CONTINENTAL DIVIDE
US, 1981, 103 minutes, Colour.
John Belushi, Brooke Adams.
Directed by Michael Apted.
Continental Divide is an entertaining romantic comedy drama. It was designed for comedian John Belushi to change his image. From Saturday Night Live to such films as The Blues Brothers, he showed himself a skilled stand-up comic. Here he is still a rough and ready character, a columnist in Chicago who has an eye for exposing scandals. However, he is sent to Wyoming and the Rockies to cover a woman involved in researching American bald eagles. He is transformed. He also falls in love. Belushi handles this transformation quite well. However, he was to make only one more film, Neighbours, after this one before his death from drug overdose (dramatised in Bob Woodward's book, Wired, and the subsequent movie). Blair Brown is very attractive as woman researching the bald eagles.
The film was executive produced by Steven Spielberg and his Amblin company. The screenplay was written by Lawrence Kasdan, writer of some of the Star Wars movies as well as Raiders of the Lost Ark. Kasdan was later to move into film writing and directing with such films as The Big Chill, Silverado, The Accidental Tourist, I Love You To Death, Grand Canyon.
The director is Michael Apted, who made such films as The Coalminer's Daughter, Gorky Park. He was to take up something of the themes of Continental Divide in his 1988 portrait of Diane Fossey working with the gorillas in Africa, Gorillas in the Mist.
1.Entertaining drama? Comedy? Romance? The conservation and environmental focus?
2.Chicago, the feel of the city? The city streets, offices? The contrast with Wyoming, the mountains and the Continental Divide? The musical score and atmosphere?
3.The credits of the film - the casting, Spielberg producing, Lawrence Kasdan writing and his subsequent films, Michael Apted and his films?
4.The contrast between Ernie and Nell? The world of the hard-bitten Chicago reporter, excellent at his work, a celebrity? With the woman who was an expert in nature, was able to research as well as stand up for conservation issues?
5.Ernie, at work, always meeting the man selling the papers who commented on his work? His columns, his exposes of the gangster? His sources - and the man's being murdered? The hold-up in the street by the youngsters - and the false police arriving and bashing him? His friendship with his editor and his wife, the decision to move out of town? His going to the Rockies? His climbing the mountains, his guide - his smoking, finding the going tough, the guide drinking his liquor? Going into the hut, the initial clash with Nell? Her antagonism towards a reporter? His settling in, working in the hut, cooking, mending doors etc? His accompanying her, the sighting of the eagles? His hesitation, gradual change, transformation? Healthier lifestyle? His talk about the cities and the way of life, the contrast with Nell's? Writing the article, her change of heart? His studying her, accompanying her on the trips? Following her and finding her with Max, Max's attack on him, the mutual admiration and his praising of Max? The journeys, the research? His fall, injury? Nell saving him? The relationship, the affair and falling in love? His return, his mooning around, the sentimental article - and its being printed by mistake? the paper-seller's reaction? His change of heart, the death of his informant, his writing tough articles, pursuing the gangster, confronting him, photos? Getting back on his feet? The editor telling him the information about Nell's talk, his indecision, going, asking the question about lovemaking? Meeting her, the affair resuming? Her return home, going to the train, going on to further stations? The possibility of a working relationship and love between the two?
6.Nell, her abilities, isolation, managing by herself in the Rockies, appreciating nature? Her study, her clash with Ernie, getting used to him? His work, taking him with her, pointing out the qualities of the eagle? Her confrontation with the hunters and her violent breaking of their rifles? Her relationship with Max, breaking down? The gradual change with Ernie, letting him right the article? The treks into the mountains, his fall, saving him? The love affair? Her lecture, glad to see him again, their relationship? Her return to Wyoming, in the train - the possibility of a partnership in love?
7.The editor, the cliches about editors and their pressure on journalists? His relationship with his wife? The pressure on Ernie, getting him out of town? Concern on his return, not wanting to print his article? Pleased at his coming to life again? Anxious at the talk?
8.Max, the ball-player, his reputation, in the mountains, relationship with Nell? Friendship with Ernie?
9.Chicago gangsters, their brutality? Deals and money, housing? The source and his later being murdered? The gangsters and their henchmen, the disguised police?
10.The paper-seller and his comment on Ernie's career - highs and lows?
11.The popularity of this kind of romantic comedy, the tradition of Hepburn and Tracy, Powell and Loy and other romantic combinations? The film in this tradition? The 1980s background of environment and conservation, awareness of nature? The impact of nature on American city life and types?
