THE GIG

US, 1985, 92 minutes, Colour.
Wayne Rogers, Cleavon Little.
Directed by Frank D.Gilroy.

The Gig is a low-key, pleasing humane comedy. It focuses on four middle-aged men who play jazz together as recreation and to escape their pressured lives. They are hired for a professional engagement at a holiday resort. It has unexpected effects on their lives.

The film was written and directed by Frank D. Gilroy (The Subject Was Roses, From Noon Till Three). The cast is led by Wayne Rogers and Cleavon Little. Joe Silver gives an excellent performance as the manager of the holiday resort.

The music is entertaining, the quality of the performances is excellent and the interaction between the four men and their predicaments are always interesting and humane.

1. An interesting and enjoyable film? Humour? Serious implications?

2. The atmosphere of the American city, the contrast with the holiday resort? An authentic feel? Realism? On the American road?

3. The importance of the music: the jazz, the score, the range of instruments, the playing? The players being alive as they played? Joy? Moods? The ensemble work? The gig?

4. A portrait of middle-age men, their background, their lives, work, play, enjoyment, playing for themselves? Their reaction to the gig? Joy, exhilaration, tension, fighting? Their growing through the experience?

5. The focus on Paradise Manor: American holiday resorts and their clientele, Abe and his organisation, his up-front manner, con-man? The layout, the workers? The rules? The comedy? The detail of life at the resort?

6. The bands: type of music, clients, Abe and his expectations, the jazz and the result?

7. Ricky Valentine and his arrival, tough, henchmen, demands, leaving?

8. The rehearsals and their exhilaration? George and his story? The phone call, death and the effect? The finale?

9. The ensemble and their acting, interacting? Comic styles meshing together?

10. The portrait of Marty: TV advertising, play, the boss, the gig, driving, persuasion? Fake Ogilvie? Marshall? Clash, the drink? Abe and his conditions? Influence, angers? Fishing and his dream? Thinking over his life? Mistress and wife? His being punched? At the end?

11. The portrait of Marshall: on the outer, conditions, professional, stories or no? All well? Playing, the bond, at the resort? Together with the group? Growing? Staying? The truth for Aaron?

12. Aaron and the lessons, eager, moods, practice, the truth about himself?

13. Gil: rich wife, girls, fixing Arthur, the talent, sexuality?

14. Jack: hiccup, play, wife and not telling the truth, Nantucket, fake, fussy, conditions, 400 yards? Arthur and leaving? Phones? Ousted, staying? The truth?

15. Arthur, dentist, his mother, sick, leaving, the girl and the sharing? The effect upon him?

16. Abe and his type, manner? The gangsters and the resort?

17. The gangsters, their arrival, the effect, spoiling the gig?

18. The portrait of human beings, enjoying themselves, learning to be real?