A FAMILY UPSIDE DOWN
US, 1978, 98 minutes, Colour.
Helen Hayes, Fred Astaire, Efrem Zimbalist Jr, Pat Crowley, Patty Duke.
Directed by David Lowell Rich.
A Family Upside Down is a telemovie which was nominated for many Emmy Awards, winning one for Fred Astaire. It is a story about old age and the effect that this has on a family. In many ways, it anticipates On Golden Pond which was soon to be produced.
The film, directed by David Lowell Rich, director of many popular films and telemovies, is really stylish soap opera. The film is geared for the popular audience and its treatment of themes of ageing, heart attacks and hospitalisation, parents boarding with their children and their families is lightly touched on - though, in the terms of the film, quite persuasively. The film has a very strong cast which does more than justice to the themes.
An interesting telemovie? Entertaining, message? The quality of the cast and performances? In communicating the message, an emotional response to the problems of ageing and the effect on a family?
1. American city locations, homes, hospitals, shops etc.? A world which most television-watchers can identify with?
2. The title and the discussion about the effect of ageing on a family? Mike's reflection on his father's bringing him up and his having to look after his father? The effect on ageing husband and wife, on the next generation and their responsibilities for parents, on the grandchildren and their understanding their grandparents?
3. The portrait of Ted and Emma? Helen Hayes and Fred Astaire and the strengths of presence and performances? The opening with the family reunion, the happy singing of the song, Ted's heart attack and its effect on both? Hospitalisation? Emma's anxiety, Ted's recuperating? The installing of the chair-lift and the family enjoying it - the collage of all the family using the lift? Ted having to slow down, his impatience, wanting to paint? Night classes and his impatience? Emma's concern and trying to stop him? The question about the selling of the apartment? The decision to move in with Mike and his family? Sharing with Scott? The moving and Scott's bond with his grandfather? The coins and history? Ted and his wandering, becoming exasperating? His stubbornness? His painting? Trying to make friends with people - and their ignoring the old man? His collapse and his return to the hospital? His sullenness in the room, his companion who thought he was with his cornfields? The nurse's reprimand? Keeping a hold on life and the present? Emma's concern, her growing impatience, the need to visit? The decision for Ted to come out, the family picnic? The closeness between Mike and his father? The distance from Wendy? Mike explaining the situation to his father? The reconciliation? Emma's concern, her outburst against Wendy and Mike, her coming to peace and terms with herself and the situation? Her decision to get a job? Her love for flowers and her work in the florist shop? The two showing the possibilities for a positive old age and an affirmation of life? Their dialogue explaining the meaning and quality of life?
4. Mike and Carol and their bond with their parents? Their own family? Scott? The decision for the selling of the apartment? Ted and Emma and the change of lifestyle at home? Scott giving up his room? The good times? The tensions? Mike having to cope - seeing him at work, the meal with Wendy, discussions? His being able to reconcile his father with Wendy? The financial struggle? The terms of reality? Scott and his concern for his grandfather, the bond between them? Friendship with Rhonda? His unwillingness to see his grandfather dying?
5. Wendy and her husband, trying to keep the marriage going? Her father's disdain of her husband? her feeling cut off from him? Her being unable to take her mother - the tense sequence between them? Her trying to do her best in her responsibilities and love? The reconciliation with her father?
6. The sketch of institutions and the need for patients to hold on to the reality of the present? The old man imagining his farm and the growing of the crops? His death? The effect on Ted? The hospital staff and their directing their patients to keep a grip on life?
7. A film for a popular and home audience? Telemovie style? The depiction of the average American family and its crisis - and the understanding and emotional response of the average audience? A valuable way for communicating message?
