A NEW LIFE

US, 1988, 104 minutes, Colour.
Alan Alda, Ann- Margret, Hal Linden, Veronica Hamel, Mary Kay Place, John Shea.
Directed by Alan Alda.

A New Life was written and directed by Alan Alda. He is also the star. After so many years with M*A*S*H, Alda moved into film writing and direction with The Seduction of Joe Tynan, The Four Seasons, Sweet Liberty and, after A New Life, Betsy's Wedding.

Alda is an exuberant writer and actor. He studies relationships, mid-life crises, marriage and remarriage. He is also expert at one-liners - which make his characters enjoyable, even when they are exasperating. He has a very good cast here, led by himself, with a restrained Ann- Margret as his former wife, Hill Street Blues Veronica Hamill as his second wife, Barney Miller's Hal Linden as his friend.

There is a gentle tone in the film, a great deal of ruefulness about changes in life - but also some optimism as the name indicates.

1. The work of Alan Alda, as writer, director, star?

2. New York City locations, the visuals of the city, the eccentricities of the city? New York style, brash and lively? New York talk? The score, the mood, the songs?

3. The title - a new life for whom, for Steve, for Jackie, for the child at the end of the film? Marriage and children?

4. Jackie and Steve as a New York couple? Introverted and extraverted? The opening, the parallels between the two, the decision, the divorce, the proceedings? The reactions, questions about possessions, a new life?

5. Steve and his friendship with Mel? Working at the stock exchange and its frantic style? Steve's relationship with the staff, loud, a slob? Mel and his women? Steve, preparation for the divorce, arguing with Jackie? The aftermath, back at his flat, going out, the TV meals? The advice to get different clothes, looking in the shop window, his hair colour, modern outfit, going to the bar, picking up the woman, being robbed and stranded, Mel to the rescue? The further outings, the young girls, the restaurant, the drugs, going back to the apartment, his back and the massage? Aimlessness in life? Meeting Jackie, the meals together, his arguing with her? Her persuading him to go to the party, arguing loudly with the guest, arguing with Jackie on the stairs about their sexual relationship? His love for his daughter, the pregnancy, the birth experience - and going to the birth with Jackie?

6. The contrast with Jackie, her quiet style, dressing for the divorce, willing to concede to Steve, glad that the ordeal was over? A life on her own? Her friendship with Donna and Donna's advice? The meals? Her age, being alone, liking it? Meeting Steve for meals, discussing Judy and the pregnancy? Persuading him to go to the party, meeting people, the argument on the stairs? The revelation about the relationship, her isolation, his being busy? Her need for tenderness? Going to the gallery, the arguments about Doc and his art, his making the piece for her? The attraction, his courtship, living with Doc? The effect on her, his continued attention, going to Washington and his being on the plane? Being everywhere, the restaurant, the ballet? Her going to school, the school for the deaf, the assignments? The excitement of Judy's pregnancy and the birth?

7. Mel and his style, his comment on his shallowness, money, the exchange? Girls, the set-up, clothes? His affairs? Rescuing Steve? Steve's heart attack and his anxiety, his disliking Kay? The wedding? The irony of his being mugged? The playboy type?

8. Donna and her friendship with Jackie, scientist, the mice, behaviourism, sexuality? Her advice, setting Jackie up, support?

9. Doc and his art, age, the exhibition, impressed by Jackie, the pressure on her, his gentleness - or control? Living with Jackie, his art, going to Washington, the restaurant and his work, at home, his over-attention and Jackie feeling smothered? Her going on the bike and his being against it, his fear? The inevitable break?

10. Kay as an efficient doctor, at the hospital, Steve's heartbeat louder with her? Her efficiency, effect on Steve? Steve daydreaming about her at the exchange, phoning her? The outing, the weekend, her best friend at the beach, going to the basketball, her vigour, to her apartment for coffee only? The relationship, sexuality? The effect on each other? The decision about marriage, arguments about the child - and everybody discussing the pregnancy, the meal argument? The wedding, the arguments with Steve, the pregnancy, the importance of the training sessions, the tour of the hospital and the effect on him, his opting out? Their clash? The emergency, at her side, helping her with the birth of the child? The effect on him?

11. Judy, her relationship with her parents, the marriage, her advice for Steve to spend more time with his baby?

12. The New York types, the girls and their being picked up, drugs? The transvestite mugger? The people at the office? Guests at the art show? The party and the arguments? Doctors?

13. Alda's skill in writing screenplay, repartee, humour and wisdom?

14. The humour of the piece as well as its humanity?

15. The drawing up of the parallels and exploring them?

16. The humorous ending, the baby, people with new lives - Steve and his family, Jackie on her own? The final bet?