EX-LADY

US, 1933, 67 minutes, Black and white.
Bette Davis, Gene Raymond, Frank Mc Hugh.
Directed by Robert Florey.

Ex- Lady was one of Bette Davis's starring roles. She handles it very professionally - with mannerisms that wore to mark her presence throughout a long career. She is matched with Gene Raymond a popular actor of the time but not so impressive now.

Ex- Lady is interesting for its presentation of moral attitudes in comparison with, say, the 70s. Direction is by Robert Florey, a French director in Hollywood for many years. The acting is somewhat stilted - very much that of a stage play. Of historical interest.

1. How interesting and entertaining melodrama? Of historical interest for Bette Davis, for the films of the early 30s? Technique, content?

2. Comment on the cinematic techniques, camera movement. staging, black and white photography, atmosphere of films before the code of the mid-30s? The place of a woman in society, attitudes towards marriage, permissiveness? Man-woman relationships? Parental attitudes, freedom? Suggestiveness - the shadow on the wall when the father visited? Moral stances of the 30s? later decades? Values? The assertion of being modern? An indication that human nature and styles do not change all that much?

3. How sympathetic a character did Bette Davis make Helen? A forward woman of the 30s, the hold of her parents and her moving away from them? Her relationship with Don and her refusal of marriage - the significance of their discussions about marriage, her light-hearted attitude, her independence? Wick and his always being present and wanting to have an affair with her? Her attitude towards her career and success, her age, having fun? Her not wanting to compromise? The reality of her love for Don and its influence on her decision about marriage? Her experience of marriage and its compromise? The repercussions for their work, her career, the honeymoon in Cuba? Jealousy? The nature of commitment? The importance of his seeming infidelity and her jealous reaction during the night? The importance of their arrangement - as lovers, rather than husband and wife? The repercussions for outings, jealousy? Their coming back together again?

4. The scene with Helen's parents - the old stances, the disgust of the father, sending the mother out of the room, hie seeing that Don was there? The patterns of behaviour and freedom from parents?


5. Nick as the man about town, his presence at the parties, at his exhibition, phone calls, with Helen on the town and at his apartment her allowing him to kiss her but feeling nothing - his enabling her to act her love for Don?

7. Don as hero? Pleasant, his work, creeping back at night? His proposal and what was behind it? The effect of marriage? kids worried about his work, the enjoyment of Havana and yet the going down of the business after his return? A liaison with Peggy? His reaction to the crisis and discussion with Helen? His agreement to the arrangement? Peg and jealousy? How convincing was his return to Helen?

8. A picture of American society - F as the bored, rich wife, hunting after Don, wanting a divorce? The husband and his incessant talk to Van and his culture - at the art exhibition, with discussions, the singer, his jealousy of Iris his wife, and attitudes towards losing her, going around to the parties? The presentation of fashion, the world of advertising? The moral implications of the arrangement and Its effect on Helen and Don?

9. The build-up to the crisis - the final compromise or was it real love?

10. The significance of the title and its explanation during the film?