RAINTREE COUNTY
US, 1957, 166 minutes, Colour.
Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, Eva Marie Saint, Nigel Patrick, Lee Marvin, Rod Taylor, Agnes Moorhead, Tom Drake.
Directed by Edward Dmytryk.
Raintree County is a cousin to Gone With The Wind. It was made in the mid-fifties and featured Elizabeth Taylor at one of the peaks of her career. The film is very enjoyable although it doesn't reach the heights of Gone With The Wind. It re-creates the atmosphere of America prior to the Civil War, the differences between North and South, and focuses attention on the rich society belle - and then brings in the race problem. Montgomery Clift is the very intense central character who has a vision for life and is frustrated throughout his life. Elizabeth Taylor was nominated for an Oscar for her performance. There is some unusual casting in supporting roles, for instance Nigel Patrick in an American film, and Rod Taylor in an early performance. Raintree County is long, sprawling, based on a best-seller and is the kind of material that appeals to a wide audience.
1. The importance of the title and its meaning, as used in the film? Pride, identity, belonging etc.?
2. The use of the raintree as a symbol? How well used, for a journey, a hero and his quest, what happens to a hero on his journey, his adventures, downfall and sins? The myth of the Raintree as explained? What tone did it give the film, what meaning? (The suitability of the theme song for this theme?)
3. How important was the American background for this film? The film as a piece of Americana? The American heritage, the 19th century way of life and heritage. the Civil War and its impact and changing of people's lives? The nature of heroes, their potential and the potential failure? The sadness and the happiness in life? Dreams and shattered dreams?
4. Comment on the picture of pre-Civil War America: Freehaven, the significance of its name, the leisure of manners and learning, the ideals presented in learning, romance, schools, picnics, books, marriage and careers? The irony of the shattering of these dreams throughout the rest of the film?
5. What was the role of the professor in the film? Moulding the minds of the young people of Freehaven? His own inconsistent behaviour? His leaving the people with some disillusion? His re-appearances during the film as a kind of ironic comment on behaviour? The professor as the elegant opportunist? A product of America in the 19th century? The ideals not lived up to?
6. How important for the atmosphere of the film was the graduation ceremony, the challenge of the race, the drinking, the change for the lives of all the people?
7. How attractive a hero was Johnny? The typical American hero, the idealist, wanting to be someone, capable of being someone, the poet and the seeker after meaning? The irony of the shattering of his dreams? The influence of Nell on his life, of Gar, the professor, his home life? His participation in the race, and the change that this effected in his life?
8. The character of Susanna: from the south and all that this signified, the mystery about her, her arrogance, her wealth, her attractiveness, the potential madness and selfishness'. Her tricking of Johnny. clutching at him, hurting Nell etc.? What kind of person was she? How cruel? What was audience response to her? Did it change throughout the film:
9. The importance of John and Susanna's marriage? Based on trickery and Susanna's clutching at love? Johnny's not loving her but trying to be honourable? The discovery of the truth? The hurt for Nell? John as an upright man who is prepared to make his marriage work, the growing in love.. supporting Susanna, searching out the truth about her? The importance of the sequence with the southern relations? Susanna's revisiting her home and the ghost of the past? What potential did he have to succeed, despite the marriage: The significance of the return, his work in the school? The contrast with Gar and his opportunism? The importance of setting the slaves free? His jog of fatherhood? How far did he get on the road to being someone?
10. The importance of the Civil War: the south, slaves. the enclosed world, madness. the complex truth behind Susanna's story and ghosts? The racism and the inbreeding? This aspect of the American heritage?
11. Why was this too much for Susanna? Pursued by the ghosts, flying, seeking some kind of exorcism. taking her child, her time in the asylum? The possibilities for some kind of healing? This strain in American history?
12. How well did the film portray the war and its impact? Lincoln and his ideals, Johnny's participation and search for Susanna, the battles, the length of time of the war, death, the importance of the battles, Lee Marvin's companionship and death, the finding of Susanna? How did the war change people's lives? (Gar and his relationship to the war, the continued opportunism?
13. How did the future become much better after the war? The invitation to politics, the influence of Nell and her acceptance of the situation, with her love? The challenge to Gar?
14. How plausible was Susanna's sacrifice of her life? Was this inevitable? How had she changed? What kind of life had she lived, how much happiness?
15. How satisfying was the end? Was such happiness possible? - the irony of showing what might have happened but did not?
16. What were the main themes of the film: as regards America, ideals, heroes, the relationship between men and women? Racism, politics, idealism and opportunism?
