SECOND SIGHT
US, 1989, 84 minutes, Colour.
John Larroquette, Bronson Pinchot, Bess Armstrong.
Directed by Joel Zwick.
Second Sight is a brief corny comedy, relying on the screen presence of John Larroquette from TV's Night Court and Bronson Pinchot from TV's Perfect Strangers. The screenplay is reminiscent of Foul Play and other detective and conspiracy stories. However, it is played very broadly for a wide audience.
Pinchot is a psychic who is able to detect criminals. John Larroquette is the ex-policeman who runs the Second Sight agency. Stuart Pankin is the psychologist who is the medium between Larroquette and Pinchot. Bess Armstrong appears as a rather rugged and fierce nun, Sister Elizabeth. Nothing startling, a few obvious laughs - a comedy for wide audiences who are undemanding.
1. Enjoyable comedy? Detective story? Psychics?
2. Boston locations, neighbourhoods, religious places? Musical score and songs?
3. The title, the humour, the clairvoyant?
4. The focus on Bobby, his background, gift? His performing? The identification of the art gallery robber? His information for the professor's wife and the betting? His behaviour, his personality? With Murray? Murray taking over his personality? With Maria, the searching for the car thieves? Finding them, the crashes and the car rides? The search for the cardinal? The various methods? Trances? Special effects? His clashes with Wills, sympathy with his ailments? Attraction towards Maria? The happy ending?
5. Wills, his background in the police, his scepticism? Injuries? Clashes with Bobby? With the professor? The professor as intermediary? The case in the gallery? Searching for the car? His injuries? The clash with Sister Elizabeth? The visit to Cardinal O'Hara? To the bishop and his suspicions? Relationship with the Chief? The past and his wife? The police investigator? The search for the bishop, his quest, the dangers, the shootout? Meeting Sister Elizabeth again?
6. The professor, his skills, intermediary, photographs and recordings? His wife? In the cases, not wanting to tax Bobby?
7. Sister Elizabeth, joining the convent, Murray's girlfriend? Her tough line? Work for the cardinal? In on the investigations? At the cathedral? Attraction towards Wills? Leaving the convent?
8. The bishop, the cardinal? Bobby and his tackling him to protect him? The kidnapping, the secretary with him? The possibility of his being elected Pope? The television news services about the election?
9. The picture of the police, the Chief, his jealousy of Wills? Exasperation? The police investigator and his friendliness with Wills?
10. The kidnappers, amongst themselves? The clash with Wills and Bobby? The shootout?
11. Maria, the cardinal's secretary, the car, attraction towards Bobby, the happy ending?
12. Humour? Broad appeal? Corny style comedy?
