MRS WINTERBOURNE

US, 1996, 104 minutes, Colour.
Shirley Mac Laine, Brendan Fraser, Ricki Lake, Loren Dean.
Directed by Richard Benjamin.

Mrs Winterbourne is based on crime thriller by Cornel Woolridge, source for film thrillers during the '40s and '50s. A film version was made in 1950 with Barbara Stanwyck, No Man of Her Own. There was a French version of the film, using the original title, I Married a Dead Man, starring Nathalie Baye and Richard Bohringer.

The first version was melodramatic, a star vehicle for Barbara Stanwyck. The second version was much more serious in intent and treatment, even to the violence at the end and the assumption of responsibility by an elderly woman.

This film is a light and comic version of the story, a star vehicle for both Shirley Mac Laine and Ricki Lake. The film starts with a confession of guilt by Shirley Mac Laine's character. With the flashbacks, the film follows the plot of the earlier versions very closely. However, there is a divergence at the end, with a killing and the main characters all taking responsibility. However, in this version, someone outside the central plot (but plausibly presented) is responsible for the violence.

The film is efficiently made by Richard Benjamin (maker of efficient comedies ranging from My Stepmother is an Alien to Mermaids). There is an uncredited guest spot by his wife Paula Prentiss.

The film is lightweight, designed for a popular audience and, with its emphasis on a mother and a baby, gently entertaining. However, the screenplay lacks finesse and sharpness and could have been geared more to the talents of Shirley MacLaine? as well as Ricki Lake, who began her career as John Waters' Hairspray and in the mid-'90s reached celebrity fame with talkback television.

1.Entertaining romantic comedy? The popularity of the stars?

2.The adaptation of a crime thriller? More serious versions? The comic touch - designed for the stars?

3.The New York, New Jersey opening settings? The contrast with Boston and affluence? The home, the socials? The musical score and songs - especially the rendition of `The Sunny Side of the Street'?

4.The opening and Mrs Winterbourne accepting guilt on the steps of the church, the reaction of the priest? The flashbacks and the return to this point? Audiences puzzled about the dead young man in the apartment? Mrs Winterbourne's confession? The return to this at the end? Mrs Winterbourne's confession, Patricia's, William's, Paco's? The reaction of the police? The question of the cheque? The irony of having the murderer sitting in the car, having confessed? The police's comment on having lawyers?

5.The flashback to Patricia? Telling her story? The background of her family, family clashes, leaving? Ingenuous and going to New York City? The encounter with Steve and his taking advantage of her, the magic tricks, the card, her moving in, the group in the apartment? In love, pregnancy? Steve's violent reaction, turning her out, refusing responsibility? Connie and her wandering the city, pregnant? Kindness of people, unkindness? The beggar at Grand Central Station, his giving her advice, her going on the train? The rain and the rejection by Steve - and the glimpse of his current girlfriend and her reaction? (Irony for the final solution?)

6.The train ride, Connie's encounter with Hugh, genial, offering her the drink, saving her the embarrassment about the ticket, the crowded train? The meeting with Patricia, the two pregnant women, sharing confidences, clothes, Connie wearing the ring? The train crash and the consequences?

7.Connie and the birth of the baby, her desperation, her reaction to the nurse? The gifts and the affluence? Nobody listening to her about her identity? The phone call from Mrs Winterbourne? Her decision to go - trying to escape from the hospital, Paco and the limousine, the drive to the mansion? It being overwhelming? The welcome reception - doubts or not? Her first seeing of Bill and her panicky reaction?

8.The encounter with Mrs Winterbourne, the welcome into the family, Bill and his snobbishness? Paco and his friendliness? The meal - and the maid fighting for serving the meal? The discussions, Connie and her ingenuity, being tricked? The passing of time, her being dressed by Mrs Winterbourne, going to lunch with Bill?

9.The character of Mrs Winterbourne, the background of Broadway, marrying into the family, her becoming part of the family, love for her husband? Her sons? The differences in her attitude towards each son? Her friendship with the priest? Her illness and delicacy? The love for the baby, welcoming Connie into the home, believing her to be Patricia? The ambiguities of the response? Her grandchild? The lavish clothes? Throwing her together with Bill? The christening and the party? Her reaction to Connie's running away? Her illness? Sending Paco to investigate? The joy on the return? The marriage rehearsal dinner? Singing `The Sunny Side of the Street' and Connie's improvising? Her delight to have Connie back, the wedding, the truth? Her accepting the baby - and hoping for more grandchildren?

10.The contrast between Bill and Hugh? Bill's formality, the businessman, the banker? Hugh's walking out of the job and Bill's resentment? His reaction to Connie and his suspicions? Looking down on her? The interrogations? Finding out the truth - but not telling his mother? The changing of the will and Connie not wanting the money? His change of heart, helping with Paco, dancing the tango, the kiss, in love? Walking through Boston - and his being able to tell his life story to Connie? Her going away - and his welcoming her back? The party and his observation of Steve, following Connie to the motel? His coming in when Connie had the gun? The discussions about whether they were guilty or not? The wedding - the running through the aisle - but the happiness of the wedding and their prospects together?

11.Steve, selfish, seductive, his treatment of Connie, antagonism towards the pregnancy, kicking her out, throwing her the quarter in the rain? Sending the letter, turning up at the party, his having found out who she was, the blackmail? The motel, the cheque, the plan for the abduction? Connie's return - and finding him dead? His girlfriend - and her motivation for killing him? Connie saying that she understood?

12.Paco, his story, Cuba, his place in the family, homosexuality and attachment to the men coming to the house? Drinking, the tango? His going to the motel - a possible suspect?

13.Connie and her transformation, the clothes and the hair - after the snide comments of the socialites? Her fears, running away, the letter from Steve? The train - and Paco's persuading her to go back? Finding her place in the family? The confrontation with Steve, the gun? Telling the truth - and marrying in her own name?

14.The character of the priest - gentle poking fun at the church? The vulgarities at the meal? His support of the family?

15.Romantic comedy, screwball comedy - '90s style?