THE SEDUCTION OF JOE TYNAN

US, 1979, 102 minutes, Colour.
Alan Alda, Barbara Harris, Meryl Streep, Rip Torn, Melvyn Douglas.
Directed by Jerry Schatzberg.

The Seduction of Joe Tynan has a wry, witty and well-observed screenplay by Alan Alda who also plays the title role with relish and force - a Kennedy-type senator, popular, on the way up, an intelligent opportunist whose ambition, of course, cuts him off from wife and children he loves, entangles him emotionally with a research lawyer and allows him to be seduced into seeking more and more power, moving towards the Presidency. 'Behind Washington closed doors' tone is to the fore and some cynicism (not without hope) about U.S. politics. Barbara Harris as wife and Meryl Streep as researcher make the most of substantial roles. Interesting and entertaining political drama.

1. The focus of the title, its reference to politics, sexual overtones, the sexual relationships? The focus on Joe and naming him? His personality, popularity, his name as a catch-call? Tone of the title, its ambiguities?

2. An Alan Alda film: his screenplay and its quality, wry and witty, quality of observation of human nature, politics? His political and American themes of the '70s? The cast and their impact?

3. The film as echoing American politics of the '70s? The memories of the Kennedy Camelot era? The more realistic undertones of the ideal? Sordid tones, corruption, battles of wits? The world of Washington, New York? The ballyhoo of politics, the media and advertising, research, interviews, propaganda? The more positive approach to politics after the Watergate era? Colour photography, authentic atmosphere, the jaunty musical score?

4. Audience response to American politics - ugliness, the sense of duty of politicians? Audiences enjoying the give and take of politics? Prying behind the closed doors and the surfaces? Surface respectability, smiles and cordiality, straight talk? The double-talk of publicity and the media, deals? The '70s and cover-ups and audience expectations? The depth of the exploration of the film, the dramatic aspects rather than the documentary being to the fore?

5. Audience knowledge of American politics - the Senate and its workings, the role of the Presidency, presidential nominations, conventions, Senate investigations? The power of the Senate, of the President, of judicial organisations? Individual senators in enquiries, their power by performance, making a name, hounding people?

6. The portrait of Joe Tynan - personality, type; Liberal, New Yorker, in the Kennedy image? The credits sequence and his speech, the bill being passed and his joy at success? His possibilities for Senate achievement, political prestige, Presidency? The importance of his reliance on Francis? Taking advantages of opportunities, his publicity? Ellie and her being the Senator's wife, interviews? Everybody waving to Joe when he went for the weekend with Karen? The well-known figure, the glamour? The final voting sequence and his achievement?

7. The establishing of the relationship between Joe and Ellie - the bedroom sequence, the talk of politics and it dominating Joe's attitude? Their love for each other after so many years? Living in New York, the request to move to Washington? Karen and her arrival, the testing of Joe's attitudes towards Ellie, his falling in love with her again, his asking her forgiveness? Janet and her problems - her father not knowing about them, not listening whereas Ellie having to cope by herself? Paul and his problems - e.g. the telephone call to the office? The meal sequence and discussions? The fights between Joe and Ellie - especially over the magazine interview, the moving of the house? The final clash about a life together, career? The reason for Ellie giving her final consent at the convention? The presentation of career and ambitions affecting home life, family? Care for his wife and for ordinary people - the slogans and the reality? The priorities in his life and his decisions? The possibilities of his future failure?

8. The portrait of Ellie and Barbara Harris' interpretation - as a character, personality, her love for Joe, her bringing up of her children, her own personal work and clientele, her running of the home? The interview with the magazine and her talking about psychoanalysis - and Francis' advice for double-talk? Janet and following her in the car and picking her up? The clashes with Janet? The discovery of the truth about Karen and the fight? Her forgiveness? The banquet and her having to move in artificial circles, make false speeches? The confrontation with Joe at the end and her accepting him, love dominating?

9. Joe and his seduction? Karen and her impact on him, the Kennedy style and his comments on her manner, his being aggressive with her, enjoying the work with her, visiting her in Louisiana, their capacity to talk together, her enthusiasm for his cause and the expose of the presidential nominee? The bedroom sequences with their comedy, passion? Her helping him? What did he gain by the experience with Karen? His need for deceit, cover-up? The parting - Karen's putting down the phone, Joe's rush to the hotel and the room being already occupied by the man who recognised him, the airport farewell? The attention to detail in their sequences together e.g. the food in bed? Joe and his rediscovering his love for Ellie? The contrast of the two women in his life? The seduction into power politics - the proposal by Senator Birney, the proposition that he support him, his decisions to go against him, his influence with the other senators, the party sequence, the words to the press, television interviews, the examination of evidence about the nominee? Karen's evidence? The confrontation with Birney and his rejection of him? His being seduced by his public image - the collage of his public appearances, his signature on so many documents? The confrontation with Karen, Francis, Ellie?

10. The complexity and simplicity of the presentation of politics? The lightweight entertaining presentation of complex issues? Politics and the cover-ups, the exposes, the deals, the emotional entanglements, the need for judgment? How does the film square with reality?

11. Merrill Streep's performance as Karen? Her enthusiasm, knowledge, the law? Family background? Louisiana experience? The gathering of the evidence, the conferences, her zest? As a career woman? The New Orleans sequences - the visit to the negro politician? The sequences with her husband and his travel? The phone call from Joe, her decision to accept it, the hotel sequence? The sexual relationship, the love? The initial encounter and the discussion about discretion? Her presence at the Senator's party? Her meting Joe and Ellie at the banquet? The significance of the farewell? How well drawn and credible a character?

12. The presentation of the American Senate - the initial boredom and lack of presence, investigations and their atmosphere, televising, the group interviewing the nominee, the give and take of the interrogation? Senate parties and the grand piano out in the grounds? Liaisons, the,Southern Senator and the secretary under his desk? Senate dedication, the staff and the P.R. meen? Media interviews and their analysis? The role of the Senate? Opportunities, image, success in investigations, the banquet to the convention?

13. The portrait of Birney and his career, his power, deals? His lining up of allies? His explanation of his career and his hopes? His lapsing into French - especially in public at the finale? The pathos of his collapse? The Southern Senators and his disdain? The meeting in the rooms, the competition with the Southern Senator and Joe eating? His hostility, support?

14. The social issues used for the political background - the credits sequence and the negroes in Washington, buses? Segregation as a focus? The justice nominee and the investigation, the evidence of his statements, the film? The racial issues in America in the '70s?

15. The portrait of Francis - as a personality, the man behind the scenes, his prog~ ramming, suggestions? The subjection of his own personal feelings? His manipulation? Relationship with Joe, attempt to dominate Ellie? A symbol for power seduction?

16. The impact of the convention with its ballyhoo, the opportunity for Joe and his career, Ellie and the crisis? Janet's absence? The atmosphere and Ellie's consent? Joe's pleading and hope? The future? The blend of realism and cynicism in this political entertainment?