NICKELODEON

US, 1976, 122 minutes, Black and White.
Ryan O' Neal, Burt Reynolds, Tatum O' Neal, Brian Keith, Stella Stevens, John Ritter.
Directed by Peter Bogdanovich.

Unfortunately, not the sure-fire hit that stars, Bogdanovich, plot and nostalgia should have made it. Audiences will either be delighted or feel "So what?" I found the enjoyment grew on me - perhaps just because it was there. The background of primitive film-making is both interesting and humorous with great detail of those early days of film-making. There is much slapstick comedy which could become dangerously tedious. (Never have I seen so many characters slip, trip, tumble, collapse and joust plain fall - so often.) Bespectacled Ryan O' Neal and an ever-pleasantly comic Burt Reynolds keep things going but Tatum O' Neal and Stella Stevens are kept too often in the background. Pleasant but disappointing Bogdanovich.

1. The reputation of Peter Bogdanovich - his film styles, re creation of the past, the flavour of the past. How well has he captured it here, the memory of the early movies, the influence in the history of film-making?

2. How well did the film use the style of silent films, recapturing the atmosphere, the plots, styles of acting? The captions? Stunt work, especially the falls? The basic plots, the way they were varied, the development of plots? The build-up to the development of the film plots, making, techniques? The art of film? The preparations for major film-making by such men as D.W. Griffith? The aura of Griffith throughout the film?

3. The re-creation of the period of the first decade of this century, the look of the times, costumes, cities and towns, the West, trains? Machinery? The outdoors? The types of studios that were used? The build-up towards Hollywood?

4. The film's attitude towards film-making? The detailed presentation of the mechanics and their interest, machines, nature of film, lighting? The business aspects and the grinding out of films? The producers and the fast buck, the lack of knowledge of film-making? The editing and cutting around of what was sent in? The origin of the star system and the popularity of actors and actresses, expectations and roles? The growth in popularity and the number of fans? The creative aspects of film-making - ideas, plots, styles of action, communication, visuals? The use of cameras, photography etc?

5. How important was the theme of the patents war? The implications for business, the independent film-makers? The film as an affectionate portrait of the independents? The origin of the nickelodeons, their popularity, types of film, types of audience? The transition to the large picture palaces?

6. What comment did the film make on the content of the films, the hackneyed plots, audience reception of these? Meeting audience expectations?

7. The tone of the opening, the atmosphere of law at the time? Leo and his personality, Ryan O'Neal's presence? His job, failure? His personality? Loss of his job? Consistent in his attitudes at work, adapting to the change and the accidents of movie-making?

8. The contrast with Cobb? His involvement in the film-making, writing, hiring? His relationship with Leo? The portrait of the blustering producer - a tribute to his energies at the time, the criticism of his financial attitudes and exploitation? Cobb's role in the patent war? His relationship with all his friends - but his fickleness?

9. Burt Reynolds' style as Buck? Appropriate casting for the actor and the hero of the silent films? His personality, genial, fooling around? His skill with his work, the variation of his roles in the films and the way that he played them? The humour with such sequences as the German cape? The trains? The repercussions for him of the patent war?

10. Kathleen as heroine? The fall? Relationship with Leo? Her place in the troupe? Her contribution to the film-making? Loyalty? An attractive heroine?

11. The portrait of the troupe in the various places that they had to go to, the primitive way of life, their bonds and friendship together, the various towns, out in the West, in the cities? Margie and her presence, Frank? The various actors and their styles? Seeing them operate in the films? In their relaxation between films?

12. Tatum O'Neal and her presence as Alice? Her place in the West? The smart child and precocious? Her wisdom, discussions, driving? Racing with the train etc? Her comments on the goings-on? Her business sense? Her relationship with Leo - Ryan and Tatum O'Neal working effectively together?

13. The film's screenplay had a series of picaresque adventures - their impact and total effect? Outstanding sequences as the balloon sequences, marriage sequence?

14. Did the film explain well the success of these early films? The move to Los Angeles, the films and their success, their being feted?

15. The contrast with Christmas Eve, emotional effect, fired, the fickleness of behaviour and attitudes?

16. The city studios, the build-up of Hollywood, the clash with these independent film-makers?

17. The half-breed, the tie in the emotional clash, burning? Reconciliation?

18. The premiere and its applause for Griffith? The coming of age of film-making? Its acceptability, respectability - Griffith himself, The Birth of a Nation and all that it meant, the techniques and the pioneering coming to fruition?

19. The humour of Cobb and Marge? Their appeal? Place at the end? The future for all concerned?

20. The film was generally a box-office failure. Why? Its portrait of an aspect of American culture, human nature, American types? The appeal of stories, film, the magic of pictures?