YOUNG AND INNOCENT
UK, 1937, 80 minutes, Black and white.
Derrick de Marney, Nova Pilbeam, Percy Marmont.
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
Young and Innocent is a slight romantic melodrama by Hitchcock in his English period - the film reflects the limitations of budget and English production in the 30s with its stylised presentation and reliance on sets and studio work. However, the film is very enjoyable, has anticipations of so many of Hitchcock's films, especially the chase of the innocent hero e.g. Saboteur and North By North West. Nova Pilbeam also anticipates the attractive blonde heroines of Hitchcock's Hollywood period. There are many technical innovations in the film which are quite striking, especially the long tracking sequence in the restaurant.
1. The focus of the title? The American title was A Girl Was Young. Which was the more appropriate? Why?
2. The impact of the film as a Hitchcock film, from his British period? Budget, studio and location work, British stars? Quality of the black and white photography and styles of the '30s? Music?
3. The relationship of this film to his others, especially with the chase, the innocent victim? The journey theme? How good a chase, journey, innocent victim thriller?
4. The importance of the audience seeing the prologue. the atmosphere of the murder, the murderer himself, the circumstantial evidence for Robert? The body, the beach, the women, the hero running? The irony of the truth? The importance of the audience knowing the truth? The indication of the murderer's blinking?
5. Robert's predicament, the ordinary young man, being made to prove his innocence, the encounter with the police? The device of his fainting and the introduction of Erica to help him? His decision to go on the run? A right decision or not? The need to prove innocence?
6. The film's using the structure of the journey: the build-up of the suspense, the number of predicaments. the town. the countryside. hiding in the hayloft, the car? Which particular incidents were the most enjoyable, comic, suspenseful? His seeking of information, the information spreading about his guilt? The move towards finding his coat, the search and the various details of the search, leading to the old tramp? The urgency of the quest?
7. How attractive a heroine was Erica, British heroine of the '30s, her relationship with her father, the first aid situation, her encounter with Robert, attraction but not believing him? The sequences in the family, especially the nature of the talk, comedy, the meal? The tension with Erica's helping Robert and her loyalty to her father? Hiding him in the loft? The decision to help him with the car? The various devices she used to hide him? Why was she helping?
8. The key sequence of the party with its suspense? The humour of Robert's giving a gnome as a present? The chatter, Uncle and Aunt, Aunt's overpowering character, the children's games. Blind Man's Buff, the ambiguity of introductions and explanations of work etc.? Their escape?
9. Old Will and his importance for the plot? His helping? The sequences of the railway yard?
10. The build-up to the restaurant sequence. the police searching for Robert and Erica. old Will dressed up, the impact of the special tracking sequence across the restaurant and the dancers to the orchestra. culminating with the blink? What was the impact on the audience of the blink? The murderer becoming fearful, the chaotic band-playing, his fainting and the discovery of the truth with Erica present? The revelation of the identity?
11. How effective a comedy, thriller? Blend of both?
