FAME IS THE SPUR

UK, 1947, 116 minutes, Black-and-white.
Michael Redgrave, Rosamund John, Bernard Miles, Carla Lehmann, Hugh Burden, Marjorie Fielding, Seymour Hicks, Tony Wager, David Tomlinson.
Directed by Roy Boulting.

Fame is the Spur is a distinguished British film of 1947, based on a celebrated novel of the time by Howard Spring. It was directed by Roy Boulting, of the Boulting Brothers who, at this time made such films as Brighton Rock.

Winston Churchill had been Prime Minister during World War II but, despite this, was defeated in the elections after the war by Labour Prime Minister, Clement Attlee. This film can be seen as very strongly supportive of Labour. The screenplay was written by novelist and screenwriter, Nigel Balchin.

The span of the film is from 1870 to the mid 1930s, quite a long span, from rather Dickensian and Victorian times in Manchester, to Westminster politics in the 1880s onwards, the changes at the beginning of the 20th century leading to the outbreak of World War I, the politics of the 1920s and the rise of Labour, the Wall Street crisis, the prewar issues of the 1930s. The central character, played by Michael Redgrave, is said to be based on Labour politician Ramsay Mac Donald.

In 1870, three young boys live in poverty, one, Tom, a rather strong wheeler dealer in selling rats, the two other boys, Hamer and Arnold are more honest.

Later, Arnold (Hugh Burden) will be persuaded to stand for the local seat for government but is not an orator and relies on his friend Hamer to speak on his behalf. Hamer is supported by Anne, Rosamund John, whom he marries and her friend Lizzie, Marjorie Fielding. Soon Hamer himself will be elected – and stay in Parliament from the 1880s to 1935 where, against his basic principles, he requests and accepts the peerage. Which means that his political journey is from activism, very supportive, along with, of miners and strikes, concerned about British industry, but becoming more conservative, supporting the decisions about World War I, settling into the 1920s, siding with Tory government, lobbied by the adult Tom (Bernard Miles).

Hamer is quite unsympathetic to the suffragette movement with which his wife becomes very involved, leading to protests, even during his speeches, her imprisonment, hunger strike and, eventually, her death. Before she dies she urges him to be honest about himself and his motivations – something which he ignores.

There is a symbolic sword, scimitar, in the film, used by Hamer’s grandfather at the battle of Waterloo, then against the soldiers in the strikebreaking at Peterloo. It hangs on the wall of the house, is seen by Hamer as significant but, symbolically at the end, after his peerage rambling speech, he is unable to draw the sword from its scabbard and walks away.

In the same year, So Well Remembered, with John Mills, was released giving a similar kind of story from the end of World War I to the outbreak of World War II. It was based on a novel by James Hilton (Goodbye Mr Chips, Lost Horizon, Random Harvest) who also did the narration.

1. British film of 1947? Looking back over the previous 75 years? British history and society?

2. Audience knowledge of this history? Not? The amount of information given? From the perspective of the 1940s? In the 21st-century? The original novel and its being based on British Labour politician, Ramsay Mac Donald? Hamer and his personifying Ramsay Mac Donald?

3. The title, the quote from Milton? Hamer and his quoting it? As applied to his life, career, motivations?

4. The passing of the years, the film as episodic, dwelling on some years rather than others? The dialogue filling in the background? Enough for a continuous understanding of the history and developments?

5. 1870, the kids, their age, poor, in Manchester, Hamer and his reading, Tom and his selling the rats, the fraud aspects, Hamer and Arnold not following through, their integrity? Poverty and concern?

6. Hamer, his books, going to the bookshop, wanting to change the world, the discussions with the bookseller? Tom growing up, vegetables and markets, offering Hamer the job, paying him, Tom and his prosperity?

7. Arnold, a man of integrity, somewhat timid, being invited to stand for election, his inviting Hamer to the meeting, Lizzie and Anne the meetings – and her French lessons in the past from Hamer? The meeting, Arnold and his timid speech, Hamer and his arresting rhetoric? Their all going to the town to campaign? The Labour movement and principles?

8. The local Lord, his father and his career in politics? The campaign, the tradition of the generations? The father as brash, Lettice and her relationship with her brother? His dithering? Tom and his visit, the bribes? The Lettice and her interest in Hamer? The election results, Arnold losing, the Lord it is driving into town?

9. Hamer, loving politics, marrying Anne, her continued support, the friendship and support of Lizzie? Arnold?

10. The experiences of the 1880s and 1990s, the Tories, Labour, the death of Queen Victoria? Financial issues, Empire, economy? Hamer and his prospering?

11. The miners, the strikes, the social action? Hamer and Arnold and their support of the miners?

12. The 20th century, change, politics, economies, situations in Europe, Sarajevo, the outbreak of war? Government and stances? Hamer and Arnold and their differences?

13. The issue of feminism, the suffragettes, the vote, Lizzie and her campaigning, Anne and her participation? Hamer being old school, his understanding of men and women not having a place in politics? Anne and her protests, her quests, her speech and interrupting Hamer? Demonstrations, arrests, her being in prison, the hunger strike? Hamer getting help from Lettice, the issue of force-feeding? Anne going to the sanatorium, urging Hamer to be honest, that his convictions seemed to be from the outside not from inside himself? Her death?

14. The background of the miners, the strikes, the meetings, social justice issues? Arnold and his continuing to be radical? Hamer rousing the protests? The demonstrations, the troops, the gun, the death? The background of labour ethos with his grandfather, Waterloo and Peterloo, the military and their intervention, the story of his grandfather, seeing him in armour, the scabbard and the sword? The sword on the wall – the family emblem?

15. Post-war England, government, Hamer becoming more conservative, going to the miners and their despising him? The 20s, economic changes? The Wall Street collapse and its consequences? England?

16. Arnold and Hamer continuing to differ? Lizzie and her continued support? Hamer not remembering Anne’s advice? Tom and his lobbying him?

17. The mid 1930s, Hamer and his age, the issue of the peerage, his letter, wanting to accept despite his principles, not having children so therefore an exception? Lettice and her influence?

18. His final rambling acceptance speech, imagining Arnold, Tom and his presence and his sinister smile? Hamer taken away?

19. Hamer, the sword, stuck in the scabbard, his wanting to get it out? Symbol of what happened to his life? His walking away?

20. The film as pro-Labour, the UK after the war, Attlee as prime minister? The traditions from the 19th to the 20th century? The work of Nigel Balchin, the novelist, screenwriter? Echoing this postwar period?