MAID OF SALEM

US, 1937, 86 minutes, Black and White.
Claudette Colbert, Fred Mac Murray, Harvey Stephens, Gale Sondergaard, Louise Dresser, Edward Ellis, Beulah Bondi, Bonita Granville.
Directed by Frank Lloyd.

Maid of Salem is an interesting and well made period melodrama. It was directed by Frank Lloyd who made several films of this kind ? he had won an Oscar in 1933 for his version of Noel Coward's Cavalcade. Fred Mac Murray and Claudette Colbert were a popular leading couple at the time, especially in romantic comedy. Here Claudette Colbert is very good in the period drama. Fred Mac Murray does not seem so suitable. There is an excellent supporting cast.

The film traces the events in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 and the famous witch hunts. The drama is presented fairly persuasively and the critique of mass hysteria is strong. The film ends with hope that such things would never happen again in the United States. However, Arthur Miller with his experience of the McCarthy? witch hunts likened the 150s experience to that of Salem and produced his very striking and famous play, The Crucible. It is interesting to note that The Crucible could not be filmed in America during the '50s but there was a French version starring Simone Signoret.

1. Satisfying and enjoyable historical dram? The styles of the '30s? The serious presentation of historical events, romance and danger, an optimistic ending? The final words of hope? The ironies of Arthur Miller taking these themes as a symbol for America in the '50s?

2. The '30s and black, and white spectacle? The domestic history of America, the historic understanding of America and New England? Black and white photography, decor, pageantry? The score? The collage effects for conveying an atmosphere of hysteria and of developing action? The captions and the tradition of the silent film?

3. Audience fascination with witchcraft, its origins, its European traditions, the transferring to the United States, the repercussions a pioneer society? The use of witchcraft? Mass hysteria and suggestion? Cruelty, executions? The background of the Puritan ethos - narrow, serious, the focus on God as avenging, self-righteousness before God and material prosperity, the Devil and the fear of evil? The tendencies to superstition and curiosity? False motivation covered by religious veneer? Worldliness in the guise of religion? Such worldliness and repression, madness? Sense of guilt, the gullibility of people? The horror of cruelty in God's name?

4. The establishing of the town of Salem? pleasant, Barbara and her aunt, people and their ordinary way of life, the American pioneers? A genial setting for what was to follow? Salem made credible?

5. The ominous notes, the gift of the bonnet, Tim and his story about learning manners and what they consisted of, the elders and the themes of justice? The group in the town and their dominance, the puritan ethic, harshness and not laughing? The explanation of them as religious pioneers?

6. Tituba and her place, talk about voodoo? Abigail and the other women curious? How well was this illustrated? Tituba telling stories for Abigail's curiosity and the repercussions later? Books about witchcraft and vengeance? Anne and her stealing the book, her punishment, antagonism towards Tituba and her pretence? The arrest of Tituba and her torture and confessions? The naming of names? The dilemma about proving one's innocence? The growth of madness, accusations, the vindictiveness of the trials, the interpretation of ordinary events? Personal vengeance, greed?

7. The picture of home life? Barbara and her character, heroine, strength of character? Her aunt and her concern? The importance of this later in the revelation of the truth about Barbara’s mother? Tim and his place in the home, his love for Barbara, his later repetition of her words and endangering her? The encounter with Roger and the impact, the meal? Learning to dance, imitating the dance and Tim seeing Barbara? Her making the puppet for Mercy? The way this was later used especially in the court case and the child being brought in? The background of her mother being a witch? Her being arrested, protesting, languishing in the prison, her strength of character in the court and standing up for what was right, the false interpretations of situations? The condemnation and the build up to her hanging? Her being saved in time? Barbara and the implications of the film's title?

8. Roger and his character, his story, the background of English rule in America? His hiding, his joviality, singing and dancing? His comment on the puritan ethic? Jeremiah and his shielding Roger? Friendship with Barbara? Roger's escape, the ship, his imprisonment? The irony of his escape, the pardon? The happy ending and the vindication of Barbara?

9. The portrait of the people in the town - Barbara's aunt and her concern, Tim and the way that he was used? John and his care for Barbara, his attitude towards the hysteria? Martha and hr jealousy of her husband? Her knowing the truth about Barbara and denouncing her? Abigail and the older women? Their listening to Tituba? Their love of superstition? Their hysteria? Ann and the children and the revelation of the truth at the end? The victims like Rebecca Nurse and her innocence, Goody Hodges, Bilge and his being drunk? Mr. Paris and his attempts to cope? Miles Corvin and his claiming people's land, his arrogance, as seen as his courting of Barbara and yet reacting to her insults?

10. The administration of justice, the court sequences, the growth of accusations, the unwillingness to hear evidence? The ending with the truth being known? The final pardons?

11. Themes of religion and fanaticism, susceptibility to hysteria? Cruelty in the name of religion? The violence of the hangings?

12. A picture of American history, the comment on the American heritage, a warning?