THE SCARLET TUNIC
UK, 1998, 95 minutes, Colour.
Jean- Marc Barr, Emma Fielding, Simon Callow, Jack Shepherd, John Sessions, Lynda Bellingham.
Directed by Stuart Saint Paul.
The Scarlet Tunic is based on an eight-page short story by Thomas Hardy, The Melancholy Hussar. It is a more modest production than the big versions of Hardy’s novels, Far from the Madding Crowd, Tess, Jude the Obscure. It is more on a level with the smaller-budget films, The Woodlanders (released at this time), The Return of the Native.
The scenery is very impressive, a range of Dorset locations and coast being used as backdrop. The cast is interesting with Jean- Marc Barr portraying the hussar, a German soldier, stationed with his troops in England during the Napoleonic Wars. Simon Callow overacts as their leader, Captain Fairfax, who seems to have something for the hussar. Emma Fielding is very gracious and attractive as Frances, the daughter of the landowner (Jack Shepherd) where the soldiers do their training.
As always with Hardy, there is more than a melancholy touch. Frances is betrothed to a businessman from Bath (John Sessions) but is neglected by him. She is attracted to the hussar. However, with the lull in the wars against Napoleon, the soldiers are to be transferred to the Indies and many of them want to desert. There is a possibility for the hussar and Frances to leave – but the film ends in tragedy.
This is very much a presentation of 19th century doomed romanticism – with the expert touch of England’s ability to make period films.
1.The work of Thomas Hardy? His perspective on England? On the west country? His melancholic and tragic perspective?
2.The beauty of the Dorset countryside, the house, the land? The coast and the beach? The rousing score, its romantic tones?
3.The Napoleonic Wars, the situation in England, troops from abroad training in England? Captain Fairfax and his men? The business deal with Mr Gould so that they could camp on the Groves’ estate? Doctor Grove welcoming them? The presentation of the training exercises? The men and their boredom, going to the town, in the taverns? The relationships?
4.Captain Fairfax, dominant, rigid? His spurning of the men? Condemning their practice? Urging more? His focus on Sergeant Singer? Playing chess, his reprimands, clinging to him? His reaction to the deserters? Singer captured, his being lined up for execution – and Fairfax giving the word? Doctor Grove ordering the troops from the property?
5.Sergeant Singer, his background, his charm? Meeting the Groves family, meeting Frances? Dottie and her obsession with the hussar? His role with the troops, the training, reprimands by Captain Fairfax? His chance meeting with Frances? His liking silence, reading, poetry? Captain Fairfax’s attack on him for reading poetry? Unbefitting a soldier? The continued meetings with Frances? Decorum? The day at the beach, the sexual relationship? The invitation for Frances to go with the deserters? His waiting for her, the boat going with his brother, his indebtedness to his brother for saving his life in battle, for being lashed when he had the day with Frances, the horse collapsed and he had to shoot it? His death, love for Frances?
6.Frances, her age, background, arranged marriages? Mr Gould, the proposal, discussions with Doctor Grove? The dowry? The keepsake? Frances accepting it? The lack of letters from Mr Gould? Parsons bringing the rumours against him? Her becoming infatuated with Sergeant Singer, the meetings, the discussions, the day out with him? Her deceiving her father? Emily’s support? Dottie supporting her? The decision to go with the sergeant, leaving the house, overhearing Mr Gould, deciding to return? The confrontation with Mr Gould, the truth about his relationship with another woman? Her hurrying to the beach? Her thinking that the sergeant had gone? Dottie telling her that he had been arrested? Her hurrying into the camp, the sergeant being lined up for execution, her taking the rifle, her shooting Mr Gould?, her being shot by Fairfax? Her dying with the sergeant?
7.Doctor Grove, widower, love for his children, Mr Gould persuading him of the business deal about the camp? The household, the relationship with Emily? Care for his daughter, cautioning her about Mr Gould? His reaction to her love for the sergeant? Going to the execution, the death of Frances, ordering Captain Fairfax away?
8.Mr Gould, businessman, the courting of Frances? His fickleness, his return?
9.Kristoff, the sergeant’s brother, the bonds between them? Saving his life in battle? The decision to leave – his rowing away? His return to the graves, meeting Dottie and his niece?
10.The soldiers, Amy Parsons, relationships?
11.The background of soldiering, the pomp, the uniforms? The pomposity of the leaders? The role of Napoleon? The aftermath, peace? The ending – and life having to be lived, Doctor Grove and Emily, Kristoff’s visit, Dottie and the little girl?
