THAT LADY
UK, 1955, 100 minutes, Colour.
Olivia de Havilland, Gilbert Roland, Paul Scofield, Francoise Rosay, Dennis Price, Christopher Lee.
Directed by Terence Young.
That Lady is one of the popular costume dramas of the mid-50s, 20th Century Fox using Cinemascope in 1954 and 1955 to boost the popularity of films, open up the wide screen to the audience.
The setting is 16th century Spain and it is presented quite colourfully. It is an atmosphere of intrigue rather than of battle. Of interest is the pairing of Olivia de Havilland with Paul Scofield. Olivia de Havilland had been popular for twenty years on the screen. Paul Scofield was a British stage actor who made only rare appearances on-screen. However, he was to win the Oscar for his performance as Thomas More in A Man For All Seasons in 1966. Gilbert Roland, also a popular star of the time, completes the trio.
Direction is by Terence Young who had directed a number of British action thrillers like Storm Over The Nile and The Red Beret at this time, was to continue with such action adventures until he made the first James Bond film, Dr No. He also directed From Russia With Love and Thunderball and was to continue with action adventures into the1980s.
1. The significance and tone of the title, irony, indicating themes?
2. The appeal to audiences of costume drama? Fantasy, spectacle, comparisons of culture? Insights into human behaviour?
3. The attractiveness of Spain in the sixteenth century, sets, widescreen presentation, Spanish castles and monuments? The value of the narrative structure of the film?
4. How did the screenplay focus on Ana? The quality of Olivia de Havilland's interpretation? Audience sympathy for Ana, interest in her character and behaviour? The nature of her notoriety? Ana as a person, the background of her life, her love for the king, for Perez, the pressures of the
political situation?
5. The film's presentation of the relationship between Ana and the king? Ana an a widow and her prestige in Spain? The nature of her love for Perez? The political implications? its changing her life?
6. The effect of intrigue on Ana, her being used? The details of politics, predicaments and dilemmas for her? The nature of her choices, her going to prison?
7. How well did the film present her death? How moving? As a culmination to a public political life?
8. Perez as the hero of the film? His style, background to the Spanish Court, advice to the king, being victimized by rivals? involved in a world of murder and intrigue? The reason for his staying in Spain, his final escape? Was he a credible historical character?
9. The film's presentation of King Philip? What kind of person, qualities of character, living out his role as king, subduing personal feelings, exercising power?
10. The film's presentation and judgement on political life and intrigues, the Escovedo family, the trials, Vasqez?
11. Themes of justice, the administration of justice, legal trials, torture?
12. What is the value of this kind of re-creation of history?
