Sidney Lumet directed Child’ Play, an incoherent and rathe disappointing mystery drama, starring James Mason, Robert Preston and Beau Bridges.
Grade: C+ (** out of *****)
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Theatrical release poster
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The screenplay by Leon Prochnik is based on Robert Marasco’s 1970 play of the same title.
The film centers on the rivalry between two faculty members at St. Charles, an exclusive Catholic boarding school for boys.
Joe Dobbs is an easy-going, well-liked English teacher, while Latin and Greek instructor Jerome Malley is feared and hated by his students.
Malley is caring for his dying mother, and his stress is exacerbated by threatening phone calls and written notes he receives. He’s certain Dobbs is the source, but his caustic personality prevents him from winning any sympathy or support.
Paul Reis, a former student who has been hired to teach physical education, soon finds his loyalty torn between Dobbs and Malley, as he becomes aware of the latter’s personal torments.
Brando originally signed for the role of Joseph Dobbs, but dropped out when realizing that James Mason had the better role. He was replaced by Robert Preston, and producer David Merrick sued Brando for breach of contract.
The feature was shot at Marymount Secondary School in Tarrytown, New York, and students from Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains served as extras.
There is no real sense of sense of menace and mystery. Moreover, the movie contains some promising supernatural overtones, and so when the rather conventional, Freudian ending is disappointing.
Visually, the film’s look of the film artificial, failing to convey a particular sense of time and place. Even more irritating is the soundtrack, full of ominous clicking noises that are too loud.
And since there is only one person with genuine motive for revenge, the plot is rudimentary. The movie fails to show what makes one man despise another so intensely that he thinks he’s justified in destroying him.
Lumet and James Mason teamed together in several films, including the disappointing The Sea Gull.
But here, the film’s only good element is Mason’s performance, which, in its power and subtle shifting as the mad, exhausted Latin teacher, ranks among the best portrayals in a long and impressive career.
Cast
James Mason as Jerome Malley
Robert Preston as Joseph Dobbs
Beau Bridges as Paul Reis
Ron Weyand as Father Frank Mozian
Charles White as Father William Griffin
David Rounds as Father George Penny
Kate Harrington as Mrs. Carter
Brian Chapin as O’Donnell
Bryant Fraser as Jennings
Tom Leopold as Shea
Christopher Man as Travis
Paul O’Keefe as Freddie Banks
Credits
Directed by Sidney Lumet
Written by Stage play:
Robert Marasco
Screenplay: Leon Prochnik
Produced by David Merrick
Cinematography Gerald Hirschfeld
Edited by Joanne Burke
Edward Warschilka
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date: December 12, 1972
Running time: 100 minutes
