HIS MISTRESS

US, 1984, 100 minutes, Colour.
Robert Urich, Julianne Phillips, Tim Thomerson.
Directed by David Lowell Rich.

His Mistress is one of those dramatic, socially-minded telemovies that American studios were fond of making in the 70s and 80s. From its title, it also has the atmosphere of controversy and invitation into something which was rather exotic.

The treatment, however, of the topic is generally straightforward and reflective at a telemovie, popular audience level. It is set in affluent backgrounds, big business, focuses on the executives and the brittleness of their marriages, the attractiveness of their assistants and their mistresses. Robert Urich is quite good in the central role. Julianne Philips is also good as the upwardly mobile executive who falls in love with the married executive and becomes his mistress only, of course, to be disillusioned by the double standards. There are some wry comments on the callousness of businessmen and their self-seeking and financial arrangements.

The film focuses strongly on the character of Anne and, presents the woman's perspective and her relationship, submission to the man. The film was directed by David Lowell Rich who has made many features and telemovies over several decades.

1. Human themes? moral issues, resolution of problems?

2. The film designed for the home audience? For popular consumption? entertainment and reflection? The telemovie style, the parallel with series and mini-series? Soap opera tones? Affluent society, lavish settings and costumes, an atmosphere of wealth? A lush musical score?

3. The title and the focus on the woman, but in relation to and submission to the man? The comment on sexual mores, on extramarital relationships, sexual relationships? A criticism, of standards and double standards?

4. Focus on Anne? the aspiring young American woman? Her clothes, the interview, her persuasiveness, Jeff giving her a job? Her success in it? At home, sharing the apartment with Susan? Friendship? Her encounter with Alan, falling in love the meeting, the beginning of the affair? Her not expecting it to go on? Alan's continued attentions? Her accepting his gifts, the clothes, the penthouse? Her really loving him? His love for her? The double life that he was leading? Her deceiving Susie? and the birthday encounter and her telling the truth? the meeting with Paula, discussions about mistresses, relationships, finance and ambitions? Her seeing herself differently? Jeff and his interventions for her career? Possibility of study, her not being able to be promoted because of the relationship with Alan? The social outings, meeting Alan's wife? Her going out with Paula? Seeing what happened to Paula, her being dumped by the repossession of the car? Her growing doubts; Alan's continued gifts? her spying on him at the celebration? Her own background, celebration with her family? Jeff trying to tell her the truth? Her standing up to Alan after the mistress party and her being hurt? Her seeing that he needed her rather than loved her? The break, her going back with Susie, friendship with Paula (after saving her life)? The impact of this experience on her? Her future?

5. Alan and his role as executive, his high profile as a leading citizen, charities? Relationship with his wife, children? Mid-life crisis? Restlessness and inability to confide in his family? His encounter with Anne, the plane, the conference, the affair? His proposing to set her up as a mistress, the clothes, the penthouse, his visits? Double life? Dissatisfaction at home? The challenge by his wife to tell the truth, his inability? Phone calls to Anne? His becoming demanding, hurting her, making up with presents? His relationship with Tom and the other executives? Being told the truth by Jeff? Facing the truth, letting Anne go? His inability to leave his wife and hurt her? The possibility of reconciliation? The sketch of his wife, audience understanding of her? The children?

6. The presentation of the executives? the honourable men like Jeff, escorting Anne to functions, eventually refusing, running the risk of losing his job, his attention to Anne? Tom and his callousness, setting up Paula, dumping her and taking on the younger woman, running a mistress party? The older executives with the younger women?

7. The character of Paula? seemingly hard, kept woman, looking after herself , luxury, building up her financial interests? The card game and her friends? The repossession of the car, her being hurt, loving Tom, being dumped, the suicide attempt? Her recovery and the friendship of Anne?

8. Susie as a friend, the outside perspective of? what was happening to Anne? Her being able to take her back as flatmate?

9. The film's moral point of view? about men and women, personal crises, sexual relationships, liaisons, affection and love, business arrangements, truth, deceit, hurt? What was the audience left with in regard to themes of adultery and liaisons?