THE PARADINE CASE
US, 1947, 110 minutes, Black and white.
Gregory Peck, Ann Todd, Charles Laughton, Alida Valli, Louis Jourdan, Ethel Barrymore, Charles Coburn, Leo G. Carroll.
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
The Paradine Case is one of Hitchcock's films that has created controversy among critics. However, it is a most interesting example of Hitchcock's work. The film has a court case background and, with Charles Laughton in court (as he was in Witness for the Prosecution), these sequences are compelling. The details of the murder are difficult to follow as are the tangled relationships of the protagonists, played by Alida Valli (who was intended as a new Ingrid Bergman) and Louis Jourdan, who was at the beginning of his Hollywood career. The focus of interest is the central hero with a dilemma which he does not entirely see - like the hero of Vertigo he is fascinated by the surface innocence of a woman and is led far beyond his intentions. The hero is Gregory Peck, who had just made Spellbound for Hitchcock, and although he is not entirely convincing as an English lawyer, the film on the whole is worthwhile.
1. Was this a typical Hitchcock film?
2. Why do people find court-case films interesting? Was this a good example?
3. The theme was appearances versus reality. How was this illustrated in the film? It opened showing sympathy towards Mrs Paradine. Was Keane deceived by appearances and almost destroyed by reality?
4. Was conscience an important theme? People said they sought the truth in the name of conscience. How did the film show that people can deceive themselves in the name of conscience? Loyalty was also important. Comment on the loyalty of Mrs Paradine, Latour, Lady Sophie.
5. How did Hitchcock successfully manipulate audience sympathy? With whom were your sympathies during the film? Why did they change so much?
6. Did Hitchcock make the proceedings more credible by giving background to the trial? Give examples.
7. Was Anthony Keane a sympathetic hero? Could audiences identify with him? Was he successful?
8. Gay Keane - was she sympathetic? What qualities did she have as a wife and as a support to her husband?
9. Mrs Paradine - the initial dignity of her going to prison contrasting with the truth of the matter at the end? Did Mrs Paradine really try to deceive Keane? Whom was she protecting - herself or Latour?
10. The judge - your impression of him at the initial dinner, his supercilious attitude towards Keane, lascivious attitude towards Gay Keane, boorishness towards his wife? The irony of such a man conducting the trial and passing judgement? Why did he try to intimidate Keane?
11. Lady Sophie - a bewildered ordinary woman, subdued by her husband, sympathetic towards Mrs. Paradine?
12. Andre Latour - what kind of man was he? His infatuation with Mrs Paradine?
13. What did Sir Simon and his daughter add to the film?
14. Obsession - how was this illustrated by Keane during the film?
15. Trace Hitchcock's skill in showing the changing relationship between Mrs Paradine and Keane - in the prison interviews, in court, in the final court revelations.
16. Was the ending successful?
