FIRST YOU CRY

US, 1978, 97 minutes, Colour.
Mary Tyler Moore, Anthony Perkins, Jennifer Warren, Don Johnson, Florence Eldridge, Richard Dysart, Richard Crenna
Directed by George Schaefer.

First You Cry is a telemovie about women and breast cancer. It is based on the bestseller by tele-journalist Betty Rowland's own experience. It is frank in its presentation of her reactions as well as the crisis in relationship between her husband and a potential divorce and remarriage.

The film presents Mary Tyler Moore in a serious role and she is quite persuasive. She was later to do a number of telemovies including Finnegan Begin Again as well as act on Broadway in Whose Life Is It Anyway. Anthony Perkins offers a suitably ambiguous performance as Betty Rowland's author husband who is unable to accept the cancer - and is unable to relate well to his wife. Richard Crenna is more conventional but suave as the wealthy suitor. There is good support from Jennifer Warren as Betty's friend and Florence Eldridge as her mother. Richard Dysart is the doctor.

The film is American in style and is geared for an American audience. The message is quite strong about not ignoring the signs of cancer. Betty Rowlands is a competent woman, a professional journalist who had done a piece on breast cancer but is unwilling to face reality for herself. She copes sometimes well, sometimes very poorly with the experience of the mastectomy and the subsequent effect on her relationships, marriage and career.

The film traces the ups and downs of her experience in a way that invites audiences to share in the experience as well as receive the message.

An interesting comparison is Paul Cox's telemovie about women and breast cancer, Handle With Care which starred Monica Maughan and Anna Maria Monticelli as two women facing the reality of cancer and operations.

1. An interesting American telemovie? Human drama? Message?

2. American locations, the atmosphere of New York, television station? Philadelphia and wealth? New York apartments? Doctors' rooms and hospitals? Art galleries? A glamorous world? Audiences able to identify with it or not?

3. The title and its significance, Betty Rowland's reaction to her cancer, to her experiences? Arthur's inability to cry? David's sympathy?

4. The focus on Betty Rowland? Her frankness in writing the book, her revealing herself? The moments of dialogue which focus on how much she was revealing? Her skill as a tele-journalist? The piece on breast cancer? Relationship with people in the studio, her going on assignments? Her relationship, with Arthur, his reserve in public, his writing, his support of her? The strength of the marriage? Her going to the doctor, discovering the possibility? Going to the hospital? Without telling others? The support of Erica? Her not telling her mother? The possibilities, the percentage chances of survival? The operation and her realising that she had a mastectomy? Her reactions, grim, stoic? Her having visitors? Her return home, her concern about clothes? Her not going out of the house? Clashes with Arthur? Support from David? Support from Erica, the mixed reaction of her friends? Her mother's constant support? Her going out to get clothes, the padded breast? Her going out, Arthur's sullen reaction? Her support from David? The beginning of the affair, the possibility of divorce, going to live with David, Philadelphia? Erica and her frank talking and advice? Betty ignoring it? Arthur and his communication? The discussions with David, the planning of a family? Her doubts? The return to the doctor, her being well? The meeting with Arthur, the breaking with David? Going on new assignments? The writing of the book and the taking of time, living in an apartment by herself? The effect of this therapy? The interview on television - and the final message about accepting, dealing with and breaking through the difficulties?

5. Anthony Perkins' portrait of Arthur: the writer, self-absorbed embarrassed about show of affection, his devotion to Betty, his support as regards the cancer, his ignoring it and inability to deal with it? His visits to the hospital, distancing himself? His impatience with her at the dinner? The separation? His writing letters? The meeting, his acknowledging that he had changed, kissing her in the street -with hesitation? The possibilities of reconciliation?

6. David and his friendship with Betty, wanting to marry her, at the party, visiting the hospital, the flowers, support? Her mother liking him? Her going after Arthur's rejection? The affair, living in Philadelphia, his support, her needing to go to New York? The possible family? Leaving?

7. Erica and her work, art, friendship with Betty, with Arthur and David? The good advice, the support at the hospital? Trying to tell Betty the truth? The day with her? Helping her with her clothing? A strong friendship? The contrast with the other two friends and their hesitation in visiting the hospital, meeting Betty on the street and wondering about her?

8. Betty's mother, questions of health, the expectations for her daughter? As Betty interpreted them? Not telling her about the cancer, her going to the hospital, the frank talk, support, liking David?

9. The doctor and his handling of the situation, with as much as Betty could cope with? Concealing the truth? The rapport between the two? Betty's resentment about the first doctor missing the significance of the lump?

10. The realities of cancer, the possibilities of diagnosis, of help? The nature of a mastectomy, the impact of the mutilation on a woman, her self-image and confidence, Betty and her having to deal with it, clothes, jokes, looking at herself in the mirror? In her comments to Arthur? Therapy for self-acceptance? Talking about the issue, communication? Growing in strength? The film's appeal, especially to women, to face the reality and to see the possibility of success?