40 CARATS

US, 1973, 109 minutes, Colour.
Liv Ullmann, Edward Albert, Gene Kelly, Binnie Barnes, Deborah Raffin.
Directed by Milton Katselas.

Hollywood popular romantic comedies are usually glossy, dressy, frothy-style and humorous until it all becomes romantically (and sometimes sentimentally) serious. Which is just about 40 Carats. And if you like that kind of film, you'll certainly like this, because it is all there. Liv Ullmann, a la Hollywood, is pleasant; Gene Kelly is wisecracking; Edward Albert continues his humorously pleasant charm of Butterflies are Free (same screenwriter and director here). There is not much more to say except that the film tries to show the sophisticated world and relationships of today in the light of less artificial feeling and bowing to what people say. But will a marriage of he-22, she-40, really work?

1. What was the meaning of the title of the film? What tone did this title give to the film? Did it raise the question of age and love which the film treated?

2. How successful a romance film was this? was it enjoyable? Why? Was it too glossily Hollywood? (Is this necessarily a fault?)

3. How successful a comedy was this? Was it genuinely funny? where?

4. Was the plot realistic? Were its issues real? Were its characters real? Was the main problem treated in a realistic way?

5. How well was the issue of age and love developed in the film? What was the issue at point? The reality of love compared with age? Love as a meeting of minds and heart and shared life? How important was the question of public opinion in the film, the reaction of people to Anne and to Peter?

6. How did the atmosphere of Greece create this situation? The romantic atmosphere of a foreign country? The sea and the landscape? Drinking together? How unreal was this? What was your reaction to Anne and Peter's liaison? Should it have had any future?

7. What kind of person was Anne Stanley in herself? As portrayed by Liv Ullmann? As a typical American woman? As a middle-aged woman? Her competence in running her business? Her relationship with her mother and her daughter? Her sense of responsibility compared with her ex-husband? Her searching for fulfilment in life? was she an attractive character? Why?

8. Billie Boylan; what kind of person was he? How attractive was his wisecracking genial personality? Why did he lack a sense of responsibility? why couldn't he make the marriage work? Even though he was a success in the entertainment field? Or was he? How was he a catalyst for Anne's reactions in her search for true love? Was there any possibility of his reconciling with Anne? Why?

9. Was Trina an attractive character? Her relationship with her mother and with her grandmother? As representing the new generation? What ideas and ideals did she share with her mother? How was she different? The irony of her falling in love with an older man? (Despite the efforts to link her with Peter).

10. Granny; What was her role in the film? The older generation? Her continual attempts to be young? was she an enjoyable character? Did she add anything to the development of the theme?

11. Mrs. Margolin; as loyal and faithful to Anne? Her witty comments as indicating Anne's dilemmas? Did she help Anne?

12. Was Peter Latham an attractive character? Did the audience identify with him? How typical of young men was he? what values did he stand for? Your impressions of him in Greece? Your impressions of him in New York? His family background, his social style, his emotions? Why did he fall in love with Anne? Was it genuine love? Was it properly tested?

13. How well did the film portray the ups and downs of the romance ? especially in Anne's visit to Peter's world? In Peter's trying to share Anne's world? The use of the New York backgrounds to situate the ups and downs of the romance?

14. What were your impressions of the Lathams? Their background and values? The technique and style they used to influence their son? Did they have any valid points in their arguments? Did Peter have the right to live his own life? How telling were the sequences with the Lathams?

15. The sub-plot of J.D. and Trina? Did it add to the film? Was it an irony on the main theme, on Anne's love for Peter?

16. Did Anne make the right choice? How difficult was it for her to make the choice? Was the going back to Greece realistic or was it a change for romance again? Did you expect Peter to turn up?

17. How successful would the marriage be? How successful could it be? Were the differences between them too marked? or could they make a success? How?

18. What is the value in this kind of film? Is it really meant to be entertaining? Or does it have something to say as well?