MURPHY'S ROMANCE

US, 1985, 107 minutes, Colour.
James Garner, Sally Field, Brian Kerwin, Corey Haim.
Directed by Martin Ritt.

Murphy's Romance is a pleasant and light yarn, directed by Martin Ritt (Hombre, Hud, Spy Who Came In From the Cold). It was written by his frequent collaborators Harriet Frank and Irving Ravetch. The musical score and songs are by Carol King.

The film is a slice of life, a divorcee and her son in Arizona, the meeting with a 60-year-old store-owner. American traditional values are reasserted in a genial way, there are shots at some of the contemporary values, especially a lack of responsibility (and even such movies as Friday the 13th). Sally Field is good as the divorcee, Corey Haim (Lucas, Lost Boys) is her son. However, the film is stolen by James Garner in an Oscar-nominated performance as Murphy Jones, a gentleman, a wise and genial man.

1.The appeal of the film: people, hopes, a yarn?

2.The work of Martin Ritt, his sense of humanity? His writers and their films?

3.The atmosphere of Arizona, the country town, its way of life? Authentic atmosphere? Musical score, songs?

4.The title, the focus on Murphy, on Emma? Love? Age? A romantic yarn?

5.Emma and Jake, their wandering, the old house, their arrival, cleaning it out, settling down, setting up the ranch for horses, his going to school, her going into town and advertising, their walk through the town and observing people? The bond between the two, the experience of mother and son?

6.Emma, marrying at 16, having a son, her irresponsible husband, wandering, the divorce? Her hopes, advertising, trying to raise a loan, commenting that she was a woman? Horses and training? Murphy's horse, her skill in training? Her participation in life in the town? Her looking after Jake?

7.Her meeting with Murphy, his store, pleasant, his way of speaking, wisdom and experience, range of interests, not able to lend her money, going to the auction, buying the horse, his riding it? Giving Jake the job? His explanation of his life, his wife and his relationship to her? The rides, staying for the meals? Meeting Emma's husband, their clash? Staying to the meals, playing cards, criticising him for cheating? The outing to the film and his reaction to Friday the 13th? The bingo outing? The dance, his clashing with the husband? The party for his birthday? His final wise words for Emma, the finale - age 60? The background of his drinking and grief? Getting himself together? A future with Emma? Portrait of a genial and wise man?

8.Emma and her coping, her husband turning up, his joining in the work, their life on the ranch, the movie, the cards, the meals, the dance? Jake and the proposal that she oust her husband? The arrival of the girlfriend and the twins? Her care for the children? Going back to Murphy, at ease with him, turning? At the hospital, the truck accident, her coping? Her wandering at the end, the final drive, Murphy's proposal?

9.The husband: marrying young, sponging on his wife, his own self-esteem, presumption, lack of responsibility? Love for Jake, working, the outings, cheating at cards, Friday the 13th and liking it, the sex in the hay loft and Emma's allergy, the girlfriend with the twins, Emma trying to talk him into responsibility?

10.Jake, at home, work, at school, sharing experiences with his mother? Friendship with Murphy, learning, father figure?

11.Life in the town, the movie show, the bingo, the people at the store, the auction, the people at the party?

12.Traditional American values and experiences - and the humorous shots at the more modern and permissive styles?