THE SPIRAL ROAD
US, 1962, 145 minutes, Colour.
Rock Hudson, Burl Ives, Gena Rowlands, Geoffrey Keen, Neva Paterson, Philip Abbott, Karl Swenson, Robert F. Simon.
Directed by Robert Mulligan.
Robert Mulligan was a strong television director who moved into films with Fear Strikes Out with Anthony Perkins in 1957. It was a striking and powerful film debut. In the early 1960s he moved into continual film-making until the early 1990s. Some of his films in the 1960s were very strong including Inside Daisy Clover and, the film immediately after The Spiral Road, the classic To Kill a Mockingbird.
The film is based on a novel by Wim De Hartog, critics likening its themes to those of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness in which people are immersed in the jungle, face themselves, their demons, the realities of colonialism, Christian missionaries, the strictness of a Calvinist code, and try to come to terms with all of these issues.
Rock Hudson is good as the doctor, involved in this personal search. He is associated with Burl Ives as another doctor. Gena Rowlands, early in her career, is the female interest.
The film probes deep issues, the meaning of existence as well as the role of God in human life. It is an interesting drama, colourful in its settings, worthwhile in its intelligent challenges.
1. What was the overall impact of the film? In terms of enjoyment, interest, message film, humane film?
2. How do audiences respond to such humane themes as medicine, Java in the thirties, the power of healing? The religious themes of God and the explanation of the title?
3. The contribution of the colour, the East Indies in the thirties, the atmosphere of a remote outpost and colony in need?
4. The length of the film, the grandeur of its scope, the exploration of character and theme?
5. How well did the film communicate the atmosphere of Java in the thirties, a colony of Holland, doctors at work and going out from the motherland, Batavian society, plagues, the dangers of alcoholism, voodoo terror, the crises in the life of those in the remote villages, the dangers from the nations, the missions?
6. How interesting a character was Anton? How much of an Everyman figure? The film's presentation of him as young and ambitious, manoeuvring his way to Dr Jansen, his independent ways, the gradual change through experience, the enthusiasm of his love for Els, his successes and failures? When did he begin to change and begin to fail? His liaison with the native girl? His arrogance towards Jansen and the book? Could he not relate to Els? His decision to go back alone? The terror, the drinking, the madness? The aloneness in the jungle and the equivalent of Robinson Crusoe surviving? The experience of God and his nothingness? His coming to his senses?
7. What was the main experience that the film presented in Anton’s life? His coming out of himself, the experience of his own inadequacy, the symbol of modern man confronted with himself, the world, God?
8. Anton as a doctor: his work with the lepers, the plague? His professional skills and their success? As not being enough?
9. The portrayal of Dr. Jansen? Burl Ives’ style and appeal? The humour and worldly wisdom, the experience and dedication? The humour and the realism of the encounter with the Rajah? Hie friendship with the missionaries? His seeing through Anton? His wanting to help Els? His ultimate helping of Anton?
10. The film's portrayal of the doctors and their organisation in Java? Headquarters and the contact? Native doctors?
11. Els as heroine? How convincing? Her love for Anton, support of him, the growing gap, her inability to hold him, her continued support, hope for the future?
12. The importance of the encounter with Froelich? Their discussion, the intervention of the Salvation Army Missionary, encountering Froelich again, shooting him in desperation, Anton’s finally becoming like him?
16. The picture of the missionaries? The presentation of the Salvation Army? The leper station, the wife being a leper? The effect on Anton?
14. Comment on the visualising of an interior struggle in Anton, especially in his grotesque look as he was alone, surviving in the jungle, terrorised by the natives, Burubi and the menace? The nature of Anton's regeneration?
15. How valuable a presentation of important human themes was this?
