SO LONG AT THE FAIR

UK, 1950, 86 minutes, Black and white.
Jean Simmons, Dirk Bogarde, Honor Blackman, David Tomlinson, Cathleen Nesbitt, Felix Aylmer, Andre Morell.
Directed by Terence Fisher.

An entertaining British thriller of the late forties. It was a star vehicle for Jean Simmons who had recently appeared as Ophelia opposite Olivier's Hamlet. She was at the beginning of a successful career. Her leading man is Dirk Bogarde in one of his earliest films. He also was on the verge of a most successful career. Her brother is played by David Tomlinson and there is a supporting role for Honor Blackman. Direction is by Terence Fisher who was to make so many of tbe successful Hammer horror films. The setting is the Paris Fair and the disappearance of the heroine's brother. Nobody believes her and she seeks the aid of the hero to find her brother - which they do and the mystery is solved. Along the way there is tension. The period setting enhances the somewhat routine ingredients of the thriller.

1. The appeal of the mystery thriller? The clues, the solving of the mystery, suspense and tension?

2. How well did the film use its conventional material - the establishing the brother and then the disappearance of his room? The distraught heroine and nobody believing her? The hero who believes and helps her? The successful resolution? The use of period atmosphere and French setting for this material? How did it enhance it?

3. Black and white photography, the 19th century French setting, Paris and the Fair, the Eiffel Tower etc.? The atmosphere of the French hotel? The artist's garret? Special effects such as the balloon? The musical score?

4. How credible was the plot ? the tone of realism taken about the events? The contrasting atmosphere of mystery? Were sufficient clues given for the puzzle? Did the audience suspect that the heroine was not telling the truth? Was she always seen as fictive?

5. Jean Simmons' performance as Victoria? The arrival in Paris, her devotion to her brother, her exhilaration at the outings? The visits to the restaurants, the Moulin Rouge? Her looking forward to the Fair? The discovery of her brother's disappearance, her puzzle, the confrontation of the hotel owner and her brother? The growing desperation? The visit to the British Consul and his benign disbelief? Her dismay when the maid was killed in the balloon crash? her desperate going to the French police, their visit to the hotel? her reaction to the proprietress having covered every opening? The attendant and his disavowal of her brother's presence? her desperation, her agreeing to go on the train? The discovery of the letter, her reliance on George? The masked ball and the discovery of the room? The confrontation and the police? The doctor and the discovery of the truth about John? The happy ending and the prospect of romance? Popular material but a credible heroine for this kind of thriller?

6. Dirk Bogarde’s suave and pleasant style as hero - doing conventional things. his painting, his not proposing to Rhoda, his helping Victoria, his heroics in discovering the room?

7. John and his presence in Paris, looking forward to the Fairy the indications that he was not well, his disappearance and the discovery of the plague?

8. The proprietress of the hotel? her proper manner, sinister behaviour, covering every question? her mistakes in reference to the rooms? Her answers to the police? The final confrontation and her confession of the truth? Her brother and his shadowing of Victoria?

9. The O'Donovans and the sub-plot of romance with George? Rhoda and her instrumentality in bringing the note?

10. The build-up of suspense in presenting Victoria and her being distraught, nobody believing her, desperation, her almost missing the note? The relief in finding someone to help her? her dismay at discovering the truth?

11. The theme of plague in Paris during the Fair and the way that the hotel owners handled it? The doctor, the visit to the hospital and the discovery of the truth?

12. The perennial appeal of this kind of thriller? Audience interest and identification of feelings and concern? The need for a happy ending?