HOW SWEET IT IS

US, 1968, 95 minutes, Colour.
James Garner, Debbie Reynolds, Maurice Ronet, Terry- Thomas, Paul Lynde, Marcel Dalio, Hilarie Thompson.
Directed by Jerry Paris.

How Sweet it Is is a conventional American comedy, typical of the late 60s with the emphasis on the generation gap and the moral tones of the time and the problems with parents. Filmed in Panavision and colour, with French locations, there in an exuberant Debbie Reynolds and a usual James Garner. It is a variation of the sixties on the naive Americans abroad In Europe. Direction is by Jerry Paris, former actor turned director of many television series and telemovies.

1. The quality of the film as an American comedy, the focus on families, the ambiguities of sex? The portrait of American innocents abroad in Europe?

2. The contribution of colour, European locations? The impact of the stars? Special effects, for example, the photographing of the Mona Lisa collage? The importance of the breezy style?

3. The meaning of the title, its focus on the characters?

4. The picturing of the conventional American family? Traditions of morality, behaviour, influence of mother, of father, children growing up and talking? The repercussions of growing ?up in the sixties? The teenagers' need for independence? The teenagers and their ability to cope with relationships? For example, David discussing with his father, ordering his drinks?

5. The focus on sex? for humour, for ambiguous comedy? The significance of the opening with the parents in bed and the mysterious arrival with the knife? Audience expectations and presuppositions? The portrait of the husband and wife and their sexual relationship, the humour of the predicament on the ship? Jealousies and the ambiguity of Philippe's presence and the reaction of the husband? The contrast with the younger generation?

6. The basic family situation, the opening discussions, mother wheeler-dealing for protecting her son etc.?

7. The humour of the swindle about the house, the presence of Terry Thomas in this role? An indication of the naivety of the Americans?

8. The humour of the voyage? The purser and his snarling? His ironic comments on the passengers and their behaviour? Husband and wife making the mistakes and becoming the victim of his critique especially with the life?boat?

9. Debbie Reynolds' style as the mother with a teenage son? Her capacity for making mistakes? Protective? Her vanity with her age and her appearance? The encounter with Philippe and the reaction? Her fidelity to her husband? Her reaction to his attack? The fight, the bus chant, the happy reconciliation? The conventional material of suspicion and the fling in Europe?

10. James Garner and his style as the husband? His work, trips, relationship with his wife? His work on the tour, the taking of the photos, his jealousy, his punching Philippe in the pool, the driving of the bus, the fight with his wife, the arrest, the happy ending?

11. The picture of the younger generation: David and his coping, Bootsie and her love for David and her going out with other boys, the precocious young girls on the trip? The contrast with the guide of the tour and her presence as a foil for the wife's jealousy?

12. How enjoyable a conventional comedy, how does this kind of comedy hold a mirror up to ordinary people and their ordinary behaviour? How much insight?