H.M. PULHAM ESQUIRE

US, 1940, 120 minutes, Black and white.
Robert Young, Ruth Hussey, Hedy Lamarr, Charles Coburn, Van Heflin, Fay Holden, Bonita Granville.
Directed by King Vidor.

H.M. Pulham Esquire is based on a novel by J.P. Marquand (The Late George Apley, the Mr Moto series). It was co-written by its director, King Vidor, a veteran moviemaker from silent days with The Big Parade to pieces of Americana like Northwest Passage and Wilson, an American tragedy, during the '40s. He made quite a number of melodramatic movies including Bette Davis's famous Beyond the Forest. In his later career he made such spectacles as War and Peace and Solomon and Sheba.

The film has an aristocratic Boston setting and contrasts it with the world of New York. The action takes place over the early decades of the 20th century, changing traditions and attitudes. Robert Young suits the part of Harry Pulham, the Boston man, experiencing action in World War One, working in an advertising agency in New York, but still going back to his roots in Boston. Hedy Lamarr is the woman in his life, working in the agency - but her own woman and unable to give in to the demands of Harry Pulham. Ruth Hussey is his wife. The supporting cast includes Van Heflin and Charles Coburn.

While the material is dated, reflects the styles of the early '40s (especially in the reconciliation of the marriage), it is the material that still fascinates, the material of the past, interpretations of the American way of life, its formality and respectability, the possibilities of breaking free.

1.Entertaining drama? MGM '40s style?

2.The writings of J.P. Marquand and his popularity, the re creation of Boston wealthy society, the contrast with New York? A piece of Americana? The work of King Vidor?

3.Black and white photography, MGM glossy production style, the strong cast, Bronislau Kaper's musical score?

4.The title and its tone, aristocratic Boston, stuffiness, the contrast with New York? The focus on human nature and personal crises?

5.The structure of the film: the focus on Pulham, his regular life, wife and family, work, secretary? The interruption of the invitation to dinner, his college friend, the reunion? The phone call from Marvin? The possibility of remembering and reassessing his life? The intercutting of the flashbacks?

6.His memories: the birth, his father being proud, his going to school, the principal and the injury? Football? The strictness of his father and his moral exhortations? Harvard, Joe and Bill, the football talk, the ethos of football at college? Young, earnest? His relationship with his parents, distance from his father, his aristocratic mother? Mary as the tomboy? The bond between brother and sister? The memory of the dance at school with Kay, her visits, the meals? The family and society expectations of him?

7.His experience of the war, the group not surrendering, the interchange with the Germans? Its effect on his life, his return?

8.Friendship with Bill, the decision not to return to Boston, going to work for the advertising company, the campaign about the soap? His meeting Marvin, attracted to her? Their working together, going to the home, the washing and the soap? Falling in love, their life together, plans, New York style? The visit to Boston - Marvin finding it stuffy, the outings in the snow, the sled? Harry and his concern about Marvin - meeting Mary, the interview with his mother? His father, the demands? The expectations for the firm, success in life? His death, the funeral, Harry as executor? His experience of people confronting one another - and his decision to do the same with Marvin?

9.Hedy Lamarr as Marvin, her background, migrating to the United States? Her story of poverty? Hard work, success in the firm? Attracted to Harry, in love? The washing sequence? Going to Boston, finding it stuffy, the interview with Harry's mother? Her wanting to stay in New York, his wanting to stay in Boston? The confrontation, their discussions, her love - but unable to fulfil his conditions?

10.Kay and Joe, their engagement? Kay's attraction to Bill, his being with her, not proposing? Kay and the breaking of the engagement, Bill's going away? Together with Harry in the boat, the reflections of their lives, directions, going together? The formal marriage and the focus on the ceremony - formality instead of love? The passing of 20 years? Their daughter? The domestic scenes?

11.Harry's not seeing Marvin for 20 years, the phone call, going to the hotel, refusing to go in, sending her the flowers? The phone call, the meeting? Talking over what had happened to them? Her story of her husband? Her skills in business, the phone call? Their discussion about love, marriage - and going their separate ways?

12.The portrait of the Pulham family, their hold over each other? The Boston experience, the home, the holiday house? All the memories closing in and clutching at the members of the family? The mother and her moods, elegance? The father and his age, demands? Mary and her wanting to break out, yet demanding that Harry stay? Kay within this background? The opening with Harry so regular and indicating the theme of his life?

13.The contrast with New York, the advertising firm? Bill contrasting with Joe and the other young men at college? The football champion - and his organising the reunion? His speech, memories? Joe and his friendship with Harry, disappointment in his engagement being broken? Bill as thinking differently, friendship with Harry, their work in the firm? His visits?

14.The film as a piece of Americana, a glimpse of American expectations for wealthy and middle America in the early part of the 20th century?