JOE MADDISON’S WAR

UK, 2010, 95 minutes, Colour.
Kevin Whateley, Robson Green, Melanie Hill, Angela Lonsdale, Trevor Fox, John Woodvine.
Directed by Patrick Collerton.

Job Maddison’s War was written by celebrated writer, Alan Plater, one of his last works before his death.

The setting is Tyneside during World War II, a focus on the ordinary people, the men who worked on the docks, their being part of the Home Guard, their day-to-day lives. In this respect, the film creates quite an atmosphere of the period, the sets and decor of the place, costumes and the attention to detail to make the setting convincing.

Kevin Whateley, so well known as Inspector Lewis from his own series as well as for his work in the Inspector Morse series, plays Joe Madison, who had fought in World War I, had returned home proud but somewhat disillusioned, who is too old to serve in World War II but is prepared to join the Home Guard, even to taking some leadership in the local force. However, there are personal complications as his wife leaves him and he cannot understand this.

Job Madison is a decent man, surprised at his wife’s behaviour because she was a Catholic, getting some advice from the local Catholic priest (something unusual for a British film). He is seen often in the company of his best friends, arry who is ready to subvert authority, and Eddie, a dyed-in-the-wool Communist. He also encounters a friendly woman, Selina, serving the troops in the canteen and begins a relationship with her, his daughter not happy, his son who is serving in the war, supportive of his father. The local pharmacist is the officer in charge of the Home Guard, played by Derek Jacobi.

At the end, Joe will say that the war years were the best of his life, upsetting him at first, helping to understand people better, finally with the love for Selena.

And offbeat look at England during World War II.

1. British memories? War movies and heroism, the films of the 50s? An ordinary man’s war, war involvement, war effort? The background of the humour of Dad’s Army and the veterans?

2. Newcastle, Tyneside, the city, the docks, homes, clubs, pubs? The surrounding countryside? The sets, the decor, the feel of the time? The greyness? The surprising scenes of sunshine? The musical score? Songs of the time?

3. The atmosphere of 1940, work on the docks, ordinary men, the class distinctions, social status, Joe and his wife? At the wedding, his behaviour? At home, said, Polly and her interactions with him, reserve, leaving? Joe’s bewilderment, wanting to know the reasons? The children growing up? Their attitudes? The effect on Joe, not understanding, his beliefs, principles?

4. The Catholic issues, Polly as a Catholic, the wedding, advice of the priest, his stances, talking with Joe, the indissolubility of marriage? Joe and his decisions? The issue of reconciliation and the priest urging it? The priest present at Joe’s wedding? Polly, her life, her decisions, attitudes towards sin?

5. Joe, his pals, Harry and his humour, cynical, Eddie’s Marxism? The pubs, the drinks, the talk, the women?

6. The outbreak of war, the German bombings? Calling up of the guard, the officer from the pharmacy shop, his assistant and the regulations? Joe and his friends joining? The effect, seeing them on duty, the training, the defence, guns, the shooting of the plane and their rejoicing, the effect on Joe? The music and Harry’s decisions, his being dismissed?

7. The reaction of the men, going on strike, the officer’s reaction?

8. Joe and his son, talking, his son going to war, Joe’s memories of World War I and the experience? His daughter, husband, the husband going to war? The effect on him, the return? His supporting Joe?

9. The local officer, strict rules, command, training, effect, the confrontation with Harry, with Joe?

10. Meeting Selina, the canteen worker, becoming friends, the reticence, going out, the romance? The story, her husband, Dunkirk, the developing relationship? His children and their reaction?

11. The surprise of his wife coming back after the years, her relationship with the sailor, her child? Wanting to re-unite? Joe and his hesitation? The scenes on the beach? Walking, the child? The advice of his children, his daughter against Selina?

12. Selina, character, life, enjoying life, dancing, dancing with Joe, transforming him?

13. The experience of war, guns, the duty, the celebration and bringing down the plane, not happy?

14. Harry, Eddie, the experience of war?

15. The bomb, the street, the child, Joe and his saving the child, the bomb squad to dispose of the bombl, his heroism? After the demotion, his medal?

16. Joe and Selina getting married, the family there, the priest, friends, the rejoicing?

17. Joe saying that his war experiences were some of the best of his life?