MRS POLLIFAX SPY

1. How enjoyable and entertaining a spy comedy? The status of espionage thrillers by 1970 after the long spate of James Bond stories in the sixties, the anti-spy films of the late sixties? The film as a Rosalind Russell vehicle?

2. How seriously was the plot to be taken, the issues? How much was comedy? American political attitudes round 1970? Patriotism, the C.I.A.? American influence in world politics? How have things changed since 1970?

3. The tone of the animated style of the comic credits? The farcical aspects of Mrs Pollifax as a spy? The world of Washington, of Latin America, of Albania? A serious look at the work of the C.I.A., exaggerated, how plausible?

4. Rosalind Russell and her style, her characterization of Mrs Pollifax? The dominant interview and her signing up? The irony of her being accepted and the nature of her assignment? Her enjoyment of it, partly as a holiday kind of activity? The dangers and her accepting of these?

5. The humour of her being kidnapped and tied to Farrell? Darren Mc Gavin and his tough style compared with that of Rosalind Russell? How effective a couple did they make? In espionage, survival?

6. The presentation of Albania, prisons, interrogation and torture? General Perdido and the more serious aspects of espionage and torture?

7. The portrait of Albania, audience response to Albania, communist countries? the humour of so many of the characters, their basic humanity (despite their ideology?), General Nexdhet and his regard for Mrs Pollifax, supplying her with information for her escape? Berisha and his liking Mrs Pollifax, the massage, the party? Lulash and his continued support and his escaping with them?

8. The attitude towards escape, Farrell and his being wounded? Mrs Pollifax, and her relentless preparations?

9. The C.I.A. personnel and their coping with the situation, their double-talk to Mrs Pollifax's relations?

10. The happy aspects of life in Albania, especially the party with its joy (as well as Mrs Pollifax's devices for escaping)?

11. How credible was the escape? In terms of excitement, in terms of use of intelligence, in the farm, travelling in the carts, on the river, the pursuit and the help of Lulash?

12. How successful was the mission? How successful was the film? Sheer entertainment, something substantial to say about human nature and America?