THE MAN WHO LOVED WOMEN

US, 1983, 110 minutes, Colour.
Burt Reynolds, Julie Andrews, Kim Basinger, Marilu Henner, Jennifer Edwards.
Directed by Blake Edwards.

The Man Who Loved Women is a Blake Edwards film. He wrote and directed, especially drawing on his own experience and crises - and giving a credit to his psychologist. However, it is also an adaptation of a Francois Truffaut film of the same name (though omitting the finale with the man writing his autobiography).

The film has an affluent California setting (with some excursions to Houston, Texas). It is something of a hymn towards women - from a man who is devoted to women. However, in the '80s, it was easy to interpret the film as presumptuous on the part of men, seeing women and their meaning as relating to men. While it is not intended as chauvinist, it could be interpreted this way.

Burt Reynolds is at his genial and gentle best as the man who loved women. Julie Andrews is at her most prim and precise as his psychiatrist. (Julie Andrews has acted in many of her husband, Blake Edwards' films including Darling Lili, Tamarind Seed, 10, S.O.B. and That's Life.) The other women in the cast include Marilu Henna and Kim Basinger.

The film has a `literate' screenplay - which doesn't always ring true as authentic speech. However, taking the film as stylised, it is a not uninteresting look at an artist reflecting on his experiences, looking at his relationships towards women, undergoing therapy.

1.The film as a Blake Edwards film: writing, his own experiences, directing? In the tradition of his films? Their personal background?

2.The California locations, affluent homes, the world of the artist, the psychiatrist? The contrast with Texas? The particularly American tone of the film? The musical score, Henry Mancini, the theme song? The style of the score and mood?

3.The literate screenplay, its vocabulary, voice-over techniques - both for David and for Mariana? The psychological style of the screenplay? Transferred from the French, from the perspectives of Francois Truffaut?

4.The title, the focus on the man, the focus on women, sexuality and sensuality, the man's needs, his psychology, literal reaching out, admiration and love, relationships, the possibilities of commitment?

5.The screenplay and the framework of the funeral, the women coming to David's funeral, their attitudes, Mariana's comments? The number, their devotion? United in a sisterhood for him?

6.Julie Andrews' style as Mariana, her listening to David, coaxing him, the therapy, wondering about him, his desperate phone calls to her and her advice, her discussing the case with her own psychiatrist? David eliciting her story, the widow, settling in California? The earthquake, David's response to her as sexual, sensual? Her listening to this? Her being in love with her patient, relating to him, the sexual encounter? His unblocking? Visits to the ballet? Her going to Switzerland, her advice for him to go to another psychiatrist, his proposal and her thinking it over, common sense advice? Her return and final tribute to him?

7.Burt Reynolds as David, gentle and genial, suave manner, the artist? His illness, his lethargy, indecisiveness? The sessions with Mariana, his voice-over comments on his behaviour, attitudes towards women, seeing them, reaching out, rationalising of his behaviour? The significance of the flashbacks to his childhood, his prostitute mother, his attitudes towards men and women, growing up? His needs, antagonisms?

8.The women in his life: the woman living in, his relationship with her, cooking? His seeing the legs and following them, the car, the licence number? Meeting Agnes, her explanation about her cousin? His staying with her, the meal, the discussions, the sexual liaison? The contrast with Nancy, picking her up in the street, the young prostitute, their discussions, the money, taking her home, giving her something to eat, respecting her, trying to build her up, giving her a job? The visit to Houston and the encounter with Louise, her coming on so strongly, admiring his art, her quick and seductive behaviour? Deceiving Roy? The effect of Louise on him, his losing balance? News of her arrest? Her return? The pressure? His meeting the woman in the shop, the discussions with her, a possible liaison?

9.David as a pensive man, strengths of character, qualities admired by women? His artistic block, the truth with Mariana, the encounter with her, going to sculpt? The importance of the proposal, some kind of commitment? The airport and the farewell? Phone calls, outings with Agnes? The woman in the shop? Reaching out and the car crash? Serious and farcical?

10.The portrait of the women - in themselves, in their relationship to David? How sexist the screenplay? Male-oriented? The women in themselves - Agnes and her strength, Louise and her relationship with Roy, the woman shopping, Mariana?

11.Roy, the send-up of the Texan, sponsoring the art, jealous of Louise, the private detective, trying to catch her - and Louise's shrewdness? The echoes of bedroom farce? Her shooting him?

12.A blend of drama and comedy? Personal portrait? Psychological case-study?