Saturday, 18 September 2021 18:48

Slaughterhouse 5






SLAUGHTERHOUSE 5

US, 1972, 101 minutes, Colour.
Michael Sacks, Ron Leibmann, Valerie Perrine, Sharon Gans.
Directed by George Roy Hill.

Slaughterhouse - Five is an interesting film version of Kurt Vonnegut Jr's popular novel. It attempts to make a statement about twentieth century man in the character of Billy Pilgrim who, although he has become unstuck in time and moves from period to period, he always seems to arrive back at the horror of the Allied bombing of Dresden.

Perhaps Billy is too American for a universal Everyman, but he is certainly interesting as a U.S. figure. The film has much to offer in reflection on the significance of our century. The film is also clever in its fluid screenplay and the editing techniques used to make the time shifts. Newcomer Michael Sacks makes Billy credible in his various ages. (He also appeared in - The Sugarland Express). Direction is by George Roy Hill whose other films include - Toys in the Attic; Hawaii; Butch Cassidy; The Sting.

1. What is the significance of the title - a name to be repeated in case of necessity; a slaughterhouse, prison, camp?

2. How universal a character was Billy Pilgrim meant to be? Was he an Everyman? An American Everyman, a twentieth century Everyman?

3. What was the meaning and significance of Billy being 'unstuck' in time? Why had he become unstuck, what caused it, governed it?

4. How did the structure of the film and its editing (with smooth or abrupt or thematic illustrations of time shifts) illustrate the theme visually? Was it successful or difficult to follow?

5. Continent on the musical score, especially the use of piano.

6. What was the most important time in Billy's life? Why?

7. Piecing together the parts of Billy's life as portrayed, what was their significance and impact on his personality? Give instances and reasons.

8. What was the overall impact of the film? Emotionally, intellectually? What message was there for people of the 70's?

9. Why did the action of the film finally return to Dresden? How central was this? Why?

10. The outline of Billy's progress in time:
- Billy as a boy thrown into the swimming pool?
- Billy lost in the battle of the bulge?
- being found by Lazzaro and Co., being taken by the Germans?
- Lazzaro's resentment?
-the prostitutes at the windows and Billy's stepping on Willie?
- Willie's death in Lazzaro's arms?
- friendship with Edgar Derby?
- conversations about family, photos, war, with Derby?
- the English at the camp, the Gilbert and Sullivan welcome, the food, honesty, the British self-respect?
- electing a leader?
- the trip to Dresden (and its foggy beauty)? Derby as leader?
- Schlacthof-funf, life in Dresden, work in clearing rubble?
- the bombing (and the film's techniques of documenting times on the bombing day)?
- the young German, his girlfriend, his death in the burning building?
- Derby's death?
- Billy's return from war (and the visit of his mother - "Come out")?
- Billy marries Valencia, her promises to diet?
- his quiet life, house, children. Spot ("Alice Blue Gown")?
- his optometry?
- president of the Lion's club?
- children growing up, Barbara's marriage, Bobbie's delinquency in the cemetery (and paying the police)?
the happy birthday Cadillac?
the optometrist's flight and Billy's premonition, the crash and rescue, "Slaughterhouse-Five"?
Valencia's mad drive to the hospital (what was the point, was is too farcical?), her death, affect on Barbara?
Billy and his hospital companion discussing his book and theories of war and Dresden?
Billy alone in the house, the opening of the film, Robert's repentance, war service, salute?
Billy and Tralfamadore; why did he go there, what kind of "paradise" was it, the voices there, Montana Wildhack (and the previous drive-in sequence), "mating", love, peace, escape, a child etc. What was the significance of this "opting out" of earth's life?
Billy's speech, Lazzaro's vindictiveness, his death?

More in this category: « Momma's Man Sleuth »