SITTING TARGET
UK, 1972, Colour.
Oliver Reed, Jill St John, Ian Mc Shane, Edward Woodward, Frank Finlay.
Directed by Douglas Hickox
Sitting target is a violent crime thriller. It is a star vehicle for Oliver Reed, very popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. American Jill St John joins a standard British cast.
Reed plays a criminal in prison, is angry at his wife because she has had an affair, is trying to escape from jail and target his wife and the lover.
The film is in the style of the grim thrillers of the period, British style. It relates to the Richard Burton vehicle, Villain, in plot and tone.
1. The alternate title was Screaming Target. Why the change? How brutal a film? Merely brutal and over violent? Why? Or an interesting crime-thriller?
2. How interesting were the scenes of prison life? In the exploration of the theme of prison and the effect it has on prisoners?
3. How interesting a character was Harry Lomart? The personality and brutality of Oliver Reed? Unrepentant criminal? Could the audience identify with him? Understanding his resentment at his wife’s behaviour? Revenge for his motivation? How ugly?
4. How interesting a character was Birdie? Attractive? Audience sympathy? How ironic when Birdie’s true colours were shown?
5. The character of MacNeil? An example of the criminal mind? Ultimate betrayal of Harry and Birdie?
6. How interesting were the plans for escape and the execution of the escape? The film generating excitement?
7. Pat Lomart, audience sympathize with her? Visit to the prison, pregnancy, the anger that Harry showed and his attempt to strangle her? Revenge on her?
8. Why was the motive of revenge so strong? The plans for revenge? Arranging of the gun? Of the details? Revenge becoming an obsession?
9. The relationship between pat Lomart and Inspector Milton?
10. Why was Harry and so violent, so prone to go berserk? A victim of betrayals? Growing motivation of revenge in the chases?
11. Marty Gold and his death threats?
12. The irony of the finding of the money after Birdie’s protection of Harry and rescuing him? The betrayal? The credibility of Harry’s further revenge?
13. Was that denouement credible with the shooting ability, Pat’s death, Harry embracing Pat and the final explosion? A values film, or merely sensationalist?
