FOOLS

US, 1970, 93 minutes, Colour.
Jason Robards, Matharine Ross, Scott Hylands.
Directed by Tom Gries.

Fools is very much a film of the late 60s-early 70s. It is an American parable about sick American society, the pressures of forced marriages, big business and drives to succeed. A middle-aged actor who stars in second-rate horror films wants to take time off and assess himself. He encounters an attractive woman who is in an unloving marriage with a highly ambitious businessman. Jason Robards and Katharine Ross are a sympathetic couple. However, they are made to do symbolic things in this romantic criticism of society and praise of individuality. The San Francisco settings are attractive.

The film was reviewed very poorly and received very limited release. If not taken seriously as it takes itself, it has some attractive aspects in the performances and in the point behind the proceedings. Directed by Tom Gries, a man who made many genre films and telemovies - many of which stood out e.g. Will Penny.

1. The poor response of critics and public to the film? Its being strongly anchored in the 60s and 70s? The range of interest? Its values? The attitude and tone of its title?

2. The importance of the period? American self-centredness, self-searching, self-fulfilment? A pessimism about American society at the end of the 60s? The criticism of values and the polarisation in society? The violence ever-ready to erupt? A film of its period? As viewed by hindsight?

3. Attractive San Francisco locations: the park and the opening, the bay, the city itself and its detail, the highways and the cars, the streets? The world of poverty and wealth? ordinary and extraordinary? The contribution of the musical score? the songs and the lyrics?

4. The chorus in the park at beginning and end? Their comments, implied criticisms? observing, leering? The focus on the park and Matthew's wandering? The encounter with Anais? The black man and the dog and the reaction against Matthew? The children? The songs? The aftermath of the hippies and the flower people in San Francisco?

5. Jason Robards as Matthew? In himself, his career in Los Angeles, acting, age, his attitude towards himself (and, the humorous insert of the horror film in which he appeared and the advertisements)? His wandering in the park, the encounter with the dog, the child, the barking, the frightening and people's reaction against him? The visit to the dentist? The psychologist and the lift? His capacity for talk? Offbeat behaviour? The encounter with Anais and the going on the Freeway, the abuse of the cars? Their falling in love? The outings? Their reaction to being followed? Separating? Love and the sexual encounters? The search? The phone call? The F.B.1. invasion with its ironies? Matthew's reaction to David? Contact and the end? The title as applied to him? The truth about him? Honesty and the title of Fools?

6. Katharine Ross attractive as Anais? In the park, joining up with Matthew, their being followed? Her reaction to her husband? Sharing so much with Matthew? The noses, the dances etc? The visit to the film? His sympathy? Her unhappiness? The experience with Matthew and helping her to make a decision? Her return to her husband and separating from him? The F.B.I. invasion? The phone call, the fear? Her giving up the wealth? Her going to Matthew and the pathos of the violence in the church? Her death?

7. David and his wealth, the car, possessiveness, his theories, his artificial and elaborate home, organising the surveillance of his wife? The argument? The confrontation? The violence erupting?

8. The range of supporting characters for the tone of the film: the dentist, the psychiatrist, the surveillance man, the police, the F.B.I.?

9. The build-up to the finale with the baptism, the fear, the confrontation, death?

10. Matthew and the aftermath of Anais' death, his sense of loss? The sadness and pessimism of the ending – as capturing the mood of 1970?