THE SEVENTH VEIL
UK, 1945, 94 minutes, Black and white.
James Mason, Ann Todd, Herbert Lom, Albert Lieven, Hugh McDermott?, Yvonne Owen.
Directed by Compton Bennett.
The Seventh Veil is a psychological romantic drama. The seventh veil refers to those of Salome but is applied to the various veils and masks with which we cover our personality. The seventh veil is the last which reveals our naked psychological self.
This was the era of interest in psychology in film, for example, Hitchcock's Spellbound. Herbert Lom plays a psychiatrist who uses hypnosis to help his patient, a famed concert pianist, to unearth her past and come to terms with it.
The film has a famous performance by James Mason, emerging in popularity in these years with such films as Fanny By Gaslight, The Man in Gray, The Wicked Lady. He is the Svengali-like cousin of the pianist, played by Ann Todd.
The film looks somewhat primitive in its psychology nowadays, but highlights how forceful this was in the past. There is a selection of classical music played by Eileen J6yce. The film was the first directed by Robert Compton-Burnett?, who became Compton Bennett for his role as director. His later films include King Solomon's Mines.
1. The classic status of this film? The British industry of the '40s? Psychology and romance?
2. The British industry in the '40s, black and white photography, Compton Bennett's work as an editor? The musical score, selection of classical themes?
3. The title and its psychological references? To Salome? Psychological honesty and nakedness?
4. The structure of the film: the attempted suicide, Francesca's problems, the hypnosis, the flashbacks? The experiences with the variety of music? The happy resolution?
5. The portrait of Francesca: the attempted suicide, her silence in the hospital, her willingness to undergo hypnosis, her return to being 14 years old, a schoolgirl, alone, her musical talent, out with her friend and late, taking the beating for her friend, pleading for her hands, the trauma of her hands being beaten, failing at the exam? Her going to Nicholas, being in awe of him, the vast house, the servants, bored, her being tricked by Nicholas to play the piano? The collage of her practice, her developing her skills? The encounter with Peter, falling in love, talking, the boat, her proposing (as in films)? Telling Nicholas, his reaction, locking her in, taking her to Europe? The collage of her training in Europe? The debut, the encounter with Susan and her gossip, Francesca's resentment towards Susan? Her performance, the collapse? Nicholas and his power over her, Svengali-like? Relating to her, making all the decisions? Francesca's comment in the voice-over? The build-up to the Albert Hall, her going to Peter, the encounter with him? Nicholas and the discussions with Max about the portrait? Her getting her portrait painted, flirting with Max and tantalising him? The cane across her fingers and the reaction? Her freedom, going with Max? Her silence, the attempts at cure by Dr Larsen? The music? Her playing under hypnosis? The memory of her hands being beaten. The build-up to the three men arriving? Peter's music being played? Her playing the piano? Her cure? Going to Nicholas?
6. James Mason as Nicholas: austere, the family background, his mother's departure, taking Francesca as his ward, his harsh treatment of her, exercising his power, making her play? His dropping his guard and being charming and her responding to him? The reaction to the engagement, taking Francesca to Europe? His knocking on her door and her reaction? The new encounter with Peter, the encounter with Max, the portrait?
Smashing the cane on Francesca's hands? The reaction to Dr Larsen? The end and the loving reconciliation?
7. Dr Larsen, his skills, the hypnosis, the questioning of Francesca, his explanations, going to Peter, going to Max, going to Nicholas and discovering the truth? His experiments with the music? The hospital staff?
8. Peter, his American background, training, pleasant, the band, the proposal, the dance music, his own marriage and divorce, present at the end?
9. Max and his disdain, decision to paint Francesca, the scenes between the two, falling in love, persuading her to leave, the crash?
10. The romanticism of the film? The psychological atmosphere? Their blending?
11. Portrait of men and women, moral stances, careers, skills, needs? Psychology and resolution?
