D*A*R*Y*L

US, 1986, 95 minutes, Colour.
Michael Mc Kean, Mary Beth Hurt, Barrett Oliver, Josef Sommer, Kathryn Walker.
Directed by Simon Wincer.

D*A*R*Y*L is a piece of science fiction designed for the family audience. It focuses on the enormous developments in technology (in much the same way as the contemporary Short Circuit). It focuses on US defence, experimentation, the creation of robots. It offers the possibility of a human being - with everything human except an electronic computer brain. Barrett Oliver (Never Ending Story, Cocoon) is affecting as Daryl, the robot.

Daryl seems to lose his memory, meets an ordinary American family and feels at home. Michael McKean? and Mary Beth Hurt are the parents. However, he is found and taken back to the laboratories by doctors Josef Sommer and Kathryn Walker. The doctor has compassion and he is allowed to escape and is ultimately reunited with the family.

Thus the film combines human interest with the science fiction aspects - as well as enormous fantasies for children as Daryl drives a car with great speed and skill along the highway and pilots an expensive plane.

Direction is by Australian Simon Windsor (Phar Lap, The Light- Horsemen, Lonesome Dove).

1. Entertaining family film? Family themes? Science fiction and technology?

2. The technological settings, the laboratories? Cars and planes? The contrast with the ordinary American town, school and homes? The location photography? Musical score?

3. The title and the symbolism of the letters? Daryl as an advanced robot?

4. Daryl, the initial chase, the explosion? His loss of memory? Being found, the hospital, the tests? The family taking him in? Their affection for him? Their friends and their interest and concern? Becoming friends with Turtle? At home, playing the piano, baseball skills? The puzzle about his identity? His talents? The alleged parents coming to get him? The farewells? Turtle upset? His going back in the plane, his not understanding the doctors were not his parents? Back in the laboratories, the tests? His seeming to be completely human - although the power of his brain? His wanting to see the family again? Their coming to see him? Dr Stewart and his relenting? Taking him away, the devices for the escape, Daryl driving the car? The plane, the chewing gum, communication with Turtle, the plane crash and his ejection? Dr Lamb finding him and letting him stay? Being reunited with the family? The plausibility of a robot like Daryl? The military plans to terminate him - murder or the destruction of a weapon?
5. The family, the small town, their love for Daryl, taking him in? His talents and abilities? Happy sequences at home? Letting him go? The visit to the laboratory, Joyce's disbelief? The happy reunion at the end? The portrait of their friends, working at the shelter? Their helping with Daryl?

6. Turtle, two young boys together, friendship, Turtle upset at Daryl's leaving, going to the laboratory, telling him he was a robot? Their discussions about his feelings? The radio link and their being reunited?

7. The doctors and their concern about Daryl, the initial doctor and the escape, his death? Dr Stewart's taking Daryl back, bringing the family? Seeing him as human? Pleas to the military? The escape, the drive, his being shot, his death? Dr Lamb and her sterner point of view? Relenting?

8. The military and their wanting Daryl destroyed as a machine?

9. The popular ingredients of a family story, boys' friendship? The background of fantasy, science fiction? An entertaining combination?