THE MALTA STORY
UK, 1953, 103 minutes, Black and white.
Alec Guinness, Anthony Steel, Muriel Pavlow, Jack Hawkins, Flora Robson, Renee Asherson, Ralph Truman, Reginald Tate. Hugh Burden.
Directed by Brian Desmond Hurst.
The Malta Story is one of many war tribute films, all more or less similar. This film has the advantage of a screenplay by William Fairchild (author and director of Silent Enemy) and novelist Nigel Balchin. The film has excellent credits and is a civilised piece of film making.
Alec Guinness is fairly straight up and down in the central role, not exactly the romantic hero. Jack Hawkins and Anthony Steel go through familiar routines as officers. Muriel Pavlow is attractive as a Maltese girl. Flora Robson has a strong role as her mother. There are war action sequences, suggestions of the plight of the Maltese during the war, the possibility of espionage. Not outstanding, but a creditable example of the '50s British war tributes.
1. The popularity of this kind of war tribute? In the '50s? Later decades? The quality of the film as air action warfare? The human elements? Romance? A tribute to the Maltese?
2. The black and white photography, the use of Maltese locations? An authentic atmosphere? The war period and its atmosphere, pressures on the population? British occupation? Aerial photography? William Alwyn's rousing score?
3. The title and its focus on Malta? Its place in the British Empire? Place in the Mediterranean? German interests? The population and their attitudes towards the British? Their support of the British? Divisions in families with some members loyal to the Italians or to the Germans? The place of Malta in the winning of World War Two?
4. The focus on Peter Ross? Alec Guinness' style as air hero? His background, skill as a pilot? His background as an archeologist? His skills in aerial photography? The clashes with the officers? Obedience and disobedience? His discovery of war plans? The transportation of food and arms? The raids, the encounter with Maria, friendship with the family. falling in love? His response to Maria's mother? The traitor in the family ? and his discovery., capture, execution? Ross' involvement in the aerial attacks? Difficult missions in photography? His achievement? Reunion with Maria? Conventional British war hero?
5. The presentation of the British - Jack Hawkins and Anthony Steel as British officers? The realism in the presentation of the officers, their work, skills? Dealing with one another? Decisions in war?
6. The portrait of the Maltese: Maria and her work on the island. attractive, intelligent? Attracted towards Ross, falling in love? Home sequences? Maria's mother and her embodying the spirit of Malta? Her grief at her son's espionage and execution? The credibility of the boy spying for the Italians? The range of people presented in Malta, going about their ordinary lives, the siege, starvation? Coping? Contribution to the winning of the war?
7. The range of minor characters, especially the delineation of British officers and personnel?
8. The interest of the plot, the work of the aerial photographers and their difficulties, contribution to the war, aerial warfare?
9. A solid tribute to the Maltese? A memoir of the experience of warfare in World War Two?
