CAPTURING MARY
US, 2007, 104 minutes, Colour.
Maggie Smith, Ruth Wilson, David Walliams, Danny Lee Wynter, Gemma Arterton.
Directed by Steven Poliakoff.
The Mary of the title of this film is played by Maggie Smith. However, there are two time sequences in the film and the younger Maggie Smith is played by Ruth Wilson.
The older Mary visits a central London house, rather grand style, being looked after by the caretaker, Joe (Danny Lee Winter). Joe had been introduced in a previous film, Joe’s Palace, where he was caretaking the house for its owner, Michael Gambon.
The film has been written and directed by Steven Poliakoff, prolific writer and director with contemporary interest in these films as well as a delving into the British past, The Lost Prince and Glorious 39.
Maggie Smith has not been in the house for some decades and wanders around, helped by Joe, a delving back into her memories, social parties at the house, celebrities, and interaction with the mysterious stranger, played by David Williams, who pursues her, has all kinds of information about the guests, having some kind of hold over Mary.
While the film does show some of the consequences of Mary’s visit to the house and her memories, the most vivid parts of the film concern the parties in the past, Mary going to the kitchen of the house, being trapped downstairs by the stranger, by scenes in Hyde Park and the stranger’s hold over her.
As with most of Poliakoff’s films and plays, there is always a sense of strange mystery.
1. The title, the focus on Mary? Her experiences as a young woman? The older woman, coping?
2. The London settings, the postwar past, the house, the rooms, the parties, the cellar, the kitchen? The present, the front door, the house, the emptiness, well-kept, the rooms, the cellar? Revisiting? The parks? Musical score?
3. The director, the writer, his themes, British themes and British history?
4. Joe, the caretaker, the rules, Mary at the door, letting her in, talking, the tea, mopping the spilt milk, the offer of the tour, the different rooms, his listening, his responses, asking questions, eliciting a response from Mary? His standing for the audience? Going to the park, offering help?
5. Mary, her arriving, her age, going in, her reactions, Joe’s response, the cup of tea, the spilt milk, her memories? The flashbacks, the tour, the different rooms and her experiences, the effect of her remembering? The cellar and Greville White and his presence, his sinister stories?
6. The past, Mary’s age, writer, success, the reputation, columns, subjects, invitations to the parties, Ranger parties, the celebrity guests, her experiences? Greville White and his presence? In the kitchen, the glass of water, his presence, talking with her, the parrying of the conversation, going to the cellar, his power, his stories, her disgust, his influence? Her wanting to leave?
7. Greville White, David Walliams’ screen presence, his reputation, look, manner, invited to the parties, knowing everyone, dapper, interactions with people, his influence? Liza and her relationship with him? The presence? With Mary, in the kitchen, making his salad, talking, going to the cellar, the ugly stories and the repercussions for Mary? His hold over people because of his knowledge? His apology, exercising power for Mary, Mary’s leaving? Liza with the letter and Mary disregarding it?
8. Mary, a different life, sacked from the paper, the travel, the partner and his art, socials, openings, sitting on the steps for the breakup? Her subsequent life?
9. The house, the party, Greville White and his presence, avoiding him? Talk, Liza present?
10. Mary, the overall effect of revisiting us, going to the park, the hallucination and seeing Greville White? His calling to her?
11. Joe, going to the park, meeting with Mary, her sending him away? Her finding some peace?
