PRETTY MAIDS ALL IN A ROW
US, 1971, 91 minutes, Colour.
Rock Hudson, Angie Dickenson, Telly Savalas, John David Carson, Keenan Wynn, James Doohan, Roddy Mc Dowell, William Campbell.
Directed by Roger Vadim.
Pretty Maids all in a Row sounds like a nursery rhyme. However it is an ironic title for a French director’s look at America in the 70s. A number of continental directors like Claude Lelouch, Michelangelo Antonioni came to America and observed around 1970.
Roger Vadim, well known for his emphasis on sexuality in his films, also came to America and made this comedy thriller. The emphasis is on sexuality and its ironies. Set in a college, the film has a number of bizarre murders - and the identity of the murderer is hero Rock Hudson. It is all tongue in cheek treatment of serious themes and may have a touch of Gallic humour which may have eluded American audiences and made the film fail somewhat at the box office. Telly Savalas, Angie Dickenson and Keenan Wynn also enhance the cast. A strange and ironic kind of film. A strange footnote to the career of Roger Vadim.
1. The title and its nursery rhyme overtones, the adult certificate treatment and indication of themes?
2. Why were the critics so hostile to the film on its release?
3. The film was made by a French director, is this evident? A Frenchman's look at particular aspects of American society? Sport, sexuality, masculinity? Violence?
4. The views of the film on sexuality, as presented, the visuals, the preoccupation of adolescence and the illustration of this middle-age preoccupation, in Tiger and Mice Smith? The values that these Americans stood by? Lust and preoccupation about sex? As a subject for humour and satire?
5. The linking of sexuality and violence in murder? The film's presentation of motives, the effect of humour, the light treatment, people's attitude towards the football matches? The irony and the parody? The comment on American priorities and values?
6. The presentation of the generation gap between students and teachers? The gap in the preoccupation with sexuality? Tiger and Mine Smith as exhibiting the adolescent attitudes of Ponce and the others? The theme of education, the people responsible for education, Miss Smith and her teaching of English, her wanting to coach Ponce? The difference between education and real life? The educated attitudes and the ordinary basic instincts in people? Education and sport?
7. The character of Tiger, the type that he was representing, Rock Hudson in the role? His sports work, his counselling work, the using and abusing of his counselling time and office for sexuality? The satire? The irony of his escaping scot-free?
9. The presentation of Ms Smith, the teacher and her preoccupation with sex, with Tiger? Her believing Tiger's story about Ponce? Her seduction of Ponce? How credible a character, how satirically portrayed?
10. Was Ponce a credible young man? Study, sport, preoccupation with sex? The visual presentation of this? Admiration for Tiger, relationship with Mine Smith? Discovery of the truth? Inheriting Tiger's list? Continuing the American myth of male supremacy?
11. The presentation of the police, poking fun at them? Chief Poldaski and his inefficiency, traffic, murder? The anti-attitudes in Captain Surcher?
12. The presentation of deaths, the reaction of the staff, Mr Proffer? The various other members of the school and society? Funerals? But the whole take on sport and sports achievement?
13. What did the film say about American society? What kind of society was it? Was the film effective satire, exploitation?
