WITH HOSTILE INTENT
US, 1993, 88 minutes, Colour.
Melissa Gilbert, Mel Harris.
Directed by Paul Schneider.
With Hostile Intent is a '90s telemovie from the US. It is in the tradition of the police force dramas, not so much a focus of confrontation with criminals as morale within the forces. The setting is Long Beach, California. However, the film also is concerned about women's issues, sexual harassment as well as career harassment. The film focuses on Melissa Gilbert and Mel Harris, both veterans of the small screen with Little House on the Prairie and Thirtysomething. They each play efficient policewomen who are harassed by people with whom they are in personal relationship as well as the force. Ultimately they go to court and win. However, the postscript of the film (in 1993) indicates that the women had not received the payment for damages granted them in the court case.
The film is a look at morale within an important public service force as well as the human tensions that arise and the clashes between men and women. The film, produced and written by women, is highly critical of the attitudes and behaviour of the men on the police force.
1.Interesting and entertaining telemovie? Raising social issues for the home audience?
2.The American settings, Long Beach, California, the Californian city, crime on the streets, the police force, families, the courts?
3.The realistic tone of the film? The naturalism of life within the force, at the police precincts, at homes? The device of focusing on individual characters and their being interviewed periodically throughout the film? Counterpointing the naturalism?
4.The title and its focus on the men and women and their clashes?
5.The importance of women's issues in the '90s? Such applications as sexual and career harassment within such an organisation as the police force? The reality of the prejudice? Motivations? Women's perspective?
6.The focus on Miranda, her skill in tracking the criminals, going into the building and the arrest? Admiration of her partner? Her relationship with Mc Carthy? His not telling her that he was married and then telling her he would leave his wife? Her commitment and love for him? The tension in their relationship? The break-up?
7.Kathy and her skill with the K9 Corps, the training with the dogs, the exercises, her control over her dog? Her relationship with her husband, the scenes at home, their child? Her prospects in the force?
8.The focus on the two central men? Mc Carthy, his lies about his wife and family, going on the phone and his keeping his relationship with his wife while having the affair with Miranda? Their clash? The precinct members knowing about the relationship? Their reactions? The contrast with Kathy and working with her husband on the force? The men and their aligning themselves with the husband - and his responding, against his wife? The dramatic tension of having the two women have relationships with men in the police?
9.Seeing the women at work? Fulfilling all requirements of the police force? Miranda and her pursuit of the criminal, the chase, in the car, phoning through and no one willing to follow up? Kathy not included in the competition with the men? The exercises and her being mauled by the dogs - and the men letting the dogs maul her?
10.The discussions of the two women, especially Miranda, with the official from Internal Affairs? Their not believing her?
11.The changes, the men and their banding together, being on side with Mc Carthy, moving away from Miranda? Their sneers at Kathy? The pressure on Mc Carthy and Kathy's husband?
12.The incident with Miranda and the gun, indicating that she might kill herself, a test for Mc Carthy? The police coming and arresting her? The inquiry, her explanations? Her growing exasperation? Going to see the lawyer and making the decision to sue the department and the city of Long Beach?
13.Kathy and the tension in her marriage, her being mauled by the dog, her husband's compassion? His looking after the child? Her decision to get out of the force, the tension within the marriage, leaving home, the effect of the separation and the divorce?
14.The interview with the lawyer, explaining their cases, the lawyer testing the two women? The passing of two years and its effect on them?
15.Going to court, the interrogations of the men, of the head of Internal Affairs? The different perspectives? The attitude of the judge? The importance of the case, the jury and the high damages given to the women?
16.The importance of morale issues within any organisation but especially with the police? The importance of men and women working together for upholding law and order? The hardships for women joining the police? Prospects for the future?
