PARANOIAC

UK, 1963, 80 minutes, Black and white.
Janette Scott, Oliver Reed, Sheila Burrell, Maurice Denham.
Directed by Freddie Francis.

Paranoiac is an entertaining thriller with many twists. Oliver Reed, at the beginning of his career, portrays a psychotic young man protected by his aunt. However, his long-lost brother turns up – but there are many twists, many characters trying to prove the others insane, inheritance money being the core problem.

The film was directed by Freddie Francis, celebrated cinematographer of such films as Sons and Lovers. In his directing career, he directed a number of psychological horror films.

1. Audience expectations from this kind of thriller? Fulfilment? The meaning and tone of the title, reference to the main characters?

2. What thriller conventions were used in this film? How well? For fear, surprise?

3. Black and white wide screen photography, sets and locations, the emphasis on the house and its detail, music?

4. The importance of the opening with the memorial, the introduction to the main characters and their backgrounds, the past events, themes? The effect of this for the audience and the plot?

5. First impressions of Eleanor? As a character, the explanation, her seeing things and people, her being convinced that she was mad? An attractive person, the victim of Simon and the false Tony? Was her character well presented?

6. Eleanor as a heroine? Her experiences with Simon, relationship with Francoise, falling in love with Tony, her relationship with Harriet? Her happiness with Tony, the picnic and the car hanging on the edge of the cliff, the growing terror? Paranoiac?

7. First impressions of Simon, smoking at the organ? As a wastrel, his hold on people, his madness and violence, the truth about the murder, his guilt complex and madness? His relationship with Eleanor and plotting against her, his hold over Harriet and performing bizarre accompaniments to his organ-playing? His attitude towards the false Tony? His plots, vengeance, death? A convincing paranoiac?

8. His use of Francoise? His power of love, sexuality? Her death?

9. The complexity of Tony and his part in the plot? Becoming the hero? Breaking through his fakery? Threats to Simon? Resolving the problems and rescuing Eleanor?

10. The significance of Harriet? Her role in the household, protection, wearing the mask, her violence, protection of Simon?

11. The film's presentations of motivation. madness and violence? The class setting of the film?

12. The effectiveness of shock and surprise devices?