A CRY FOR HELP (A LAST CRY FOR HELP)

US, 1979, 98 minutes, Colour.
Linda Purl, Shirley Jones, Tony Lo Bianco, Murray Hamilton.
Directed by Hal Sitowitz.

A Cry for Help is an American telemovie which focuses on a teenage girl, her experiences of the pressures of family expectations (strong-minded mother, weak and absent father) and comparisons with her older sister. On the surface, she is a happy girl, a cheerleader. However, she is shy, lacks self-esteem - and ultimately attempts suicide. She undergoes therapy, is pressurised by her parents, befriends a young man in the institution - and is shattered when he kills himself after she goes to visit him. She then has to face herself and take responsibility.

Linda Purl is quite believable in the central role. Shirley Jones has a good role as her demanding mother. Murray Hamilton is also effective as the weak father. The psychiatrist is played by Tony Lo Bianco.

1.Interesting telemovie? Personal and social drama? Teenagers, self-esteem, parental expectations, suicide?

2.The film made for the home audience, designed to get a response from the home viewers, sympathy for the characters, awareness of the issues? Audiences identifying with the average American family and their experiences?

3.The title, the focus on Sharon and her desperation?

4.The portrait of Sharon: her place in the family, the expectations of her parents, their loving her, their demands? Discipline and stern mother? Absent father avoiding responsibility? The older sister and her being praised? Sharon as a cheerleader, with her friends at school, invited to the beach picnic - as second best? Her spending the money buying shoes for her friend instead of a costume for herself? People critical of her? The party, the beach, the sexual encounter and the callous attitude of the boy? The effect on herself? Not coping with the classes? Her feeling desperate, experiences at home and pressures? Her decision to take the pills? Her being saved, in the hospital? Parents' reaction? Her meeting fellow patients? Dr Abbott, his advice? The possibilities for therapy? Meeting Jeff, his story, attempted suicide? Their becoming friends? Correspondence? Sharon and the meetings with Dr Abbott, the stern reactions of her parents, her mother being angry, the father reluctant? Her trying to weather the conflicts? But her continued lack of esteem? The visit to Jeff, the friendship - and the pain of receiving his letter and finding that he had killed himself? Her discussions with Dr Abbott, desperate, his explanations of Jeff's happiness and unhappiness, his dependence on her, her choice to opt out or not? Her long walk, the return home?

5.Joan and Ralph, the proper marriage, love for each other, the dominant wife, the husband busy at work, love for his daughters, abdicating responsibility? Joan and her demands, her love for Connie, comparisons with Sharon? Always criticising Sharon - unwittingly? The crisis, the hospital? Her resentment of what had happened, of Dr Abbott? Her feeling people were blaming her? Her hard attitude, her unbending, her modelling herself on how she was brought up? Her attack on Ralph and his irresponsibility? Ralph, love for his daughters, staying at work, avoiding decisions? Sharon confronting her father with his irresponsibility and his not being a proper father?

6.Dr Abbott, wise psychiatrist, treatment of Sharon, of Jeff (and the conflict with his father)? The family therapy sessions? The Lifeline service, being available, helping Sharon through the crisis about Jeff?

7.Connie, comparisons with Sharon, love for her sister, marriage? Her trying to help? The unwitting comparisons?

8.Jeff, his family background, his wealth and demanding father? Friendship with Sharon, return home, friends, Sharon's visit, the writing of the letter, his love for Sharon - and his killing himself? The effects of a suicide on those who survive?

9.Audiences identifying with the issues, human nature, need for esteem, need for help for parents and families? Issues of teenage suicide?