FIVE DAYS FROM HOME
US, 1979, 108 minutes, Colour.
George Peppard, Neville Brand, Savannah Smith Boucher.
Directed by George Peppard.
A popular blend of action and sentiment. The film stars and was directed by George Peppard - and like many other tough screen heroes turned directors (for example Clint Eastwood. Burt Reynolds) he shows a feeling even sentimental underside to his tough exterior. The film concerns an ex-policeman convicted of murder about to be released but escaping to be at the bedside of his critically injured son. The film takes place five days before Christmas and in the journey from Arkansas to California by Peppard. The film is conventional enough but has some good touches and is quite engaging. There is an attractive performance by Savannah Smith as an Arkansas girl.
1. How entertaining a thriller? Sentiment? For the television audience?
2. The work of George Peppard - actor, director, producer? The tough image, the sentiment and fooling?
3. The film as a piece of Americana - reflecting America of the seventies, its drawing on the conventions of prison and escape films, the police films? Its range of people across the southern States of America? Its focus on a young child. critical accident and possible death? The relationship between father and son? How well does the film blend toughness and sentiment with its critique of American people?
4. The portrait of the United States - the prison and the police in Arkansas, the people, Texas and the response of people there? Landscapes, the highway, trains, rivers and lakes, bridges? The incidents in New Mexico and the Spanish-speaking people and their support? Los Angeles and California? The contribution of the score, the final song?
5. The portrait gallery of people - ordinary, people helping Tom Pryor, hindering him? Housewives, office girls, insurance salesmen and their girl friends, Spanish-speaking Americans, nurses, the police?
6. The character of Tom Pryor? His escaping during the credits, information about his crime, police background, the reason for his escape? His personality, his sentence, illustration of violence, yet concern for the people that he was dealing with, especially Georgie? The IOUs for his money? The background of the Prison murder and his being cleared of this? An American hero, victim? A man to be admired?
7. The contrast with Markly - as an inspector, his being called by the authorities, his relentlessness, his shrewdness in estimating where Pryor was, his following him, anticipating him? A worthy opponent? The final Los Angeles confrontation? The bar, the washroom and the escape, firing at him? His presence in the hospital and his being asked to tone down his presence by the nurse? His finally being called off the case and his attitude?
8. Audience response to Tom Pryor - his escape, the dogs chasing him, the swamp? Learning his motives for escaping? His shrewdness in eluding the police? Mrs Peabody and the policeman? His kidnapping of Georgie, dealing with her and her statement to the police, taking over the car? Not wanting to frighten her? The fears on Georgie's part of rape and his gentlemanly behaviour - especially for her wanting to go to the toilet? The encounter with J. J. Beater and Wanda? Tom and his coping with them, his defence of Wanda and slapping J.J.? Getting food, the motel, stripping J.J. and Wanda and escaping? Shopping with Georgie and leaving her? The importance of his notes and protesting his innocence? The train, the boat, the rescuing of the woman and child in the house? The plane ride to Los Angeles? The discussion with the drunk in the bar? The importance of his phone calls? The Santa Claus, costume? His fair dealing with people?
9. The portrait of Georgie - the ordinary girl, her being frightened, obeying Tom, her fear of rape and yet being reassured by him, the attitude towards J.J. and Wanda, Jim shopping and her not pressing charges? A convincing performance?
10. J.J. and Wands, and the conventional businessman going off with his secretary? Trying to indicate to the police, the arguments? The motel and the irony of their later being seen on television and Wanda's acting up for the cameras?
11. The melodramatics of the rescue from the burning house and the Spanish Americans co-operating for the plane ride?
12. Nurse Le Moore and her co-operation, her presence with the children,. keeping Markly in his place and her comments on a Christmas Carol?
13. The build-up to the climax - Tom reaching Los Angeles, his being shot, the Santa Claus costume, reaching his son and their embrace, the gift of the dog - and the dog's companionship throughout the film?
14. The appeal of the human themes? Law, justice? An American hero and American sentiment? Universal appeal?
