© ATOM 2011 A STUDY GUIDE BY ROBERT LEWIS http://www.metromagazine.com.au ISBN-13-978-1-74295-013-6 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au CURRICULUM APPLICABILITY History — Recipe For Murder is a resource that can be used with middle and upper secondary students to help explore a decade in history. OVERVIEW the Australia and most of YDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1953, the developed world, incred- a city in the grip of a deadly ibly thallium was freely available in court’s public gallery. Scrime wave. In just over a year Sydney ... at every corner store. more than one hundred people were The most scandalous and sensational poisoned. The shocking truth is that Recipe For Murder (Sonia Bible, 2010, case was that of Veronica Monty. most of the killers were women. 52 minutes) tells the true story of three The attractive forty-five year old was notorious poisoners: Yvonne Fletcher, charged with attempted murder while In 1952 two NSW detectives, Don Fer- Caroline Grills and Veronica Monty. in the midst of a sex scandal with her gusson and Fred Krahe commenced son-in-law, a famous Australian Rugby a murder investigation. What they Yvonne Fletcher, a blonde good time league player. found was so diabolical that it created girl, was accused of killing two hus- a storm of public outrage ... women bands. Newspaper reports of Yvonne Recipe For Murder follows the detec- were adding rat poison to cakes and Fletcher’s arrest sparked a media fren- tives cracking the cases, the media cups of tea and feeding it to their zy. The tabloid reports led to a wave fuelling the crime wave and the unsuspecting loved ones. of copy-cat crimes across the city and women standing trial. Based on actual at the same time, raised suspicions courtroom transcripts and newspa- Unlike the popular images of 1950s about other mysterious deaths. pers of the time, the film combines domestic harmony, Sydney was a gritty archive with stunning film melting pot of violence, poverty and Next to be charged was sixty-three- noir re-enactments, interviews with tensions between the sexes. In this year-old grandmother Caroline Grills. witnesses and a music score from 2011 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION claustrophobic post-war society, both She was accused of being a serial “Animal Kingdom” composer Antony men and women were trapped in roles killer after four members of her family Partos. Narrated by Dan Wyllie in clas- that no longer fitted. But there was a died in suspicious circumstances. It sic pulp crime style, the film dramati- way out. With no colour, no taste and was alleged that Caroline Grills was cally reveals the unique ingredients no smell, thallium, the active ingredi- hosting poison tea parties and killing that created a recipe for murder. ent in rat poison, was the perfect for the thrill of it. The trial of Caroline murder weapon. Banned in the rest of Grills attracted record crowds at the 2 simple details about the interviewer to BEFORE WATCHING THE FILM help you interpret the responses later — their gender, their age during the The film you are about to watch is set 1950s, where they lived (which suburb in 1950s Australia. or country area), whether they were EXPLORING IDEAS AND ISSUES part of a large or small family, how they IN THE FILM 1 What is your image of the 1950s? would characterise their social status. Brainstorm as a class and record your What can we learn from Recipe for ideas and impressions. Keep this list, 3 Record their answers, and share Murder that tells us about the 1950s, as you will be able to come back and them with interviews carried out by and especially about inner city life in test these later. others in your class. Sydney in this period? 2 A good way of testing this image 4 From this create an overall gen- 6 As you watch the film make notes is to interview people who remember eralisation or image of the decade. in the 1950s column about how these this decade — anyone in their 60s and Note that you may find some different aspects are depicted: older. Try to find some older people generalisations, according to the age, who are willing to talk about their gender, wealth or location of the peo- See table overleaf. memories of this decade. To help you ple you have interviewed. For exam- and them, ask about their recollec- ple, the impressions of young people 7 When you have completed the list tions of these key areas: in the inner suburbs may be different for the 1950s, summarise the key from those in outer suburbs or the features of your community today for • economic country; the impressions may also the same aspects of life. • social be different for wealthier and poorer • cultural suburbs; and for girls and boys. Try to 8 What have been the major changes 2011 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION • political take these into account in your analy- between then and now? • environmental sis of the interviews. • international 9 What have been the major continui- • their overall impression of the 5 Now as you watch Recipe for Mur- ties between then and now? decade. der you will be automatically testing these images against the one present- 10 The film focuses on the experi- You will need also to record some ed in the film. ence of three women. Describe each, 3 ASPECT 1950S INNER SYDNEY YOUR COMMUNITY TOday CITY SCENES INNER SUBURBS FOOD CLOTHING ATTITUDES MEn’S ROLES AND BEHAVIOUR WOMEn’S ROLES AND BEHAVIOUR CHILDREN COMMUNICatiON TRANSPORT HOUSING HEALTH COMMUNITY LIFE SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2011 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DIVORCE 4 VERONICA MONTY CAROLINE GRILLS YVONNE FLETCHER and explain why she kills. this answer? How might post-war persons, and the information that can changes to the role of women (such as be discussed before a trial. Are such See table above. jobs, income, divorce laws, domestic restrictions a legitimate protection of violence) have increased pressures on people’s rights, or do they deny peo- 11 What do these characterisations women? Do the three women focused ple (and juries) a full knowledge and suggest to you were the accepted on in the film seem to be those who understanding of the situation? roles or images in the society of the would have been most affected by time of: these changes? Explain your views. 18 Jean Lee (1951) and Ronald Ryan (1966) were the last woman and man • young married women 15 The film shows the very limited ex- to be executed in Australia. Why might • middle aged women pertise of forensic or scientific investi- capital punishment have been stopped • elderly women? gations in the criminal process at that for women before it was for men? Why time. Research how that has changed. do we no longer have capital punish- 12 How did their behaviour seem to You might do this by looking at a mod- ment in Australia? Should we? You challenge or threaten those images? ern crime, and identifying and explain- might research the arguments for and ing how science is now a powerful and against and prepare a debate on this 13 Why would this lead to hostility accessible tool for investigators. issue. against them? 16 The film shows many parts of 19 As a documentary Recipe for 14 The film asks at the start: “What newspaper reports of the investiga- Murder contains a large number of is it about this city that turns women tions and trials of the women. What is cinematic elements, including: into cold-blooded killers?” It answers your impression of the way the media that question in this way: “Unlike the reported the cases? Do you think • dramatic reconstructions 2011 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION popular images of 1950s domestic they influenced attitudes against the • archival footage and photographs harmony, Sydney was a melting pot women? • interviews of violence, poverty and tensions • a narrator between the sexes. In this claustro- 17 You could compare this with the • a narration phobic post-war society, both men way crimes are reported today, focus- • music and women were trapped in roles that ing especially on the restrictions that • a narrative structure no longer fitted.” Do you agree with exist on the identification of accused • editing 5 1 3 2 1: Bonnie Montyhouse 2: Susan 3: crew in the studio 4: Bonnie 5: Sonia Susan 6: Sonia 7: Susan 4 5 • special graphic effects (such as books. Look at one or more of these the recreation of newspapers bust and using the criteria or aspects listed using the photographs of the ac- in question 2: tors). • economic Discuss each of these elements, and • social give an example of how each aspects • cultural contributes successfully to the film. • political • environmental 20 The makers of Recipe for Mur- • international der say: ‘Based on actual courtroom • their overall impression of the transcripts and newspapers of the decade time, the film combines gritty archive with stunning film noir re-enactments, and summarise the image presented 6 interviews with witnesses and a music in the text book. How does it compare score from Animal Kingdom com- with what you have discovered? poser Antony Partos. Narrated by Dan Wyllie in classic pulp crime style, the 22 How do you explain the similarities film dramatically reveals the unique and differences? ingredients that created a recipe for murder.’ Do you think the film is a 23 If there are major differences, successful documentary? Explain your which version or image do you ac- ideas. cept? Justify your decision. 2011 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION 21 In questions 1-6 you created and 24 Now go back to the list of fea- tested images of the 1950s, through tures of the 1950s you recorded in your own ideas, through interviews, question 1.