JULIE

US, 1956, 99 minutes, Black and white.
Doris Day, Louis Jourdan, Barry Sullivan, Frank Lovejoy.
Andrew L. Stone.

Julie is a Doris Day vehicle. After many years at Warner Brothers in many musicals the highlight of which was Calamity Jane, she moved to other studios with Love Me or Leave Me, a high point in her career.

She was then in Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much, singing Que Sera Sera. She then made this hysterical thriller for Andrew Stone. (Stone made such films as The Last Voyage and then The Song of Norway and The Great Waltz.)

The plot was borrowed in the 70s for Airport 1975 especially where the distraught heroine has to pilot the plane. This may seem far fetched but the film makes it as plausible as possible.

Doris Day is good at this kind of hysterical dramatic role (as in Midnight Lace). Louis Jordan is a suave villain. The film seems somewhat dated now but it is quite an enjoyable suspense thriller especially geared towards a women’s audience.

1. The title, opening song, Doris Day, the film as a Doris Day vehicle? Successful?

2. The film as a product of the fifties, psychology and madness, the menace of a mad husband on a wife, the disaster atmosphere? Comparisons with such examples of the seventies?

3. Black and white photography, San Francisco and California locations, the focus on the plane?

4. How credible was the plot? How plausible did the screenplay make the plot? Especially Julie's bringing the plane in at the end?

5. The importance of pace, the Concerto, the strident music? Atmosphere of fear, hysterics, danger, women identifying with Julie?

6. The opening with Julie's brush, the speeding car and its implications for Julie, her dead husband, his suicide or murder? Lyle and his jealousy? The creation of atmosphere for the tension of the film?

7. How was this compounded by Julie's relying on Cliff? Discussions with him, the morning at the club, drinks and Lyle's suspicions? Cliff suggesting the murder theory?

8. Julie's voiceover commentary, her plan and the carrying out of it, learning the truth? Her deceiving of Lyle, the consequences in the morning, her trying to escape and Lyle's pursuit?

9. The build-up of tension with his continual following of her, tormenting her, for example with the tape recorder at the phone, outside the apartment? His tracking down Cliff, pursuit and shooting him? (The old man and his sensible coping with the situation?)

10. The transition to Julie as air hostess, her friend and the apartment, the importance of being called up for the flight? The police missing her?

11. The contrast with Lyle and his shrewdness, being on the plane?

12. The contribution of the police, their inability to help without any evidence, Pringle and his interest, his coming to the aid of Julie and his decisions an regards action in the plane?

13. The plane situation, the pilot and co-pilot discussing, Pringle's advice? Julie's handling of the situation? The sudden crisis and the shooting, the brutality? Lyle and his motives and malice, death?

14. The scenes of panic and the panicking lady? The doctor and his control?

15. The credibility of Julie bringing the plane in, a hostess, being advised by the co-pilot, radar? Dramatics, melodramatics, final success?

16. How enjoyable a thriller? The soap opera melodrama overtones and audiences identifying with this?