MAX DUGAN RETURNS

US, 1983, 98 minutes, Colour.
Marsha Mason, Jason Robards, Donald Sutherland, Matthew Broderick, Kiefer Sutherland.
Directed by Herbert Ross.

Max Dugan Returns is a comedy written by Neil Simon. Simon came into popularity on Broadway in the 1960s with Barefoot in the Park and The Odd Couple which were quickly made into successful films. Over the succeeding decades many films were made from his plays and original screenplays. Herbert Ross directed a number of these for the screen including The Sunshine Boys, The Goodbye Girl, California Suite, I Ought To Be In Pictures. Ross also directed a range of ‘women’s pictures’, including Steel Magnolias and The Turning Point.

Marsha Mason was married for some time to Neil Simon and is very strong in many of Simon’s films including The Goodbye Girl and Chapter 2. This was the first film for Matthew Broderick who plays her son, also the first film for Kiefer Sutherland who plays here with his father. Jason Robards enjoys himself as a roguish old man who comes to visit his long-estranged daughter and to spend time with her son before he dies – bringing with him a deal of shady money from his dealings in Las Vegas.

1. An entertaining Neil Simon comedy? His verbal wit? Characterisations? Sentiment? Good humour, irony? A piece of Americana?

2. The California and Los Angeles settings, the ordinary world of the teacher, her home? The contrast with affluence? School? The beach, baseball? Editing and pace? The musical themes by David Shire?

3. The credits and the end animation? Humorous touch?

4. Marsha Mason as Nora, as a widow, a teacher, her relationship with her son? Her ordinary life, making ends meet? Dealing with students, teachers, school? The detail? The car and the papers? Her friendship with Brian? The bike, dates? Coping with her son? The phone call and Max turning up? Arguing with him, her bad memories, her anger? The money that he brought? Staying the night, staying on, the deals, wanting to spend time with his grandson? Wanting her to spend the money? The money and the gifts and the effect? Brian and his being ousted? His becoming interested in Max? The dinner, the five thousand dollars? Talking to Mike, spending time with him? Max leaving – his illness, final honesty? The baseball, the bet? The happy ending? His story made up or not? Nora dealing with her father?

5. Mike, as a young boy, relating with his mother, difficulties, smoking etc., his friends? Mr Parker and his friendship? Talks, gifts, the baseball coach? The truth? His relationship with Brian? With Max? The final match?

6. Max, a character, absent from his daughter’s life for so long? The background of his walking out on them? The return? The phone call, the danger? Bringing the money? His talk, the cracks? His illness, staying? His motivation? Getting the gifts and enjoying giving them? The baseball? The ambiguous relationship with Brian? Brian and the police? The bank, going, the end? Max as a character?

7. Brian and his work, his son, attracted to Nora, the bike and the foiling of the robbery? Going out with Nora? The interrogation at school? Following Max? Suspicious? The game, his dilemma about Nora and about taking Max in?

8. The neighbours, their reaction?

9. The coach, his philosophy?

10. The story of family, family hurts, benefits? The reconciliation? The optimistic ending – and the humour of the final animation?