NOW AND FOREVER

Australia, 1983, 89 minutes, Colour.
Cheryl Ladd, Robert Colby, Carmen Duncan, Aileen Britton, Rod Mullinar, Kris Mc Quade.
Directed by Adrian Carr.

Now and Forever is a romantic psychological thriller based on a woman's romantic novel. The treatment of the film is lavish: Panavision, colour, the world of fashion. Photography is by expert Don McAlpine?. Direction is by editor Adrian Kerr.

The film received very negative reviews but writer Richard Cassidy received an A.F.I. nomination for his screenplay adapted from the novel by Danielle Steel. The musical score was by Bruce Rowland (Man From Snowy River, Phar Lap) and the title song from Graeme Russell and Air Supply. The film also has a very strong cast including a pleasant performance by American actress, Charlie's Angel, Cheryl Ladd. While the material is glossy melodramatic, the strength of the performances and the lavish treatment make it passable entertainment - on the popular telemovie level.

1. The popularity of this kind of romantic melodrama? Soap opera? In comparison with other films of its kind?

2. Production qualities: the lavish Panavision colour photography, the use of Sydney locations, the countryside? musical score? Title song? The smoothness of the production, glossiness?

3. The conventions of the romantic soap opera? The wealthy affluent atmosphere, the crisis, the resolution? The court sequences, prison sequences? How well-used? Better than average or not?

4. The plausibility of the plot? The focus on Ian and his marriage to Jessie? The encounter with Margaret Burton and the rape charge? The disruption of the marriage? Jessie's support from friends? Ian's humiliation and the court case? The strength of the court sequences? The prison sequences? Ian's surliness and Jessie's despair? Jessie beguiled by the handsome stranger on horseback? The resolution and new life? Popular ingredients? Acceptable for wide audiences?

5. The feminist point of view of the screenplay? The focus on Jessie and her anguish, her support from friends? Margaret Burton and her madness - and her being the victim of rape? Her attack on men - and Ian's resemblance to her husband? The strong statements of the prosecuting lawyer? The feminist stances within the context of a romantic soap opera?

6. The focus on Ian, the man-about-town, the background to his advertising work - and later criticism of it? The encounter with Margaret Burton? His allowing himself to be seduced? The infidelity in comparison with his love for Jessie? The bond of their marriage? Her work and his work? The shock of the accusation and arrest? The humiliation? The tense scenes with Jessie? The court sequences and his humiliation? The finding of 'guilty'? His prison experience? His ability during his prison term to write and be creative? The support of fellow prisoners? The incidental scenes of prison life - with echoes of films of this kind? The alienation from Jessie? The divorce? Jealousy? Reunion and a new future? The strength of Robert Colby's performance in this melodramatic role?

7. Cheryl Ladd attractive as Jessie? The American background? Double Bay fashion shops? Her friends? The love for Ian? Support after the accusation? Bail etc.? Lawyer? Court case? The visits to prison and the growing alienation? Her inability to break through despite her wanting to? The en~ counter with the handsome stranger? The infatuation? The final choices?

8. The focus on Margaret Burton? The seduction scene? Her hold over Ian? The set-up in the restaurant etc.? Her later appearance in court? The theme of the raped woman as victim? The discovery of the truth about her and the asylum? The psychological background of her animosity towards Ian, her husband? The damage for Ian's life by her accusation? Yet his guilt in being seduced by her?

9. The defending lawyer and his helping Ian? The strong words of the prosecuting lawyer - the importance of having the woman lawyer defending Margaret Burton and the strong feminist statements? The strength of Alex Scott and Kris McQuade? in these roles?

10. The prison sequences - expected material, Ian coping, difficulties, clashes, his writing, the support of friends in jail, especially in his writing?

11. Jessie and her friends, Carmen Duncan's style and the world of fashion? Ian's advertising friends?

12. The business associates and Henri Szeps with the background of Sydney money deals?

13. Audiences enjoying this kind of realistic escapism? The world of fashion, wealth, the beauty of the Sydney suburbs, the attractive countryside, wealthy country families?

14. The film's contribution to the Australian film renaissance? American-backed - for the mid-Pacific audience? Or an Australian film? Thews of love and fidelity, marriage? Themes of rape and trial? Prison? Creativity?