TO KILL A CLOWN
US, 1971, 104 minutes, Colour.
Alan Alda, Blythe Danner, Heath Lamberts.
Directed by George Bloomfield.
To Kill A Clown is a British production with American cast and American setting. It shows a soldier affected by his experiences in Vietnam, terrorising a couple who have come to his island to try to rectify their marriage. The film's plot is familiar material from horror stories - especially the Hounds of Zaroff. The hounds are in evidence in this film. The updating works generally well. There are implications in the theme about American society at the beginning of the '70s and the effect of the Vietnamese war. There are some stylish tricks in the photography and presentation. The film, perhaps, should have been more powerful. As it is, it serves as a horror fable. Alan Alda shows his dramatic abilities. Screenplay and direction by George Bloomfield, director of Jenny, also starring Alda.
1. The impact of the film as drama, melodramatic thriller, contemporary horror story? Its derivation from horror antecedents, from familiar material about marriage, landlords menacing tenants? A satisfying contemporary adaptation?
2. The significance of the title, its references and explanations especially with regard to Timothy and his behaviour at the party, his memories at his death? The emphasis on killing? The clown and its symbolism? The ironies of the title?
3. A British production yet picturing the United States in 1971? The ordinary American couple with their careers, personalities, breakdown in marriage and attempts at reconciliation? Their hopes, fostering their relationship, marriage, sexuality? The juxtaposition with the Vietnam experience, the veteran and his prison experiences. injuries, madness and cruelty? Acting out his vengeance on this couple? An allegory for American society?
4. The opening and the ordinary couple, their attempts at friendship, reconciliation,, lovemaking? Art and photography and the freeze-frame style of the editing? Their behaviour on the island, encounters with Major Ritchie, the party and the drunken behaviour, the mimicking of the clown? The Major and his influence on his tenants?
5. The suggestions of horror to come, the role of the hounds, Major Ritchie and his limp? The isolated island? The conventions for a modern horror story?
6. The playing of games with irony? The drinking, the discussions about prisons, the make-up and directing? The challenge and the game coming true? Major Ritchie and the early morning, Timothy and his laughter, the drill, obeying orders, using correct titles, carrying the stones, the effect of the sun? The prison experience and its possibility for breaking him? Timothy and his being forced to go along with the game? Lily and her joking reaction., her revulsion when she realised that it was genuine?
7. Alan Alda as Major Ritchie - seeming gentleman at the beginning, the Vietnam experience, his being a cripple? Owning the island? The hounds? His control of the hounds., his control of Timothy and Lily with the gaffes? Exercising his control and testing Timothy? Moments of sanity or not? Cruelty? His revulsion at Lily's attempts at seduction? His laughing with Stanley? His use of the dogs and capacity for violence? The Vietnam experience and his need for vindictiveness on others?
8. His trapping the couple in the house, his control over the hounds, tormenting them? Their escape attempt, the boat and its being tied to the mooring? Their being confined in the house? Terror?
9. Their resourcefulness and luring the dogs into the house? The attempt at escape? The fight with Ritchie? The destruction of the dog? Timothy and his winning the victory over Ritchie yet remembering the past and dying?
10. Lily and Major Ritchie being left alive what consequences?
11. The contrived nature of the screenplay the distancing of the audience from the behaviour, involving them in the menace? Contriving variations on the human situation and testing human reaction? The importance of the Vietnamese war background? America at the beginning of the '70s?
