NORWOOD

US, 1969, 95 minutes, Colour.
Glen Campbell, Kim Darby, Joe Namath, Carol Lynley, Pat Hingle, Tisha Sterling, Dom De Luise, Jack Haley, Cass Daley, Gil Lamb.
Directed by Jack Haley Jnr.

Norwood is an amiable story, a star vehicle for singer Glen Campbell. He had appeared with some success in Henry Hathaway's True Grit, John Wayne's Oscar-winning film. Here he appears with Kim Darby, with whom he is reunited. The screenplay for both films was by Marguerite Roberts. Norwood belongs to the period of the Vietnam war before it was seen to be so serious and questions were asked of the American administration. Norwood, Campbell, moves out of the service and back into civilian life. It is also the period of the late '60s with the touch of the psychedelic and drug culture. This looks rather quaint in retrospect.

Meanwhile, the plot is episodic, the boy returning from the forces to his home town, restless, going on a dangerous job, into the big city, meeting the attractive girl on the bus, romance.

The film has a strong cast including Kim Darby, Carol Lynley, Pat Hingle. However, there is a very good performance by Dom De Luise as Norwood's cowardly and continually eating brother-in-law. The film was directed by Jack Haley Jnr - and his father (the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz) has a guest role.

Glen Campbell, of course, has the chance to sing several songs.

1. Entertaining story? Conventional Hollywood material? The Vietnam era? The psychedelic era? The youth orientation? Late '60s? In retrospect?

2. The pleasant tone, Texas and the range of southern states? country life, city life?

3. The musical score, Glen Campbell and his persona, songs?

4. The episodic nature of the film? Rambling but entertaining?

5. Norwood and his friend (Joe Namath making a transition from sport to film)? The trip home, meeting his sister, meeting Bill and the hostility between the two, wanting to work, girlfriends in the town?

6. Meeting the dealer, his friendship, the driving of the car, young girl and the clash of style and temperament, argument? The pursuit by the police? Ditching the car?

7. Arrival in New York, trying to track down his friend, Meeting his girlfriend, the sexual encounter? Song?

8. Getting the bus back home, encountering Rita, friendship and talking, her going to meet her boyfriend, the jilting? His taking her home? The truth about her pregnancy? His sister and Billy? The confrontation with the boyfriend? Norwood in love with her, letting her stay with him? Their future?

9. His ambition to go on the Louisiana Hayride, his going, singing?

10. A pleasant film in the Hollywood tradition? A contrast with the anti-hero and downbeat style of so many '60s films?