REUBEN, REUBEN
US, 1983, 95 minutes, Colour.
Tom Conti, Kelly Mc Gillis, Roberts Blossom, Lois Smith.
Directed by Robert Ellis Miller.
Reuben, Reuben was written for the screen by veteran Julius J. Epstein (amongst many credits, Casablanca). It is based on a novel by Peter De Vries and the play Spoffard by Herman Shumlin. It is a star vehicle for British actor Tom Conti (Glittering Prizes, Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence) - and he does an excellent imitation of a Dylan Thomas-type poet let loose amongst the women of New England. He was nominated for an Oscar for his performance.
The film introduces Kelly McGillis? who was to make an impact in Peter Weir's Witness. Direction is by Robert Ellis Miller (The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, Buttercup Chain).
The success of the film rests on the tour de force performance of Conti - a satirical and entertaining portrayal of an eccentric poet.
1. The film as black comedy: wit, insight, wry pathos?
2. The title and the reference to Spoffard's sheepdog? The irony of the title? Friendliness, a fatal friendliness?
3. The world of New England, society? New York? The portrait of America? The America of the '70s and '80s?
4. The New England town, its lifestyle, poetry readings, women's associations, restaurants, motels, homes, church, farms? The contrast with New York City? The world of universities, business, book-publishing, the media?
5. Tom Conti and the strength of his performance, Oscar nomination? A performance of quality, entertainment, insight?
6. The poet Gowan McGland? - and the similarities to the image of Dylan Thomas? The British poet with the Celtic tradition? His origins, stories? The Celtic heritage? His poetry and its quality - words, images, insight, passion? An eccentric genius? His appreciation of beauty and his nonchalant womanising? His unashamed attitudes towards money and drinking? His frustration and blocking of his creative flow? The actual poems? The readings and the women's reaction? The courses and comment? Biography and meaning? His appearance: hair, lively eyes, clothes, dingy attitudes and appearance? A womaniser? Appreciation of things sensual? His permissiveness, age, the pun on lecher tour? His future - wandering, the danger of not being able to settle, any kind of commitment? His vision of Geneva, his gratitude towards her, delight, being her swain, the party, outings in the countryside? The affair, jealousy, humiliation? The range of affairs in the town? Bobby Springer and her possessiveness? Lucille and her hold on him? His playing one off against the other? The visit to his own wife, the writing of the biography? The recorder? The irony of Lucille's husband as dentist, his revenge, McGland's pain, the extraction of the teeth, the visit to the doctor's? His decision? Geneva's pregnancy? His decision to commit suicide - his discourse, arguing with himself? The spontaneous rushing in of Reuben and the pathos of his death? Themes of meaning of life death? McGland's death wish? A character in himself, his poses? Truth in drunkenness? His attitudes towards others - scorn, using them, not valuing them? The importance of his relationship Spoffard - friendship, understanding? A pathetic life?
7. Geneva and her attractiveness, the train ride and its humour, the paying for the ticket, the encounter. Todd, charmed, sharing the affair with him. the delight, the outings? The lyrical sequences? The contrast with the humiliations? His pain and his teeth, her pregnancy? Looking back or not and its effect on Gowan's decision to commit suicide?
8. The sketch of his wife - nice. happy, wry attitude towards him? Her memories? Using and exploiting? De facto relationship? The handsome actor? Yet talking to her by tape. his life for the record?
9. The women of New England - middle age, openness to affairs, feting him as the celebrity? Their reactions, awe, romance? The sexual liaisons? Bobby and the affair, dinner? Lucille. her age. throwing herself at McGland? Their bored lives? Husbands. business. no imagination? The dentist's son? The atmosphere of the university? Clashes. parties? Lucille and the phone. the anger, the affair and her husband's revenge? The dentist's? Destroying McGland?
10. The contrast with Spoffard - the old grandfather. pleasant, his being authentic, the truth, the friendship with Reuben? His wife? Geneva's parents and their plainness, their shock?
11. The focus on Reuben - sheepdog. relationship to Spoffard, Geneva, McGland? Reuben as a character - and crucial for the resolution?
12. Black humour - verbal, visual. farce., satiric? A bleak picture of human nature?
