BELOVED ENEMY

US, 1936, 82 minutes, Black and white.
Merle Oberon, Brian Aherne, David Niven.
Directed by H.C.Potter.

Beloved Enemy is a Samuel Goldwyn production of the mid-'30s, attractive of its kind and offering a star vehicle for Brian Aherne in one of his best performances and Merle Oberon. David Niven was at the beginning of his career and there is strong support from Henry Stephenson and Donald Crisp. Direction is by H. C. Potter who directed a number of attractive pieces of Americana during the '30s and '40s including The Cowboy and the Lady, Mr. Lucky, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House.

There have been several films about the Irish rebellion of 1921, there were versions of Sean O'Casey's The Plough and the Stars (John Ford) and Juno and the Paycock (Alfred Hitchcock) in the '30s. Other films highlighting the Irish troubles include the biography of Sean Casey, Young Cassidy, Dirk Bogarde and John Mills in The Gentle Gunman, the James Cagney vehicle Shake Hands With The Devil (which resembles the present film in some ways) and Robert Mitchum and Anne Heywood in A Terrible Beauty. The rebellion is the background of this film and it comes through strongly. However, the romance between the Irish rebel and the English lady are to the fore ? and quite well done of its type.

1. An entertaining romantic drama of the '30s? Impact for its time? Later?

2. The quality of Samuel Goldwyn productions: the stars, the recreation of period, sets and atmosphere, score?

3. The memories of Irish troubles, the rebellion, 1921? The 30s and 1921 as recent history? The significance of the prologue and the heightening of the tensions between the British and the Irish and the fight for independence? The long history of troubles and oppression? Audience understanding of the situation and appreciation on it? Comparison with other films on the Troubles? The stances of the screenplay? The emphasis on peace rather than war? A message for the world of the '30s?

4. The presentation of the British and their military presence, political authority? The action sequences, the sabotage? Administration difficulties? Personal encounters ? and their comment on what was going on politically and militarily?

5. The picture of Ireland and Dublin? The Black and Tans, the military raids, the Irish rebels' sabotage? The status of the Irish leader? The inbred hatred? The painting of slogans, ordinary sabotage of cars in the streets, the children involved? Ireland at war ? and deaths? A country of grief? The contrast between the fanatic fighters and those wanting diplomacy? The resorting to assassination attempts? Even against their own? The accuracy of the presentation of history? The feel for Ireland in the '20s?

6. The quality of Brian Aherne's performance as Dennis Riordan? Pleasant, suave and confident manner, his leadership, his administration of the violence yet his participation in diplomacy? His cheekiness in going into British Headquarters? His friends and enemies? His response to the British officers? With the O'Briens? His encounter with Helen? His giving her the bike, accompanying her? His sharing his dreams with her ? the Galway farm? The plan to meet at the market? His being trapped and his skill in escaping? The message to Helen via the maid? Their meeting, her confessing her betrayal to him, their love for one another, the need to separate? The further raid and his next escape? His going to London, the social situation at the dinner and the dance? The diplomacy and the fights, the importance of his decision, his fellow Irishmen and their hostility, the encounter with Helen at the Bridge and his decision? The triumphant return, the support of the people, the fanatics against him and his best friend assassinating him? His recovery and his confidence in the future?

7. Merle Oberon's style as Helen? The British lady, her arrival with her father, her shock at the realities of Ireland? Her concern for her father, the encounter with Dennis at the beginning, her meeting him at O'Brien's? The boy and his injury, his hostility, later mellowing? Mrs. O'Brien and her support? The bike, her telling the police after the boy unwittingly betrayed Riordan? Her going to meet Dennis and telling him the truth? Her father's disapproval? London, meeting him socially, persuading him for diplomacy and decisions? Her hurrying to Ireland, Mrs. O'Brien's help, her arguing with Bourke against the assassination attempt, her presence when he was being shot, her support of him? An attractive romantic heroine?

8. Her father and his administration, his disgust with the Irish situation, his strong leaning towards military intervention? Helen's personal experience and her trying to change him? The success of his diplomacy? ? His assistant (in the crisp David Niven style)?

9. The portrait of the Irish: Tim and his friendship with Dennis and yet his shooting him? Bourke and his wanting to fight to the death? Mrs. O'Brien and her loss? The children? The raids, the sabotage, deaths?

10. The romantic framework of this presentation of the troubles? A congenial way of presenting serious issues to the wide audience?

11. The values of human relationships, peace rather than war? The relevance to Northern Ireland of later decades?