MELODY

UK, 1970, 107 minutes, Colour.
Jack Wild, Mark Lester, Tracy Hyde, Roy Kinnear, James Cossins, Sheila Staefal.
Directed by Waris Hussein.

Melody is a pleasant film about children for children and their parents. It was made to capitalise on the popularity of Mark Lester and Jack Wild from Oliver. Here they are several years older and, perhaps, the film tries to make them a bit too sophisticated. However, it is unusual for a film to show children in their life at school and the film is to be welcomed for its attempt to probe the understanding of children. Parents and families are also considered. The contrived ending lends itself to discussion.

1. Did the local London setting confine the impact of the film to merely entertaining local interest or was the film about twelve year old boys and girls in all countries?

2. Was the picture of these children an accurate enough presentation of what most children are like at that age?

3. Did you like Daniel? what kind of boy was he? How did the sequences with his mother, father and guests at dinner show his background and its influence on him? Why did he and Tom become friends? Why did he fall in love?

4. What kind of boy was Tom Ornshaw? His character, background ?which sequences illustrated this best? Why were he and Daniel friends? How did the visit to the city, shared punishment, classes, visits etc. illustrate this?

5. What kind of girl was Melody? Was she likeable? What did she and Daniel have in common? Their day out? Why did Tom help Daniel and then turn on him?

6. How cruel was the children's ragging? How much of it was meant? How could the fight between Daniel and Tom really settle their differences?

7. What attitude did the film take towards parents and teachers? Were they ridiculed and shown as too ineffectual?

8. Did the elopement and the class collaboration fit in with the rest of the film? Was it handled lightly and entertainingly?

9. The final skirmish ? how serious? Did it fit in with or alter the tone of the film? How real was it?

10. Did the songs contribute to the film and its tone? How?

11. What audience was this film made for? Was it meant to be light entertainment or more? Why? How?