WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT?
US, 1968,94 minutes, Colour.
Doris Day, Terry- Thomas, Patrick O' Neal, Robert Morse, Lola Albright, Jim Backus, Ben Blue.
Directed by Hy Averback.
Where Were You When The Lights Went Out is a breezy sex comedy from the late '60s - and one of Doris Day's last movies. Its setting is the great blackout in New York City in November 1965. It focuses on an actress, her philandering husband, as well as on a corporate executive who steals $2,000,000. Doris Day is the actress, Patrick O' Neal her husband and Robert Morse the thief. Terry- Thomas is also there as a Hungarian producer. There are the expected mix-ups - and the film, based on a play, confines its later attention to the home of the actress and then to the police station. There are some amusing moments and characterisations, some play on Doris Day's image in the '60s as the constant virgin. Steve Allen appears as an exhausted radio announcer. The film was directed by Hy Averback (I Love You, Alice B. Toklas, The Great Bank Robbery).
1.Amusing comedy of the '60s? Farce? Doris Day vehicle?
2.Panavision, New York City? The atmosphere of the blackout? Musical score, title song?
3.The title and the humorous use of it throughout the film? Tone?
4.Maggie as successful actress, her relationship with her husband, the initial interview, suspicions of him, not wanting to know? Her relationship with Ladislas and his pressure, the contract? The blackout, finding her husband, going to Connecticut, the sleeping-draught, the ambiguities with Waldo? The nightmare, the next morning, defending herself to Peter? Ladislas plotting against her? Waldo and his hints of intimacy, the birthmark? Going to the police station? Peter deceiving her - the happy ending and the baby? Doris Day-style character? Jokes about herself and her image?
5.Waldo, his voice-over commentary? The robbery of the money, wanting to be president? The elevator, the fire? Taking the money, the car, the kidnapped child, the broken down car, going into Maggie's home, sleeping-draught, tired? Waking up, the phone calls, Peter's reaction? His smooth defence, teaming with Ladislas, trying to pressurise Maggie? The news about the robbery, his quick thinking, the police station, restoring the money, becoming president? The son of the chairman of the board absconding? Robert Morse-style comedy (How to Succeed in Business ...)?
6.Patrick O'Neal, the philandering husband, the build-up? The affair with the interviewer? Pursuing his wife, taking the high-ground stance? Attack on Waldo? On Maggie? Being arrested for stealing the money? The truth, concealing the truth from Maggie, the reconciliation?
7.Ladislas and his psychotherapy, the therapist asking the questions - and his reversing it about the cheque? His schemes, power over Maggie, manipulating Waldo?
8.The humour about business, the fat chairman of the board, his fat son - in the elevator, the stealing of the money?
9.The radio commentator and his exhaustion during the blackout?
10.The fact of the blackout, the effect on New York City, people trapped in various places? The humour with Ben Blue and his being extraneous to the film, his continual reappearance - and shaving cuts?
11.The comedy style of the '60s?
