KALEIDOSCOPE

UK, 1966, 103 minutes, Colour.
Warren Beatty, Susannah York, Clive Revell, Eric Porter, Murray Melvin, John Junkin, Yootha Joyce, Jane Burkin.
Directed by Jack Smight.

Kaleidoscope is an entertaining piece of light fluff from the mid-60s, Carnaby Street style. It was directed by Jack Smight, an American director (Harper, No Way to Treat a Lady). He captures the offhand and chic spirit of swinging London of the 60s.

This was a star vehicle for the up and coming Warren Beatty. In the next year he would make Bonnie and Clyde. Beatty also excelled as a director, winning an Oscar in 1981 for Reds. Sandra Dee was initially cast but Susannah York took her place She is a Carnaby Street shopper and Clive Revell appears as her father, a Scotland Yard inspector. The villain of the piece is stage actor Eric Porter who was to make an impact at this time in television in a serialisation of The Forsyte Saga. The film is set in London, goes to more exotic locations, has a playboy leading man who is also a gambler. Enough ingredients for this kind of soufflé.

1. An enjoyable comedy? What were its best comic features? Situations, characterisations, dialogue?

2. An alternative title was "The Bank Breaker". Which was the better title? Consider the nature of the credits, with their kaleidoscope.

3. What did the film presume about fate and chance and the working out of events? Was it an interesting illustration of fate and chance?

4. How congenial was the hero? Warren Beatty's personality? In original ingenuity in altering the cards? How much did he gain audience sympathy by this ingenuity? By his run of luck with cards? By his encounter with the heroine? Did the question of morality or immorality about his card playing occur to you? Why?

5. What moral stand did the film take towards its hero? Was a moral stand relevant or important?

6. How attractive was the heroine? Her unusual behaviour? Her encounter with the hero? Her sizing him up? The fact that she was the commissioner’s daughter? How important was Susannah York's personality for this performance and of the atmosphere of the film?

7. How enjoyable was the police inspector? How entertaining was Clive Revell's performance?

8. What moral attitude did the film take when the police were introduced? When his betting trap was evident?

9. What tone did the film take when the criminal was asked to swindle another criminal for King and country? The satire on patriotism? The satire on the James Bond kind of fear giving his services for King and country etc.?

10. How successful a f villain was Harry? His being paralleled with Napoleon? His behaviour in the clubs? His gambling? Eric Porter's personality and the details of the presentation of an evil character? How important was this for the success of the film?

11. What happened to Harry? as he saw his power being challenged?

12. How secure was the hero in his challenging? How was this made evident by the insecurity of the heroine? (Paralleled by the card game at home with the inspector and his assistant? How humorous was the relationship between the inspector and his assistant?

13. Why was the final card game suspenseful? The significance of the sequences in the castle? The symbolism of the castle and Harry's dominion?

14. The impact of the chase at the end of a film like this? The escape of good from evil? How cruel was Dominion? in the case? How exciting the chase? How comic? The final rescue by the father?

15. Does this kind of film have to have a happy ending? Why? Was it a satisfying ending? Or too flippant?

16. How did this film incorporate contemporary myths of non-heroes? The combat of good and evil etc.? (or is this reading too much into the film?)