MEN ARE NOT GODS

UK, 1936, 90 minutes, Black and white.
Miriam Hopkins, Gerturne Lawrence, Sebastian Shaw, Rex Harrison, A.E. Matthews.
Directed by Walter Reisch.

Of interest as an Alexander Korda production of the thirties. Miriam Hopkins, the star, was popular in the United States at the time - Becky Sharp, Barbary Coast, These Three. She is teamed with Gertrude Lawrence, who was prominent on the English stage in musical comedy (and the subject of Robert Wise's biography 'Star' with Julie Andrews impersonating her). It is one of her rare screen appearances.

Rex Harrison in a brief part is at the beginning of his career. The screenplay is rather talkative. However, it is of interest because it shows a performance of Othello and the play having an effect on the lives of the stars. This theme was to be used by Garson Kanin and Ruth Gordon for their screenplay of A Double Life, for which Ronald Colman won an Oscar in 1947.

1. The title, its meaning in the context of 'Othello', its highlighting the theme of the love story, a man's strengths and weaknesses?

2. British film-making style of the thirties? The stars? Black and white photography, the theatricality of the film?

3. The theatre background, the presentation of the performances of 'Othello', the audiences? The wordiness of the screen play and the echoes of the stage? The serious and melodramatic tones of the screenplay? The comic touches especially in the character and behaviour of Ann?

4. The world of London, theatre, backstage life, society, newspapers and reviews? The film's critique and satire on the media?

5. The introduction to Ann at work, her personality and style, the infatuation of Tommy? The ordinary working girl? Her work for the reviewer and reaction to him? Her being moved by Barbara's visit and request? Her decision to change the review - its repercussions and her being sacked? Her going to the play and being moved, the dinner with the Daveys, her drinking and her comment about husbands and wives in the same profession? The going to see Othello so many times, the infatuation, romantic reaction? The effect on her and her visit? Her effect on Edmond and Barbara? The build-up to her infatuation and Edmond's reaction to Barbara? The highlight in the killing of Desdemona and her screaming? Her coping and having to readjust? Her final comment on being one of the ordinary audience in the balcony? A symbol of this kind of person?

6. The contrast with Barbara? Her impact in asking for the change of the review, her love for her husband and support of him? Her acting ability and seeing her at various times in 'Othello'? Her love for her husband, protecting him, fussing about him, suspicions? The pregnancy? her reaction to the death scene? her reaction afterwards and coping with the situation?


7. Edmond as the focus of the film, the hero? strengths and weaknesses? his acting ability, his visit to the reviewer and thanking him for the encouragement, his mesmerising the audience with his performance? his reaction to Barbara and her looking after him especially as seen in Ann's visit? his infatuation, jealousy? His comments on Barbara and the reversal of Othello themes in her? The motive for his being overpowered and almost killing her? Her pregnancy? his going out to comfort Ann at the end?

8. The basic themes of Othello, especially in terms of love, jealousy, suspicion? The value of these scenes portrayed throughout the film and audience reaction? The use of the text? The reversal of themes in real life? Audience involvement and actor involvement in identification with the play? Life and art?

9. The minor characters - the reviewer, Tommy and his infatuation with Ann, Barbara's maid etc.?

10. An interesting use of the relationship between theatre and art and real life?