THE LOSS OF A TEARDROP DIAMOND

US, 2008, 102 minutes. Colour.
Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Evans, Will Patten, Ann-Margret?, Mamie
Gummer, Jessica Collins, Ellen Burstyn.
Directed by Joyce Markle.

The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond is from a screenplay by Tennessee Williams, discovered some time after his death. It takes its audience back into Louisiana and the South, the world of Blanche Dubois from A Streetcar Named Desire.

The film focuses on Fisher, the daughter of a plantation owner, wealthy and spoilt, having spent some time in Europe, also in a mental institution. She returns home, despises everyone – and is despised in return. However, she takes up with the daughter of a poor farmer, Jimmy, played by Chris Evans (Captain America). The father is portrayed by Will Patten, a drunk whose wife has been put into a mental asylum.

In the meantime, the wilful Fisher does what she likes, contrary to the instructions of her aunt, played by Ann- Margret. When she goes to a Halloween party hosted by Julie, Mamie Gummer, she takes Jimmy along, where he meets an old friend, Vinnie, played by Jessica Collins. She also loses her teardrop diamond earring – which is found by Vinnie, who is forced to give the earring back by a very principled Jimmy. In the meantime, Fisher is summoned to Addie, the aunt of the hostess. She is ill and wants Fisher to administer an overdose of tablets so that she will be released from her illness.

The film offers many of Tennessee Williams’ themes of Southern families, wealth, illness, madness. The film was directed by actress Joyce Markle.

1. Tennessee Williams, his career, his plays, films? The discovery of this screenplay? The links with his previous work?

2. The 1920s, the look, costumes, decor, cars? The world of the South? Southern mansions, poor farmers’ houses? The roads, the levees? The musical score?

3. The social status of Jimmy and his father’s drunkenness, the mother and the scenes in the institution, Jimmy visiting her? His father giving up? The contrast with Fisher, the mansion, her aunt and the instructions, the parties?

4. Fisher’s story, her father and his wealth, her inheritance, the discussions with her aunt, her aunt’s disapproval, her wilfulness? The sojourn in Europe? In the institution? Her snobbery? Jimmy, the attraction, using him? The rides in the car? The visits and the parties? Her manner? Disdain for people? Her aunt offering her choices? The decision to go to the Halloween party? Jimmy and her supplying the clothes? Her wearing the teardrop earrings? The levee, the arrival, Julie and the welcome, meeting Vinnie and her being rude to her? Her carrying on about the loss of the earring, the search, the accusation and Jimmy’s reaction? His protesting his innocence, being examined in the kitchen? Addie and her summoning Fisher, her story, travels, writing, her illness, the addiction to opium? Wanting to die? Fisher and her being called back by Julie? The game, her playing the piano, the behaviour of Jimmy and Vinnie? Confronting Vinnie, the recovery of the earring? Her return to Addie, administering the pills? Her choice for Jimmy, her change of heart, the possibility of character change, her future?

5. The aunt, the traditions? The contrast with Addie? Addie’s life in Asia, Hong Kong, writing, the opium addiction, the strokes, the request? Influencing Fisher?

6. Jimmy and his background, past, politicians, poverty, his father and his drinking, his mother and the insanity, the scenes at the asylum? With Fisher, his motives, liking for her, love? The outings? His personality, quiet, the awkwardness of the formal clothes? With Fisher on the levee, his bad reaction to her accusation, glad to see Vinnie again, sitting with her, the game, the sexual encounter, the car, Vinnie and the earring, Jimmy’s demands, Vinnie and her protests, wanting the money, a future? Not working in the drugstore? Her returning the earring to Fisher?

7. Julie, as the host, puzzled by the behaviour? Vinnie, her life, the drugstore, as wilful as Fisher in her own way, the final decision?

8. Tennessee Williams and his past in the American South, the early 20s? A 21st century interpretation of his work?