MEAN DOG BLUES

US, 1978, 108 minutes, Colour.
Gregg Henry, Kay Lenz, Scatman Crothers, Tina Louise, Felton Perry, Gregory Sierra, James Wainwright, William Windom, George Kennedy.
Directed by Mel Stuart.

Gregg Henry did not have a career as a leading man but rather as a character actor. However, he carries this prison film quite well. A singer, he is given a lift by a couple, Tina Louise and William Windom. They’re involved in a car crash and he agrees to go to court to say that he was driving. However, he finds himself in a sadistic prison, which George Kennedy is in control of along with his even worse sergeant, James Wainwright.

The film shows prison life, the various inmates, the sadistic work of the sergeant, especially in the training of fighting dogs. Scatman Crothers appears as one of the inmates used for the training of the dogs – and their now hero is asked to take his place. His pregnant wife, Kay Lenz, is trying to work for the overturning of the judgment. The film then moves into escape mode.

The film was directed by Mel Stuart who directed a number of television movies as well as documentaries. One of his cinema movies was Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

1. The total impact of the film? For Americans, non-Americans? Basic human themes, themes of prison and justice?
The grim aspect of the film? The final heroism?

2. How good a portrait of 20th century aspects of contemporary America? The look of the film, its styles, the personalities presented? The ordinary people, political background, corruption and cover-ups, wealthy society? Moral background? American prisons, cruelty, the types in prison at as prisoners, guards? The presentation of ordinary victims within this kind of society?

3. The significance of the title - Paul Ramsay as musician (was enough made of this?)? The title of a ballad, the film as a visual ballad? The mean dog and the implications of this and references to the humans and to the dogs? The atmosphere of the blues?

4. The opening of the film and its seemingly trite background? Expected characters and situations? The move to the targets of the seventies? Compromise, cover-up? Injustice? The testing and the move to heroism? How credible were the characters, the situations and background? Did they seem authentic for the entertainment and the message of the film?

5. Paul Ramsay as a credible hero? Was there enough of his background? His hopes for his career as a musician, his personality, abandoning his car? His relationship with his wife and the significance of the telephone call and her pregnancy? The irony of his mother-in-law's reaction? A sympathetic young man, his careful behaviour especially with the Laceys? His sense of responsibility towards Mrs Lacey and his wife, his responsibility in going back to the crash victim? The irony of his compassion and responsibility making him a victim? Audience emotional involvement and understanding of the predicament for the rest of the film?

6. The conventional presentation of the Laceys? In themselves, set types, the promiscuous wife, the drinking wealthy husband? Abrupt behaviour, lascivious behaviour? The cowardice in the accident? The fixing of the case and the attitude of the husband, his deceiving his wife? Seeing Lacey at golf and Mrs Ramsay's plea? Her approach to Mrs Lacey at the beauty parlour and massage? The clash between the Laceys and the talk of governors and deals? Mrs Lacey pressurising her husband with results? The comment made on this kind of character?

7. The presentation of the cover-up, the illustration of the theme and audience response to this?

8. Should Paul Ramsay have pleaded guilty and gone along with the lawyer? The visit of the lawyer to the prison and Paul's reaction, audience reaction? The decision for compromise, hopes for good behaviour and release? The impact on Paul's wife?

9. The transition of the film to a prison film? The going to prison, the meeting of the convict who was returning, his humour, talk, homosexual attitudes and jokes? The other prisoners? The arrival at the camp and its remoteness? The style of the prison, the way of life, the overseer and his introducing himself? Wacka and his Vietnam background? The presentation of the dogs and the way they were filmed? The various people at the prison and their attitudes, crimes? The ethos of the prison - men who are criminals or who are made victims - cruelty, power play, sadism, homosexuality? The various types? The doctor and his comments, the assistant? The sequences of the dormitory and the attack, the revenge and the breaking of the guitar? The fights, the code in the prison, for example the punishment of sitting in the cage with the dog?

10. The effect of the prisoners, on Paul? His being in the cage with the dog and the kindness of the 'dog nigger'? His later being mauled by the dog? The subservience of the dog nigger? Paul's decision to take the job, his running, the attitude of the others? Tricking the dog and the reaction on the various people, especially Wacka and his owner?

11. The way of life within the prison, his success, hopes for escape? would the audience hope that he would escape? Friendship with Tonto? His training for the escape?

12. The interlude of the visiting day and the emotional response? The anticipation? The nature of the humour with the homosexual disguised as the blonde and the guard prying? Wacka and his frustrations? His escorting Mrs Ramsay and the attempted rape, the audience seeing it and emotional response? The effect of the visit on Paul? His fighting Wacka and the overseer letting him?

13. The Commander and his daughter? Her continued presence? Sensual? Arranging for Paul to be present in the house and their being caught? The hastening of the final confrontation?

14. The build-up to the escape? The attitude of Tonto, the black, his friends? The running off, the vengeance of letting the dog on him? The run up the hill, the crossing of the pipe? Trying to reach the train and the desperate nature of this? The fight with the dog and its death? His being saved by his allies in the prison?

15. The overall emotional experience of victims, justice and Injustice? How much insight Into real situations? A satisfying dramatic message film?