BREWSTER McCLOUD

US, 1970, 110 minutes, Colour.
Bud Cort, Sally Kellerman, William Windom, Michael Murphy, Stacey Keach, Margaret Hamilton, Jennifer Salt, Shelly Duvall.
Directed by Robert Altman.

Brewster McCloud? was Robert Altman's next film after his success with M*A*S*H. It was nowhere near the critical and commercial success of that film. This time Altman takes a wider subject of satire, American society at large. He has chosen a hero to represent oppressed innocence striving to escape from the U.S. earth and fly away. This flying-bird symbolism then becomes central for the whole film and bird-myths and emblems, clever and crude, are the unifying point of the film. Villains are murdered by Brewster's lady protector and the bird on her wrist leaves its calling card, identity mark on the victims. Meanwhile typical U.S. people, attitudes, beliefs and commodities are ridiculed.

There are plenty of isolated successful bits but one wonders whether it all hangs together well enough - it is more like modern satirical pop-art. Again, as with the heroes of M*A*S*H, Brewster and his avenging angel are not entirely sympathetic or innocent, which makes them ambiguous hero and heroine. As in M*A*S*H they seem to get off scot free, until Brewster himself suffers the worst defeat in death. However, in reputation he remains innocent, society is the villain.
Altman uses a number of those who acted for him in M*A*S*H, Bud Cort, Sally Kellerman and Michael Murphy.

There is a lot of clever improvising in the film and some strong satire. But, for those who don't live in this kind of America, it will probably not be the successful mock it might be in the United States.

1. What was the point of making this film?

2. The film is a satire: what are its targets? Is the satire on target, or is the whole film spread so wide that the satire is ineffectual?

3. Is the film funny? When? Why?

4. Is the film too local, too American, for non-Americans to appreciate the points being made? Give detailed examples.

5. Is Brewster Mc Cloud an agreeable hero? Is he meant to be? Does he provide a focus of interest and values for the film? Is he meant to be 'innocent'?

6. Why does Brewster build his wings? Why does he want to fly away from the world?

7. How is the bird imagery used, cleverly and crudely, throughout the entire film?

8. The people who are murdered are obviously targets of satire - why?
- the patriotic and impatient lady singer.
- the tyrannical miser.
- the greedy drug squad cop on holidays.
- Weekes, authority trying to interfere all the time.

9. What was Louise meant to symbolise? She was a guardian, symbolic mother. But she also protected by theft, murder and escaped all punishment. Her bird on her wrist?

10. What was Schafft meant to symbolise? Self-assured but ineffectual detective democracy with Johnson. (Satire on the police - the waddling policeman, the chase, etc.).

11. What was Weekes meant to symbolise (with his advisers) - satire on authority?

12. Were American attitudes to sex satirised, taken seriously or exploited? With Louise, with the girl-friends? Brewster's exercises and his girlfriend's frustration; the girl who seduces him and betrays him.

13. What was the lesson in Brewster's failure to fly very far - failure of wings, strength and being shot at by society? What comment was this supposed to make on America?

14. What was the significance of the final credits (with Brewster lying dead) was it merely a gimmick, or did it have a point?

15. Did the whole film work? Was it worth seeing and discussing? Why?