WINTER KILLS
US, 1979, 97 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Bridges, John Huston, Anthony Perkins, Belinda Bauer, Sterling Hayden, Eli Wallach, Toshiro Mifune, Richard Boone, Ralph Meeker, Dorothy Malone, Tomas Milian, Elizabeth Taylor.
Directed by William Richert.
Winter Kills was written and directed by William Richert, who has directed only a few films: Success (also with Jeff Bridges) and the autobiographical A Night in the Life of Jimmy Riordan (with River Phoenix). He appeared to great effect as a Falstaff figure in My Own Private Idaho.
The film was adapted from a novel by Richard Condon, who has been transferred successfully to the screen by John Frankenheimer with The Manchurian Candidate and John Huston with Prizzi's Honour. However, he was less successful with this film and with Richard Quine's A Talent for Loving.
The film is a political conspiracy thriller with reference to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. In fact, tongue in cheek and with some satire, it parallels the Kennedy assassination in a number of details - especially with Eli Wallach as a latter-day Jack Ruby. However, the film and the novel go over the top with the suggestion that the assassination was masterminded by the president's father.
The film has an extraordinary star-studded cast, some big names appearing only momentarily (for example Toshiro Mifune). Jeff Bridges is persuasive as the central character. There is a superb performance (also over the top, as was his wont) by John Huston as the father. Anthony Perkins gets the opportunity to do another of his strange Psycho-like characters.
Entertaining - but perhaps only a highly coloured resume of Richard Condon's novel.
The film did not have wide release, was subsequently recut and re-edited - and both versions seem to be available.
1.The reputation of the film? Lack of success? Recuts?
2.The adaptation of a Richard Condon novel, Condon's perspective on American conspiracies? American themes - with a touch of satire? The work of William Richert and his adaptation of the novel?
3.The big-budget movie, elaborate sets, re-creation of the '50s and '60s, the gallery of stars?
4.American interest in conspiracy theories? The Kennedys and the Kennedy assassination? The plausibility of the plot? How seriously was it meant to be taken?
5.The significance and symbolism of the title?
6.Jeff Bridges as Nick Keegan: on board the boat, in the Malay Peninsula, his relationship with Kiefertz? With his father? Fletcher, the death, the information? The warnings about the deaths? The information about the assassination? Nick's decision to return? Myles and the Philadelphia police? The assassinations? Going to the shop, the gun? The woman on the bike and the killings? His going to his father, his relationship with his father, his father's tough attitudes? His sending him to see Cerruti? The dilemma and the search?
7.His visit to his mother, his relationship to her? Her neglect by her husband? His father and his demands? The household? Raymond, the black maid? His relationship with Yvette Malone, the phone call and the phone service, the answer? The affair with her, the sexual encounter? The meal, the job, his investigation and the truth about her work? The break-off? His visit to Dawson, the confrontation with the tanks? The visit to the chicken farm? The mob and the meetings, the bombs, Majo? The cumulative effect of all of these encounters and dangers on Nick?
8.The flashbacks and the build-up of information: Jack Diamond, the nightclub, the parallel with Jack Ruby, the origins of his wealth in Cuba, connections to the mob, Baker and the contract, pressures?
9.The flashbacks to Hollywood, Lola and her girls? (And Elizabeth Taylor in this guest role?) The world of Hollywood, contracts? Keegan and his association with the girls? His becoming president and his liaisons? Contracts, personalities - and Caspar Junior?
10.The portrait of the patriarch Keegan, tough, ambitious, money, power, control? His hold over his son? Getting him into the White House? His continued control, his son's reactions against him?
11.Anthony Perkins as Cerruti: his work, data gathering, tapping phones etc? Living in a science fiction world? The confrontation with Nick, his refusal to give information, his neurotic attitudes? The breaking of his arms? Keegan saying that Cerutti had the control?
12.Kiefertz and his reappearance? His being presumed dead? The identification as Caspar Junior? The mixed motives? His wanting to destroy Nick?
13.The character of Yvette Malone, her mysterious background, the relationship with Nick, her apartment and answering service? The job with the magazine, the research? The set-up, her being in Keegan's pay? Her death? Her still living with the answering service?
14.The build-up to the confrontation between father and son, the death of Kiefertz, the father telling the truth, the clash with his son, his manipulation of his president's son and the rebellion against him, his fall, hanging on to the American flag, sliding down the flag to his death? Ironic symbolism?
15.The world of the affluent Americans, big business connections and presumptions? Family relationships? Father and the clash with mother? Brother rivalry? The sons as victims of their father? Relationships? Truth? Failures? The father as grand manipulator and assassin? Nick's breaking free of his family, his future?
16.The array of minor characters - maids becoming attackers, women on bikes becoming assassins, mob connections, ex-policemen and their careers, memories of nightclubs, Hollywood? An American gallery?
16.The film as an American thriller, satire? As a mystery? The range of strands? Insight into American ethos?
