BEDLAM

US, 1946, 80 minutes, Black and white.
Boris Karloff, Anna Lee, Billy House, Richard Fraser, Glenn Vernon.
Directed by Mark Robson.

Bedlam was the last of Val Lewton's horror thrillers for RK0. Within a space of five years, he produced nine films which have a status as classics of atmospheric and poetic horror. They range from The Leopard Man, The Cat People to Isle of the Dead, The Body Snatcher. The directors were Jacques Tourneur, Robert Wise and Mark Robson.

Boris Karloff appeared in Isle of the Dead and The Body Snatcher. Here he is excellent as the sinister and obsequious head apothecary of Bethlehem Hospital in 18th. century London. He is well matched with Anna Lee as an actress, cared for a wealthy aristocrat who wants to reform the asylum and is interned there. The hero is a Quaker and the screenplay (co-written by Lewton under the name of Carlos Keith) has much to say about human values, non-violence, forgiveness as well as for good treatment of the mentally ill.

The film, on its small budget, re-creates London and its squalor as well as its wealth. The film has as its background to the opening credits the sketches of London by Hogarth and these recur throughout the film. While quite stylised, the film nevertheless has quite an impact and is a stylish horror classic.

1. The status of the film? The work of Val Lewton? His vision of horror films? His production, co-writing?

2. RKO production values: the re-creation of the period, decor and costumes? High society? The bedlam? The background of Hogarth's drawings and their use throughout the film? Suggestions of horror, visual, verbal, suggestions, especially Simms' being walled up? The musical score?

3. The historical background: information about the asylum, 18th century London, the Age of Reason, the political clashes between Whigs and Tories, abuse and reform, the asylum itself?

4. The screenplay's picture of human nature: as shaped by environment? Class differences? Wealth, cruelty and lack of compassion? Heart and pity? The patients in the asylum and the nature of lunacy? The treatment of patients, cages, used for aristocratic mockery? The high sounding dialogue and the comments about human dignity?

5. The religious background: the established church and its ineffectiveness? The Quakers: their dress, manner, language, relationships, non violence, contribution to reform?

6. The political background: the picture of the Tories and their lack of compassion? The Whigs? Wilkes and his reform?

7. The aristocracy and their wealth, their comments about their responsibilities, arrogance, lack of humanity, little value to human life, their cultural activities, moral stances?

8. The opening and the death of the imprisoned poet, the attitudes of Lord Mortimer, the reaction of Nell Bowen, Simms? Nell's reaction to Simms? His showing her the inmates of Bedlam and explaining their animal natures? The audience sharing Nell's reaction?

9. Boris Karloff's portrait of Simms: physical appearance, bow legs, wig, grey hair? His manner of speech? His obsequious style? Malevolence, shrewd? A Iago-like character? His writing poetry, performance, patronage by Lord Mortimer? The performance and the young man trying to recite the verse, dead because of the gilding? His avaricious nature, taking the twopence to view the inmates? His tour with Nell and her striking him? His anger and vengeance? The Quaker and his invitation for him to bribe him? His attitudes towards the inmates, the cages and the range of animals? The clash with Nell, his manoeuvring Lord Mortimer, the sale of the parrot and his bringing his niece for Lord Mortimer? His power over Nell, his gloating at the certification hearing? His taunting Nell, allowing her to reform Bedlam, taking her to the cage and defying her to go in to the wild prisoner? His being taken by the inmates, the mock trial? His plea and his comment on tear, obsequiousness to the aristocracy? Finding his place? Being moulded by his society? The suddenness of his death? The horror of his waking as he was being walled in? The portrait of malice, malevolence, fear? An 18th century character?

10. Nell and her background in acting, the patronage of Lord Mortimer, keeping him amused, her hard style, glamour and wealth, jokes? Her antagonism towards Hannay after her visit to the asylum? His detecting compassion in her? The desire to reform after her visit? Her being ousted by Lord Mortimer? The furniture taken? The high price she put on the parrot and its abuse of Lord Mortimer? Her eating the money in front of Simms? Wanting to humiliate Mortimer? The hearing for her sanity? Her being certified, her defence about jests? Being
taken to Bedlam, the fear, the degradation, people repeating her name? Hannay visiting her and her getting the trowel? Playing cards and understanding the inmates? Putting the cloth under the chains on the prisoner? The taunt by Simms for her to go in to the wild prisoner, her, going and calming him? Simms being taken, the trial, her escape? Dangling over the road and being helped to freedom? Re meeting Hannay? Covering up where Simms was walled up?

11. Mortimer and his pomp and pomposity, wealth, poetry, the show and his disregard of the inmate's death? Selfish and callous? His patronage of Simms, Simm's insinuating himself into his presence? Moulding his thinking? Putting away? His use of Simms' niece? An ugly portrait of the aristocracy?

12. Wilkes and his politics, sympathy towards Nell, helping at the end? Reform?

13. The Quakers and their style, beliefs, contribution towards 18th century social reform?

14. The picture of the servants, the boil, Nell's attendant and his working for Lord Mortimer? Trapped in their situation?

15. The inmates: the man who wrote and was in Bedlam because of his drinking? The chained man? The wild man with his loss of memory, tamed? Long as the lawyer and judge? The aristocracy within the asylum? The taking of Simms, the trial? The man wanting him to be cut in half as Solomon suggested? The decisions, his freedom? The silent woman and her killing of Simms? Sealing him up?

16. Themes of religion, order, the law? Sanity and madness?

17. Themes via horror style?