MR PATMAN
Canada, 1980, 105 minutes, Colour.
James Coburn, Kate Nelligan, Fionnula Flanagan.
Directed by John Guillermin.
Mr Pitman is a Canadian production, though directed by British John Guillermin (who also made many spectaculars in the United States including The Towering Inferno and King Kong. It is a star vehicle for James Coburn.
Mr Patman is an orderly in a mental hospital. He relates particularly well with the patients. He is also highly critical of some of the doctors. However, the reasons that he relates so well to people indicate some kind of instability in himself. He relates rather oddly to the director of the mortuary in the city, in a friendly way to a priest whom he supplies with tablets, amorously to his landlady and with passion and affection to one of the nurses. However, the line between reality and fantasy begins to blur and ultimately he is committed to the hospital itself.
The film is not always easy to follow. The ideas are interesting, but something goes wrong in the dramatisation. James Coburn gives the film his best and holds it together. The supporting cast includes Kate Nelligan as the nurse and Fionnula Flanagan as the amorous landlady.
1.Interesting? Entertaining? Study of human nature?
2.Canadian production, the use of Vancouver, the hospital, the city? Musical score?
3.The title and the focus on Mr Patman?
4.James Coburn as Mr Patman: his screen presence, at home, alone, his love for his cat? His relationship with the landlady, seven years, love affair? Her husband? His work at the hospital, work with the doctor, clashes (and eventually giving the doctor an electric shock)? His relationship with the patients - being with them, the kindly word, singing, understanding, the lady due for heart surgery and his sympathy, the nude woman and her painted face, the old man with his mysterious powers? His work with the patients - tablets, preparing them for shock therapy? His own reactions, emotions, in the mind? Travelling to and from work? Relationship with the staff? Attraction towards Miss Peabody? The sexual encounter with her? The possibility of a change for him? The hallucinations, the hanging, seeing Miss Peabody in the car accident, threatening the man at the morgue, the discussions with the priest? Going home, putting the cat to sleep? The farewell to Mary Katherine? The decision to help the old lady escape, with her in the car, Miss Peabody, the old lady's death, Miss Peabody's decision to cover for him, taking him back to the hospital? Meeting the man with the strange powers, the optimist, his decision to take a bed and stay within the hospital?
5.The doctor, treatment of the patients, talking about cars during the shock therapy, Mr Patman's antagonism, giving him the electric shock?
6.Miss Peabody, her work at the hospital, attracted to Mr Patman, sexual encounter, talking with him, the possibility of going to California? Finding him with the old lady? Taking him back to the hospital, the final close-up of her regrets?
7.The landlady, her relationship with her husband, with Mr Patman, sensual? The farewell? Her grief in front of her husband?
8.The picture of the patients, their problems, behaviour? The young girl and her singing? The woman with the make-up? The large lady needing heart surgery so that her family could sedate her? Her wanting to go, dependence on Mr Patman, the escape, her death?
9.Study of offbeat human behaviour? Understanding human nature?
