THE SECRET LIFE OF JOHN CHAPMAN

US, 1976, 75 minutes, Colour.
Ralph Waite, Susan Anspach, Pat Hingle, Brad Davis.
Directed by David Lowell Rich.

The Secret Life of John Chapman is a brief but effective telemovie from the mid-'70s. However, its theme and message have proved relevant in subsequent decades, especially in times of recession and unemployment.

It is based on a prominent book of the period, Blue Collar Journal. The head of a Pennsylvania college decided to take sabbatical leave, to go out and work with his hands - and he works on the laying of drainage and sewerage pipes as well as working in a diner. The dilemma is: is this genuine or is he playing at working while having the security of credit cards and a bank balance. This question is not entirely resolved but is well explored. It is raised by the professor's son, playing by Brad Davis, who wants to drop out of school and work with his hands. The father has double standards for his son and for himself.

Ralph Waite is very good and credible as the professor. Susan Anspatch has a very good role as Wilma, the waitress at the diner with whom the professor has an affair. The supporting cast includes Pat Hingle as the manager of the pipe-laying business.

The film raises questions about academia, ordinary life, hard work, pressures, education. It is worth seeing and discussing.

1. Interesting and effective telemovie? Portrait of people? Real situations and dilemmas?

2. The Pennsylvania background? College, homes? John Chapman and his journey - to working sites, to Washington and diners? The authentic feel of the locations? The strong cast? Musical score?

3. The title - and the contrast with Blue Collar Journal? The suggestive tone of the title? The focus on John Chapman, his training, his relationship with his father, his being ashamed of his father, his bettering himself? Marriage, pressure on his children? His own secret yearnings to test himself as a human being, as a man, as a worker?

4. John Chapman's journey: seeing him come back from his holiday and the reaction of the man at the gas station when he changes his clothes? His strong stances at college meetings? Money-raising? Clashes with other members of the board? Clashes with Andy and his demands about his going to school? Meredith and her staying home to look after her father, the possibility of her going on a scholarship to Germany? The memory of his dead wife? His decision to take the sabbatical while it was possible? His wanting to learn about himself? His going off, the exhilaration and freedom, driving, meals? His application for jobs? His being rejected? His encounter with Gus, going to work, the laying of the pipes, the calluses on the hands, the hard work? Gus and his criticisms of the young man (and the irony of his turning out to be his son and being loved by his father and taking over from his father)? The friendships made? The discussions in the hotel, Chapman being articulate about initiatives and people's rights and their wanting to elect him union rep? His decision to move on? Working at washing up - and finding it difficult, getting the sack? His diary entries and his observations? His meeting with Andy, their discussion, Andy's reaction, their clash? Andy's challenge as to whether he was pretending? Being able to use his credit card? The work in the diner, the boss and his taking him on, the cook covering for him? The tension, the speed, being upset at wrong orders? Meeting Wilma, friendships, dating, the growing friendship and talk? His not telling her the full truth? The affair and its impact on him? Wilma and her interrogation, her emotional response and feeling that she was being used? The break-up of the affair? Meredith coming to Washington, her decision to go to Germany? His delight? His going to see Andy and finding him satisfied with his work making the musical instruments? His apprehension when the professor came to eat in the diner? His decision to return, to do his work well? The effect of the sabbatical?

5. Andy, the rebellious young man of the '70s, his father's expectations? John Chapman's discussion about his own relationship with his father and being ashamed? His severe attitudes towards his son and expectations? Their clashes? Finally seeing Andy satisfied, his love for his son? Meredith, at home? Not able to stand on her own feet? His encouraging her, glad that she would go to Germany?

6. Gus, the burly worker, his manner, bossing people around, the implied humour with his son rebelling against him and yet his father loving him? The other workers? Social needs - and their being inarticulate to stand on their rights?

7. Wilma, her background, relationships? Personality, working in the diner? Her response to John? Out, dancing? The sexual relationship? Her love, self-giving? The mystery of John, the strongly emotional sequences when she discovered the truth, being hurt?
8. The background of the university, college, academics, money-raisers, bureaucrats?

9. The contrast with the workers, the people in the diner?

10. The mid-life crisis, people taking stock of their lives, a chance to do the opposite, developing the other side of their personality, the repercussions for their lives?