PASSIONS
US, 1984, 92 minutes, Colour.
Joanne Woodward, Lindsay Wagner, Richard Crenna, Viveca Lindfors.
Directed by Sandor Stern.
Passions is an interesting American telemovie, its strength coming from the performances. It is a portrait of a married man, his seeming devotion to his wife and daughter, while all the time having another home, his mistress and her son. He suffers a heart attack and dies. This brings the two women together, their clashes, their growth in understanding, especially because of the love of their children.
Richard Crenna plays the husband, giving him the credibility of charm and hypocrisy. Joanne Woodward is excellent as the wife, taking her life for granted, yet discovering that there always had been hypocrisy in the marriage and, while she loved her husband, she had been holding on because of her love for her daughter. Lindsay Wagner is also excellent as the mistress, devoted to the man, expecting him, eventually, to marry her, devoted to her son. Viveca Lindfors has a supporting role as a friendly neighbour.
While the material is conventional enough, the film is well written so that each of the characters comes to life. The anger and upset of the wife is credible as is the devotion of the mistress. As they both begin to realize how they have been deceived, they find bonds and some way of working out their animosity and developing some kind of friendship.
1. Interesting and entertaining telemovie? The conventional theme - but treated intelligently and forcefully for the wide television audience?
2. The Los Angeles world, Malibu? Affluence? The colour photography, locations, atmosphere? The musical score?
3. The title - as it applied to each of the main characters: Richard, Catherine, Nina, Beth? The clash of passions?
4. The initial focus on Richard, the businessman, coming home, his loving relationship with Nina, the painting, the comfortable life together? His love for her his leaving? The arrival at home, the encounter with Catherine? The gift of the sculpture? His relationship with Beth, discussions about her plans to live with her boyfriend? while not approving
5. Richard, the initial impression? The meal? their discussions about Beth, Catherine accepting it? The irony of Richard's response? impressions for the audience? The credibility of his being on the tennis court, hospital, unable to speak, trying to communicate with Catherine, trying to communicate with Nina? His death? The two women and their memories - and the truth about him? His wandering and compulsive confessions, his conscience not getting the better of him? his infidelities to Catherine - but not long-lived? Yet the eight years with Nina? The promise of marriage and leaving Catherine? It never happening? His affirming of Nina's artistic talent? Yet his buying the sculptures? A weak man, a deceitful man? Yet each of them having loved him? Beth wanting to love him?
5. Catherine, Joanne Woodward's performance? With the women, doing charity work, welcoming Richard home? Discussing her daughter's moral stances? Her wanting to go back to study law? His collapse, the hospital sequences, her grief? Sharing with Beth? The encounter with Nina, her shock? The funeral, her anger with Nina and her fighting with her? Going to the lawyers, finding out about the account, the Malibu house? Wanting to oust Nina, the paternity suit? Her arguments with Beth? Discovering the sculptures were by Nina and smashing them? Her going to visit Nina, looking at Eric? Her sense of justice and providing for him? Discussions about the truth of Richard, Nina's hopes, her telling the story about his deceptions? Realising how much she had in common with Nina? Going to the airport, talking things over with Beth, the reconciliation, doing the right thing for Beth and herself? The plausibility of her situation, handling the situation, burst and angers? Hopes for the future?
6. Nina, her being a model, the collapse, being helped by Richard, the affair? Becoming pregnant before she was too old, the birth of Eric? Hopes for the promises of marriage? The beach house, welcoming Richard? His art? Knowing all about Beth and Catherine? Indicating that to them both when she spoke with them? The sculptors and her hopes? Talking things over with Lila? News of his illness, the phone calls, pretending she was his sister, going to the hospital? The clash with Catherine? The funeral and the fight? The return home, her bitterness? Her concern about the inheritance and Eric? Seeing Beth on the beach, their talking, mutual understanding? Showing Beth the house? Catherine's visit, her hesitance, showing Catherine Eric? The discussion, her realization of the truth - especially about the sculptures and her smashing them? Her being reassured about the money - a future? Her hurts?
7. Beth, love for her father, moral stances, living with Tim? Seeing him off? Her planning to go away? Her father's collapse, death, her grief? The news of Nina and Eric? her going to see them, friendly with Eric, realising he was her brother? talks with Nina? Her wanting to understand the truth and her father? Not wanting to hate him? her return home, confrontation with her mother? At the airport and their reconciliation? The theme of double values with her wanting to live with her boyfriend and her father and his infidelities, double life not approving?
8. Lila, friendship with Nina, listening to her, offering her advice? her own experiences with marriage and relationships? her comfort for Nina?
9. The legal complications, Catherine's interviews with the lawyers, her vindictive attitude, the role of the law in protecting people? The paternity suit?
10. Exploration of values, relationships? The sanctity of marriage, fidelity and infidelity? The younger generation and their not wanting to commit themselves to marriage? Love, fidelity and passions?
