BERSERK!

UK, 1968, 96 minutes, Colour.
Joan Crawford, Ty Hardin, Diana Dors, Michael Gough, Judy Geeson, Robert Hardy, Geoffrey Keen.
Directed by Jim O’ Connolly.

Berserk is a rather lurid British melodrama. As with several films like Circus of Horrors and Circus of Fear in the sixties, the circus is a setting for violent death. Joan Crawford at the age of 65 is still glamorous in the role of the owner. Ty Harden is a rather wooden hero.

However, a British cast including Diana Dors and Judy Geeson are at hand to give acting strength to the film. Rather
flatly directed, the film relies on shocks and ugliness dispersed with a great number of genuine circus acts which are very entertaining in themselves. A hit-and-miss horror thriller.

1. The tone of the title, expectations? The appeal of the thriller, murder mystery, puzzle? A satisfying murder story?

2. The lurid tones of the title, the film? In the death between the credits? The lurid aspects of circus life? The film an a British production? American and British stars? Violence?

3. The appeal of the circus and the film’s presenting a variety of acts in themselves for entertainment for example the clowns, the poodles, ponies, animals, high-wire, aerial ballet etc.? How well did these blend with the thriller aspects of the film?

4. The unreality of the world of the circus? The people present, outsiders, freaks? On tour? Playing to the public, risks? Danger? Showmen and show-women? Jealousies, unrest? The possibility of violence? How did the film play on this? The sequences with the cast of the circus? Deals and management etc.?

5. The happier aspects of the circus and the way these were presented - people as comrades, enterprise in York, the happiness of the tour, canteen life, the party for the troupe and the song of the dwarf and bearded lady etc.?

6. How well did the film build up its berserk atmosphere? The initial death, the clash between Monica and Dorando, his death, Matilda and her animosity, her death? How plausible and possible were the killings? The variety of suspects and motives? A good puzzle? A credible solution?

7. Joan Crawford's style as Monica? The background of her circus, marriage? Working with Dorando and clashing with him? Her hard heartedness, seeming lack of feelings? The employment of Hawkins, the liaison with him, his wanting a business deal? Audience suspicions of her? Matilda and the others, suspicious? The police? Her skill as an M.C. and her presence in the circus acts? Her relationship with her daughter? Her responsibility and sense of this at the end?

8. Angela and her introduction, coming home. experience at school, working, the knife-throwing, sweet and wanting to be with her mother, the explanation of her being berserk?

9. Hawkins as hero, background, his violence, deals, liaison with Monica, listening in when the police interrogated, the aspects of danger in his act? The ugliness of his death?

10. Dorando and his presence, his work, death?

11. Matilda and Laslo, Matilda and her outspokenness, cutting, liaison with Hawkins? Her death?

12. The personalities of the circus troupe, for example the bearded lady, Barney the dwarf?

13. The superintendent and his personality, mode of investigating?

14. The basic melodramatics of the film yet the basics of right and wrong, morale, relationships, love and hate, justice?