BROADWAY BOUND (NEIL SIMON'S 'BROADWAY BOUND')

US, 1992, 100 minutes, Colour.
Anne Bancroft, Hume Cronyn, Corey Parker, Jonathan Silverman.
Directed by Paul Bogart.

Broadway Bound is the third play in Neil Simon's autobiographical trilogy which began with Brighton Beach Memoirs, continued with Biloxi Blues. Gene Saks brought the first play to the screen in the mid-'80s with Blythe Danner as Kate, Judith Ivey as Blanche and Jonathan Silverman as Eugene Jerome. Mike Nicholls made Biloxi Blues, the story of Eugene Jerome's time in the army during World War Two. Matthew Broderick took the central role. This time the film is directed by Paul Bogart for television in the US and theatrical release around the world. The role of Eugene Jerome is played by Corey Parker while Jonathan Silverman this time portrays his brother Stanley. Kate is played by Anne Bancroft, Blanche by Michelle Lee. Hume Cronyn gives an excellent performance as Grandfather. Jerry Orbach is the father.

The film is set in Brighton Beach in 1948 with Stanley and Gene as aspiring writers. The film is confined to the inside of the Jeromes' house - a few token outside scenes. However, the adaptation of the play retains the strength of the characterisations and dialogue. The six actors are excellent and bring the play to life, despite its being confined to the house.

The irony of two young men wanting to write for television when such comic drama was going on in their own home - and then their turning it into a comic sketch for radio - has a strong irony highlighting Neil Simon's going back to his roots and trying to understand them.

1.The work of Neil Simon? The qualities of his plays? Americana? Their adaptation for cinema?

2.The Brighton Beach setting, 1948, the interiors of the house, the exteriors? The musical score?

3.The screenplay, by Simon himself, relying on the strengths of the play? Designed for the small screen? Retaining the structure of the play and its acts and scenes, the focus on characterisations, dialogue and interactions?

4.The strong humour, verbal, situations, family, Jewish, American?

5.The title and Neil Simon going back to his creative origins? His family? Eugene as the Simon character? His writing, television and radio at the time, hopes, the beginning of a career?

6.The voice-over and the commentary, the author going back to his roots, understanding his family, relationships, the ironies, the comedy?

7.The portrait of the family, the family being enough for comic sketches, the boys writing up their family, the stories being broadcast and the reaction of the members of the family? Decades later, their being dramatised for stage and screen?

8.The portrait of Gene, his experience and age, place in the family, loved by his mother, the response of his father? Interactions with his grandfather? The rivalry with Stanley, their friendship? Stanley and his dreams, the writing, trying to be inventive? Ideas? Stanley's dreams and meeting Abe Burrows, the television station? The success in their sketch being accepted? The build-up to the listening to the sketch? Gene's reaction? Listening to his mother's story about dancing with George Raft? Dancing with her and the comment on the intimacy? Preparing to leave home, going with Stanley, the farewells, the affection for his grandfather? The memory of his father? The postscript about the characters and what had happened to them? Simon drawing the character of himself less vividly than the other characters?

9.Stanley, his work at Gimbels, his verve, his accosting Abe Burrows in the elevator, going to CBS, his dreams? The writing, the clashes with Eugene? Their writing together, the cellar, the cold, the basic ideas - and trying to get them to go somewhere? The tension with his father, confronting him? Loyalty to his mother? The successful sketch, listening to the broadcast, the reactions? He and Gene leaving home?

10.Anne Bancroft's presence and style as Mother? A strong woman, the Mother Courage style? The Jewish background? The drab life, seeing her hard at work, preparing meals, people wandering in and out and not eating? Blanche's visit, the contrast between the two sisters? Her care for her father? Jack and the affair, confronting him, challenging his lies? Her father, his soiled linen and her washing it? Bossing him about, not talking to him? Making him eat, controlling him? Listening to people's stories? Her pride in her sons? Her listening to the play, seeing only good while recognising the similarities? Her telling of the story of the dance with George Raft - the intensity of Anne Bancroft's style, the recitation of the story, the mood, her dancing with Eugene and its intimacy? Jack leaving and her knowing? The farewells to her sons?

11.Jack, absent, Ben knowing that he would leave? His arrival, the lies and the cover-up, the affair? The dying woman and his concern? Kate and her challenging him, a good man but trying to justify himself? The gossip of the neighbours? His being hurt, feeling there was nothing left at home, 55 and wanting a future? Late arrival for the broadcast, listening, his angry reaction that everybody would know the story, the references to himself and affairs? Stanley and his challenge? Gene's reaction? Their challenging him and his making public the affairs? His decision to leave, packing, the farewell to Ben, arguing that he would understand because of his relationship with his wife? Stanley seeing him later, the reconciliation - his leaving and later remarrying?

12.Hume Cronyn's performance as Ben: the eccentric character, opening the film, going out in the snow, his sheets? His living at Brighton Beach for so many decades? The meals, going to sleep anywhere? Argumentative? His discussions about the meaning of life? His jokes and lack of humour? Blanche's visit, her feeling put down by him, his trying to listen and understand? His wife hating him, the separation, not wanting to go to Florida? His observing, being upset, his cracks? The radio program and his not seeing the point - but laughing at the dog speaking Spanish? His seeing Jack leave, understanding because of his own relationship with his wife? His staying, not being affectionate, the embrace of his grandchildren? His later going to Florida?

13.The brief glimpse of Blanche, her relationship with her father, the tension, coming to speak to him about her mother, trying to do her best for her mother? Her marriage, her wealth, her father's love for Trotsky and his socialist criticisms of her change? The argument, her standing for what her life meant, her relationship with her husband? The relationship with Kate and the need to talk? The absent mother and the descriptions of her, the relationship with the whole family?

14.The radio play, the parallels with the family, the satire and the points?

15.The glimpse of the family, the Jewish family, New York? And the portrait of the artist as a young man?