SCREAM, PRETTY PEGGY
US, 1973, 74 minutes, Colour.
Bette Davis, Ted Bessell, Sian Barbara Allen, Charles Drake.
Directed by Gordon Hessler.
Scream, Pretty Peggy is one of several horror telemovies of the early 70s. It was directed by Gordon Hessler, who specialised in these films and directed such Vincent Price- Poe stories as The Oblong Box. The film is notable for an appearance by Bette Davis as Mrs. Elliott - portraying the alcoholic demented old lady of the house who rises to a melodramatic occasion. Sian Barbara Allen is an attractively vigorous heroine. However, by the end of the film, it is evident that the screenplay has had large borrowings from Hitchcock's Psycho.
1. The title, tones, expectations? Audience enjoyment of horror and scare movies? The adaptation of the styles for the home audience?
2. The structure of the film: the initial killing to arouse curiosity and begin frightening the audience, the basic situation in the house, the mystery about Mrs. Elliott and Jennifer, the killings, the elaboration of the mystery and the revelation and shock ending?
3. The importance of the scare devices and the atmosphere of knife-flashing murders?
4. Audience identification with Peggy - as an attractive girl, taking on the job, taking over the household and selling herself, the clashes with Mrs. Elliott and then helping her after her accident, her infatuation with Jeff and admiration for his art, falling in love with him?
5. The strange encounter with Mr. Thornton on the roadway, the puzzle about Agnes, the disappearance of Mr. Thornton? Peggy's curiosity about Jennifer? The threat to her life and the final confrontation? A strong heroine for this kind of short thriller?
6. Jeff and his art, employing Peggy, his comments about Jennifer, about his mother, handling his mother's illness? His reliance on Peggy? The gradual emergence of the fact that he was lying? The impact of his sculptures and their grotesque aspects? Audience suspicion of him? The final revelation of his madness and his killing of Jennifer and identification with her? The pathos of his mother killing him?
7. Bette Davis' presence as Mrs. Elliott? Her appearance, looking through windows, her drinking? Her accident and her being in bed? The clashes with Peggy? Her continued warnings? Her finally shooting her son? Her comments about her responsibility for the situation?
8. Mr. Thornton and his enquiry, the violence of his death?
9. Peggy's enterprise throughout the film and her continual pursuit and curiosity? The ensuing suspense?
10. An authentic atmosphere of an American town, university, the ordinary people and the seeming reality of the situations? Horror within such situations - plausible, credible - enjoyable?
