A GIRL NAMED SOONER

US, 1975, 100 minutes, Colour.
Lee Remick, Richard Crenna, Don Murray, Anne Francis, Cloris Cleachman.
Directed by Delbert Mann.

A Girl Names Sooner is a very attractive telemovie. It joins those made in the seventies treating social issues, orphans, adoption and other problems with the family. However, this film is set in the Depression and there is added social comment with the perspective of history. A star cast gives very good performances and makes the film a quality telemovie for home viewing and reflection.

1. The quality of this telemovie, its techniques?

2. Its re-creation of the atmosphere of the 1930s? the American country style, the details, the personalities in this atmosphere?

3. The impact of the themes of parenthood inter-relationships, and presented for a television audience? The response that the film elicited in terms of thinking, feeling?

4. The focus on Sooner, especially during the credits? Audience response to the little girl, her loneliness, the harsh way of life, her work and her chores, her relationship with Old Mammy audience sympathy for her in this plight? The fact that Sooner knew no different way of life? Audience sympathy for Sooner especially in the later adoption atmosphere?

5. The contrast with the introduction to Mac, his work as a vet, his helping the animal for Sooner, his relationship with Phil and friendship, his relationship with Selma and the memories of the past, his place in the town and his growing up there? The discussion about Elizabeth and his relationship with her and her problem? A suitable introduction for the themes of adoption?

6. The importance of Phil and Selma in the film? As representing the town, the question of education and the contrast with Elizabeth, the nature of friendship, the work of both, especially Phil as Sheriff and his influence in the adoption? Selma's later support of Mac? Two credible supporting characters?

7. The introduction to Elizabeth, audience sympathy for her and her problem? The credibility of Lee Remick's portraying these problem? Her wanting to have children, her sense of isolation in the town, her love for Mac and the visual presentation of this, her exasperation after the experience in hospital, her letting herself go and her selfishness? Her forcing Mac to seek out Selma? Her using Sooner and not admitting it? The creation of tension? The effect that Sooner had on her and her attitude towards love?

8. The contract with Old and the harsh way of life, the strength of the characterization, the moonshine and money, the hopes to go to Florida, her dealings with Sooner and reliance on her. the contrast wit, Elizabeth? Old Mam and her trying to hold on to Sooner in the latter part of the film? Her observation of Sooner's love for Elizabeth and Mac, her letting her go?

9. The experience with Sooner, her coming to town and the variety of attitudes of the main characters? Were they fair to Sooner? Elizabeth and her commonsense approach to Sooner, despite her problems, washing her, giving her affection, the washing up?

10. The effect of Sooner and her changed way of life, the experience of the bath, her pet bird, helping the vet, washing up, clothes? The experience of school and her not being allowed to join in, the skipping? Her transformed by the kiss and by friendship?

11. How psychologically accurate was her experience of school, her talk about her pet, killing the bird in order to gain some kind of friendship? The importance of Elizabeth's failure and her attitudes towards Sooner? The tension? Mac and his inability to help Selma? The inevitability of her running away?

12. Elizabeth's change of heart and her self-understanding through this experience? Her not being able to communicate to Mac and his suspicions of her? The importance of Elizabeth's visit to the farm and the audience knowing her attitude? not allowing Sooner to come? Elizabeth feeling that Sooner did not want to see her?

13. The build-up to the fight between Elizabeth and Mac, with the background of his visit to Selma? Her trying to assert herself and acknowledge the truth? The build-up to a genuine reconciliation between the two, even it they were not to get Sooner? How credible was this love-hate relationship between the two?

14. The presentation of the fair, the encounter with Sooner, the ferris wheel and her being sick, the importance of the death of the mule?

15. How well, dramatically, were the choices presented? The motivation for Selma’s choice and the effect on all the parties concerned?

16. How valuable is this type of film for showing aspects of humanity, themes of loving relationships?