WINDOM'S WAY

UK, 1957, 108 minutes, Colour. Rank.
Peter Finch, Mary Ure, Natasha Parry, Robert Flemyng, Michael Hordern.
Directed by Ronald Neame.

Windom's Way is one of those many films made in Britain during the '50s which featured a group of popular stars, showed England and the last vestiges of Empire. This film focuses on Peter Finch as a doctor, Mary Ure as his wife. There are good character supports from Robert Flemyng and Michael Hordern as a plantation owner. The setting is Malaya in the '50s, the uprisings, the Communist fears, the role of the British in administration and their working with the local military to flush out rebellions.

The story is one of the end of colonialism, critical of colonial power and abuse of the Malayans. It is also a story of compassion as Windom is a doctor doing his best for the locals. There is some emotional drama, a focus on social themes, a critique of aspects of the British Empire. A strength of the film is its interesting and attractive location colour photography.

1. An interesting and entertaining film? About the British? About empire? About Malaya? Its relevance in the 1950s? Subsequently?

2. The quality of the location photography and its contribution to the mood and atmosphere of the story? Authenticity? Action sequences? Musical score?

3. The title and the focus on Alex Windom? The Briton out in the Empire? Serving the people? The humanitarian doctor? His not being able to manage his life and marriage in England? His success in Malaya? His sympathy for the Malayans? His becoming involved in their cause? Experiencing the injustices? His decision to stay, support the locals, continue his work as a doctor?

4. The portrait of Alex Windom - and Peter Finch's presence and style? The opening with his work in the ward, the birth of the children? The devotion of Anna? His friendship with Jaiv and the locals? The revered father of the villagers? The interchanges with the Mayor? The telegram, and the arrival of his wife? The tension between the two? The attempts at reconciliation? Lee and her changing, helping him in his work? The clashes with Patterson and the arguments about the growing of rice, the rubber plantations? His listening to the point of view of the Malayans? The traditions of rice-planting? The need for work? The insurgents? George and his friendship? The local authorities and their critical views? The coming of the authorities from the capital? the riot and the deaths of the soldiers? Jaiv and the others fleeing to the mountains? Alex wanting to negotiate? His journey with the Mayor - and their being betrayed? His treatment by the soldiers, Jaiv, letting him go? His return? The clash? His views? The reconciliation with Lee? his returning to the ward?

5. Lee and the tensions in the marriage, her letter and telegram, arrival, the cool English woman, her regard for Anna, fop George? Her learning about the Malayan ways? Finding things difficult? Learning? The bonds with Alex, the reconciliation, swim? Her supporting him? Her diplomacy in giving the authorities a dinner and forcing their hand? her being warned to leave for the capital? Annals warning? Her trying to go to her husband, seeing Anna's death? Alex's return, her staying?

6. The locals and their lifestyle, the traditional Malayan ways, the villages? The growing of rice and its importance? The plantations and the getting of the rubber? Patterson and his exploitation? The Mayor and his trying to be an authority? Jaiv representing the workers? The temptation to join the revolutionaries? Tensions through Patterson? The military? The riot? The arrest of the venerable old man, his death? The intervention of the authorities, the insurgents persuading the young men to join them? The helicopters, the guns, the battles? Reflecting the experience of Malaya in the '50s?

7. Patterson and the colonial attitude, exploiting the locals, the demands for the rubber? Clashes with Windom? Using his authority? The differences of opinion in the capital? The local leader and his wanting to put down the uprising? Making an example? The critique of colonials through Patterson? The contrast with George and his sympathy, friendship with Windom and Lee, his helping?

8. The sketch of the Mayor, a figure of fun, his wanting to be an authority, going with Windom, the pathos of his execution?

9. The local Malayan authorities, their control, decisions, the military, the double standards, betrayal? Making an example of the people?

10. Human themes, Malaya, doctors and their service, local authority and uprisings, the end of the British Empire?