HARPER (THE MOVING TARGET)
US, 1966, US, 121 minutes, Colour.
Paul Newman, Lauren Bacall, Julie Harris, Arthur Hill, Janet Leigh, Pamela Tiffin, Shelley Winters, Robert Webber.
Directed by Jack Smight
Harper is the name of a private eye and he is played by Paul Newman. This was a popular film of the mid sixties. It was an attempt by Hollywood to recapture something of the genre of the 30s and 40s with the Presentation of the private eye. The private eye genre reached its peak in the film versions of Raymond Chandler's novels with the character of Philip Marlowe played by such actors as Humphrey Bogart and Dick Powell. This particular film reflects Californian society of the mid sixties, and the aspects of its way-out behaviour. Paul Newman's Harper is a bit of an anachronism in this kind of society. However he has to investigate murder - he is employed by an eccentric woman, bitchily portrayed by Lauren Bacall. His encounters are with a star cast which included Julie Harris, Shelley Winters, Robert Wagner. There are ironic twists in the screenplay as one might expect. Harper seems a very good example of this kind of film.
1. The American title was 'Harper'. Is The Moving Target a better title? Why?
2. Lew Harper ? as a private eye, the American tradition of private eye thrillers? How did The Moving Target fit into this tradition? What had gone sour in Harper's life? Where he lived, the beginning of his day, his friends, the nature of his work, at the beck and call of people like the Samsons, his inability to relate well especially to his wife, the big scene with his wife, the breakfast etc.? Harper at the end? betrayed, disillusioned, cynical, an option to live or die? What insight did this film give into men like Harper?
3. The California atmosphere for the investigation? What kind of place is California as presented in this film?
4. Sarnson, as a person, disliked, unwanted yet needed, especially for his money. His place in society, his relationship with his relatives, his business deals, the phoney rings and organisations, the smuggling? What values and lack of values did he stand for?
5. The drug situation?
6. The attack on, parody of, eccentric American religions? Their involvement with money?
7. How did the film keep audience interest in the investigation? Was the film too brutal in its chases, fights? Were enough clues given for solving of the mystery?
8. Albert - as Harper's friend. Albert as a person, his relationship to the Samsons', his love for Miranda, how desperate was he? Why did he deceive Harper? What made him kill Samson? The importance of Harper explaining to him the nature of law and order at the end? Why couldn't he shoot Harper?
9. Mrs Samson - as typifying the caustic spoilt selfish American matron?
10. Miranda - as typifying the spoilt rich American girl? What was she looking for and trying to grasp?
11. Allan Taggart - typifying the young American playboy type, a betrayer, a petty criminal, his relationship to Miranda, to Betty? His death?
12. Betty - the pathetic nature of her life, her relationship to Allan, her involvement in a sordid world? The sequence of her torture? The final understanding of the truth, was her death intentional or not?
13. Fay - as a person, her involvement with the Samsons and this sordid world, the fact that she was a slob? Her relationship to her husband and his involvement in this world? Their participation in the torturing of Betty?
14. What did this film have to say on good and evil appearances and reality, the nature of modern American society, honesty, greed, wealth?
