HER TWELVE MEN

US, 1954, 91 minutes, Colour.
Greer Garson, Robert Ryan, Richard Haydn, Barry Sullivan.
Directed by Robert Z. Leonard.

Her Twelve Men was one of Greer Garson's last films at M.G.M. She had made an impact with Goodbye, Mr. Chips in 1939 and until 1950, made a significant number of successful films. She won her Oscar for Mrs. Miniver. This film has the atmosphere of Goodbye, Mr. Chips updated to the United States. It is slight, romantic, optimistic, pleasant. It enables Greer Garson to do pleasantly the things she did well. Robert Ryan is restrained as the leading man. The film is in the vein of such later films as To Sir with Love. Her director was Robert Z. Leonard who directed her in a successful film, Pride and Prejudice.

1. Greer Garson's popularity and style in Hollywood? The film as a Greer Garson vehicle? Entertainment for its time? Now?

2. The tradition of Hollywood films on schools? The focus on the teachers, students, relationships? Sentiment? Optimism? The atmosphere of Goodbye, Mr. Chips? A blending of realism and feeling?

3. How stereotyped the characters, situations? Ordinary expectations fulfilled? The ironic touches to the screenplay? The dialogue?

4. The contrived introduction to Jan: her dreams, the glamorous pictures of Greer Garson? The contrast with her being in the plane, the discussion with the boy on the plane, her arrival, the clash with Joe Hargraves? Meeting Mr. Barrett? The philosophy of the school? Her telling her life story to Joe? The background of her marriage, husband's death, hopes to achieve something? Sufficient basis for a schoolteacher?

5. The boys' reaction on the plane, calling her a creep, the calling her 'Sir' throughout the film? Meeting the boys, the homesick crises on the first night? The lesson, the 500 lines, Hargraves and his advice, ad~ visaing playing it by ear? The friendship of the sports coach? The riding sequences? The pet dog and the threat of resignation? Dick Oliver and his antagonism, the sprinklers incident, the clash with Mr. Barrett, the piano recital of the boy for his mother and her new husband? The film's attention to details of her way of life? Her changing throughout the school year?

6. The professional work of teaching, dedication, work, reward? Human contact?

7. The lonely children, the mother at the Riviera and Jan writing letters? Oliver and his business interests, his antagonistic boy? The boy with the piano playing and his fear of his mother and the expectations? Coping with the various clashes? Going with Dick Oliver to Texas? Leaving the twelve to help the one?

8. The portrait of Hargraves - ordinary teacher, slow and ironic, wise? His girlfriend? The clashes with Jan? Advice, help?

9. The build-up to the happy endings - the possibility of Jan going with Oliver, her decision to stay at the school? The expected happy ending?

10. How entertaining within its contrived limits? An enjoyable picture of school life - ideals, possibilities?