THE HEART OF THE MATTER
UK, 1954, 100 minutes, Black and White.
Trevor Howard, Elizabeth Allan, Maria Schell, Denholm Elliot, Peter Finch.
Directed by George More O'Ferrall.
The Heart of the Matter is one of the best-known of Graham Greene's novels. It was published in 1948 when he was at the height of his success. It treats of Catholic moral problems, as is usual for most of Greene's serious works. This
novel highlights the problem of human love and the Catholic doctrine of sin. The main character is placed in an extreme moral dilemma and finds no way out of it except death. (This aspect is somewhat muted in the film version). Since Catholic renewal and fresh studies in theology at the Second Vatican Council (1962-5), much of the language that Greene uses and some of his moral and theological concepts have been shown to be quite partial. In this way Greene's novels reflect a way of Catholic thinking that has almost passed.
Trevor Howard is always a reliable actor and is at home in this kind of serious role. Helen is played by a young Maria Schell. Director George More 0'Ferrall did most of his rather serious work in the 50's in England.
1. The significance of the title? Its tone? What was "the matter"?
2. How enjoyable a film was this? How did it involve its audiences? How humane a film; emphasis on human beings? How absorbing were the central problems of relationship and religion? Was the religion theme well portrayed and did it engage audience-interest? (did the film seem too Catholic for universal enjoyment?)
3. How well was the African atmosphere conveyed? The jungles, the port, the people, the isolation etc.? How was this a universal setting for people in misery? How important was the war-setting for the film?
4. What was the significance of setting such problems !h Africa? In an outpost away from home? The effect that an outpost and isolation had on people, fifteen years for Scobie, the oppression on Louise?
5. How important was the war-theme for the major themes of the film? Also for providing such details as smuggling, Pemberton's suicide, the wreck for Helen?
6. How well did the film probe questions of conscience? The quality of Scobie's conscience? The nature of Scobie's God, Louise's God, Helen's God? The nature of human mercy and divine mercy? The nature of human forgiveness and divine forgiveness?
7. What insight into human love did the film give? The brittle charade of Scobie's marriage? The intensity of the quarrelling scenes? Scobie's sarcasm and his bending towards Louise? External pretence? Scobie's gradual falling in love with Helen? What kind of love was this? How sincere? The contrast between the love of Louise and the love of Helen? For Scobie, for themselves? The relationship of sinfulness to loving?
8. What insight into death did the film give? The initial deaths by bashing on the part of the natives, Pemberton's suicide and the discussion about the good and evil of suicide, especially Scobie's comments and his religious beliefs. Suicide as cowardice? Death as a way out of hurting those one loves? Scobie's decision to kill himself, his happiness in being killed?
9. How good was Trevor Howard's performance as Scobie? Could the audience understand how he ticked as a man? How admirable a man, how weak a man? Always doing the right thing, not being promoted, seeking ways of peace? The quality of his work in Africa? The initial sequence of the diamond smuggling and his integrity, shattered later in the film? His relationship with Father Rank and his wanting sincerity? As a troubled and unpeaceful man wanting peace for others?
10. What kind of woman was Louise? What had made her so self-centred? Her relationship to Wilson? Her relationship to Scobie? Her knowledge of the affair? The future as she had planned for Scobie and herself?
11. Was Helen an adequate contrast with Louise? A little girl rescued from the sea? The story of her education and marriage? Her stamp collection? Her fears, the importance of her listening to Scobie's story to the boy? Her dependence on Scobie and her love for him? The hold she had on him? Her fits of temper? Her not understanding his religious scruples? What effect did the death have on her?
12. What was the point of Wilson's introduction into the film? Spying on Scobie for his work? Young and intense criticism of Scobie? His admiration for Louise and her intelligence? Vindictiveness towards Scobie? Making the audience more tolerant of Scobie because less tolerant of Wilson?
13. The role of Father Rank in the film? As a person with his explanation of his mission vocation and frustrations? His kindness towards Louise? The significance of the confession and his refusal of absolution? Religion embodied in Father Rank?
14. The contrast with Yusef - and his blackmail, his trickery, a typical smuggler, his hold on the Captain, lending of money, the impossibility of his being Scobie's friend, his vindictiveness against Scobie and blackmailing him? How evil a man? How plausible? As a contrast with Scobie?
15. How important was the picture of African society: the officials, their investigation of Scobie, the ship's Captain, the colony wives and their chatter etc.? Is this a microcosm of the real world in which people work out their problems?
16. How important was the search for truth in this film? Scobie's search for truth and love? Was the film too bleak and pessimistic? How much hope did it offer? Could one have hope in God during one's severe problems?
17. What were the high points of the film as regards drama? Acting? In communicating the themes and meaning of the film?
18. Was the ending contrived? Scobie kills himself in the novel. He is killed in the film. Though he has made his decision to kill himself. Is the same point being made?
19. How impressive and successful a film and human document is this?
