IN LOVE WITH AN OLDER WOMAN
US, 1982, 100 minutes, Colour.
John Ritter, Karen Carlson.
Directed by Jack Bender.
In Love With an Older Woman is a film about what it says - but more. During, the '70s and '80s, many American telemovies focused on social themes and highlighted issues for the public -presenting them in a concrete, emotional way rather than merely intellectual. This film dramatises the self-seeking, upwardly mobile executive and his falling in love with an older woman and its changing him and her. There are social problems, emotional problems, psychological problems. This film tackles them well. It begins as a callow kind of situation comedy-soap opera, but by the strength of the writing and the quality of the performances, the reality of the issues comes across and the film is, at times, quite moving.
John Ritter, best known as a comedian, is very good as the central character whom we see transformed before our eyes, forced to grow up. Karen Carlson is very attractive as the older woman who also has to face the reality of emotional involvement.
The film is geared towards the home audience, challenging for the popular audience rather than working at depth or intensity. However, of its kind, this is an impressive telemovie.
1. The popularity of the romance, the relationship between a younger man and an older woman, emotional crises? The quality of this film as entertainment, reflection of social issues, resolution of emotional problems?
2. Californian locations, attractive, lush? Affluence, legal corporations, big business, wealthy households? San Francisco? The use of music and songs (`I'm in the Mood for Love', 'My Blue Heaven' etc.)? The gearing of the characterisation and plot for the home audience?
3. The title and its evocations, a romance, the problems?
4. The focus on Robert - as the would-be man-about-town, his relationship with his peers and their focus on women, careers, money, success? His techniques in picking up a girl - and her telling him that he was blunt and immature? His involvement with Senator Strickland, the law firm, and his possibilities for promotion? His status as a single man in the office? His trying his turn with Isobel Ross - and her turning out to be his investigative assistant? The relationship with her, interest in her, sharing and talking, meals - and the humorous dance on the footpath The hesitance of Isobel, his thinking she was 37 and her not denying it? The relationship and his brusqueness, her telling him off, instructing him in tenderness and how to. relate to a woman sensitively? The beginning of the affair? His daring to move into her home, her acceptance of this? His change, his commitment to her? The outings together, the work together? Her sensitivity to clients, his ruthlessness - and her explanation of the word ruth and ruthless? The Fielding Inquiry, his knowing that there were cover-ups? The foreman and his evasion of the truth? The young assistant and his taking of the documents? The interview with Fielding and his aggressiveness, Robert alerted by Isobel and becoming more sensitive? 7he prospect of Isobel's daughter coming, his buying the doll, her turning out to be 24? Socialising with Isobel and meeting her friends, his liking them? Her telling the truth about the relationship? Debbie and her questioning of him, her encouraging of him? His discovery that Isobel was a famous artist? Their long discussions about her block, the influence of her former husband, her being put down, her need for affirmation? Their continuing their relationship, problems? Isobel going to Paris? Robert breaking with her but buying the air ticket, the farewell at the airport? The painted graffiti under the bridge? The change in Robert - and the impact of his relationship with Isobel?
5. Isobel and the first encounter with Robert, her putting him off, dancing in the street, her work for him and her skill, the dates, her resenting his brusqueness, her instructing him, the decision to begin the affair with him? Their sharing so much together? The revelation of Debbie and the three getting on well together? Socialising? The question of her painting, her loss of confidence, Robert wanting to give it back to her, her daughter wanting to give it back to her, the decision to go to Paris - and her future?
6. Debbie as Isobel's daughter, her being a free spirit, the amusement at Robert's shock, the doll? Her concern over her mother, interrogating Robert, wanting to grow as an artist?
7. The world of the law firm, the Senator and his ruthlessness, the young assistant and his tactics, Robert in this milieu, realising that he was self-centred, the softening, change of heart, his attitude towards Fielding? The confrontation of the bosses and his demand for status
and salary?
8. The picture of the '80s, the world of the law, the world of art, the social world? People 112 their environment? Needs, growth, inability to grow, selfishness, relationships? Audience understanding through emotion rather than through intellectual insight?
