SIGN OF THE RAM
US, 1948, 84 minutes, Black and white. Discussions end of line expanded
Susan Peters, Alexander Knox, Phyllis Thaxter, Peggy Ann Garner, Ron Randell, May Whitty, Allene Roberts, Ross Ford, Diana Douglas.
Directed by John Sturges.
Sign of the Ram is one of the earliest films by director, John Sturges, who worked at Columbia with small budget films and then moved to MGM, solid dramas, then Bad Day at Black Rock, Hour of the Gun and great success with The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape.
The film is set in Cornwall, Daphne du Maurier territory but all filmed in Hollywood, with scenes of British cliffs – and most of the cast having American accents except for May Whitty and Australian Ron Randell.
The film is also a star vehicle for Susan Peters, the young starlet who suffered spinal injury in a shooting accident and acted from her wheelchair. This was her last film as her health declined and she died at the age of 31.
The film has a very strong supporting cast led by Alexander Knox as her husband, Phyllis Thaxter as a sympathetic secretary, Ron Randell as the sympathetic doctor, Peggy Ann Garner as the infatuated teenager and Dame May Whitty as the gossiping neighbour.
The film is a psychological drama, focusing on Susan Peters as Leah, a young wife, injured in an accident saving her stepchildren, seemingly sympathetic in her wheelchair, a poet – but gradually revealed as self-centred, controlling, interfering in people’s lives. Eventually, her stepchildren are turned against her. Her husband is bewildered.
An interesting psychological drama exploring the exercise of power by an injured matriarch.
1. The psychological melodrama? Family? Power-play and control?
2. The setting in Cornwall, filmed in Hollywood – and most of the characters with American accents except for Ron Randell and May Whitty? The scenes of the Cornish coast, the cliffs? The mansion? Interiors? The musical score?
3. The credibility of the plot? Leah, the marriage at a young age, the stepchildren, her role as mother? The accident, saving the children, her injuries? Confined to the wheelchair? The consequences of her confinement? Self-centred? Power and control?
4. The title, the meaning, the doctor and his explanation of the astrology and the character of the Ram – even the violent death?
5. The arrival of Sherida? Introduced by Logan? The outsider, to become secretary, the dismissals of the previous secretaries? Her meeting the family? Meeting Leah? The welcome, the discussions? Working for Leah, her poetry? Settling in the house, the support of Mallory? Support of Jane, the criticisms of Christine?
6. Leah, her age, in the wheelchair, her writing of poetry, self-deprecation? Simon looking after her health? Mallory and his continued support of her? Clara and her visits, her gossip, insinuations? The effect on Leah?
7. The day by day in the house, Mallory, kind, his children, his dislike of Clara and her gossip? Going to the picnic with Sherida? The discussion about dancing?
8. Audience response to Leah, sympathy with hearing the story about her accident, the rescue of the children, her being young and attractive? The gradual change throughout the film? Simon and his reading her well and the astrology? Clara and the suggestions about Mallory? Her growing jealousy, control?
9. Jane, love for Leah, the attraction to Simon, his visits, seeing him out? Going to the dance with him? The new dress? Her talking with Leah, Leah persuading her not to go to the dance? Simon’s reaction? Jane later realising the truth, and deciding to leave home with Simon?
10. The strong power of the discussion sequences with Leah controlling Simon, and Jane, then Catherine?
11. The contrast with Christine, her age, always wanting to be with Leah, reading her poems, obsession and infatuation? The threat of boarding school? Her suspicions of Sherida? The crisis, giving the sleeping tablets to Sherida, the strong talking to by her father, urging her to have a wider perspective? The change of heart? Apologising to Sheridn? Going to Leah, telling her she would go to boarding school?
12. Catherine, her arrival, daughter of the vicar, visiting with Clara? The previous attraction to Logan, memories of the past, going swimming, in the abandoned mine, the carving, memories? Logan and his proposal, the acceptance?
13. Leah, summoning Catherine, telling her about her parents, getting the agent to investigate, the insanity? Catherine and the news that Logan had gone to London? Feeling abandoned, writing the note, going to the abandoned mine, looking at the sea and the rocks? The vicar and his wife, their concern, the note, phoning Mallory, Mallory going to find her?
14. Catherine, saved, Logan’s return, finding there was no truth in Leah’s story about insanity? Logan refusing to go home, leaving with Catherine? Jane and Simon witnessing this?
15. Mallory, his bewilderment, going to see Leah – and his getting rid of Clara and condemning her gossiping?
16. Leah, the realisation of what was happening, the wheelchair, going to the cliff, falling to her death?
