HONEYMOON KILLERS

US, 1970, 115 minutes, Black and white/colour.
Shirley Stoler, Tony Lo Bianco, Doris Roberts.
Directed by Leonard Kastle.

Honeymoon Killers is stark and blunt in style. Made in the late 60s in black and white, reminiscent of the budget films of earlier decades, it tells its straight forward story about its killers in a direct, almost impartial way. The film had a great reputation in the US (but was banned in Australia until 1990).

Tony Lo Bianco is very good as the smooth Hispanic American, a confidence man tricking women, embroiled with Martha and moving towards murder. Shirley Stoler is very good as the oversized Martha, a nurse who is picked on and begins to take out her resentment after she falls in love with the smooth Lo Bianco. Together they make a deadly pair.

The film uses some of the blunt styles of low-budget movie-making - which makes it seem somewhat anachronistic for its time and later, but heightened the impact of the characterisation, the analysis of motivation, the brutality of the behaviour of the honeymoon killers. The film was the only film made by its writer director Leonard Kastle.

1. Impact of the film? Reputation over the decades? Acclaimed by critics?

2. 1969 filmmaking? The use of black and white, the budget techniques? Style, editing and pace? The cast and their acting style to characterise the killers? The victims? The use of the music - and excerpts from Mahler?

3. The look of the film, a docudrama, the cast in the melodramatic style, the visualising of violence or not? Ironies and deadpan humour?

4. A true story, credible, the facts, melodrama, lack of subtlety? The implied reasons and motivations?

5. Martha, her physical appearance and presence, at the hospital, repressed sexuality and rebuking the staff for their behaviour, her treatment of patients and staff, her being tired and bored, her Mother's tantrums, friendship with Bunnie, the letter to the club, her anger, being pacified, being persuaded to write, her hopes?

6. Ray, the Hispanic type, romantic, his first letter to Martha, the photos of women on his table? The effect on him, on her? Arrival, Latin charm? Her immediate infatuation? Her Mother's behaviour, the pills? Sexual relationship? Martha giving Ray money?

7. The letter to Martha, her being upset, Bonnie telephoning - and the discovery that Martha was in on the plan, performing over the phone? Winning Ray over? Preparing to leave, going to the hospital, the authorities and her letters, her anger? Putting her Mother in the home and her Mother's violent reaction?

8. On her way, her hopes, delineation of her character? Hold over Ray? Ray telling her truth? Going to St. Louis, meeting Myrtle, her situation the baby and the marriage? Posing as Ray's sister? Myrtle talking frankly to her, in the bedroom, Ray listening? the midnight argument? The plans? The effect on Martha of having to pose as the sister? The decision about the pills, seeing Myrtle off, the ugliness of her death on the bus?

9. The effect on each? Power? Sexual thrill? Lovemaking? The permission to go further? Going to visit the next victim? The swimming, the woman and her looking askance at the behaviour of Ray and Martha? Martha's tantrum and going out to drown and being rescued?

10. The American ambition of the home, Long Island, getting home, settling down?

11. Janet and her gullibility, her friends, her religiosity? Her friend and the visit of Ray and Martha? False name? Charm, engagement, the plan to leave, taking Janet to Long Island? No contacts with family? The signing of the cheques, hiding them in the cellar? Janet's being able to sleep, Martha's brutal confrontations? Wanting to phone, the ugly situation, her fear? The brutality of the murder? The effect on Ray, naked, sexual impulse, violence?

12. Delphine and her child, Martha as the sister, staying there several weeks, the antagonism of the daughter to Martha? Ray and his smooth style, going to buy the dog? Delphine being confidential, her pregnancy? Martha's anger, forcing Delphine to take the pills? Drowning the daughter off screen? Fear?

13. Martha ringing the police, her reasons? Interrogating Ray - and his lies? In the jail, preparing to go to court? Ray's letter of faithful love? The final glimpse of Martha?

14. The film as a case study, American killers, the headlines of the time behind the headlines? The treatment of serial killers - sympathy or not, understanding or not?