OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

US, 1991, 101 minutes, Colour.
Gregory Peck, Danny de Vito, Penelope Ann Miller, Piper Laurie, Dean Jones.
Directed by Norman Jewison.

Other People's Money is based on a very successful play by Jerry Sterner. It has been adapted and opened out for the screen by Oscar-winner Alvin Sargent. Direction is by Norman Jewison (whose films range from In The Heat of the Night to Fiddler on the Roof, Jesus Christ Superstar, Rollerball).

The film is an ironic recession comedy drama. Danny de Vito as Larry the Liquidator very successfully embodies the Wall Street corporate raider who loves the game and the kill. Pitted against him is solid Gregory Peck as the old-style owner of a cable and wire factory. Both of them get strong speeches at the end to state their cases. The traditional value speech versus the pragmatic. There are also legal wheeler-dealings and personal sparring, especially with Larry and Penelope Anne Miller as a super smart New York lawyer. Piper Laurie and Dean Jones are in support. A great number of contemporary issues of finance, industry, modernisation and society are presented with a light touch.

1. Entertaining and interesting topical comedy drama? America in the '80s? The world economy of the period? Social justice?

2. The origins in a play, sharp dialogue and characterisation? The ambiguities of the characters and their interactions?

3. The New York settings, Wall Street, the world of computers, offices and wealth? The contrast with the New England backwoods, the factories, the old homes? Musical score?

4. The stances taken by the film - old-style Frank Capra humanism versus Wall Street pragmatism? Audience sympathies? Audience understanding of the issues?

5. The title, the focus on money, the money market of the '80s, the big money-makers, insider trading, corporate raiders? The change with the recession, the liquidation of companies? The morality of the economic crises?

6. Danny de Vito as Larry the Liquidator - and his ability to hold the film together, a one-man comedy show? His presence and screen style? The prologue and his viewpoint? At home, waking up in the morning, Carmen his computer and his fondness for her? The information? His going to work, alone, the servants, the secretary? His unpleasant manner, selfishness? His diet, smoking? His decision about the wire and cable factory? His decision about Jorgensen? Ruthlessness?

7. The contrast with Gregory Peck as Jorgy? In the Capra tradition of decent men? The inheritance, the factory, the work, the photo with the employees, production, the staff, his role as president? Bea as his assistant? Love and loyalty? The inquiry? His folksy response, the folksy life of the factory? His love for Kate?

8. Kate and her New York style, smart, educated, shrewd? Glamour? Her love for her mother, for Jorgy? Her relationship with the staff? Being summoned, her brief for the factory? Her tactics? Her interchanges with Larry, the interviews? Fascinated by him and his crassness? The threats, his performance, her performance? The phone calls - even to the violin? The agreement on time gained? The meetings, the meals? The attraction? The injunctions, the bluff? Encountering Larry with her boyfriend? Deceiving him?

9. Larry and his tactics, deceiving Kate? The shares, his staff, the lawyers, the game and play, relying on Carmen? His personal attitude towards Kate, his grossness and his overcoming it? The phone calls, the proposal?

10. The picture of the Jorgensen family, pleasant, their hopes, the need for change, the relationship with the workers?

11. The deals, phone calls, Larry and his doughnuts, making sure that he would win? Baya and her coming to his office, her appeal? His meeting with Coles in secret, getting his shares and vote?

12. The build-up to the meeting, arrival, stances?

13. The contrasting speeches: Jorgy and his earnest speech, the traditions, people values, seeing Larry as diabolical? The contrast with Larry's speech, smart language, the issue of the buggy whips and the need for change? Emotion and truth?

14. The voters, the staff, listening to the speeches, attitudes - and audiences identifying with the speeches?

15. The Wall Street themes of greed, money, the game, change? Computerised - and a blizzard of papers only?

16. The closure of the factory, Larry and his pursuit of Kate, Kate and her response? The unexpected intervention of the Japanese, the possibility of opening the factory and new production? The ambiguity of the ending?

17. Contemporary American and world-wide themes? Highlighting the economic and industrial changes of the 20th century?