SQUIZZY TAYLOR

Australia, 1982, 97 minutes, Colour.
David Atkins, Jacki Weaver, Alan Cassell, Michael Long, Kim Lewis, Robert Hughes, Cul Cullen, Steve Bisley.
Directed by Kevin James Dobson.

Squizzy Taylor is a big production about a small-time and small gangster in the Melbourne of the 1920s. There was a popularity of treating some of the gangster themes of Australia’s past at this time, especially in Sydney with Kitty and the Bagman (directed by Donald Crombie who also directed the Depression-set Caddie).

The film is colourful in its presentation of Melbourne at the period, costumes, décor. David Atkins, a talented dancer and choreographer, is Squizzy Taylor and Jacki Weaver is his girl, Dolly. Alan Cassell and Michael Long portray detectives.

This was a period of gangs, police corruption, and this is a reminder that a city like Melbourne can have its criminals and gangsters.

1. The impact of this portrait of Taylor? The re-creation of period, the city of Melbourne and the inner city, Melbourne gangsters, the police? Portrait of an individual? Portrait of urban society?

2. The period 1919-21: the use of many Melbourne locations, the re-creation of the period, the streets, Flinders Street Station, the Yarra River and parks, the inner city suburbs, warehouses, homes, railway stations, police stations, beer houses? The colour photography and the dark suggest ions of the period? The attention to detail in decor, costumes, sets? The feel of the period, its manner and style? Style of language?

3. The contribution of the score – the feel of the times, jazz era? The contribution of the dances – the choreography, the dramatic use of dancing: Squizzy and Dolly, Squizzy and Ida? The dancing during the final credits?

4. The structure of the film in two parts: 1919 with Taylor's background, his activities, his manoeuvring and manipulation, his being on the rise? 1921 and his success, criminal activities, comeuppance, defeat? The episodic nature of the film and yet the gradual development of Taylor's career and downfall? The comparing of the criminals with the police, especially with Taylor and Brophy? The paralleling of the women: Dolly in the first part, Ida in the second part? The contribution of David Atkins and his presence, style, interpretation of Squizzy? His skills as a choreographer and their contribution?

5. Audience knowledge of Squizzy Taylor – how necessary? The reputation in Melbourne and Victoria? The ugliness of his activity? The larrikin hero? The conflict with the law, especially the corrupt law? The legends about the gangster hero? The comparison with American gangsters of the '20s and '30s? The influence of people making heroes of criminals? The contribution of the newspapers and reporters? The film's dramatising the various cases Taylor was involved in? The use of the newspapers?

6. The conventions of gangster films: the small tough gangster, his inflated style and push, the gangster in action, his deals, manipulation, betrayal, violence, treatment of women as molls, self-centred (Napoleonic complex), graft, use of the police, rise to the top, over-reaching himself? Does the gangster have any moment of truth? Was Taylor caught in his own legend?

7. The film's attitude towards Squizzy Taylor – accurate portrayal, realism or glorification and romanticising? The upstart, ambitions? The tiny man trying to be bigger? Self-centred – attacks on Dolly, for instance, as attacks on him? Love of power, control? Often afraid, but exploiting situations? Deviousness? Was he a man of any feeling? A man of poses and show? The pathos of the final shooting and his death? His death by criminals and police?

8. Squizzy Taylor's character seen in relationship to the two women in his life: Dolly and the initial set-up for the robbery in the side street, his access to her house, using her, the show of love and concern, his making her walk the streets and take clients even when she was upset, taking her dancing – but yet slashing the face of the insulting fat man? His reaction to her being raped – taking it as an insult to himself? His setting her up in her own room? In times of success judging the old prostitutes she was hiring, the chance encounter with her in the park at the banks of the Yarra, her being bashed by Snowy Cutmore and visiting him, and her urging him to look after Ida? His lack of regard for Dolly? The contrast with the meeting with Ida: at the dance, the dancing sequence, taking her home and flirting in the car, the arrangement for the races, the wet afternoon together, her questioning him about prostitution and set up in a room, her being a one-man woman and staying with him, the room and the awkwardness of the visits, the respectability of marriage, the possibility of happiness together, Gus Murray staying with them and eyeing her when she was posing in the bathroom, her pregnancy, her not believing the stories told about him, her being attacked by Piggott at the end? Dolly and her loyalty to him? Ida and her love for him? Did Squizzy Taylor seem likable as seen through the eyes of these two women?

9. Taylor's criminal background: the accusations of murder, his being acquitted, his time in prison? The initial robbery set-up and Angus Murray's killing the carrier, Taylor's fear and exploiting the situation for escape, his robbing overcoats, going to the two-up game and gambling his money, asking Henry Stokes for an alibi, being picked up by the police and getting a hold over Brophy, betraying Angus Murray? Taylor's shrewdness in assessing the situation between Brophy and Piggott and playing them off against each other? His hold over Henry Stokes – who underestimated him? The set-up of the jewel robbery with its violence and his betraying the group for a raid? His reaction to Dolly's rape and getting the thugs drunk, the fire bombs and the shooting during the Chinese procession? The encounter with Reg. Harvey and his insinuating comments about Henry Stokes? The setting up of gang warfare and shootings in the street? His takeover when Henry Stokes had to leave Melbourne? The build-up to manipulation, hold over people, wealth and success?

10. The little man coming from poverty – the ironic symbolism of the masks for the robbery, the tram ride? The stealing of the overcoats? Squizzy and his lack of money, gambling of Henry Stokes' car etc.? The cheery young upstart from the inner city suburbs-, oppression and poverty aiming for wealth and power?

11. Squizzy and his success: establishing Dolly in her own rooms, having his own henchmen, chauffeur? Playing cards with businessmen? The illegal trucking of whisky? With the police continually chasing him and arresting him? His ability to get off – using Brophy and antagonising Piggott? His having to lie low? The meeting in the library with : Brophy? The Colin Ross murder and the setting up of Vi Matthews? Taylor's enjoyment of bashing her to give evidence? The execution of Colin Ross? Angus Murray and the setting up of the robbery at the station? Taylor once again betraying Murray? His giving himself up – the publicity, the newspaper testimony? His speech in court and his appeal to the jury? His getting off once again? His establishing himself as king of the underworld – but deprecating this in court? The return of Snowy Cutmore to Melbourne? Cutmore's destruction of Dolly's house? The build-up to the confrontation : between Cutmore and Taylor? Piggott getting the upper hand over Brophy and Brophy's spurning of Taylor? The possibility of the Colin Ross file being reopened and Brophy's need to act? The irony and ugliness of Brophy being revealed as manipulating the murder of both Cutmore and Taylor?

12. Taylor's response to Brophy, understanding him, playing on his need for rivalry with Piggott? Having him on the payroll? Piggott arresting him in his flat and Brophy unable to do anything? The discovery of the truth? Brophy's final spurning of him in the railyard? Organising his death? Piggott and his aloofness and spurning of Taylor? The heavy bail? Finally confronting him and wanting to know the truth? Causing his death? Unwitting accomplice with Brophy in killing Taylor?

13. Alan Cassel’s interpretation of Brophy, the seedy policeman, ambitious, weak and able to be corrupted, comparing himself and his role with Piggott? The deals with Taylor concealed from Piggott? The raid on Whiting and capturing him? His behaviour at the press conference about the gang wars? His turning a blind eye to Taylor's behaviour? The Colin Ross case and setting him up to pressure Vi Matthews? The victory and his drunken talk with Piggott? His being humiliated by Taylor and by Piggott? The final denunciation and manoeuvring for his death? Portrait of a man, jealous, weak, ambitious, unscrupulous? An ugly portrait of a policeman?

14. The contrast with Piggott – his war experience and patriotism, coming from the country, spurning of the city and not understanding it? Upright and aloof? Style and manner, smoking? His not knowing the ropes – but learning them? The press conference and Brophy's promotion over him? His gradual rise and waiting for Taylor the 300 pounds bail? The arrest in the flat? His talking to Ida and condemning Taylor? The end and the confrontation, his desperate wanting to find the truth about Brophy? His killing Taylor? The upright policeman – any better than Brophy?

15. The portrait of Melbourne criminals: Angus Murray and his initial violence, the escape from prison, holing up with Taylor, his eyeing of Ida, the murder on the railway station? Henry Stokes and his two-up school, horse deals, the set-ups for the Fitzroy group, participation in the gang wars, framed by Brophy in handling the gun, having to leave town for Tasmania? The wealthy businessman and criminal outwitted by Taylor? Harry Slater and the Fitzroy group and the beer ho us-c? Snowy Cutmore and their brutality on Dolly? The revenge in the burning of the beer house? His return to Melbourne and the destruction of Dolly's house? The various young punks in Melbourne in Taylor's pay, Cutmore's pay? Taylor's henchmen, chauffeurs? Their betrayal? Tough postures, life of the streets, violent gang wars?

16. Reg Harvey and his naively, believing all that he was fed by Taylor? The presence at the press conference? His writing his column and manoeuvring for Taylor? His presumption? The scene of his rowing on the Yarra? His fear in being taken to the two-up game? His presence in the court and discovering how he had been manipulated? His final story with the death of Squizzy Taylor?

17. The importance of the atmosphere of the sets: the initial street scene with the barber's shop and Dolly, the masks and the ride on the tram, the people masked for the epidemic? The centre for vapours for the epidemic? The robbery sequences? The beer house and the Chinese procession? The dance and the slashing? The dance lesson? The park at the Yarra, Flinders Street Station, the Exhibition Building, the Court House, St. Vincent's Hospital etc.?

18. A memoir of a lawless time? Crime, gangsters? The police? The public? Newspapers?