MURPHY'S WAR

UK, 1970, 106 minutes, Colour.
Peter O' Toole, Sian Phillips, Philippe Noiret.
Directed by Peter Yates.

Murphy's War is a Joseph Conrad- World War II type of film. Its main defect is that it is rather of short story content and is extended to the length of a feature film. Nevertheless, it is an entertaining film of survival and a mission of destroying a submarine with a sting in the tail when Murphy, an Irishman washed up from his destroyed ship on a South American Quaker Mission, continues his war of vengeance after peace has been officially declared.

Peter O' Toole's performance is yet another character role for this versatile actor. His acting, especially in a long humorous sequence where he teaches himself to fly a patched-up plane, as well as the beautiful Venezuelan location photography make the film better than it might have been. Mrs. O'Toole (Sian Phillips) gives a good performance ? and can be compared with her roles in Becket, Laughter in the Dark and her flighty caricature of the 20's in Goodbye Mr. Chips.

1. Was this just another war film? If not, what made it different?

2. The scenes behind the credits captured the colour and upheaval in many paintings by war artists. These 'moving war paintings' with the harshness of men screaming and dying in waves of blood set a mood for the film. How did they affect you?

3. Why did the camera delay on Murphy as he rested on the pier thinking over what had happened? How was this the beginning of Murphy's war?

4. How was the impact of the war shown in the life of the Quaker mission, the isolation, the need for supplies, the Doctor and Louis left there on the oil outpost? What were Dr. Hayden's and Louis' attitudes to war and work?

5. Why did the German submarine crew act so violently? Was it exasperation or was their morale low at the end of the war?

6. Why did Murphy determine to destroy the submarine? How did it gradually become an obsession? Did his Irish character and loyalties have anything to do with it? How influential was the killing of the pilot, Ellis?

7. What was the effect within the film and on audience response of the long sequence of Murphy's learning to fly? It was humorous and, when he saw the submarine, exciting. In its humour and excitement, how did it help the audience to identify very strongly with Murphy?

8. Once the audience identified with Murphy, did it share his vengeance on the Germans?

9. Why did Murphy ignore the news that the war was over ("Their war.. not mine")? Was he justified in his actions, was he sane?

10. The Germans were relaxing at war's end. Did you feel sorry or disgusted that Murphy still pursued them?

11. Did the extraordinary lengths to which Murphy went to destroy the submarine? the barge, the torpedo? help the audience to identify with him in his vendetta?

12. Murphy's own death - he seemed surprised, a sufficient comment on the recklessness and the justice of what he did?