NIGHTMARE IN BROAD DAYLIGHT
US, 1992, 91 minutes, Colour.
Jaclyn Smith, Christopher Reeve, Tom Mason, Glynnis O' Connor.
Directed by Lou Antonio.
Nightmare in Broad Daylight is an entertaining telemovie, a film about obsession and deceit. It is a star vehicle for Jaclyn Smith from her own production company. However, it is also a star vehicle for Christopher Reeve appearing as a villain.
The film is set in San Francisco - and has scenes from Vertigo. The plot seems to borrow some variations on the identity themes of Vertigo, romances, marriages, bitterness, feigned deaths.
The film portrays a family on vacation in San Francisco (with a lot of scenic background). Jaclyn Smith is a happily married woman and Christopher Reeve an obsessed lawyer who has been cruel to his wife and when she disappeared in Mexico. He is convinced that Jaclyn Smith is his wife and pursues the family to prove his point - trying to enlist the help of a college friend (Glynnis O' Connor) and his wife's father. Jaclyn Smith is married to a former priest (and some interesting thematic variations are presented), played by Tom Mason. The film cheats somewhat with the truth and deception - but has the expected happy ending.
1. Entertaining telemovie? Psychological drama? Thriller? How plausible?
2. The use of San Francisco locations - the tourist atmosphere of the film? The contrast with Wisconsin, homes and school?
3. The plausibility of the plot, the initial marriage, the deceit, the disappearance, Megan concealing her past? The response of her school friend, of her father? Whether to tell the truth to her husband or not?
4. The picture of the happy family, going to San Francisco, an alert with their booking not registered? With Sean looking at them all the time? The happy family together - Peter and his background as a priest? Jamie and his enjoyment of the holiday?
5. Christopher Reeve as Sean, his background, the lawyer, the conference, the firm and the personnel of the firm? His friendship with his wife's college friend, his discussions with her, brutality towards her? Obsession and pursuit? The photos, the movie of their marriage and his watching them? The background of violence, his moods? The encounter with Jamie, with Peter? The abduction of Megan and the confrontation? Her being able to escape and hit him? His character, self-deception, promises of happiness, wanting her back? His going to her father? Invading their home in Wisconsin? The confrontation, Megan having the gun, his death?
6. Megan, the happy housewife and mother, her work in the school? The holiday? Her coolness in ignoring her former husband? Concern about her son, her husband? Not telling the truth? Avoiding the police, her encounters with Sean, not admitting anything to him, denying the truth? Watching the film, her abduction, her escape? The final confrontation and her shooting him?
7. Peter, his background as a priest, administering the school? Good parent? His own potential for anger, confrontations with Sean, protectiveness of Megan and Jamie? His going to his priest friend to discuss the issues with him? The happy ending?
8. The college friend? Her reaction to Sean, her support of her friend?
9. The personnel in the hotel, the manager, the police?
10. Megan's father, his not revealing anything to Sean, the happy reconciliation?
11. Themes of marriage, break-up, deception, faked deaths - and the repercussions?
