MURDER: BY REASON OF INSANITY
US, 1985, 100 minutes, Colour.
Candice Bergen, Jurgen Prochnow, Hector Elizondo, Eli Wallach.
Directed by Anthony Page.
Murder: By Reason of Insanity is based on a true story about a Polish couple who emigrated to the United States. The wife is able to achieve and bring up her family. The husband, well-qualified as a nuclear scientist, is unable to find a job and mental instability arises. He feels himself, his position as a man and as head of the household, threatened by his wife and American society. He becomes violent. In the court cases he is outspoken and is sent to a mental institution. Shrewdly, he plays up to the authorities in the institution and eventually is allowed day passes. He murders his wife. The film ends with a comment that legislation was changed for allowing patients with criminal instability to be allowed out so freely.
Candice Bergen is very effective as the wife. Jurgen Prochnow (The Boat, Dune, Beverly Hills Cop II) is credible as the husband. Hector Elizondo and Eli Wallach are in support as lawyer and psychiatrist.
The film is dramatic, the court cases are particularly forceful, the threat to the wife and children believable. The ending is quite sombre with the murder of the wife. Direction is by Anthony Page, director of many telemovies including The Patricia Neal Story as well as films like I Never Promised You A Rose Garden.
1.A film based on a true story? The plea about changing legislation? Dramatic and emotional impact?
2.A piece of Americana, the suburbs, the workplace, police, the courts, law officers, mental institutions?
3.Audience sympathies for Adam, for Eva? The ultimate emotional effect and the photo?
4.Adam and Eva, their background in Poland and defecting, arrival in the United States, the children, setting up a home? Adam and his qualifications, failures? Eva as engineer, bringing up the family? The Polish club, their friends? Hopes and sharing?
5.Eva and the job interview, the success, her giving the children fast food as they asked, Adam demanding she make them clothes and better meals, pushing her out of the house, physical abuse? His reaction of violence and fear?
6.Adam as a credible father and husband, his sense of failure, the firm collapsing? Turning against Eva, his Polish background, macho attitudes, reading to the children, teaching them manners, his reliance on old world attitudes attitudes? The separation after brutalising Eva, intrusion on the custody of the children? His behaviour in the various court cases, speaking out? Growing paranoia about the Polish club, about friends? Going to Margaret's house? The reaction of the judges? His talking with his lawyers, accusing Eva of sodomy on the boy, even though he did not understand the word?
7.His time in the institutions, his shrewdness, responding to treatment, talking to lawyers, to doctors? The doctor and his friendliness? Writing letters to Eva? The passing of time? His change? Getting the day pass, the institution's alarm, his going out on the second day, buying the knife? Getting into the house, the killing of Eva? Ringing Tom? His callous attitudes? Belief in his own justice and Eva as evil? Going to prison for 35 years?
8.Eva and her life, the beginnings of fear, going to Margaret for help, the courts and her fears, Adam's outbursts? Her skill in her work, achievement? Social life, changing her appearance? The dances? Meeting Tom, the possibility of marriage? Her relationship with her children? The friendship with the lawyer? The police assistance? Her hopes - and the ugliness and pathos of her death?
9.The sketch of the children, ordinary, puzzled about their parents' behaviour, fighting amongst themselves, having to cope? The finale and their mother's death?
10.Legal aid, the lawyers, the first meeting with Eva and not understanding her, the growing help, the threatening letter in Polish, behaviour in the cases? The friendship of the lawyer, his final speech to the administrators and his holding the photo?
11.Tom, friendship with Eva, the possibility of marriage, receiving the phone call?
12.The doctor, his work in the institution, casual chatting, friendliness, belief in rehabilitation? His poo-hooing the restrictions? The woman on the desk and her concern, reassured by the doctor? Adam's disappearance? Her putting the newspaper with the headlines on the doctor's desk? The sketch of other doctors and differences of opinion about treatment of patients?
13.The courts, the judges, contempt of court, the police, their going to the house but not seeing anything amiss?
14.The credibility of the story, the effect on the audience, the dangers of mentally instable and criminal people, institutionalisation, legislation?
