THE GREAT MAN
US, 1957, 92 minutes, Black and White.
Jose Ferrer, Keenan Wynn, Julie London, Ed Wynn, Dean Jagger, Jim Bacchus, Joanne Gilbert.
Directed by Jose Ferrer.
The Great Man is one of those entertainingly nauseating examinations of business manipulation. This time the area of exposure is radio and television where the age-old theme of appearance versus reality can have ample scope.
Jose Ferrer directs himself as a run-of-the-mill media reporter who is assigned to compile a programme to be relayed across the U.S. as a tribute to a T.V. personality killed in an accident. Before we know anything of the great man himself, we are prepared for an expose in watching the callous Public Relations' style planning and arrangements for the funeral. As regards the personality of the great man himself it is downhill from there. The unmasking of any public figure always has a kind of morbid fascination for the public and this is part of the reason why we enjoy a film like this. Of course, it is well acted and put together, using techniques of drama, interview, news reporting and so on. The dialogue is a strong point of the film. In many ways it is obvious, the type of thing you would expect in an expose film, but it is sufficiently 'bitchy' and biting to make us wince in appreciation.
1. What was the target of attack in this film?
2. Is the mass media organisation, control and manipulation as scheming and callous as this? Why?
3. What was 'The Great Man' himself really like? Why did he come across so well to people - his personality itself, or his Public Relations promotion?
4. The screenplay is filled with caustic comments by the media and nauseating hypocrisy by those who try to give the people 'what they want', Give examples, How much cliche is there in these examples, how much truth?
5. Was disgust with people the principal reaction to this film?
6. What kind of man was the hero? Why did he get involved in the programme? Was he ambitious to take the great man's place?
7. Sid Moore - how important was he in the radio and T.V. world? What kind of character was he? How was he ousted from his hold over the studio?
8. Comment on the funeral arrangements, the queuing up of the public and the taped interviews. Were they 'typical' interviews? What did you think of the way they were edited?
9. Carol - was she telling the truth about 'The Great Man'? What did she reveal about him?
10. What did his press agent reveal? Ed, the programmes' editor?
11. Mr. Beazley - were you impressed by what he said and did? What did he reveal of 'The Great Man'? How did Joe Harris react to him? What effect did his actions ultimately have on Joe Harris?
12. The Blood Bank broadcast - was it moving? How did it affect Joe Harris at first; then, when Sid revealed it was a fake?
13. Explain the influence of Mr. Carlton, the manager of the station. How diplomatic, business-like and shrewd was he?
14. How did the investigation change Joe Harris, especially his final broadcast?
15. Joe was being sincere in his final broadcast, but had really been manipulated by Mr. Carlton, who won the whole thing, How did this happen?
