TO FIND A MAN
US, 1972, 89 minutes, Colour.
Darren O'Connor, Pamela Sue Martin, Lloyd Bridges, Tom Ewell, Tom Bosley.
Directed by Buzz Kulik.
To Find a Man was not one of the great impact making films of its day. It generally had only supporting release. Nevertheless it could be quite an important film for study and discussion purposes.
The theme of the film is abortion as it concerns teenagers. The story is simple enough. Girl wants abortion - boy (not the father of the baby) helps. People react. The theme is fairly convincingly portrayed in the story - the school and home background, pressures, uncertainty, help from chemists and doctors, the double standards reaction of a father. With these examples offered to audiences, there are elements for reaction and checking of personal convictions against the behaviour of these characters. The film is excellent in its portrayal of the young man who is the hero. As an example of sensitive selflessness, he is most impressive. The girl, played by Pamela Sue Martin of The Poseidon Adventure is a most convincing, irritating, selfish character.
1. Was this an entertaining film? Why? Did it capture the audience emotionally? What is the significance of the title?
2. Was it in favour of abortion or not? What arguments did it offer - for or against, on the intellectual level, the emotional level? Did it leave the question open?
3. Why did Rosalind get into her predicament? Did she have much sense of responsibility?
4. What were your immediate impressions of Andy?
5. Why did the maid and Andy clash?
6. Why did Rosalind rely on Andy? Did you think Andy was the father of the baby? Why did he decide to help her? He said that he had begun something and had to finish it. Did the audience identify with Andy in his helping of Rosalind?
7. What was the effect of the pregnancy on Rosalind?
8. What was the importance of Rosalind's family in the film? Did they explain her attitudes?
9. Her father's double standards. What comment on the moral standards of American parents is made by the father's reaction to Andy and his change of heart?
10. What were your impressions of the abortionist - Dr. Hargraves? As a man doing his job/ regarding the law? His reaction to Rosalind; to Andy's generosity?
11. What values and moral standards did the film give?
12. How realistic and plausible was the story? How frequently does this situation occur? Did the film give insight into the situation and people's behaviour?
13. The film relied on the impact of visual detail for its message, e.g., the Girls at school, the book during Choir practice, the old wives' tales about abortion; Ros's flirting, Andy's room and clash with the maid; Andy getting the means for the pregnancy test; the hospital and its mean impersonal tone, the negro asking what the bag was fort Andy's being robbed outside the pawnbroker's; Andy's support during the operation; Ros's lack of regard for the unborn child, preoccupation with hair, pain, fears; Andy's crying; the Christmas sequence, especially with Ros's father and double standards.
