THE BLIND GODDESS
UK, 1949, 84 minutes, Black and white.
Eric Portman, Anne Crawford, Michael Denison, Hugh Williams, Nora Swinburne, Claire Bloom, Raymond Lovell, Clive Morton, Maurice Denham.
Directed by Harold French.
The Blind Goddess is a very interesting drama of the late 1940s, topical in terms of British politics and responsibility, with themes of the reconstruction of Europe and the possible misuse of public funding.
The film focuses on Derek, a public servant who has been dismissed from his job by the head of the Department, Lord Brasted, and has a crisis of conscience about misuse of money and his going to see the Prime Minister. Lord Brasted decides to sue Derek for libel.
Much of the action of the film is in the court with Derek giving long explanations of what has happened, with a prominent lawyer, Sir John, listening and then using the evidence against him. There are complications with Lady Brasted having previously been in love with Derek but finding that her marriage has given her all that she missed during her upbringing in poverty and makes decisions to lie about letters.
The cast is very strong with Michael Denison as Derek, Hugh Williams as Lord Brasted, Anne Crawford as lady Brasted and a significant performance from Eric Portman as the lawyer. Nora Swinburne appears as his wife and a very, very young Claire Bloom appears as his daughter who is in love with Derek.
The film is directed by Harold French who directed a significant number of British films during the 1940s including French with Without Tears and Quartet.
1. A topical British drama of the late 1940s? Postwar issues? Reconstruction of Europe? Financial corruption? Politics? Legal proceedings?
2. The opening in Prague, the murder, the taking of the documents? The case later found in the falls document inside? The status of the murdered man in the investigation? His valet is the murderer, in the pay of the corrupt officials?
3. The London settings, homes, clubs, airports, legal chambers? The film using actual locations and London landmarks? The musical score?
4. The film as an expose of potential corruption in the postwar period?
5. Derek, as a person, his job and losing it, his relationship with Arthur breasted, the previous relationship with Helen? His love for Mary? His discovery about the fund, the exploitation? Contact with his friend in Prague? His death? Conscience, the decision to go to the Prime Minister?
6. Mary, sending the note, her not getting it, Helen taking it and using it as evidence against Derek? Mary and her visit to Seoul on, upset at Derek’s letter, turn, reading the newspapers, going to see Derek, clarifying the issue? Confronting Helen, being rejected? Taking Derek to see her father?
7. Nought breasted, the corruption and his connections? The decision to go to court and accuse Derek of the libel? The preparation of the case? His allies and connections, the briefings? Helen, her love for her husband, the story of property, his giving her what she wanted, her defending him at all cost? The letter, going to see John, not wanting to go into the court, Sir John demanding her presence? Her denials?
8. Sir John, defence counsel, the importance of evidence, his biding his time, discussions with Helen, with Lord breasted, with his go-between? Listening to Derek’s story? The letters, relying on the forgery, getting to Derek to write the letter, the comparisons? Helen’s letter? Winning his case? The discussions with his wife?
9. Derek, good conscience, going to the Prime Minister, in the court, his on long explanation of what happened? The role of his defence counsel? Interventions? The judge?
10. The accumulation of evidence, the letter from the briefcase, his writing and comparisons? The jury and their puzzle over the name of address in the letter? Helen’s letter, the previous letters? His wanting to save Mary’s honour? Losing the case?
11. The Savoy hotel, the issue of the delivery of the new paper, the letter is a forgery, Sir John’s response? At home, verifying that Derek had delivered the letter for Mary, that Helen had been present and taken it?
12. The phone call, Lord breasted and his realising the truth about his case? Writing the letters, his declaration of love, his death in the street, Helen’s phone call?
13. An interesting film, politics, corruption, legal processes?
