THE VICTORS
UK, 1963, 175 minutes, Black and white.
George Hamilton, George Peppard, Eli Wallach, Vincent Edwards, Rosanna Schiaffino, James Mitchum, Maurice Ronet, Jeanne Moreau, Romy Schneider, Michael Callan, Peter Fonda, Melina Mercouri, Senta Berger, Elke Sommer, Albert Finney.
Directed by Carl Foreman.
The Victors is a grim spectacle about World War 11. It was made in the early 60's at the time of the heightening of nuclear fear. It is a retrospect on the ugliness of war and has a grim determination to persuade its audiences that war is horrible. Filmed in Europe in grim black and white photography, it was written and directed by Carl Foreman who is more noted as a producer and as a screenplay writer, e.g. "Born Free" and "Young Winston". It used many of the up and coming actors of Hollywood at the time, for example George Peppard. It also used many of the continental leading ladies of the time from Jean Moreau to Elke Sommer and Senta Berger. The film is episodic and ranges over the involvement of Americans in Europe. The Victors is an ironic title and this is borne out especially in the senseless final fight between two soldiers in the dark streets of Berlin. The film is grim entertainment but is one of those important films about the meaninglessness of war. Saul Bass's collage of actual war footage in the credits importantly sets the tone.
1. what would audiences expect from such a title? Was this the tone of the film? Was this a successful war-film? A successful anti-war film? How bitter was the mood behind the making of the film?
2. Was the film an observation of war and an observation of what happens with some moral comment, or was it an exploration of the effects of war on individuals and on peoples? Both? For what audience was this film made? For a specialist audience who is anti-war? For the general audiences to stir them on the issue of war?
3. Comment on the use of black and white photography, Panavision, the selection of incidents, the overall impact of the film in its techniques? How did this atmosphere give meaning to the themes of the film?
4. How authentic did the events in this film seem? How authentic were the persons portrayed? Did this seem to be a picture of a real war or was it a contrived film of war? How was this evident in the techniques? In the selection of incident?
5. What was the value of focusing attention on a small unit and seeing its progress through the war and through Europe? Did this serve as a microcosm of the war? Or did this small unit and its individuals seem too isolated from the rest? Or does this happen in war?
6. How valuable was the newsreel footage added into the film? Did it add to the air of authenticity? How was it used for moral judgements about the war? e.g. Shirley Temple's wedding? Was patriotism being attacked in this presentation of newsreel material or was it being used to jolt consciences?
7. What was the overall impression of men in war? How much heroism? How much ordinariness? The cruelty and callous aspects of war? The supportive elements of human comfort in war? The drastic effects that war has on men's lives, making them do things they would never normally do? Was this an important part of the message?
8. How important was it that these men in war made a journey through Europe? The settled beginning in London, progress through Italy, France and the Low Countries? Americans away from home and the effect of these countries on them? The local colour of the countries and the battles fought there? The importance of the Italian people, the French Resistance and their relentless attack etc. What comment on the European war was being made via American soldiers?
9. What insight into men in war, into victors did the character of Craig give? Tough, thoughtful, and N.C.O., his views on war, his helping the men? His encounter with the French woman, its effect on him and on her? Their discussions, the consolation they offered each other? The irony of Craig's face being shot, his hospitalisation? What did he symbolise in war?
10. What point was being made through the character of Chase? The typical Yank, tough, lazy, irresponsible? Gaining responsibility in the war situation, the encounter with Magda and the challenge and the temptation to change, his shrewdness, yet his integrity in returning to war, his being wounded? What was symbolised in this character?
11. What point was being made bout men in war through the character of Trower: a solemn young man, more thoughtful than the others, the war disrupting his life, his emotional changes, his infatuation with Regina, his delight and his disillusionment, his naivety, the effect of war on him as a victor, in Berlin, the encounter with Helga, her sister, the irony of the pointlessness of his death? What was symbolised through this character about men in war?
12. The portrayal of the women? The film's theme of women in war: the French woman, her culture, her being terrified and seeking consolation; Magda, the good-time girl and the black-market exploiting the war, her power over others: Regina as the ordinary young girl, her violin-playing etc. her going to the bad during the war; the effects of war on the two girls in Berlin, Helga, and her love; her sister and the compromises that needed to be made (and the reaction of their parents?) What was being said about war changing peoples' loves in the portrayal of these women? Were these sequences real or melodramatic?
13. How heavy was the irony in the pointless death? Two men who did not understand each other? Two victors destroying themselves? The ultimate effect of war? Brutalising men to destruction?
14. What were the basic messages of this film; e.g. Frank Sinatra and the execution,. the white flag and the continued shooting, the Sikh soldier etc.?
15. How valuable is a film like this,, even if it does not present a complete picture? How important is it to provoke consciences and evoke an anti-war mood?
