UNTIL THEY SAIL

US, 1957, 95 minutes, Black and white.
Jean Simmons, Joan Fontaine, Paul Newman, Piper Laurie, Charles Drake, Sandra Dee.
Directed by Robert Wise.

Until They Sail is an enjoyable melodramatic romance. It was an early film with Paul Newman. However, the feminine leads are very strong, especially Jean Simmons and Piper Laurie pulling out all the stops. Joan Fontaine has the most interesting role as the complex and reserved older sister. The film has a New Zealand setting with a background of wartime romances with American soldiers. The screen play is based on a novel by James A. Michener. Direction is by Robert Wise, who made a substantial number of entertaining films in the '50s before moving to wider scope with West Side Story, The Sound Of Music and The Sand Pebbles in the '60s. Interesting as a glimpse of how life was during World War Two in Australian and New Zealand.

1. The meaning of the title in context, the indications of themes via this title, the implicit irony? (The song and its lyrics for the theme?)

2. A film of the '50s, black and white photography, New Zealand atmosphere, the use of sentiment and audience involvement? Message through sentiment and feeling?

3. The importance of the structure: the flashback and the trial, some suspense about the issues concerning Delia, the anticipation of the happy ending for Barbara? How did this govern audience response to the total film?

4. The importance of themes of war: the sudden effects on people's lives, changing direction of lives, the nature of sorrow? How was this illustrated in the New Zealand atmosphere, the hostility of New Zealanders towards Americans? The role of New Zealand men going to war, women waiting, receiving news of death, becoming involved with Americans? The court case as an indication of public opinion on this them?

5. The film's exploration of the emotions of war: deaths, marriages, loneliness, the investigation of New Zealand wives, the Bates family searching for their daughter-in-law and granddaughter etc.?

6. How was the Leslie family a symbol for these issues? The variety of emotional involvement and the sharing of this involvement? Their learning through their feelings and the truth about themselves? The significance of the four at the parade at the beginning and the parade at the end?

7. Barbara as the strong character: Jean Simmons' performance? Her memory of Mark, using her head to organise the family, her practical and balanced nature? Her supervision of Eve, her wanting Anne to broaden her outlook, her sympathy for Delia and the visit to Wellington? Her encounter with Jack and sympathy for him? Her courtesy towards Bates and the promotion of the marriage? Her awareness of Delia's lack of love for China? The sequence of learning of Mark's death? The effect of time on her sorrow? A new growing in love? The disappointment of the trial and its effect on her? The happy ending, the significance of the hesitation outside the room?

8. How was Anne a contrast with Barbara? Her emphasis on decency, hostility towards the Americans, censorious towards Eve and Delia? The shop scene as important for showing her primness? Her letter to the paper? Her change with the arrival of Bates? Growing in love and its effect on her? Her pregnancy and her sympathy for Delia? The phone call to Delia? Coping with her predicament? The happiness with the child and going to America? The optimism in this characterisation?

9. The contrast with Delia: always a flirt, bored and marrying, her lack of happiness at the marriage. her later irritation with China? The decision to have a good time in Wellington? The visualising of this? The divorce and the melodramatics of her death?

10. The contrast with Eve: the young girl, enthusiastic, easily falling in love, growing up through these experiences?

11. Jack - was he a credible character? Paul Newman's style? His explanation of his life and his work? His involvement with the Leslie family? His love for Barbara? The happy ending?

12. The presentation of Americans abroad? What comment was being made?

13. The trial sequence as a summary of the war scenes?

14. What value has a film like this? Its portrayal of human values, strengths and weaknesses? The impact today, so long after the war?