THE BELSTONE FOX
UK, 1973, 103 minutes, Colour.
Eric Porter, Rachel Roberts, Jeremy Kemp, Bill Travers,
Dennis Waterman.
Directed by James Hill.
The Belstone Fox is from the makers of 'Born Free' who have moved to England and looked at an aspect of its animal heritage: the hunt, hounds and foxes. A very strong human cast, including Eric Porter, Bill Travers, Rachel Roberts, portray the country life on a modern estate, the training of hounds and the spirit of the hunt. A foundling fox cub, grown up with the hounds, causes changes in behaviour and attitudes in the humans. The eventual confrontation between fox and man leads to obsession and tragedy. The film is well and carefully made (except for an unexplored aspect of the daughter's rebel attitudes towards hunting) and is interesting entertainment.
1. What is the audience appeal in animal films? Animals themselves? The way animals relate to humans? Human care of animals? Was this primarily an animal film?
2. How interesting were the humans in this film? A strong emphasis on the human story? At the expense of the animals? Complementing the animals?
3. Was there a purpose in this film besides entertainment? As regards the hunt etc.? Human attachment to animals etc.? For what audience was it primarily orientated? Why?
4. How successful was the use of Panavision, colour and locations, the musical background, the use of the narrative by the daughter? what other technical aspects impressed you?
5. Could the audience identify with Asher Smith? How good a man was he? In his work, love for animals, service of the master, relating to his family, obsessed with the goals of his work, upset by the Belstone fox, trying to make a success of all things? Was he a sympathetic man? What drove him in his life and work?
6. How important were his wife and daughter: the sympathy of his wife and her hoping for his retirement? The ordinary scenes of home life in which she was involved? Her support of him? His love for his daughter and her life on the manor? Her involvement in the training of the hounds, her relationship to Stephen? Her change when she went to college? (The indication of this at the dance, and the following hunts?) Her presence when her father was found? (was the theme of the daughter well developed for the film or was it somewhat left aside?)
7. How sympathetic a person was Tod? His work and his style? Finding the fox, caring for it, getting to know it, his relationship with the land and the animals? His loyalty to Asher? His attack on Stephen at the Inn? His going after the fox and going after Asher? Could the audience identify with him?
8. Was Stephen a sympathetic character? His ambition to work in the hunt and training animals? Was this what Asher was like when he was young? His relationship to the daughter? His dependence on drink? His decisions about his future? How interesting a character was he?
9. Was the Master an interesting character? As newly rich? His role in the district? His wanting to succeed? His relationship with Asher? His shock at Asher's obsession? His reaction to Asher's death?
10. Did the audience identify with the fox itself? The initial bashing of the foxes, Tod's finding the fox, suckling it with the bloodhounds, friendship with Merlin, the fox's growth, cunning yet sympathetic? The importance of the sequences where the fox outwitted the hunt? The reports from the magazine and the illustration of these? The fox taunting Asher? And being pursued by him? The final success of the Belstone fox?
11. What was your impression of hunting? Was there any sympathy for the hunters and their wanting to kill? The training of the dogs, (how important was this in the film?), the slaughtering of the fox, the impact of the slaughter of the dogs by the train?
12. How important was the theme of revenge in the film? Was the fox getting revenge on the humans? Why did Asher go all out to kill him ? fairly? The fact that the fox won?
13. How lonely was Asher's death? The use of colour and darkness for these sequences? The use of the rock locations? The meaning for the film in Asher's death? Their finding him and carrying him away, the final look of the fox?
14. What was your final impression of the film? Did you enjoy it? why? Can you see why the novel was called 'The Legend of the Belstone Fox?
