BITTER HARVEST
UK, 1963, 100 minutes, Colour.
Janet Munro, John Stride, Thora Hird, Alan Badel.
Directed by Duane Clark.
Bitter Harvest is a magazine-type story of the rags-to-riches rise of a young Welsh girl - and her ultimate ruin. It is all presented with the dash and style of the early '60s.
The film was written by Lord Ted Willis (Woman in a Dressing Gown) and is from the Parkyn- Wintle Company, producers of such television series as The Avengers. The score is by Laurie Johnson, who wrote the music for a number of British films and television series of the time. There is a strong British cast including Alan Badel, Thora Hird, Francis Matthews. Janet Munro, the star, struggles to make the heroine both credible and attractive as well as self-centred.
1. The film as a slice of life? The old story of the road to ruin? The style of the '60s? Now?
2. Authentic atmosphere? The Welsh countryside, London? Colour photography, poverty and wealth? Theatre? The musical score and atmosphere?
3. The focus on Jenny's death, the long tracking shot? The flashback explaining the disaster? The ruin? The ultimate irony of Bob avoiding the passing ambulance, not knowing Jenny was in it?
4. The flashback and its effect? The audience knowing the ending, wondering how Jenny arrived at suicide, the ambiguities of her life? Growing in understanding of her character?
5. Jenny and the initial impact? The shop, her father, her aunts? The end being foreseen? The visitor, the possibilities? The lack of opportunity, the poor collieries? The dismal outlook in the town?
6. Her friendship with Violet? Two girls from the country? Their adventure? Timidity, the men and the drinks, the dancing? Violet aware of what was happening? Jenny and her going home with the stranger? Waking up? London? The effect on her, dismay? Being abandoned? A sign of the future?
7. Going to London? The initial encounter with Bob? His charm, help, talk? The train, her story of pregnancy? The encounter with Mrs. Jessup.(and Thora Hird's sharp performance)? The rent? The raising of the rent? Bob's attention, falling in live, the liaison? The domestic touches? His care for her? Bob and his work in the pub. his concern? Friendliness? Ella's devotion to him?
8. Jenny and the clashes with Bob, the reconciliation? The party? The fight? Dresses, going dancing, her hopes? The encounter with Karl Denny? The attractive actor? The effect on Jenny, outings, pregnancy - yet choosing Denny?
9. The contrast with Bob and Ella, his seeking advice, the crisis? The clashes with Jenny? Bob seeming at fault? The future for Bob and Ella? Mr Eccles and the talk, the people at the hotel?
10. Alan Badel's presence and style as Denny, sinister manner, impresario, his lifestyle, manners, morals, photo? His manipulation of Jenny? What he offered her? Her becoming his mistress? His treatment of her? His being the cause of her death?
11. The sketch of Mrs Jessup as the avaricious landlady?
12. Headlines, the model? Jenny's lies and the consequences? The goodtime girl? The irony? The babysitting. the bath, the ads and expectations, the initial five pounds and the seduction - and the fact that it was not spent at the time of her death? A mixed up and confused girl? Typical of the times? A sympathetic portrait? An understanding portrait?
