PROTOCOL

US, 1987, 90 minutes, Colour.
Goldie Hawn, Chris Sarandon, Richard Romanus, Andre Gregory, Gail Strickland, Cliff de Young, Ed Begley Jr.
Directed by Herbert Ross.

Protocol is an enjoyable Goldie Hawn vehicle. She served as Executive Producer for the film and, in fact, by the end she is making quite some strong point about appreciation of the United States in the mid-'80s.

The film is a light-hearted spoof about Washington, conspiracies, international diplomacy. Goldie as usual is the ingenuous type who finds herself embroiled in international affairs. The screenplay was written by Buck Henry and the film directed by Herbert Ross (Goodbye Mr. Chips, Funny Lady, many Neil Simon films, Footloose). Goldie has three leading men but they do not have much to do in comparison with her starring role.

The film echoes such Robert Riskin- Frank Capra political comedies of the '30s: Mr. Deeds Comes to Town, You Can't Take it With You, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. This film is an updated version of the naive individual who is honest and opens up scandal and conspiracy in Washington. It is a blend of the naive and the astute.

1. The popularity of Goldie Hawn? An entertaining Goldie Hawn vehicle? Her presence, comic style? A satisfying comedy? Piece of Americana?

2. A film of the 80s, Washington, relationships with the Middle East, oil, military installations? Glossy and frothy comedy? The musical score with the touch of Americana?

3. Comedy traditions and their influence: the screwball comedies of the '30s, society and politics? Goldie Hawn's own comedies? Frank Capra's 1930s films translated to the '80s style, optimism and faith in human goodness?

4. How successful the comedy, the blend of the naive and the razor sharp comment? Screwball characters, funny lines, farcical situations?

5. The piece of Americana: the '80s and the Reagan administration and attitudes, the new confidence in the United States and its aggressive tones, the post-Nixon elements (Sunnygate)? The post-Carter period with the memories of Iran and international entanglements? The surge of patriotism, the jingoism? The confident U.S. patronising the rest of the world, potential military danger? The attitude of the film in its reaction to Reaganism? The President, the presidency, American diplomats and officers, conspiracies? Goldie Hawn's emphasis on the individual, patriotism, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, Washington and American freedom and way of life?

6. The balance of irony: the send-up of Washington and politicians, diplomats, the military and the media? The tun with the Vice President? Middle East revolutions?

7. A film of sentiment? Message? Goldie and her final strong and emotional speech? For American audiences? Overseas? The Chairman of the Senate Committee giving his 'thumbs up'?

8. The causes espoused by the film: ordinary people, Goldie's speech about ordinary people and voting, political consciousness? People and truth?

9. The opening situation and Sunny's reaction - curiosity, the assassination attempt, the bite, the bullet? The comedy with the operation? The American ballyhoo of her becoming a heroine? The skit on television programmes and interviews, popular magazines? The diplomatic briefing, the foolish questions, the press conference and her ranging over homely things, her relations, sport etc? Establishing Sunny as a celebrity? The contrast with the introduction to the film and her causing the traffic jam? Her background of living with the homosexual couple, her work at the joint, her having to dress as an emu, her relationship with Lou? Sleazy but nice? The portrait of her family (and the echoes of You Can't Take it With You), Oregon, meals, her father's inventing, including the electric toilet, the visit of the Vice President?

10. The introduction to the world of protocol: the rules and regulations, her serious approach, looking up the dictionary, learning off the rules, the encounter with Mr. Crowe and his unctuous style, Mrs St John and her imperious manner? The group plotting, setting her up for the Emir? Her gaffes, wrong dress for the barbecue, tackling the Queen at the airport after the salute, taking tourists around Washington and reading the Declaration of Independence? Her taking the group to Lou's and the wild party? The arrests, including the diplomats? her own office, her work, yet suspicious?

11. Michael and his diplomacy, work within the group, the visit to the hospital, the attraction to Sunny, participation in the plan? The friendliness, the massage, her telling him about telling the truth? His opting out, press interview about the truth? His becoming her husband and campaign manager?

12. The group of diplomats and their conspiracy? Mr. Hilly and his assistant, watching Sunny on TV, their disbelief, wanting to exploit the situation, arranging for the presidential phone call? Their being Hawks, military connections? Mrs. St. John and her imperious manner? The impact of the assassination attempt, the response to Sunny, their controlling her? The mistake in organising the 'good time' for the Emir? Their strategies, going to Lou's, arrests, the Vice President rescuing them? Their being caught out by Sunny's honesty, the senatorial hearing, their being exposed? Their final mockery?

13. The Emir and the Middle East connection? The assassination attempt? The attraction to Sunny and the plan to get her? His wanting sons? The military connections? The satire with his adviser - poking fun at gurus? His wisdom? The transition at Lou's? His becoming Sunny's babysitter? Sunny and her going to the Middle East, the welcome, the encounter with the Emir, the Islamic and severe style at home? Sunny and her being veiled, the camel ride, the wash in the river? The discovery of her picture? Awareness of the truth but her being involved in the coup d'etat? The narrow escape?

14. Her reaction, the hearing? The long speech, personal involvement in politics for the '80s?

15. The postscript with the election, credible for her to become a Congresswoman? The feminist touches? (And the contrast with Capra's heroes of the'30s to the heroines of the '80s)?

16. Politics with the light touch for the widest audience?