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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 8, No. 4 April 18, 1945

"Wilson" Reviewed — "Wilson"

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"Wilson" Reviewed

"Wilson"

Wilson, one of the most expensive and lavish films ever made, was screened as a preview to tournament visitors through the courtesy of 20th Century Pox and Amalgamated Theatres. It is in many ways a first class film, with a considerable amount of able direction and acting. There will no doubt be many quarrels with the view of history set forth, and a number of overseas writers had suggested that a fine bit of whitewashing of the character of the American statesman has been done. With these I do not intend to take issue, but will comment on the film per se.

There is an obvious difficulty in presenting characters on the screen who are currently alive or who are still within living memory. Mission to Moscow was the first big-time film to present latter day world figures in this way, and was only partially successful. Do the producers seek someone who, with judicious make-up, will appear a reasonable facsimile and proceed to train the hell out of him, or do they select an actor who happens to be around and hope for the best? The producers of Wilson seem to have been exceptionally fortunate with Alexander Knox, who is not only uncannily like the late great statesman, but also happens to be a very fine actor. His characterisation was superb; his diction was the purest I have ever heard on the screen, a model for all actors; he appeared to be fully identified with his part. Perhaps naturally, Knox's acting dominated the film. Sir Cedric Hard wicke, however, as the intransigent Colonel House, impressed me even more. This is one of the very best pieces of screen work I have yet seen, and, if Academy awards mean anything any more, Hardwicke should be given a platinum, one.

Wilson is the story in brief of the wartime president of the United States who, certain quarters allege, has been so misunderstood by posterity. From his very comfortable post as President of Harvard, Wilson wends his somewhat longwinded way from Governor to President, through the war, and to his illness and death, not once on the way compromising with the forces of evil, personified in political bosses and reactionary statesmen. As I say, I cannot comment on the political aspects of the film, although it seems to me that occasionally Wilson could have been shown making a mistake, just for variety's sake. He seems to be the first politician who has never sacrificed principle to expediency at some stage, and, to tell you the truth, he is inclined to become a trifle tedious in his shining white armour. I think we are still a little too near the last war for the murkier patches to be revealed, and the full story may appear a trifle different to our grandchildren.

Wilson is an extremely slow-moving film. In spite of the drastic times in which he lived, the man never seemed to descend to the levels of ordinary, humans, and this may add to the majestic slow tempo. It also seems to be the explanation of why the producers inserted an extremely long but superb sequence of Wilson's nomination at the Democratic convention. I suppose this is one of the most prodigious, lavish, detailed, colourful impressive scenes yet made, and it should be a collector's item for those interested in Americana. In itself, there could not possibly be enough in the fight for a nomination for a scene of such epic proportions, but so skilfully handled was it that I think not a foot could have been cut without spoiling the continuity of the film.

Also evidently to help the film along were some inset newsreels of doings in the last war. These, I think, were a grave mistake. They served no useful purpose except to drag in some comic relief, which was quite out of place here, and they also unfortunately showed some of the originals of the characters portrayed in the film itself.

Of all the scenes in the film, though, the very best is the closing one. This really must be one of the most impressive sequences yet screened, and a classic note is struck in this particular part. With Wilson a crippled man, his term as president expiring at noon, members of the Assembly come to receive his last message. He looks round the circle of implacable foes and staunch friends, and then walks across a room, out the White House. It's that simple, but it is superbly done.

The general standard of acting is very high, although nearly all the parts are handled with kid gloves. The main fault of the film lies in the script department and in certain of the direction. The chief executives evidently came to the conclusion that they were dealing with a classic, and had better handle him carefully. Consequently the general impression is that Wilson is to be regarded as something rather like Horohito, and I swear that eyes were averted by some of the characters when they were in the presence.

This also accounts for those embarrassing moments when people entered the President's study with bad news or a cup of tea or the papers, and, backing to the door, flung it open, giving a long, penetrating, thoughtful look, full of significance, at his back. There is far too much of this penetrating stare business, in fact. Even in the family circle looks kept being given and received, the general idea seemingly being that the great man was about to give out something apocalyptical. One felt the Boswell snooping about behind the curtains.

The prevailing "hands off" policy reached the script department, too, and resulted in Wilson, in his—so to speak—off-stage appearances, being presented with the most frightful dialogue. Surely the man didn't orate all the time! It's perfectly proper for him to do so in Congress or on the platform, but not, please, in the bosom of his family. In a word, the script is the weakest part of the film. A much better job could have been made of it.

My final criticism is that the film is far too long. It was screened to a university audience who would perhaps take a slightly more intelligent view than that of an everyday theatre-going crowd, but even so there was a good deal of foot-shuffling and yawning. Incidentally, some of the academic allusions were received in a rather novel fashion by the students. There was one gorgeous scene in which Wilson, having been elected President for the first time, hears singing out side his window. His wife states: "The students have come to serenade you." There was a shocked pause in the theatre, then shrieks of incredulous laughter.

I think it safe to say that the fine points of this film far outweigh its defects. It is an important film, one that should not be missed. In many parts it shows what the screen can really do if it tries hard. Wilson is not an easy picture; it is, I suppose, what may be called an "intellectual" one, which no doubt means that it will not run long In Wellington. As 10 the lesson it teaches for today, well, you can take your pick, from collective security to fascism. But see it. It's Important.