THE SCAPEGOAT

UK, 1958, 95 minutes, Black and white.
Alec Guinness, Nicole Maurey, Bette Davis, Irene Worth, Parnela Brown, Geoffrey Keen, Peter Bull.
Directed by Robert Hamer.

The Scapegoat is based on a Daphne Du Maurier story. These are usually strong in plot. This one is so up to a point, but its inconclusive ending might annoy audiences. However, the acting of Alec Guinness in a dual role helps the film immensely. Bette Davis makes a short appearance as his mother. The supporting British cast, including Irene Worth and Pamela Brown, is very strong.

Director Robert Hamer also made Kind Hearts and Coronets, Father Brown, and To Paris With Love, with Alec Guinness.

1. Was the title appropriate for the film? What did it mean? What were the overtones?

2. Was John's loneliness well delineated by the narrative and the initial sequences to make the events credible?

3. Why did you think Guy arranged the change of identity?

4. How did John handle the situation - with the chauffeur, the doctor, the daughter, Francoise, Blanche, the Countess and the girlfriend?

5. What did you learn about John as he faced the problems of this household? What kind of personality emerged? Was he sympathetic? Had he such a chance for human relationships before?

6. What human problems did John discover and how did he tackle them?
- Francoise - her love, her fear of the life and death clause, the gift;
- the daughter - John's care for her, her relationship to her parents;
- the Countess - dominant, scheming, her morphine and chess; Blanche - spinster and harsh; the mistress loving and understanding, his confidant; the factory the contracts.

7. Were you shocked when Guy murdered Francoise?

8. Was the final confrontation well handled? What kind of man did each appear at the end? Why was John reluctant to leave his role?

9. Who survived at the end? What was the significance of what he said to the girl? What do you think would happen to them all?

10. How effective was Alec Guinness's playing of the two parts?