THE HEARST AND DAVIES AFFAIR

US, 1985, 98 minutes, Colour.
Robert Mitchum, Virginia Madsen, Fritz Weaver.
Directed by David Lowell Rich.

The Hearst and Davies Affair is a glossy telemovie focusing on the relationship between newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst and actress Marion Davies. Of course, movie-watchers' views of Hearst and Davies would be gleaned from Orson Welles' 1941 classic, Citizen Kane. Comparisons with this telemovie and Citizen Kane are, of course, very interesting.

This film is based on historical material. However, the treatment is for the widest possible television audience - something in the rather more sanitised Reader's Digest style. Virginia Madsen is attractive and believable as Marion Davies, giving a character to this rather enigmatic actress. Robert Mitchum is Hearst - but it is really Hearst as Robert Mitchum.

The period of the film is from 1916 to 1937. However, Hearst and Davies remained together until his death in 1951.

1.Entertaining telemovie? Historical background? Audience interest in Hearst, Marion Davies? The comparisons with Citizen Kane?

2.The re-creation of the period, World War One, the '20s and '30s? Affluence, the glamour of New York, the Ziegfeld Follies, movie-making? Newspaper production? Hearst's mansion of San Simeon? The musical score and the times?

3.The title and the focus, the two personalities, Hearst's marriage and the unwillingness of his wife to give a divorce? The long affair?

4.The framework and Hearst and his loss of money, Marion Davies' response? Her own wealth and giving it to him? The very brief ending with the information that Hearst remade his money?

5.Marion Davies, Ziegfeld girl, nervous and fluffing her line, encountering Hearst and his attraction? Her mother watching over her relationships? Her sister? Their bonds? Her relationship with the film-maker? The attraction to Hearst, going out with him? Falling in love? Her reaction to the marriage and the possibility of divorce? Riding the bike and getting the ride in the car, her encounter with Millicent Hearst? The set-up in the apartment? The relationship, Hearst's telling his wife the truth? The separation because of Hearst's ambitions to be president? His giving up these ambitions? Her going to the newspaper office, the party for his birthday? Her life in San Simeon? Lonely and isolated? The film-making, Hearst's interest and interventions? Her publicity, her public? The role of Louella Parsons and gossip? Hearst's absence and her flirtation with Charlie Chaplin - the incident in the lions' cage, the dinner, at home with him? The death of Thomas Ince on the yacht? The years passing, her giving her life for Hearst? Her drinking, her moments of bitterness at San Simeon? Yet her remaining with Hearst?

6.Robert Mitchum as Hearst, bringing his own style - and playing a man 20 years younger than Mitchum's actual age of 69 during production? His sense of superiority and self-confidence, his recounting his history, ousted from Harvard, his father's attitude towards him, papers and the Yellow Press, World War One and his opposition to Wilson, people calling him a Kraut-lover? His antagonistic attitudes towards the presidency? His work with his staff? The theatre, attraction to Marion, gallant towards her? The association, proper, the flirtation? Buying her the apartment? Installing her as his mistress? The incident in the car, the birthday party and his going home to his wife, their discussions and her refusal for the divorce? Presidential campaign, withdrawing, entering into films? His relationship with Marion - and the crisis with his going to New York, her relationship with Chaplin? The death on the boat? His relationship with Arthur and the finances, Arthur's prejudice towards Marion Davies? His needing money and her giving it to him?

7.Millicent Hearst, the marriage, the children, her hostility, refusing the divorce?

8.Arthur, the management of the finances, antagonism towards Marion? His snubbing her, Hearst's stance? The money failing? Marion shrewd in building up her own account?

9.The making of movies, the different styles, Marion adapting? Hearst's interventions? Louella Parsons and gossip? The portrait of Charlie Chaplin, affair, Chaplin's marriage?

10.The political background of the time, America and World War One, Wilson? The aftermath? Presidency, his relationship with Roosevelt? The publication of the papers, the Hearst press and his influence?

11.The background of Broadway, the Ziegfeld Follies, patronage by rich men? The relationship with Hollywood, movie-making?

12.Marion's mother, her watching over her daughter, wanting her to be married yet approving the relationship? Her sister? The party, the shooting - and the subsequent court case and Marion's withdrawing?

13.A sanitised glimpse into characters and their period?