THE BLACK WINDMILL
US, 1974, 106 minutes, Colour.
Michael Caine, Joseph O'Connor, Donald Pleasence, John Vernon, Janet Suzman, Delphine Seyrig.
Directed by Don Siegel.
The Black Windmill - Donald Siegel forsakes his violent America for a spy-kidnap story set in England. The British style of restrained violence and formalised emotion is to the fore. The screenplay is not the best (Loose ends, some implausible situation contrived confession), but nevertheless, Siegel makes it all quite entertaining in its way. A more human Michael Caine heads a good caste, with Donald Pleasence in a clever performance, Delphine Seyrig unusual as a London moll, John Vernon as villain, and Janet Suzman. There are several humorous touches which help things along. It is fairly conventional material, but for those seeking entertainment, it will probably be welcomed.
1. How enjoyable a spy thriller was this? What thriller techniques did it use? How well? Was the screenplay compact and suspenseful? Or was it cumbersome? Where?
2. Was this film a good spy-film? Did it raise the questions of spying, the loss of identification, loyalty to country, manipulation by a higher superior, etc.? How interesting were the developments of these themes?
3. The film utilised some comedy. How successful were the comedy sequences and the comedy pieces of dialogue? (e.g. about Sean Connery and The Sound of Music?) The importance of the singing at the beginning and the final singing of "Chestnut"?
4. How successful was the opening for creating mood? The children singing, the child playing and then leading to strong violence? How did this keep the atmosphere for the film? What was your response to the violence? Was the film over-violent or did it have a restrained violence? The impact of this?
5. Did the audience identify with John Tarrant? Was he a typical member of the secret service? What kind of person was he? The humane aspects of his character as portrayed in the film? His attempt to break into the gang and pose as a criminal. The impact of the abduction? His trying to cope with investigating and comforting his wife? Why were relations strained with his wife? How well did he love his s In comparison with his loyalty to the secret service?
6. How much human feeling was there in the film, especially about the abduction? The function of Tarrant’s wife in this regard? How strong a character was Alex? Was she convincing? How did this give pathos to the incidents?
7. How was Harper a contrast to this? His cold humourless, businesslike carrying out of warfare? How skilful was Donald Pleasance's performance? How did Harper's personality embody the main themes of the film, as regards spying?
8. How did the main villain, contrast with this? What motivated him? How cruel and brutal? His relationship with Cell Burrows? The manner of his death?
9. The importance of Cell Burrows in the film? The development of her character in screenplay? Her stringing Tarrant along? Her manipulating of Tarrant? (The pose of the photos in his room, etc.?) Her meeting him in Paris, the irony of her being killed? And his being arrested for the murder?
10. How interesting was the picture of spies, security, police investigation, phone listening, etc.?
11. Did you have any sympathy for Tarrant’s plot to get back his son? Even if it meant violating secrets and invading the secret service? Was this the only alternative he had? How was he a victim of the secret service and its codes?
12. What was your response when you discovered the truth? The use that had been made of Tarrant, his wife, his son? The selfish motivation behind the head of t secret service and his wife?
13. Was the ending credible with the shoot-out, etc.? The investigation by Alex to find the place of the Black Windmill, etc.?
14. The film was meant merely to be entertainment. Did it succeed on this level? Did it pursue other values? Was this important for this film?
