The Failing of Raymond

The Failing of Raymond

Year: 1971

Runtime: 73 mins

Language: English

Director: Boris Sagal

TV MovieThrillerDrama

On the day before she retires, a teacher discovers that a student she had flunked ten years previously is out to kill her.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Failing of Raymond (1971)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Failing of Raymond (1971). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Local high school, Mary's home, boarding house, hospital

The story largely unfolds within a local high school, where Raymond stalks Miss Bloomquist and where a tense hostage situation occurs. Scenes also move to Mary’s home, a nearby boarding house, and a hospital setting that anchors the investigation. The corridors, classrooms, and retirement party ambience create a claustrophobic backdrop for a drama that blends education, danger, and personal accountability.

🏫 School 🧠 Psychology 🏥 Medical 🏠 Domestic

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:38

Main Characters – The Failing of Raymond (1971)

Meet the key characters of The Failing of Raymond (1971), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Mary Bloomquist (Jane Wyman)

A veteran high school teacher approaching retirement who grapples with doubts about her effectiveness. She remains calm and authoritative under pressure, using a firm, teacherly voice to steer Raymond away from violence. Committed to teaching him what he missed, she plans to continue tutoring him after retirement, visiting him daily and then on weekends after September as she remains devoted to the profession.

🎓 Teacher 🧭 Determination 🗣️ Authority

Raymond (Dean Stockwell)

A disturbed young man who has escaped from a psychiatric hospital with a fixation on the teacher he believes wronged him. He presents a calm, polite demeanor that masks paranoia and a dangerous resolve to retake and complete the exam he failed ten years earlier. His plan unfolds with moments of violence as he confronts Miss Bloomquist, culminating in a tense moral confrontation.

🧠 Paranoia 🎯 Obsession ⚖️ Danger

Dr. Abel (Paul Henreid)

Raymond’s psychiatrist who appears in the pursuit of understanding his patient’s behavior. He provides clinical insight that aids the investigation and helps connect the dots for the authorities. His involvement underscores the tension between treatment and the pursuit of justice.

🧪 Doctor 🧠 Psychiatry 🕊️ Care

Sgt. Manzak (Murray Hamilton)

A police sergeant involved in the search for Raymond. He coordinates the law enforcement response and collaborates with medical professionals to locate the missing student. His presence grounds the pursuit in procedural realism as the story escalates toward the classroom confrontation.

👮 Police 🗺️ Investigation 🧭 Procedure

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:38

Major Themes – The Failing of Raymond (1971)

Explore the central themes of The Failing of Raymond (1971), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎯 Obsession

Raymond’s fixation on his former teacher becomes a consuming drive that drives the plot forward. The narrative tracks his calm exterior slipping into dangerous intent as he plans to retake the exam. The pursuit reveals how obsession can masquerade as civility while masking deeper pain. Ultimately, the story tests whether obsession can be redirected toward something constructive.

🌟 Redemption

Mary Bloomquist embodies a humane, steadfast approach under pressure. She refuses to abandon Raymond and uses authority tempered with compassion to guide him back toward safety. Her decision to teach him the missed material reframes the encounter as an opportunity for growth. The film asks whether mercy and persistent teaching can alter a troubled path.

📚 Education

Education is shown as a pathway to understanding rather than mere assessment. Mary’s insistence on addressing the missed exam material reframes failure as teachable, not condemnable. The film emphasizes the transformative potential of instruction when delivered with patience and resolve. It also suggests that learning can heal wounds beyond the classroom.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:38

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The Failing of Raymond Summary

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The Failing of Raymond Summary

The Failing of Raymond Timeline

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The Failing of Raymond Timeline

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