THE WINSLOW BOY
UK, 1948, 117 minutes, Black and white.
Robert Donat, Cedric Hardwicke, Margaret Leighton, Frank Lawton, Jack Watling, Basil Radford, Kathleen Harrison, Francis L. Sullivan, Marie Lohr, Wilfrid Hyde White, Ernest Thesiger.
Directed by Anthony Asquith.
The Winslow Boy is a film adaptation of the celebrated play by Terence Rattigan (which was revived with great success on stage during the 1990s). Rattigan adapted his play for the screen, opening it up from the rooms of the family which was the setting for the play. The film was directed by Rattigan's long-time collaborator Anthony Asquith (The VIPs). The film is something of a classic of post-war British cinema.
The film was also a star vehicle for Robert Donat, who had already won an Oscar in 1939 for Goodbye, Mr Chips. A man of delicate health, he did not make many films. His portrayal of the lawyer Sir Robert Morton is one of his best performances. There is a strong supporting cast, especially Sir Cedric Hardwicke as the father of the boy. Margaret Leighton appears in one of her earliest roles, as the strong daughter.
There was a critique of Rattigan's plays during the '60s with the reaction by the kitchen sink dramatists and the angry young men that Rattigan and other playwrights confined their action to drawing rooms. However, in retrospect, Rattigan's plays have a perennial value - they portray aspects of human nature with great insight but they also are critical of British status quo and so still have relevance in later more critical decades. The film's critique of the navy and its critique of the presumptions of the establishment that individuals could not stand up against them is particularly relevant, especially as expressed in the motto, `That right be done'.
The film was remade in the late 90s to great critical acclaim by American playwright, David Mamet, who admired Rattigan's command of language. Nigel Hawthorne played the father, Jeremy Northam Sir Robert and Mamet's wife, Rebecca Pidgeon, the outspoken daughter.
1.An interesting film in terms of character, themes, Britain in the first half of the 20th century and its traditions? Is the film dated?
2.British cinema during the '40s, after World War II? The work of Terence Rattigan in the theatre, his adaptations for the screen? The period of 1912 seen from the perspective of the '40s? In the perspective of later decades and critique of authority? The civilised British style, a mirror of British society? Issues of honour, honour as a past value, contemporary value? The nature of change?
3.The black and white photography, the restraint, close-ups, speeches, controlled emotion?
4.The cast and their strengths? The opening out of the play? The reliance on the strength of the dialogue? Rattigan's perspective on his era? `That right be done'? Justice - and Morton's note, `Impossible'? The theme of justice and rights, Magna Carta, principles, sacrificing oneself for principles? The title of the film and the highlighting of issues?
5.The background of the navy school, the armed services and their codes, lifestyle, discipline? The experience of the school? The cashing of the cheque? The cover-up? Justice not being seen to be done? The valuing of reputation? The British status quo of 1912? Audiences identifying with the themes and the critique?
6.The portrait of the Winslow family - an ordinary British family of the period, affluent but not wealthy, the maid and the cook, their lifestyle, the stratum of society within which they lived, social contacts? Arthur and his age, experience, retired? His love for his wife, for his children? His wife and her being in the background - yet forceful at home? Her role in the household, domestic care? (And the humour of her getting to the courts through the reporters by saying that she was a maid and she didn't know anything?) Dickie and his happy-go-lucky attitude towards life? Catherine and her seriousness? Support for her father? Ronnie at the naval academy, his age and experience, their hopes in him?
7.Ronnie at the academy, his friends, lifestyle and studies, discipline? The case, his explanation? His not being able to have defence support? The concern about reputation? His being sent away? The concern of his parents, telling the truth to his father? The visit of Sir Robert Morton, his being interrogated, its turning into an ordeal? Morton declaring him innocent? The preparation for the case? The passing of time? His being cross-examined by the attorney-general in the court? His being made to seem guilty? Sir Robert and the question about the cigarettes and the missing time? His being at the pictures when the decision was made, his going out with his father to face the press?
8.Arthur Winslow and his age, his concern about his son and reputation, honour? His becoming obsessed (and his wife later becoming desperate)? Desmond and the giving of advice about lawyers? Sir Robert Morton and the initial interview, his wanting to intervene during the cross-examination? His being bewildered by Sir Robert's style? The following of the case, the passing of time, the seeming helplessness? The draining of finances? His discussion with Dickie about his leaving the university? His concern about Catherine and her dowry, the possibility of marrying? The letter from John about his father and leaving the decision to Catherine? His hopes, illness? Attentiveness in the court? His being overwhelmed at the end and the visit of Sir Robert? Going out with Ronnie to face the press?
9.Catherine and her strength, her place in the family, the eldest? Her love for John, the possibility of marriage - and his being pressurised by his father and the marriage falling through? John marrying someone else? Her critique of Sir Robert? Antagonism towards him - and choking on her sandwich? The interactions between herself and Sir Robert? The discussion with Desmond - and his proposal of marriage? Her refusal? Her admission at the end that she was wrong - especially in learning about Sir Robert turning down the role of Chief Justice? The possibilities of further meetings...?
10.Dickie, happy-go-lucky, bookmakers, studies, cavalier attitude? His father talking to him about studies - and his having to leave university? His transition to the bank - easy attitude, commenting to the press?
11.Desmond, the family friend, his help with the selection of lawyers, his cricketing background, his visits, the proposal to Catherine?
12.Sir Robert Morton and his reputation, his arrival at the Winslow household, his timetable, dinner appointment? His seeming arrogance, bearing and style, manner of speaking? His cross-examining Ronnie and putting the pressure on him - and the declaration that he was plainly innocent? His relationship with other lawyers, the discussions with the First Lord of the Admiralty, on the golf course, drinks? The Winslows puzzlement by his behaviour? His being in the House of Commons, the dramatic departure? His interview? His going back into the House of Commons, taunting the Chief Justice? His strong speech about rights? The victory? His turning down the role of Chief Justice? His coming to visit the Winslows? The portrayal of his skills as a lawyer and as a parliamentary speaker?
13.The theme of honour, justice, that right be done?
14.The presentation of the admiralty and the naval officials? The First Lord and his wanting to brush the issue aside? The parliamentary responses? The officer and his being cross-examined in court - and his own court martial and having an advocate?
15.The attorney-general, his conduct of the case, cross-examination of Ronnie? His interjections with Sir Robert Morton?
16.The witnesses in the court - the sequence with the expert on handwriting and his ignorance of methods and his arrogance towards the jury? The woman at the post office and her criteria for remembering Ronnie as being a good-looking boy? Sir Robert Morton and his demolition of the witnesses?
17.The dramatic presentation of the news of the victory - not in the courts but in the room in the house (as in the play)? The maid and her excitement, her devotion to the family, an emotional outburst with which the audience could identify? The quiet response of the family?
18.The press, their hounding the family, interviews? The headlines?
19.Terence Rattigan and the civilised style of his writing? The social critique and subversive elements in his treatment of themes - making his plays relevant after the period in which they were set and written?
