THE STORY OF ESTHER COSTELLO

UK, 1957, 103 minutes, Black and white.
Joan Crawford, Heather Sears, Rossano Brazzi, Ron Randell, Lee Patrick, Fay Compton, John Loder, Denis O'Dea, Sidney James.
Directed by David Miller.

The Story of Esther Costello is based on a well-known novel by Nicholas Monsarrat, author of The Cruel Sea. It was made in Britain in the mid-'50s, one of the later film vehicles for Joan Crawford (directed by David Miller who had worked with her in the early '50s thriller Sudden Fear).

The film has an Irish and American background. It highlights faith healing and the manipulation for money of a gullible public. It also highlights the possibility of fraud and financial deceit.

Joan Crawford is powerful in the role of the woman who adopts the deaf mute Esther and promotes her. Heather Sears (later in The Siege of Pinchgut, Sons and Lovers) has charm as Esther. Rossano Brazzi appears in a suave but quite unsympathetic role.

The film can be compared with the others about religious charlatanism. They range from The Miracle Woman, Elmer Gantry, The Day of the Locust, The Disappearance of Aimee, Angel Baby.

1. An interesting and entertaining film? Character study? Melodrama - with serious themes?

2. British production values,; black and white photography, Irish, British settings, American settings, Italy? The contrast between the domestic sequences and the staging of the mass rallies? Musical score?

3. The prologue, Ireland and its troubles, the children, the bombs, the mother, the explosion - and the trauma and guilt for Esther?

4. The focus on Margaret Landi? A Joan Crawford role? Her image, presence and style? Her visit to Ireland, the friendship with Father Dev1in, his arranging for her to be moved by Esther and to adopt her? Esther and the squalor of her life? The compassion for her afflictions? The bond between Esther and Margaret? Margaret taking her to the United States? The lack of contact, school, Esther's skill in learning and the results. the effect on Margaret? Margaret and the prize-giving with Esther? The impact of Esther on people? Margaret's taking up the cause, investing her money and energy? Tom and the management? Her remeeting her husband, the effect of Carlo and his return? His interest in her work? The growing bonds with Esther? The breakthroughs, Esther's dependence and love for her? The build-up of the programme, the rallies, the speeches, communicating Esther's ideas? The American bandwagon style? The travel? The agent and his interest,. money arrangements? Harry and the newspaper reporting? The infatuation with Esther? The build-up to the dangers and Margaret's not seeing them? The rape and Margaret's reaction? The discovery of the truth about Carlo? His trying to cover? Her decision to kill him? The crash? The pessimistic treatment of Margaret's character - a potential for fulfilment, her happiness, its being betrayed, the decision for death?

5. The portrait of Esther - as a little girl and the experience of the bombs, her being alone, living in squalor, her place in the Irish village, the people's care for her? Father Devlin and his wanting her to have opportunities? Her being taken to the United States? School, no contact? The collage of her learning and its effectiveness? The changes for her? The bond with Margaret and the happiness of the relationship? Harry and her liking his presence? The prize-giving, its effect on her life, the good cause, the consistent travel, the mass rallies and their effect? Harry and his investigations? Carlo and his arrival? The impact on the group? The financial fraud, the danger, the rape sequence, the trauma - and the effect on Esther? Her recovery? The effect on Margaret? Her going to Harry? The sense of mission to undo the fraud?

6. Carlo and his suave Italian style, his having left Margaret, the return, the gallery, the agent, the rallies, the sacking of the secretary, the money deals, his tantrums, his lust for Esther, the clash, the rape, the airport sequences and his deception? Margaret's decision to destroy him?

7. Wensall as the smooth-talking agent, his style, investment of the money, promotion? Lack of scruple?

8. Harry as a reporter, attracted towards Esther, getting the story, discovering the truth? Ryan as the newspaper editor, reaction, the stories, selling papers? Lack of scruple? His compliance with Harry's wishes at the end?

9. Father Dev1in and his Irish style, contact with Margaret, helping to get Esther away from Ireland? His happiness in seeing Esther's success?

10. Esther's impact on people, the prize-giving, the prize-winners, the beginnings of the rallies, the staging of the rallies, the religious overtones, Esther's presence, people's response?

11. The genuine and the fraud? The effect on people? Religious hucksters and their management? People and their response., their trust in religious people, self-deception? The expose?

12. The heightened atmosphere of religion, cures and healings, publicity, limelight and fraud? The impact on the people involved?

13. An interesting melodrama, strongly-drawn characters, melodramatic conflict and themes?