death in his memory? How important was the development of Wells' search, relationship with Nicole, hatred of Tuxan? How important was it when he discovered he was being used? Did it alter the fact when we discovered he had volunteered when desperate? Should he have volunteered?
6. How important were the criminals - Mosley and Kitchen? Conventional villains? How exciting were the sequences involving them? Was this part of the film's success?
7. Was it clear that Senator Stanton was a villain? What comment on American politics did this make? Was it credible? The whole conspiracy? What motivated the conspiracy?
8. The impact of the final sequences and Wells' relentlessness on Tuxan? What was the final emotional impact of the film?
9. How well did the film combine action and conventions and the anguish and pressures of modern computerisation, mechanisation, police state?
