RESTING PLACE
US, 1986, 98 minutes, Colour.
John Lithgow, Morgan Freeman, Richard Bradford, C.C.H.Pounder, Frances Sternhagen, G.D.Spradlin, M.Emmett Walsh.
Directed by John Korty.
Resting Place is an impressive telemovie about racial tensions in the United States. It has a Vietnam War setting - and was made about the time that Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, Hamburger Hill and other Vietnam War films were made. However, it concerns the burial of a black officer in his home town and the prejudice of the people, in Georgia, that would prevent him from being buried in a white cemetery. The major accompanying the body confronts the prejudice of the town, the sympathisers, the men in the platoon and discovering the secret that they were harbouring about the officer's death. The various themes work together very well in an emotional way as well as a persuasive intellectual way about the war, racial tensions in the military, in the South.
The film was directed by John Korty, veteran telemovie director of such films as River Run, Alex and the Gypsy, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pitman. The cast is excellent and is led by John Lithgow as the major. Morgan Freeman and C.C.H. Pounder are the officer's parents. Frances Sternhagen is the sympathetic friend. G.D. Spradlin is the editor of the paper.
The film is well-paced, emotionally moving, has the air of mystery as the major unravels what happened in Vietnam. It is a telling piece of film-making.
1. Impact of the telemovie? For the wide popular television audience? A serious theme explored for a wide audience?
2. The Georgia settings, the town of Rockville, cemetery, houses, churches, bars? The military establishment? Authentic feel? The musical score?
3. The title, the dead lieutenant, finding a burial place, a place of rest? The controversy about the cemetery and his being buried in it? A resting place also for racial prejudices in the United States?
4. The major and his story, the voice-over, accompanying the body back to Rockville? The trip, his meeting Mr and Mrs Johnson? The stories about Dwight as a hero, as a fine character? His puzzle about Dwight died and his men submitting his name for a decoration? His interrogation of the men, taping the interviews? Their rote replies? One refusing to speak unless a lawyer was present? His suspicions? The white council blocking the burial? The interrupting of the funeral? The insensitivities? The return of the body to the black church? His discussions with the family, possible alternatives? Their standing firm? The discussions with Mrs Mc Allister, her selling the gravesite, her wanting to stir things in the town? His understanding of the situation through her? Going to visit Sam Jennings, the editorial and his interpreting it as stirring racism? Sam's explanations, wanting a story, thinking that the town wasn't ready? The bigots in the bar and the cafe? His suspicions, giving a great deal of thought to what was happening? Going fishing with his sergeant, thinking aloud, their meal together and his decision? His going to the authorities? Pursuing the case, learning of the second officer, his amputated legs, his tension, persuading him to speak? Getting him to come back and confront the rest of the group? The true story? The transition to their carrying the body, confronting the town authorities at the cemetery, their having to stand aside and let the body through? The satisfaction of fulfilling his mission, the body being buried, his relationship with people in the town, his final comments about himself as a changed person?
5. The Johnsons, their presence in the community, strong characters? Their interactions, stances about the burial, the confrontation with the bigots, the help of Mrs McAllister? Their keeping vigil, remembering the happy times about their son? The final decision, the satisfaction of the burial? The black friends in the town, the woman who was a lawyer? Support?
6. Mrs Mc Allister, friendly with the Johnsons, selling them the plot? Accompanying them to the funeral? Her anger with Sam Jennings? Her wanting to stir things up? Her explanations to the major? Her final satisfaction with the burial?
7. Sam Jennings, his seeming to be a bigot, the paper, the editorial? His explanation that the town wasn't ready? Eagerness to run with the story? The major backing out? His watching the final confrontation and seeing that the town was ready?
8. The major's friend and the fishing, thinking aloud, memories of Vietnam, doing the hard thing, the meal together, the support?
9. The officer commanding, hearing the suspicions, the pressure from authorities? His giving the go-ahead for the investigation?
10. The bigots in the town - the talk in the cafe, the authorities, wanting to buy the cemetery, legal ramifications? Their having to stand back at the end?
11. The men of the platoon, the interviews with the major, their variations on what had happened? Douglas as the black man, his feeling the prejudice, his place in the platoon, resistance to the major, his philosophy of surviving? The man with the amputated legs - and his fears, bitterness? Persuaded to talk by the major? The revelation of the truth, his own bigotry and changing the figures, the bombardment, Dwight Johnson blaming himself (and the evidence of his final letter and his concern for his men), the men not following him, his death but saving their lives? Their final tribute to him at the burial?
12. The portrait of the war in Vietnam, the experience of ordinary soldiers, of a platoon? Their attitude towards the Vietnamese, the confusions of war, bombardment? The tensions within the platoon, wanting to be a fine platoon, the black leader? Doubting him - falsely? Their hesitation to follow him?
13. A piece of Americana - but a persuasive story that has universal appeal and understanding?
