IN BROAD DAYLIGHT
US, 1991, 90 minutes, Colour.
Brian Dennehy, Cloris Leachman, Marcia Gay Harden, Chris Cooper.
Directed by James Steven Sadwith.
In Broad Daylight is a strong telemovie, focusing on a brutal man who holds a town in terror. The town reacts against him, eventually he is killed by the townspeople gathered around him - concealing the individuals who did the shooting.
Based on a true story, the film is set in the American South, focuses on life within the town, the kind of town in which sociopaths like the central character can flourish. However, echoing themes of 100 years earlier, issues of law and order and the administration of justice are to the fore.
The film is a star vehicle for Brian Dennehy, who is persuasive as Rowan, the brutal man who menaces and physically assaults people of the town. The supporting cast includes Cloris Leachman.
1. Interesting, entertaining telemovie? Portrait of a town? Portrait of the people? A portrait of evil and violence? Issues of law and justice? The film bases on a true story, its credibility? Rowan? The townspeople, the administrators of the law? The aftermath of the killing?
3. The picture of the town, the detail of the streets, shops and homes? The Rowan household? Authentic atmosphere? Musical score?
4. The title, the reference to the climax and the killing, the irony?
5. Brian Dennehy as Rowan: his physical appearance, screen presence? The opening and the stealing, the pigs? Accused of arson? His age, background? His genial surface, laughter? Sociopathic behaviour? At home, with the numerous children, their support for him? His second wife? Love - yet his brutality towards her? The family's loyalties to him? His friends? Plans? The encounter with the shopkeeper, building it from almost nothing into a huge issue? His confrontation of the owners of the shop and their assistant? His vowing violence? His vigils outside the shop? Sense of menace, intimidating? His having the law on his side? Going to the bar, the men supporting him yet frightened on him? Shooting the owner of the shop? The terrorising of the people? The film's exploring his character?
6. The reaction of the townspeople? His relying on his lawyer? The police and their attempt to administer the law? His presumptuousness? His friend and the talk about being in jail? His drinking friends and their moving away? The shooting, their fear? His family supporting him? Yet his bashing his wife when she suggested he could go to prison? The law, the arrest, the appeal and his going free? His manipulation of the people, defying them? His not wanting to go to prison, his death wish? The people, animosity, confrontation - and their shooting him?
7. The picture of his wife, sharing his life, battered? His children? The incident in the shop, the shop assistant and the little boy taking things without permission, accusations of theft, counter-accusations and the build-up?
8. The build-up, the shop, the assistant, the owner and her husband, trying to handle the situation? Their characters, interactions, trying to protect themselves? The vigils and the menace? The tension, Rowan terrorising them? The shooting? The owner and his being in hospital? The people's response?
9. The range of people in the town, their reaction to the Rowans? The religious minister and his trying to help, Rowan attacking him? The creation of fear?
10. The law, the marshall? Friendships? The resignation? The threats so social order? The helplessness of the law?
11. The build-up to the finale, Rowan to be moved for the trial, the crowd assembling, the guns? His death? The testimony given - and nobody witnessing the killings?
12. The audiences identifying with the victims, with the townspeople? The role of law and its administration? Questions of justice? The lynch-mob mentality? In an American town of the '80s?
