THE GIRL ON THE LATE LATE SHOW

US, 1974, 73 minutes, Colour.
Don Murray, Bert Convy, Yvonne de Carlo, Gloria Grahame, Van Johnson, Ralph Meeker, Cameron Mitchell, Walter Pidgeon, John Ireland.
Directed by Gary Nelson.

An entertaining telemovie thriller. It takes as its style the Private Eye conventions: the private investigation leading to the uncovering of murder and corruption, the first person narrative and description of what was going on and of motivations. However, with the Hollywood setting and a very strong nostalgia about films of the fifties, the screenplay is often sentimental and there is some adulation of Hollywood. and its stars. However. with the basic story and the presentation of corruption, there is also critique of Hollywood. A great number of veteran stars have significant or guest roles in the film which adds to its atmosphere.

The film focuses on a star of the fifties called Carolyn Parker. She is played by Gloria Grahame and the clips are from Gloria Grahame's films: In a Lonely Place with Humphrey Bogart, Human Desire with Broderick Crawford and The Big Heat with Glenn Ford. There is quite some atmosphere about the investigation and the murder mystery and comparisons between Hollywood in the seventies and fifties. With the short running time and the name-dropping about Hollywood, the film isn't as tight and as compelling as it might have been.

1. The appeal of the thriller. its content, style? Murder mysteries, motives, puzzle?

2. Audience response to thriller telemovies, attention, commercial breaks, the treatment of themes especially sorted themes for the home audience?

3. The film as a piece of Americana, the portrait of Hollywood in the seventies, the nostalgic comparisons with the fifties, the changes in Hollywood and in the United States? Modern interest in television shows, personalities of the past, the cult of past films and stars?

4. The use of the Late Late Show, Carolyn Parker and her personality, films? The awe in which she was held by Bill Martin? The desire to have her interviewed on the breakfast show? The choice of Gloria Grahame for the part of Carolyn Parker? The clips from her real films? Hollywood talk and reverence about the stars of the past, the name-dropping? The studios and the aura of Hollywood?

5. The breakfast show and its style. the compere and his manner, the executives, the types who worked on it, the mutual pressures for success, careers and reputation?

6. The picture of the stars, the studios. the producers, the detail of film-making, promotion? The footage from the unfinished film?

7. The effect of the narrative and the Private Eye conventions, the structure of Bill Martin's search, investigation, dangers, puzzle? The discovery of the truth about the deaths? The discovery of the real Carolyn Parker?

8. Don Murray and his style as Bill Martin, as executive, the relationship with Paula and the loosening of the bonds with her, the significance of the telephone calls? His relationship with the breakfast show compere and the pressures being put on him? His own personality, commitment to the investigation?

9. His journey of discovery - a routine visit to Hollywood, being welcomed by the studios, the strange mysteries of files absent, the first murder, his presence, the danger, the threat on the highway, his obsessive searching out of Carolyn Parker and interviewing of various witnesses? His collaboration with the police?

10. The film's incidental presentation of Wilder and his work at the studio, friendship with the star, friendly collaboration? Audiences suspecting him? His reaction at the end on arrest and threat of lawyers to set him free?

11. The visit to the producer and the discussion about the unmade film? The agent and his murder? The stunt man and his pursuit of Martin and the final confrontation and confession? Wilder's network of influence?

12. The girl at the Strip joint, his friendship with her, the visit to the home and the sudden transition to her death? Implications of infidelity only to be dispelled? The personality of the daughter and the ugliness of her death?

13. The transition of the film to San Francisco, its atmosphere, the stunt man pursuing Martin, the various leads. eluding the police, the final melodramatic confrontation and violence?

14. The truth, the flashbacks? Wilder's arrest, the death of the stunt man, the exhumation in the cemetery? The clarity of what had happened in the fifties? The discovery of Carolyn watching the television? The pathos and the disillusionment of the glamorous star Girl on Late Show and the aftermath of the glamour?

15. The picture of police work and its methods, the personality of the investigator?

16. A homage to Hollywood, using Hollywood, a critique? An enjoyable telemovie?