EYE OF THE DEVIL
UK, 1966, 90 minutes, Black and White.
Deborah Kerr, David Niven, Donald Pleasence, Edward Mulhare, Flora Robson. Emlyn Williams, David Hemmings, Sharon Tate.
Directed by J. Lee Thompson.
The Eye of the Devil is an interesting occult thriller, set in France, though British produced. An alternative title was the suggestive Thirteen. David Niven starred and acts in his usual dapper manner. He is teamed with Deborah Kerr (as he was in such films as Separate Tables, Casino Royale and Prudence and the Pill). However, Kim Novak was originally to have played the role. Quite a number of strong British character actors fill out the supporting roles quite interestingly e.g. Emlyn Williams, Donald Pleasence, Flora Robson. The film also marks early appearances of David Hemmings and Sharon Tate. Set in modern times, the film was produced in the mid-sixties prior to cinema interest in the occult. To that extent, it may appear somewhat dated. It was directed by J. Lee Thompson who has made a wide variety of films in England and America from Tiger Bay to the Guns of Navarone, to Mackenna's Gold to The White Buffalo.
1. Was this an enjoyable film? How interesting, how frightening? How serious was it in its intentions execution? Did it seem ludicrous, as some critics said in its execution? Why?
2. The meaning of the title and its tone? Would the original title have been better - The Day of the Arrow? Why? The original screenplay title was 13.
3. How effective was the black and white photography? The style of photography, the panning and zooms, the quick editing for a collage effect for frightening? Dream sequences and fantasies? Did this add to the atmosphere of the film or not?
4. How credible was the film? How credible the story? Did it seem real? Are people as superstitious as this? Do ancient religious practices have modern vestiges? The hold of religion and superstition on people? The link with the crops and with the fruitfulness of the land? People's survival? The need for sacrifice? The linking of paganism and Christianity?
5. Was this credible in France? As the village was presented with its people symbols, crops, the town conspiracy the hold of the priest all the traditions and the constant reference to the middle-ages and the family heritage?
6. How was the audience involved in the film? The collage of symbols and events in the pre-credits sequence? The editing? The society background of the opening? The contrast with the train and the summons for the Duke? Audience identification with Catherine and her attitude toward the proceedings?
7. How attractive and sympathetic a heroine was Catherine? Audience sympathy with her scepticism? The atmosphere of fear for her, danger,, being threatened to death? The shooting of the dove, the luring over the parapet etc.? Her response of love to Philippe, to her children, her sense of protection of her children - on the parapet? The atmosphere of mystery with her seeing the ceremony? The religious background? Her growing sense of helplessness and victimisation? The examples in the woods with the monks? Being locked in,, the doctor etc.?
8. Was Philippe a credible character? Sympathetic,, with David Niven's performance? The hold that tradition and family had on him,, his obeying, response to danger? The clash with his love for his family and Catherine's urgings to give it up? (The fact that his father had escaped death?) The nature of his sacrifice? His participation in ceremonies? The nature of his death and the atmosphere of fear? Audience response to this story?
9. The importance of Estelle and her reluctance to face the facts - her secrecy, her dramatic function in the film towards Catherine and Philippe, her protection of the children, her screaming in the Church, her telling the truth to Catherine? The irony that she was no help?
10. The dramatic function of Alain in the film - the initial warning, the belief about his death, the story that he told to Catherine and its contrast with what was going on?
11. The sinister effect of Fr. Dominic? Was this exaggerated or real? His hold on the count, his participation in the rights, his control over Odile and Christian? The irony at the end with the son?
12. How credible were Odile and Christian? As symbols? The style of Christian's behaviour - on the horse, with the Arrow, trumpeting from the tower? As nonpersons and menacing? Odile and the children and her magic with the dove? Her luring of Catherine to death? Christianne and his riding shooting the dove and threatening Catherine, executing Philippe?
13. How well-photographed and presented were the ceremonies - their link with the paintings, the reality of death? The use of the Mass for the Black Mass? The horror of Catherine escaping from the monks?
14. How interesting was the presentation of the village conspiracy? The focusing on faces, the workers in the fields, the doctor and the policeman?
15. How did Jean- Claude contrast with the goings on? His research. to help Catherine? His helplessness in the situation?
16. How important were the children in the film? The atmosphere of their relationship to their parents, love, the fascination of Jacques? His response to Odile and Christian? His final going back and kissing the eye of the devil?
17. Was the film a success as regards suspense? Eeriness? Its insight into religion and superstition? Its exploration of values of modern society, superstition, and the repercussions of this?
