ME AND THE COLONEL
US, 1958, 109 minutes, Black and white.
Danny Kaye, Curt Jurgens, Nicole Maurey, Francoise Rose, Akim Tamiroff, Martita Hunt, Liliane Montevecchi.
Directed by Peter Glenville.
Me and the Colonel is set in World War Two, a Jewish refugee teaming up with an anti-Semitic Polish colonel. They travel together as a wartime odd couple – leading to some serious issues but always with comedy, Danny Kaye style, as well as quite some pathos. The film was based on a story by Franz Werfel (who wrote The Song of Bernadette) who had to flee from Nazi Germany himself. In his attempt to portray anti-Semitism, he moved for humour rather than serious attack.
Danny Kaye, soon after his excellent films Knock on Wood and The Court Jester, portrays Me, Samuel L. Jacobowsky. He won a Golden Globe for his performance. Curt Jurgens has no trouble in portraying the harsh colonel. They are both attracted to Nicole Maurey.
Direction is by British director Peter Glenville, better known for being a theatre director with four Tony nominations. His first film was The Prisoner with Alec Guinness and Jack Hawkins. Me and the Colonel was his second film. He made only a few others including Beckett and The Comedians. He also made Hotel Paradiso with Alec Guinness who had appeared on the stage production in England and Broadway that he had directed.
1. How enjoyable a film? its humour, war themes, personal drama, comedy? the integration of all these factors?
2. The suitability of black and white photography? French sets, war atmosphere?
3. How evident was it that the film was based on a play? The advantage of the dialogue?
4. The film's focus on Jacob? Danny Kaye's performance? His relationship with and contrast with the Colonel? The contrast of Curt Jurgens' performance? How well did they complement each other?
5. How attractive and interesting was Jacob? How kind, how likeable, how sympathetic? His explanation of himself as a wandering Jew? The details of persecution, the extent of his patience? His desire for survival, his getting the car and saving the gasoline? The reality of his fear? The capacity for love yet his reticence? His innate kindness? The revelation of his character by interaction with the Colonel? The race theme, the difference of class? Suzanne and his love for her? from afar? The strength he gained through the crises? The humour and irony of the duel? The reality of the arrest? His decision to commit suicide or not? The reality of torture, the relief and comedy of the release? The choices at the end and his leaving France? How rounded a picture of a personality was this?
6. The details of the plot and the giving of insight into human behaviour, especially during war and for survival?
7. The colonel as a bigot, as arrogant? Unsympathetic? The fidelity of his assistant? His taking over the car, domineering about the petrol, his assuming the role of a prince? The pomposity of his style, ruling their lives in going to Swumne? The drunken duel and its revelation about his standards? his nerve, cried, his shock? How credible were the changes in hie attitudes and behaviour? His decision to save Jacob, their being saved together? How interesting a study of class and race prejudice?
8. Suzanne as heroine? A focus for understanding Jacob and the colonel? Her French background, her love for them both, her final choices and the decision to stay?
9. The presentation of the colonel's assistant, his relationship to the main characters?
10. The nuns and their meeting Jacob? Catholic and Jew?
11. The presentation of the French during war? The hotel manager, the people at the castle, the nuns?
12. The contrast with the presentation of the General Von Burgen and his arrogance, yet being moved by Swumne? The Gestapo? The inhumanity?
13. The impact in the end and the Gestapo waiting for 8 o’clock?
14. The film's insight into the reality of war and suffering?
15. How well drawn a picture of the human spirit and its noble qualities?
