GREEN MANSIONS

US, 1959, 104 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Perkins, Audrey Hepburn, Lee J. Cobb, Henry Silva.
Directed by Mel Ferrer.

Green Mansions is an adaptation of W. H. Hudson's early 20th. century novel of nature and love in the South American jungle. It has some echoes of H. de Vere Stacpoole's The Blue Lagoon. It has been de signed as a star vehicle for Audrey Hepburn and was directed by her then husband Mel Ferrer. Anthony Perkins, beginning to emerge as an international star, is the leading man. There is support from Lee J. Cobb and Henry Silva at the beginning of a long career as a villain. The film looks exotic - Cinemascope and location colour photography and has a score by Bronislau Kaper. There is a dance sequence led by Katherine Dunham with her troupe of dancers and special music by Hector Villa- Lobos.

1. An enjoyable and attractive fantasy? The blend of realism and imagination? Symbols of nature and politics? (Critics, hostile to the film, called it a female version of Tarzan. How accurate is this?)

2. Production values: Cinemascope, colour, the atmosphere of the South American jungle, the beauty of nature, its dangers and deadliness? The importance of locations and environment? The contribution of the special dance sequence? The South American music? The musical score?

3. The film as a star vehicle for Audrey Hepburn? Her special qualities in the central role? Mel Ferrer working with his wife? The classic status of the book?

4. The focus on Abel? Anthony Perkins and his presence? Intensity? The political background, the escape, his plight in the jungle, the reports of the savages, his coping with nature, not coping, the snake? The encounter with Rima? The importance of the journey with Rima and Nuflo? The effect of the journey on him? The relationship to Rima? The return, the violence, the deaths? Rima's death and his grief, his vision of her? The impact of the experience on him - and the audience identifying with him?

5. Rima as the jungle girl - Audrey Hepburn's attractiveness? Her presence and style for this role? The jungle, seeing her in nature, in her environment? Harmony, healing? Her being drawn towards Abel? Her background? Her trust in Nuflo? The importance of the journey, the experiences, the impact of the disillusionment? The aftermath of her journey? The brutality - yet symbolic fire of her death? The symbol of the nature girl?

6. Nuflo as a rogue, the true story of his relationship with Rima's family, the violence? Encountering Rima and Abel? The stories, the journey? The disillusioning goal of the journey? The clash with the Indians? His house being burnt? His death?

7. The Indians, savagery and nature, dangers? The chief? His son Kua-Ko? His sinister presence, the fight with Abel? Death?

8. The treatment of the story as a blend of reality and fantasy? Reality and unreality? The impact for the audience?

9. The meaning of the green mansions, the jungle and the nature girl? Images of life, violence, death?

10. The atmosphere of spirits, divinity? Symbolic stories? Symbols?