DAISY MILLER

US, 1974, 92 minutes, Colour.
Cybill Shepherd, Barry Brown, Cloris Leachman, Mildred Natwick, Eileen Brennan.
Directed by Peter Bogdanovich.

Daisy Miller is a film of the 19th century. Henry James' world is one of surface sensitivity and turbulent depths. He uses Europe to explore his American characters. Will they respond to the experience and culture of the old world or will brash naivety and innocence prevail? Peter Bogdanovich's film is a cinematic equivalent of James' novella. The beauty of Switzerland and Italy are presented, the sophisticated society of these countries and the American clashes and coping. Cybill Shepherd's Daisy is beautiful and loquacious, coquettish yet sweet, a charming visitor, unacquainted with local customs. The hero, in love with her, is an American opposite, guided by dithery mothers or worldly-wise aunts. Cybill Shepherd appeared in Bogdanovich's Last Picture Show and At Long Last Love.

1. How enjoyable was this film? It aimed at delighting audiences. How successful was it? It also had a message. What message and was it clear?

2. The film was based on a short story. How was this a cinema equivalent of a short story? What techniques did it use - two locations, conversation scenes, few events? How well did the film capture the 19th century spirit and visualise it? Its use of places - the beauty of Switzerland and the beauty of Rome, the elegance and society of Rome? The use of colour and reliance on it?

3. Comedy of manners and an emphasis on the visualisation of 19th century manners? The interest in the people, and their behaviour? The atmosphere of romance, and the contrast of romance with love? Romance in these settings? Henry James was strong on the contrast between innocence and experience, between Americans and Europeans. In this film, he relied on Americans from America and Americans with European experience. How did he show the difference? What contrast was there? Who was innocent Daisy or Frederick? Who had the experience? What is the value of innocence? How necessary is experience?

4. How attractive a person was Daisy? Cybill Shepherd's beauty and style? Daisy as an innocent American abroad? Yet her slyness and her wanting to be within society - a form of experience? How naive was Daisy - in her chattering about life in America. in her attitude to Frederick. in her attitudes to Americans abroad? How snobbish was Daisy, contrasting her home-life with wanting to be in society? How obvious was it that Daisy was an American? That America was a new world compared with Europe? How charming was Daisy? Why could men be infatuated by her? Her style of flirting? Her incessant chatter? The style of her chatter and changing topics of conversation? Her capricious way of behaving? How attractive was this? Was Daisy a sufficiently strong heroine for the film?

5. Was Frederick an attractive hero? His reticence and style? His American background, yet tempered by European education and experience? The contrast with Daisy? Frederick and his manners and surface gentility? As a gentleman in his behaviour with Daisy? Why was he infatuated by her? Did he see her faults? Was his infatuation love? Or was he blind to the real Daisy? His being influenced by his aunt? His reaction to the Miller family? His awareness of Daisy's behaviour in Roman society? How upset was he by Daisy's being courted by Giovanelli? His regret at the end? What had Frederick learnt by his encounter with Daisy?

6. How did much of the film's strength rely on the sequences between Daisy and Frederick? Their conversations? The nuances of their relating to one another? Sympathy with Daisy and yet suspicion of her? Sympathy with Frederick and yet fear that he would be over-infatuated? Where was the dramatic strength in these sequences?

7. How did Daisy emerge from her family? As a reflection of her mother? As little different really from Randolph? Comment on the characterisation of Mrs. Miller - her incessant chatter, her place in society, preoccupation with health, the style of her European tour, her continual worry about Randolph, absentmindedness as she grew old? Would Daisy become like this? Comment on the characterisation of Randolph - the first character we meet,, bored with Europe. pining for America, contrasting things unfavourably with America,, practical jokes, an imagination,, his relationship with Daisy? Was Daisy just as mischievous and a practical joker as Randolph? How did the Millers contrast with Frederick's aunt? Why was she so snobbish? The vice of American experience in Europe? Her aristocratic snobbery? The sequence in the baths and the games of chess, flowers floating on the water, afternoon tea? How ironic was this sequence in poking fun at American snobbery? The aunt's comments on Daisy's behaviour in Roman society? Her warning of Frederick? Her having the final say?

8. The importance of Mrs. walker in the film? Again the picture of American experience in Europe? Her possessive attitude towards Frederick? Her snobbery similar to the aunt's? Her standards of behaviour? Her cutting Daisy at social events? Was Mrs. Walker a sufficient contrast to Daisy? In terms of innocence and experience,. who was to be preferred? Why?

9. The picture of society in Rome - was it attractive? Or was it too artificial? As a picture of 19th century society?

10. How interesting was Mr. Giovanelli as a character? An enigmatic character? His devotion to Daisy? As a contrast to Frederick? As a possible suitor and husband for Daisy? Was this possible? How infatuated was he? How was he led on by Daisy's flirtation?

11. How sympathetic were you with Daisy by the time she had the fever? The importance of the sequence in the Colosseum and the clash between Frederick and Giovanelli? Had you made judgements on Daisy? The music was Verdi's La Donna e Mobile and the implication of Daisy's fickleness. What was the effect of learning she was dead?

12. Was it possible to believe that Daisy had died? What was your emotional response to this? The effect on the whole film? The effect on the Millers -Mrs. Miller's sorrow. Randolph quiet? The effect on Giovanelli and his conversation with Frederick? The effect on Frederick and a phase of his life had ended?

13. How much insight into human character and behaviour did the film offer? It was a short story and not trying for depth. How much depth was there in this short story?