ONE TERRIFIC GUY

US, 1986, 100 minutes, Colour.
Wayne Rogers, Mariette Hartley, Laurence Luckinbill.
Directed by Lou Antonio.

One Terrific Guy is an interesting and thoughtful telemovie. It focuses on education, the role and influence of the teacher, especially the popular teacher. However, Wayne Rogers as the popular basketball coach is also a child molester. The film raises the issues of what the children involved are to do, the role of parents, the responsibility of the school and school board, the reactions of other students, other parents - belief and disbelief.

The film is well-written, presents its case emotionally but with insight. Mariette Hartley and Laurence Luckinbill are the parents. Rogers is the coach. There is an excellent supporting cast portraying the students.

The film is timely - and serves as a contemporary moral fable for the wide television audience. Direction is by Lou Antonio, veteran director of very many interesting telemovies.

With the uncovering so many cases of child abuse in the 90s, this film anticipated so many films made on this theme. A similar case is seen in While Justice Sleeps (1994).

1. Impact of the film? Portrait of a community? Of a moral issue? Message?

2. The American town, homes, school, sports? The courts? The authentic atmosphere?

3. The title and the focus on Charlie Brennan as coach, as popular for 11 years, his reputation in the school, with students and parents? Its ironies?

4. The establishing of the setting: the school, basketball, admiration for the coach? His interview with Carrie - and his research, the sexual questions? Her dismay, talking with her parents? Audience emotional involvement?

5. The focus on Carrie, her experience and inexperience, her bewilderment, questions about lovemaking and diaphragms? her speaking to her parents and their sympathetic listening? To her boyfriend? The initial scepticism of her brother? Her honesty? The emotional effect? Going to the principal and his disbelief, lack of evidence? The parents and their concern, going to meetings? Trying to find out about other girls, the phone call to Donna and her parents, enlisting her support? The number of girls coming forward - but the hostility of the girl who thought she was special and one of the few? The effect on the basketball team, the championship? The hostility of children in the school? The meetings of parents? The arrest of the coach after the confrontation with him? His denial of the charges? His being out on bail? The build-up to the confrontation - interviews by lawyers, the threat to Jim and his job, the snubbing of Marty at the singing practice? Going into court, the cross-examination, Carrie standing her ground? The support of the other girls? The coach and his reaction? The final match, Mark deciding to lose the game? The support of her family? The `guilty' verdict? Going to the dance, her hesitation - and the applause? Her doing the right thing? Providing a role model for children in a similar situation?

6. The portrait of Jim and Marty, their bringing up of their children? Listening sympathetically, their concern? Going to the authorities, wanting meetings? The way that they were treated? Handling their son? Going to the matches? The confrontation with the coach? The preparations for the court case? The vindication?

7. The coach - the audience knowing his behaviour? His regard by the boys? The speech night, the trophy for Mark, his ovation? The confrontation with the principal, his denials? His wife and her support? The meeting at home with the parents and their legal support? The arrest and his being out on bail? The school board meeting? His being present at the final match - and Mark losing it, his losing control? His confrontation with Carrie and feeling less denial? His impersonal reactions in the trial? Being found guilty? The interviews at the court steps and his wanting to be a teacher? The severe reprimands of the judge?

8. Mark, the star basketball player, support of Carrie, believing her? Confrontation of the coach? Losing the match? Her brother, his disbelief, his getting the phone number for Donna?

9. The other girls, Donna and her explanation of the situation, the psychological effect on her and relationships? The growing number of girls molested? The details as brought out in the trial?

10. The parents, their disbelief, support of the coach? The principal?

11. The lawyers, their cross-examinations? The simple plea by the prosecutor? The harsh judgment by the judge - and his comments about molestation, responsibilities of teachers, remorse? The nature of the sentence?

12. Interesting drama? Topical? Providing a message - and role models for similar situations?