FOR PETE'S SAKE
US, 1974, 90 minutes, Colour.
Barbra Streisand, Michael Sarrazin, Estelle Parsons, William Redfield, Molly Picon.
Directed by Peter Yates.
Barbra Streisand's style frequently leaves one breathless and so with this comedy. Unfortunately compared with What's Up Doc (it is not as good), it can stand on its own feet as a reasonably funny and entertaining film. The first
part is particularly effective satire on the place of money in modern living and on money snobbery. Estelle Parsons as the unbearable Helen is worth seeing. The film then shifts gear into farcical situations and parodies of Mafia, Call Girls, The French Connection, Westerns and the bull in the china shop (here glass). The film needs to be accepted at its own pace, but the money satire should have continued throughout.
1. How enjoyable was this film? Why? What comedy ingredients did it use? How well? How enjoyably did it use farce and impossible situations? Enjoyable dialogue, comic situations, the presence of the stars and the total effect of this? Was it an ordinary comedy or something special?
2. How important for audience enjoyment was the presentation of Barbra Streisand and her presence in the film? What impact did she have, as a character, for audiences to identify with, her patter and dialogue, her plights? How different would another less intense actress have been in this film?
3. The exasperation of the title? The colloquialism? Its reference to Pete himself? The folksy atmosphere of the title and the film as well? Did the song during the credits add to the film?
4. The first part of the film was strong satire on money. How effective was this? How realistic? Henry's trying to buy things and the comments of the bank, the shop assistants etc. on her spending of money? The visits and comparisons with Fred and Helen and their comments? How successful was this section of the film as satire? The message behind it about modern society? How did the film change after this initial satire? For the better? Was the change too abrupt?
5. How much of caricatures were Fred and Helen? In terms of relationship with Pete, society snobbery, looking down on Henry, Helen's arrogance and her ironic remarks? How important was this for this film?
6. How well were Henry and Pete presented at home? Their love for each other? The details of life at home, Pete at work with the taxi, his ambitions? The importance of money to them for succeeding in life? That they were told they should not have married etc.? How did they contrast with Fred and Helen? were they characters who could be easily identified with?
7. The change of the film came with the Pork bellies. Did this change the film for the better? Worse? Different style? Its linking with the theme of money in the initial part of the film? The foolhardiness of spending all the money on Pork bellies? The unreliability of the advice, the broker? The satire on ordinary people taking such advice?
8. How humorous were Henry's attempts at getting the money? The fact that the interest was raised each time? The farcical predicaments? Did it matter if they did not seem real? How humorous really were they? Henry's continually ringing Dallas? The loan shark who threatened murder if there was no repayment? The attempt on Pete's life with the car? The satire with Mrs. Cherry and her organisation, the satire with the clients, the farce with everything going wrong, especially the judge brought in Pete's taxi and then taken away in the van? The satire on the Mafia and Mafia films with the Visconti Brothers? Henry's disguise, the French Connection chase, the blowing up of the Viscontes? The humour with the western overtones of the rustlers and the cattle? How humorous was the final chase? The bulls in the glass and china shop? Coming through the screen? How frantic and yet a suitable climax for the film?
9. Was the ending realistic? Should the film have had a happy ending? What future did Pete and Henry have?
10. The film seemed to say that life is funny. Is this true and did the film justify this? How happy is life and is reconciliation and love always possible?
