I OUGHT TO BE IN PICTURES

US, 1982, 107 minutes, Colour.
Walter Matthau, Ann- Margret, Dinah Manoff, Lewis Smith.
Directed by Herbert Ross.

I Ought To Be In Pictures is a pleasant Neil Simon comedy, with a touch of pathos and seriousness. The film resembles Only When I Laugh, made just prior to this film. The focus is on a teenager relating with a parent? Kristy Mc Nicoll and Marsha Mason were excellent in Only When I Laugh? Walter Matthau, a veteran of many Neil Simon films, matches Dinah Manoff (Lee Grant's daughter) who won the Tony Award for her stage performance in this role. They are complemented excellently by an impressively unobtrusive performance by Ann Margret as the girlfriend.

The story is slighter than many other Simon films, the emphasis is on pathos but there are, of course, many one-liners and a number of laughs. The film focuses on the New York world in contrast with that of California and the movie industry? once again Simon writes a piece of Americana which has insights into American society - but all done with the light touch. There is Marvin Hamlisch music and a Randy Crawford song at the end.

1. The film in the work of Neil Simon? His prolific theatre and screenwriting? His change of pace over the decades? Comedy plus pathos? The knowledge of the New York world? The discovery of California? Los Angeles and Hollywood? The film as Americana of the '70s and '80s? The background of show business? Neil Simon giving a more middle-aged ageing point of view? More mature comedy? Mellower? The focus on relationships, family?

2. The contribution of Herbert Ross directing so many of Simon's plays and films? His capturing of the Simon atmosphere? Characters? Comedy and pathos? Real, symbolic? The flip jokes and the wisdom? Contribution of the score and song?

3. The title and the echoes of the song? The American dream? Fantasy world of the films? Glamorous career? Contrast with reality? The focus on Libby as the central character? The young American girl? Her choices? Her needs? Being in a stage of transition?

4. Themes of family? The breakdown of American marriages? Repercussions on partners? New choices? Careers? Separation? The repercussions on the children? Emotional needs? Searches? Needs for reconciliation and healing? The hopefulness of this film?

5. Libby as focus? Her age, background, relationship with her mother, family life, her love for her brother? The dead grandparents and the importance of her visit to the cemetery? Her relationship with her grandmother? The continued talking? Her dialogue as a kind of journal and diary? The credibility of her talking with her grandmother? Her grandmother doing her thinking for her? Her use of the conversations for her search? Wisdom - though not about sexuality?

6. The importance of her journey, being scared, crossing America? The jokes about its beauty and landscapes? The chat with the soldier on the bus? Hitchhiking with the truck driver? A sense of the separation of east and west coast? Los Angeles and its overwhelming aspects?

7. Walter Matthau's style as Herb? Audience response to his shambling and laconic comic style? A low-key performance? His waking, meeting Libby, puzzle, inability to express himself well, the awkward kiss, the arguments, the memories? The symbolism of his house, trees? His poor career? Gambling? His awkwardness, apologies? The growing discussions? The telling of truths? His discovering his daughter? Interest in her career, herself? The growing bonds between the two? Their helping one another? His worrying when she returned late? His watching her rehearsing with pride? His response to her wanting to talk about sex and make decisions? The growing honesty? Her decision to leave and its hurting him? His being changed by her visit? The significance and dramatic impact of the phone call? His awkward talking to Blanche? Libby's helping him? His doing it by himself? The talk with Robbie? Reconciliation and healing?

8. Herb and Steffie and their relationship? Once a week? Companionship? Needs? The outings? Talking? The sexual relationship? Companionship? Steffie's responsibilities and her family? The proposals and her making Herb make a choice? His decision for Steffie?

9. Ann-Margret's subtle low-key performance as Steffie? Her being in the background? Meeting Libby? Helping her? Paying Herb's debts? Her own family? Her wisdom and experience? Helping Libby and Herb? The end and her confrontation?

10. Libby as a young girl, fearful of ringing her father, hurt, imposing herself, awkward, arguing? Leaving, returning? The drama school? The parking of the cars and the advertising? Relationship with Gordon -questions about sexuality and his respect for her? The significance of her discussions with her father? Her hopes? Rehearsals? Her insight into herself? The decision to return home? Her saying she was in a stage of transition?

11. Themes of family, love, hurts, time, work, failure? Hope?