DANIELLE STEEL'S VANISHED
US, 1995, 86 minutes, Colour.
Lisa Rinna, George Hamilton, Robert Hays, Alex de Linz.
Directed by George Kaczender.
Danielle Steel's Vanished is one of a number of television movies made in the 90s from her bestselling novels. Most of them are set in contemporary US. However, this film begins in France in the early part of the 20th century and moves on from there to the United States. Different from the other films, it is something of a period piece, recreating a period of affluence in the period before World War II.
Lisa Rinna is the put-upon heroine, suffering the accidental death of her child and her husband being unable to bear the death of the child and be with her, even though he loves her. She has the opportunity to marry a very affluent tycoon, played with suntanned charm by George Hamilton. However, his sole ambition is to have a son and heir and extraordinary deeds follow - including the abduction of his son (played by Alex de Linz from Home Alone 3, One Fine Day). Robert Hays is the detective on the case - who falls in love with the heroine, thus ensuring a happy ever after for all concerned except for the dastardly George Hamilton and his mistress, his secretary who has second thoughts about what she has become involved in. Entertaining romantic melodrama.
1. The popularity of Danielle Steel's novels? The affluent world in which they are set? The romantic, high-class soap opera characters and situations?
2. The Paris settings, Switzerland, the period between the wars? Move to New York City, its affluence, homes, Wall Street? The musical score?
3. The title, the ominous sense of anticipation throughout the film, the abduction of the boy and his rescue?
4. The idyllic focus on Mariel and Charles, their love for each other, their child, on holidays, Mariel and her being distracted, the accidental death of their child? Consequences for her and the time in the sanatorium? Charles, his disappearance, his inability to face the situation? His chance encounter of her years later? The interactions, his threats, his desperation? The irony of the way in which Malcolm used these encounters?
5. Mariel, alone, her abilities, return to New York, seeking work, being taken up by Malcolm? Feted, courted, restaurants etc? Proposal, the marriage? The importance of her being pregnant? Her gradually being confined to the house, its effect on her? The birth of the boy? Malcolm and his having the nanny look after the child? Mariel and her being deprived of care for her child? Brigitte and her being in the background, supportive, sinister? The years passing and Mariel falling out of favour with Malcolm? Their clashes? Her place in society? Her place in the home, feeling estranged in some ways from her child, the intrusive work of the nanny?
6. The disappearance of the boy, her desperation? Malcolm and his concern, the accusations against Charles? The echoes of the Lindbergh case?
7. Taylor and his investigations, his concern for Mariel, being more and more attracted to her? The examination of the case, the clues? The chauffeur, the nanny? The realisation that Malcolm had kidnapped the boy, and kept him confined?
8. The investigations, the court sequences? Charles in court? Mariel and her response? Taylor and his presence? The unmasking of Malcolm, the reaction of Brigitte, her contribution to the truth? The explanation of his motivations, wanting a son and heir?
9. Dastardly deeds, the extremely rich and their ruthlessness, lack of morality? The poor heroine and her being used? Her love for her child, the happy ending - and a prospective stepfather? The popular ingredients of this kind of romantic telemovie?
