OXFORD BLUES

US, 1984, 97 minutes, Colour.
Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy, Alan Howard, Amanda Pays, Julian Sands.
Directed by Robert Boris.

Oxford Blues is an updated version and variation on the 1938 A Yank At Oxford (Robert Taylor and Vivien Leigh). It also highlights the youth-oriented film of the '80s, especially with its starts Rob Lowe and Ally Sheedy.

Rob Lowe plays a variation on a hustler in Las Vegas who falls in love with a portrait of an English aristocrat (Amanda Pays). Engineering his way (by computer cheating) into Oxford, he shows how he is out of place and the contrast between the brash American style and the reserved British style. With his pursuit of Lady Victoria, he falls foul of the rowing fraternity. However, he becomes involved - obviously getting his comeuppance as well as falling in love with the devoted American, Ally Sheedy. The supporting cast includes Julian Sands and Carey Elwes, who were to move into international films. Alan Howard and Michael Gough, British character actors, are also in the cast.

An expected kind of entertainment, capitalising on the then popularity of Rob Lowe.

1. Entertaining story of a young American? At home and abroad? Americans in Europe?

2. Las Vegas locations, the clubs and hotels? The contrast with Britain, Oxford, the university colleges, the river and rowing? The musical score? The contrast between the British and American music?

3. The title, the Yank at Oxford, the rowing competition, the melancholy?

4. Nick and Rob Lowe's screen presence? Winning money at the casino, the car-park attendant? His relationships with women? The Las Vegas lady and her paying him? His paying the computer hacker to change the record? Wanting to go to Oriel College, the infatuation with Victoria Wingate? The magazine photos?

5. The Yank at Oxford, his searching Victoria out, trying to make an impression? Her relationships and friends? Study, the tutors, the head of the college? His behaviour, criticisms? Being called to account? His friendship with Rhona and ignoring her? The personal relationships, the socials, gatecrashing, dress? The rowing, his skills? The interactions with the friends? Colin, Gareth and Lionel? Colin and his rowing, Nick stealing the boat and going after him? The attack by Colin's friends? The rowing team, his individualism? The team spirit of the Oriel Blues? The possibility of the Harvard grudge match? Victoria and her flirting? The relationship with Simon Rutledge, personal tutor, the rowing? The advice about character building? Rhona and his snubbing her? Rhona and Gareth and the set-up - Gareth screaming, Nick fighting with him? Discipline and the threat to be sent down? The night with Victoria? Missing the match? The expulsion from the team? His reaction to Victoria and Colin being married? The provocation by Gareth, the fight with him, his being sent down? Colin and the request for Nick to row? Resisting, arriving just in time, the victory? Accepted back, the college, the rowing team? The love for Rhona? His change of heart?

6. Victoria, aristocratic, her relationship with Colin? In society, studying? Gareth and Lionel? Her reaction to Nick's rowing, flirting with him, keeping him at a distance? The night together? Her marrying Colin? The result of the flirtation?

7. Rhona, from New Jersey, at Oxford, attracted to Nick, her work with the rowing team? The incident with Gareth and its effect on her? Her support of Nick, advice? Finally with him?

8. Colin, the British set, Gareth and Lionel? English snobbery, the reactions to Nick and his behaviour? The fights, discipline? Colin and the rivalry, the rivalry with Victoria, inviting Nick to row, their victory?

9. The presentation of the staff, the tutors, the coaches, the head of the colleges? The meetings? The life of an Oxford College?

10. The perennial theme of the brash American finding himself in the Europe of experience and tradition? The interaction between the two?