THE SEVENTH SIN
US, 1957, 94 minutes, Black and white.
Eleanor Parker, Jean- Pierre Aumont, George Sanders, Bill Travers, Francoise Rosay, Ellen Corby.
Directed by Ronald Neame.
The Seventh Sin is based on W. Somerset Maugham’s novel The Painted Veil. This was filmed in 1936 with Greta Garbo in the central role. A very fine version was released in 2006 with Ed Norton and Naomi Watts in the central roles, with Liev Schreiber as the other man and Toby Jones as the doctor. Diana Rigg was the mother superior.
In this version, Eleanor Parker is the wife, Bill Travers her husband, Jean-Pierre? Aumont the lover and George Sanders the local doctor. Francoise Rosay is the mother superior.
The film focuses on a woman who marries a doctor and betrays him with an affair. He takes her up-country in China where an epidemic breaks out. She is isolated, has the time to rethink her behaviour, repents, becomes involved in helping the locals, especially with the advice of the mother superior. George Sanders is the local doctor who lives with a Chinese woman – a rather different role for him.
The film was directed by British Ronald Neame, cinematographer for David Lean who began directing in 1950 with Golden Salamander, The Card, The Million-Pound? Note. He directed some classics in England: The Horse’s Mouth and Tunes of Glory before going to the United States where he directed such films as The Chalk Garden, The Prime of Miss Jean Brody, The Poseidon Adventure and The Odessa File.
1. The meaning of the title, its overtones of religion? The original title was The Painted Veil. Which was more appropriate?
2. What is the appeal of this kind of film? For what audience was it made? Indications from the style and screenplay?
3. The use of Cinemascope, Hong Kong and Chinese background? Audience responce to these dramas of the far east? China in the late 40s?
4. The title focused on sin. The film's exploration of sin and goodness, right and wrong, judging of others, offending others and hurt, repentance and reconciliation, repentance and forgiveness as a basis for the future?
5. The dramatic importance of the opening, the presentation of sin, the aligning of sympathies, seeing the character of Caroline, seeing through Paul’s, the judgment on Walter? The consequences of this behaviour?
6. Caroline - as heroine? How attractive, how convincing? The explanation of the background of the marriage, the desperate need to marry, her selfishness in marrying Walter, her selfishness at the dinner, her furtive reactions, the lies? The significance of the confrontation with Walter? The nature of her lack of love, her capacity for hurting, of being hurt by Paul? Her common sense in seeing through Paul through Walter’s eyes? What made her change? The encounter with Tim? The encounter with the nuns? The challenge to selfishness? The enjoyment of her work? The impact of the pregnancy on her, of Walter's death and final forgivenese? What future did she have?
7. Did the film give an adequate insight into the nature of a woman and of a woman unhappily in love?
8. How interesting was the character of Walter? his stolid nature and humourlessness, his love for Carol, lust? the hardness, working? His severity on her behaviour during the plague? His gradual acceptance of her repentance? His finally forgiving her? Was he a good man?
9. How conventional a casual person was Paul? His using of Carol? Her loving of him?
10.The role of Tim? A convincing character? his inquisitiveness, taking Carol to the nuns? The sudden revelation of his Chinese wife ans his love for her? How admirable a character? How credible?
11. The presentation of the nuns? As human beings, as involved in their work, as sympathetic? The influence of the superior?
12.Did the film achieve a right blend between sentiment and realistic feeling?
13.Could the film be rightly described as religious? In its themes, in the explicitly religious characters?
14.What is the overall effect of this kind of fiim? Insight, conviction?
