MARNIE

US, 1964, 130 minutes, Colour.
Tippi Hedren, Sean Connery, Martin Gabel, Diane Baker, Louise Latham.
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

Marnie is interesting Hitchcock entertainment. It is a sign of contradiction amongst his critics and admirers, receiving both accolades and abuse. It was the film in which he hoped to lure Grace Kelly, who had appeared in Dial M For Murder, Rear Window, To Catch a Thief, back to the screen. However, he had to use Tippi Hedren who had appeared in his previous film The Birds. Sean Connery is a sturdy Hitchcock hero.

The film has the usual themes of crime, guilt, transference of guilt. The background of the film is sordid and there are some interesting flashbacks involving Bruce Dern, who was to appear in Family Plot. The film seems rather contrived ? aristocratic American society with an English touch ? maids and riding to hounds. This is contrasted with slums and sailors and murder. There are also some devices to highlight the psychological background and effect ? the screen going red with Marnie's secret, her fear of blood. Hitchcock has always used 'old fashioned techniques' and his thrillers have the atmosphere of contrivance. However, this said, they are always stylish and have interesting implications as regards human relationships and responsibility. Screenplay is by Jay Presson Allen from a novel by Winston Graham.

1. The audience response to Hitchcock films? The quality of this one in itself, in Hitchcock's canon?

2. The combination of psychological drama with suspense crime dram and thriller techniques? Which was meant to predominate?

3. The use of location photography, studio effects? Colour, the artificial devices as the flashback, the screen going red? The background of Philadelphia? The contribution of Hitchcock's frequent musical composer, Bernard Hermann?

4. The tone of the opening: Marnie, her bag, her hair, the use of the colour yellow? The money? Sufficient atmosphere of mystery about her, her identity, an attractive young woman and robberies? Mystery about her background? Her mother?

5. The significance of Marnie's mother? money, the jealousy of the girl, the nightmares, her love? The recurrence of the nightmares and the fears, Marnie's attitude towards men?

6. The encounter with Sidney Strutt? The association with Mark Rutland? Employment? The irony of his reappearance at the end and the crisis for Marnie?

7. Marnie at work? Her technique for working hard, getting a good reputation? The contrasts with her visits to her crippled mother? The horse? The encounters with Rutland? Seeing him as employer, as a man?

8. Mark and his attraction to Marnie? Why? Fascination, curiosity? The sexual attraction? His courting her, the outings, the storm and the fear, the races? The Possibility of Marnie actually overcoming her fears?

9. The picture of the Rutland family - the father, Lil and her ironies? The other relations? Their affluent way of life and Marnie’s having to adapt to it?

10. The build-up to the robbery, the techniques of filming it for audience involvement and suspense? Audience anticipation of Marnie’s being caught especially by Mark?

11. Mark and his decision to pursue Marnie, his hold over her, the marriage? Marnie's warnings, the hopes of both?

12. The honeymoon and the voyage, Marnie's fear and frigidity, the bargain between them, the effect on each, Mark and his attack and the equivalent of rape? The contrast between the intellectual unemotional approach to life and the instinctive? The psychological implications and the animal imagery?

13. The character of Lil ? her place in the household, her curiosity, invitations?

14. Marnie after the honeymoon? aloof, the telephone call to her mother, the situation with the police? The background of her attachment to her horse, the ride, the fall, the impact of the death of the horse?

15. The party, her having to cope, the nightmares?

16. The psychological effect of Marnie and her guilt, responsibility, Mark and his determination to make her face the truth, his acceptance of her guilt? The use of the red screen in connection with this?

17. The importance of her return home, the importance of the flashbacks and the way they were filmed? The filling in of the story ? as sensational as the audience had been led to expect? The memories of her mother, her prostitution, the sailor, the fight over the child, the child Marnie hitting the man with the poker, her mother taking responsibility? The explanation of the terrors about men, storms, red for the sailor's blood? The importance of liberation from the past, the facing of the past, the overcoming fears for the future? The prospect of Marnie and Mark for the future?

18. Hitchcock's exploration in thriller form of themes of repression, sexuality.. violence, fear, childhood? Crime? The role of parents? The effect of trauma on an innocent child, retaining her purity but needing love and taking a crime outlet?

19. A satisfying blend of psychological drama and thriller?