X, Y AND ZEE
UK, 1972, British, 104 minutes, Colour.
Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Caine, Susannah York, Margaret Leighton.
Directed by Brian G. Hutton.
X, Y and Zee look like the letters for the three points of a triangle, and so they are. But this geometry is concerned with emotions of love and hate. Robert and Zee are miserably married, feeding on a mutual love-hate. Stella forms the third point of the triangle as she has an affair with Robert and is finally emotionally assaulted by Zee and her love is destroyed.
This picture of a muddled marriage and muddled morals was sketched by vitriolic writer Edna O'Brien (Girl with Green Eyes; Three Into Two Won't Go) who 'has it in' for men. Elizabeth Taylor as Zee repeats something of her role as Martha in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, although the language, scorn and spiteful acts are more strident and ugly. Her flamboyant make-up and loud costumes make her an overbearing figure. Michael Caine is somewhat subdued by Elizabeth Taylor. Susannah York is pale and quiet as Stella, especially in comparison with Zee.
1. How much of the eternal triangle was suggested by the title, with points X, Y and Zee as the apex and the implications of the relationships - XY, YZ, XZ?
2. What picture of modern society did the film give? Was it a typical cross-section? Did it make the psychological drama more plausible?
3. Why was Zee such a dominating character? How important to her were age, beauty, power? Why did she have such a sharp tongue and use it on Robert? Did she love Robert, want to possess him?
4. Was Robert a weak character, a successful man? Did Zee drive him to have affairs and flaunt them at her? Did he love her?
5. What were your first impressions of Stella? Did Susannah York play her as too much a complete contrast to Zee? Why was Robert attracted to her? Why did she feel she needed him?
6. What were Zee's reactions to Stella?
7. How desperate were Zee's attempts to hold Robert? How serious was she in attempting suicide? What effect did her cunning have on Robert?
8. Was Zee's final plot convincing? How well did she insinuate herself into Stella's emotions? How cruel was Zee, and how did this cruelty affect Stella and Robert?
9. What future was there for any of them?
10. How was colour used, especially for fashions and make-up, to convey characters and moods? Was this too garish or was it effective?
11. Was the film tasteless and flamboyant? Why?
12. What observations and comments did the film make on modern marriage - cynical, pessimistic?
13. Did the film give insights into modern human behaviour or did it merely exploit caricatures?
