TOP SECRET AFFAIR
US, 1957, 100 minutes, Black and white.
Susan Hayward, Kirk Douglas, Paul Stewart, Jim Backus, John Cromwell, Roland Winters.
Directed by H.C. Potter.
Top Secret Affair has a subject which is still topical. Susan Hayward portrays the head of a media empire who determines to blacken the reputation of a military general, played by Kirk Douglas. With comic touches, this is a battle of the sexes as well as a media battle. There are finally some romantic touches.
Susan Hayward was at the peak of her career, winning an Oscar for I Want To Live the following year. Kirk Douglas had made an impact with such films as Lust for Life at this time and appeared in Paths of Glory the same year as this film.
The film was directed by H.C. Potter, his last film. He had a twenty-year career directing with such films as The Farmer’s Daughter and Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House as significant comedies of the mid-1940s.
The film is made in black and white, has very strong performance and has some sharp wit. The film had been planned for Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall but Bogarde had a terminal illness and Lauren Bacall withdrew from the film to look after her dying husband.
1 The tone of the title, its irony, indication of themes of love and the army and politics?
2. Quality of black and white photography, Washington locations, domestic comedy style?
3. The importance of the stars, the focus of the comedy, the interaction, their different styles, suitability for comedy?
4. Dottie as a typical American woman, the background of her family and her wealth, Peal Enterprises and her power, her toughness, her ruling those who worked for her, her emotions, the fact that she was unloved and always ‘Miss Peel’, her unscrupulous attitudes and behaviour in politics? How much sympathy for her, how much dislike for her, her tactics? Her decision to attack General Goodwin, especially during the newsreel screening?
5. Melville Goodwin, an American man, typical, his strengths, loyalty, the background of his army career, his control and his skill? The importance of the newsreel record, tough but with a background of emotionality? Sympathy for him because he was going to be victimized? Dislike of him because of his militaristic background?
6. The picture of American journalism, its power, half-truths, working on people’s reputation? Its exercise of power, phoning to Washington, Senate Investigations? Although the film was a light comedy, how realistic was the ugly side of this?
7. The film's focus on the interviews between Dottie and General Goodwin? The various verbal battles, the General and his skill at answering questions, balancing, enjoying the meals and the dancing and the singing? The ugliness of the photos being taken to frame him? Sympathy for his victimization? Dottle's sympathy during his song? How well did he deport himself during these tests?
8. The evening in the pool house and the effect on each of them? The General's anger and its change? Dottie and her drunkenness and her fall into the pool? The truth about their love? The light of the morning after and its effect on the General? The importance of the story about Yvette and her execution? The parallel with Dottie although the General did not realize it?
9. The motives for letting the magazine article through, her vindictive attitudes in publishing it? The effect on each?
10. How well presented was the Senate Inquiry? The harassing of the general, his strong interrogation with 'Yes' or ‘no’ answers? The story of the young Korean girl, the importance of the spy story, its exposition?
11. The Importance of Dottie’s apology, her conversation with Paul, her wanting to get out of it, her public announcement of the truth and its effect? People’s attitudes towards her at the end?
12. The contribution of the Generals, the Generals' aides, Phil, the Senate Investigator?
13. How credible was the happy ending? The future for each of them?
14. The success of this kind of comedy in male-female relationships, America, journalism, politics and the army?
