TERM OF TRIAL.

UK, 1962, 113 minutes, Black and white.
Laurence Olivier, Sarah Miles, Simone Signoret, Hugh Griffith, Terence Stamp, Roland Culver, Thora Hird. Directed by Peter Glenville.

Term of Trial is a very interesting film to see, even though it is not altogether satisfying in its ending (although this may have been intended). Written and directed by Peter Glenville (who made Summer and Smoke; Becket; The Comedians; Hotel Paradiso) it fits into the provincial English kitchen sink dramas of the early 60's (Saturday Night and Sunday Morning; A Taste of Honey; A Kind of Loving; This Sporting Life) but differs considerably in having a middle-aged man for its hero, a schoolteacher.

In this role, Laurence Olivier is excellent and shows his extraordinary versatility. His final speech in the courtroom sequence here is alone worth seeing. Sarah Miles, in her first film, plays innocence and guile that has marked her performances in The Servant; Ryan's Daughter; Lady Caroline Lamb. Simone Signoret is excellent in a very unsympathetic role. This a fine adult drama.

1. The significance and irony of the title?

2. Discuss the atmosphere of the opening of the film?

3. Describe Laurence Olivier's portrayal of the central role of Graham Weir.

4. What was the relationship between Weir and his wife? Why had they married? What kept them together? Why did he drink?

5. Did Weir, or his wife realise that Shirley had a crush on him? Should either of them have done anything to stop it?

6. How well was the central sequence in the hotel done? What was going on in Shirley's mind - in Weir's? Why was she so forceful? How well did Weir behave? Could he have done anything more?

7. How much would a man like Weir suffer because of being arrested and on bail, and his treatment by the police?

8. Describe the dramatic effect of the court scene.

9. Why had Shirley made him suffer? The interrogation by the defence council?

10. Analyse Weir's big speech on justice, the meaning of the speech and the theme of the film; its criticisms and double standards.

11. Why did his wife decide to leave? What was the impact of his lying to her and her acceptance and staying? Had he compromised? Should he have lied? Should he have stayed with principle and lost his wife though keeping his integrity? What future did they have together?

12. How real a film was this? Why? What insights into human behaviour?

13. The details of the portrayal of Weir, seedy, pacifist, provincial town, passed over for Head, lack of class control, timidity, pedantic, desire for truth and authenticity? The criticism of his wife: their quarrels, their conversations in bed (what more should she have done?). His walk through the city with its sleaziness - the irony for him, the gun? His wife's reaction to his contemplating suicide, her taunts?

14. The nature of the crush: how much was girlish, a reaction to her home and family (the sequence of the embarrassment of Weir's visit), the lessons, the excuses for seeing him, the gift and the telephone number? The last effect of the day in Paris on Shirley? The reaction of Shirley's kissing Mitchell on the station? Insight into adolescent crushes?