THE EUROPEANS
UK, 1979, 83 minutes, Colour.
Lee Remick, Robin Ellis, Tim Woodward, Wesley Addy, Lisa Eichhorn, Nancy New, Tim Choate, Kristin Griffith, Helen Stenborg, Norman Snow.
Directed by James Ivory.
So much of Henry James' writing focused on the interaction of American innocence and European experience - its fascination, power to change, contrast of manners and morals. Here the clash is on a small scale and on home U.S. ground - in beautiful autumnal New England. The writer-director team of Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and director James Ivory offer elegant, literate entertainment (in the B.B.C. series vein) focusing on four couples in a wealthy, prim, isolated and stern patriarchal society where passions smoulder under well-mannered surfaces. Lee Remick is the beautiful and wilful cousin who attempts to change the Americans. A supporting cast of character actors brings these Bostonians to life.
1. Audience interest in the writings of Henry James, his place in the English and American literary tradition, his being a man of America and Europe? The appeal of his writing, of his interest in character, the interaction of Americans with Europeans? Man-woman relationships? How well did the film give insight into James' writing?
2. The importance of the re-creation of the period, New England in the autumn and winter, stately homes, the colour, the seasons, the decorative interiors, the formality of life both at home and socialising, the religious background and the going to church? Nineteenth century Boston? The contribution of the score with its blend of classical music and American songs?
3. The American attitude towards the Europeans - apprehension and caution, fear, not being excited and yet being very excited? The contrast of manners, moral viewpoint? Language and languages? The subtle approach of the Europeans? Their experience, arrogance and snobbery towards the Americans, even the Bostonians? Their being bored, wanting to dominate? Tantalising the Americans? Offering them an alternative? How was this embodied in Eugenia and her approach to her family, in Felix? The contrast between the two?
4. How did the Europeans give an alternate view - as seen by Gertrude, the resistance of the other Bostonians? A different manner of talking, enjoying life, pleasure? The background of marriage, love, annulments? The religious differences - the Catholic European tradition and the Puritanical New England traditions? The Unitarians?
5. The picture of the New Englanders in their formality, religious beliefs and manner, their preoccupation with what they called 'the great questions', their seriousness, proper manner? Their attitude towards such lapses as drinking? The comparison of style and manners with the Europeans and their elegance and sophistication? The directness and lack of subtlety in the Americans? The inevitability of clash?
6. Eugenia embodying the European values? Her arrival and attitude, her reputation, her attitude towards her relations? Her lack of means, marital situation and title, her display of nerves on arrival? Her elegant antics and tantrums? Her taking up in the smaller house? Clothes, hairstyles, style in general? The collages of her activities and the impression of a European trying to cope with New England? Her visits, the dance, the audience with Mrs. Acton? Her effect on each of the members of the Wentworth family and on the Actons? Her leading Robert on, her playing with Clifford's affections, her manoeuvres for Felix? The contrast with Felix and his straightforwardness? The failure of Robert to respond to marriage? The final audience with Mrs. Acton and the encounter with Robert? Her preparations to leave? The European not being able to cope with America? How accurately was the portrait of Eugenia drawn?
7. The contrast with Robert Acton as the American? His place in his family, the two sequences with his mother and her observations, style, ability to cope with Eugenia? Wealthy background, fashionable home, his employment? His trip away and the buying of the gift for Eugenia - and his giving it to Lizzie? The Acton family entertaining? His being fascinated by Eugenia, puzzled? The sequences of their courting? Lizzie and her direct comments on Eugenia, her warning Robert against Eugenia? Robert's return from the trip, his visit to Eugenia and finding Clifford there and the later memory of this? His not being able to ask her hand, his comment about the overrating of love? His final offering of the coach to her? The American rejecting the European?
8. The picture of the Wentworth household: the father and his stern manner and appearance, Felix's comment and discussion about his appearance, his warning to his family about the Europeans, the family reading, the preoccupation about serious questions, Mr. Brand and his place,, his advice? The father's worry about Clifford and his drinking, the discussion with Felix about Eugenia helping him? His comments to Robert Acton about his visits to Eugenia? The sequence of his having to give his consent and his being pressurised? What did Mr. Wentworth symbolise?
9. Gertrude as the focus at the beginning of the film - an American, her being by herself at the start, Mr. Brand and his pursuit of her, her clash with him about herself, his proposals, her later comments about her not being interested in serious questions but in pleasure, her solitary living in imagination, her reading and Felix's arriving, her not being at church? Her shyness and primness of manner? Her infatuation with Felix, her letting herself be painted, enjoying this, dancing with him? Her romantic attitudes towards him? Mr. Brand and the sequence in the fields? The plan to get Charlotte to notice the attentions of Mr. Brand? Her discussions with Charlotte and her attitude towards her, her going to her bedroom to scream? Her arrival when Felix was proposing? Felix and his meting Gertrude, his talking about her to Eugenia, his return, love and infatuation, painting her and his explanations, the lyrical sequences together in the New England autumn, the plan and the manoeuvring of Mr. Brand and Charlotte? Felix and his enjoying of manoeuvring especially Eugenia's caring for Clifford? His speeches to both Mr. Brand and to Charlotte, his proposal and his honesty about himself, the type of future that he was offering Gertrude? A European future?
10. The portrait of Mr. Brand - the Unitarian, earnest, pursuing Gertrude, serious talking, the reading, the great questions, his attitudes towards the family, advice, his wariness of Gertrude, the rapport with Charlotte? His being hurt by Felix, finally agreeing to his manoeuvres, his offering to marry Gertrude and Felix? The happy ending and the serious future with Charlotte?
11. Clifford as the young member of the family, his infatuation with Eugenia, his drinking, his visits to her, his prim reactions to her worldly-wise talk? His return and discussion with Robert about Eugenia carrying off the deception? His love for Lizzie? Lizzie and Clifford as the young Americans? Lizzie and her sense of realism especially about Eugenia, her devotion to her mother, her advice to Robert?
12. The significance of the two sequences with Mrs. Acton and what they revealed about the Americans, the puzzle in coping with the Europeans, revealing Eugenia's attitudes?
13. The picturing of the seasons and their symbolism, experience and innocence in autumn and winter?
14. The relationships between men and women and their exploration, manners, surface propriety and smouldering passions, love, arranged marriages, appropriate courting, decisions? The setting of European talk with comparisons with the American talk about the serious issues of life?
15. Henry James' presentation of human nature, passion smouldering beneath respectable surfaces? An image of traditional American morality?
