THE HAUNTING OF SARAH HARDY

US, 1989, 92 minutes, Colour.
Sela Ward, Polly Bergen, Michael Woods, Morgan Fairchild.
Directed by Jerry London.

The Haunting of Sarah Hardy is an attractive-looking telemovie. However, its contents are entirely predictable - audiences will have seen this plot many many times. The almost Gothic opening with the mysterious suicide of a mother in black and the effect on a child; the lyrical marriage of the heroine to a dashing young husband; the reappearance of the mother's ghost and the terrorising of the heroine; the revelation of the collusion between the husband and the wife's best friend; the pretence of death by the wife; the haunting of the husband, the death of the girlfriend, the shock ending with little intrinsic meaning.

The material is familiar, indeed predictable. It is enjoyable of its kind, though the ending is unsatisfactory. Direction is by Jerry London, director of many telemovies including Shogun. Sela Ward (Nothing in Common, Hello Again) is an attractive heroine. Morgan Fairchild emerges as the villain.

1.Enjoyable Gothic melodrama in modern setting? Predictable and familiar?

2.Colour photography, locations, the mansion, the effects for the opening? The world of wealth, society? Shocks and editing? Musical score?

3.The title, the focus on Sarah, her marriage, her mother, her husband and Lucy?

4.Sarah as a child, the burial of her father, the dominance of her mother, insanity, the piano, her mother wanting her to wish she was dead, her suicide in the sea, Sarah watching? The care of Miss Stepford?

5.The wedding, happy, Sarah and Austin? Allan and Lucy watching? The reception? The happy life at home, Austin at work, Sarah and the household, Miss Stepford's intervention? Her firing her? The beginnings of the haunting - the presence of the mother, the voice, the photo, the music? Sarah and her going to see Allan, getting some counselling? Her pregnancy? The support of Austin and Lucy? Outings with Lucy at her soap opera set?

6.The shock, Lucy in hospital, the abortion? Her growing fear, wanting a divorce? Overhearing the phone call?

7.Austin as the charming husband, Lucy as the friend? Their collusion, greed? Putting the plan into action, to kill Sarah, her disappearance? The funeral?

8.Sarah's reappearance, revealing herself to Allan? Austin and Lucy, their fear? Austin shooting Lucy? Driving off and the crash?

9.The possibility of a future between Sarah and Allan? The reappearance of Austin in the bed and the sudden ending?

10.Miss Stepford, her support, audience suspicions of her, her wanting the money? Her not coming back into the plot?

11.The popular ingredients of Gothic melodrama and murder and greed set in the late '80s?