THE LITTLE FOXES
US, 1941, 115 minutes, Black and White.
Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall, Teresa Wright, Richard Carlson, Dan Duryea, Charles Dingle, Patricia Collinge.
Directed by William Wyler.
The Little Foxes is a famous American play by Lillian Hellman. Lillian Hellman was a noted playwright of the 30s and 40s, was blacklisted in the 50s and became quite unpopular. She became popular again with her writings about the periods in the 70s and in the screen portrayal of part of her life in Julia where she was portrayed by Jane Fonda. Lillian Hellman sympathised with the Left and her plays have strong social criticism of capitalist America.
The Little Foxes portrays a family in the South at the turn of the century, the New Rich after the Civil War building up the industry of the South, capitalistic, money-grabbing and unscrupulous. The Hubbard family is strongly criticised. There are the greedy brothers, the greedy and inept son Leo (portrayed by Dan Duryea in an early screen role). But the focus of the film is on Regina Hubbard the unscrupulous mastermind who is eventually undone by her greed. The contrast is made with her husband Horace Giddings.
Once again Bette Davis strikingly combines with Herbert Marshall for dramatics. Teresa Wright is attractive as her daughter. Patricia Collinge is excellent as the alcoholic Aunt Birdie. Many Oscar nominations for this film and it was directed by William, Wyler whom Bette Davis trusted - he had made Jezebel and The Letter with her.
The Little Foxes may seem dated now but it is powerful drama. A film showing the earlier history of the family, Another Part of the Forest, was made in 1948.
1. The status of this film as a classic, Bette Davis vehicle, the writing of Lillian Hellman, the direction of William Wyler? The strong supporting cast? The qualities of filmmaking of Hollywood at its best?
2. Black and white photography, re-creation of 1900, American Southern style? Musical score?
3. The meaning of the title, the reference to the Song of Song, our vines having tender grapes?
4. The film seem as a social critique of America, post-Civil War period, the build-up of capitalism? A reflection of the social critique by Lillian Hellman in the 1930's and 40s? Audience response to this critique now?
5. The importance of the prologue, setting the tone and style, manner and manners? The South, the aftermath of the Civil war, values, old families decaying, new families arising, industry, progress, wealth and capitalism? Greed? The lack of scruple in building up empires?
6. The focus on the daughter of the house and audience sympathies with her? Yet her Southern manner? Relationship with the family, her parents? With the servants? Her autocratic style and yet genuine sympathy? The relationship with David and the possibility of an ordinary relationship with him and coming down to earth? The relationship with Leo? Her reaction to her mother? Her love for Aunt Birdie and sympathy for her? Her uncles? Her devotion to her father? Her self-assertion throughout the film? Her rudeness and her father's lesson to her? Her suspicions about her family culminating in suspicions about her father's death? The importance of the death sequence and her decision to leave home? The critique of the South and the family through her?
7. The focus on Regina for the dramatics of the film? Bette Davis in this role? The contrast of mother and daughter? Regina and the likeness to her brothers yet outwitting them? The sense of family and style? The haughty manner, e.g. with the servants at meals? Her control of the family? Her feminine instinct and yet the killer instinct? Her love of wealth? The separation from her husband and her despising of him? The importance of bringing him back? The clash with her brothers and yet her winning? Her disappointment with her husband and fighting him? The significance of the death sequence and the way it was filmed - her unmoving hardness and her husband's collapse? Her manipulation of Leo and her brothers? The importance of her being abandoned by all, especially her daughter? The presentation of a type? The moral stances and the critique of these?
8. The portrait of the brothers and their role in the town, the despising by the ordinary people as seen by David and his mother? Their skill, the new family on the upper, the meal and the trying to entertain the businessmen from the North? Their heritage? Buying and marrying into old families and the role of Birdie? Their deals, dishonesty, Southern morality and hospitality? The pressure on Leo? On Regina and on her husband? Their being outwitted?
9. Leo as a contrast to the daughter? His weakness, a sneering man, the expectations of marriage and wealth? His being pressurized by his father and uncle? His robbing the money and the important bank sequences and the way that these were handled, especially in the examination of the box? His caving in under pressure?
10. The significance of Aunt Birdie and her comments, representing Southern decay and yet a humanity that was gone? Her being ridiculed and despised? The devotion of her niece? The importance of the sequence when she told the truth about herself? The contrast with the way she was treated at meals etc.?
11. The character of the father? His absence, illness, return, the warmth of the scenes with his daughter in the train? His teaching her to be polite especially towards David and his guest? His awareness of the deals and his refusal to countenance them? His honesty? The importance of his presence at the bank? The clashes with Regina and the verbal ferocity and intensity of their clashes? Culminating in his death? The moral critique via the character and the death of this man?
12. The contrast with David and his work on the Paper? His criticism? His mother and her place with the family and dressing them? His telling of the truth, especially to Regina?
13. Themes of business, industry, money? The exploitation of people and the repercussions?
14. The validity of the film as a critique of America and its freedoms?
