SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE
US, 1993, 105 minutes, Colour.
Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Bill Pullman, Ross Malinger, Rosie O'Donnell, Gaby Hoffman, Victor Garber, Rita Wilson, Rob Reiner.
Directed by Nora Ephron.
Sleepless in Seattle is one of the surprise hits of 1993, an extraordinary box office success in the U.S. and throughout the world. It was said to be a counter balance to the big budget special effects films like Jurassic Park and Last Action Hero. However, it is a classic comedy, relying on a musical score full of old favourites from the 50s, takes the romantic theme from An Affair to Remember and works in parallels to the events in that film, kindling audience expectations for a romantic ending.
There is also a very funny sequence where Rita Wilson explains why women like An Affair to Remember and Rob Reiner and Tom Hanks joke about crying at the end of The Dirty Dozen.
Tom Hanks is very good as the widower with a young son who moves from Chicago to settle in Seattle. Ross Malinger is also very good as the son who rings a radio talkback program to give information about his father's need for some companionship. Meg Ryan responds from Baltimore.
The film has a lot of funny sequences and dialogue, written by Norah Ephron (who wrote screenplays for Silkwood and Cookie and the autobiographical Heartburn) as well as When Harry met Sally (directed by Rob Reiner and starring Meg Ryan). She also directed This is my Life.
The film has a great deal of sentiment, is attractive to older audiences who identify with the characters and their needs and love.
1. Box office appeal of the film? Critical success?
2. The work of Norah Ephron, her writing, direction, female perspective?
3. Colour photography, Seattle, Baltimore, Chicago - by classic photographer, Sven Nykvist? The computer map
highlighting the cities and their distances?
4. The musical score, the wide range of songs, atmosphere? Jimmy Durante starting with As Time Goes By, and leading to a catalogue of popular romantic songs?
5. The parallels with Leo McCarey's An Affair to Remember (based on his 1939 film Love Story)? The characters watching episodes from it, the atmosphere of the film, the cast? Crying? Norah Ephron's using parallels in her screenplay?
6. Tom Hanks as Sam, his screen presence, style? Serious and humorous? Love for his wife (and the flashbacks)? Her death, missing her? Care of Jonah? His work, decision to move away from everything and go to Seattle?
7. The title, the reference to Seattle, the pros and cons of living in Seattle, pleasant, rainy? The humour? His work place, making friends, yet his isolation?
8. Jonah, living in the bungalow, the father and son relationship? His age, the decision to ring the radio show, his conversation with the doctor? The tone of the conversation, his telling Sam, Sam's reaction and being against it, trapped into talking on the phone? His revelation of himself? The tone of the doctor – both serious as well as the film giving some send-up of this kind of communication? The Christmas setting?
9. The contrast with Annie in Baltimore, her work for the paper, her relationship with Walter, the engagement at the Christmas dinner, her parents reaction?
10. Walter as a pleasant man, in love with Annie, his allergies and the comic reaction? The night sequences?
11. Annie talking with her mother, the focus on romance, magic in love? Her driving, listening to the talk back show, hearing Sam's voice, attracted to it? Her continuing to listen? Discussions with Becky? Her growing obsession and decision to pursue, access to files, the private investigator, writing the romantic letter for Valentine's day and using An Affair to Remember, throwing the letter away? The decision to go to Seattle, the flight, her compulsiveness? The encounter with Sam and Jonah, seeing them, the inter-change, she knowing, their not knowing? Her return and the decision to go ahead with the wedding to Walter?
12. Sam and his decision to date, the relationship with Victoria? The outings, Victoria at home? The screen-play highlighting her unattractive qualities - and the audience sharing Jonah's dislike of her? Jonah being cantankerous and trying to get rid of her?
13. Sam and his friendship with Jay, Jay's advice? The friendship with Susie? The meals - and the discussion about An Affair to Remember and crying at The Dirty Dozen?
14. The enormous number of letters coming in, Sam and Jonah reading them, the humour of the letters, throwing them out?
15. Becky and Annie, An Affair to Remember and their tears, Becky finding the letter and sending it on, urging Annie on for a romance?
16. Jonah finding Annie's letter, liking it? His writing an answer to her? Telling his father, Sam's refusal? Jonah and his decision to run away to New York and getting the flight? Sam search and following him?
17. New York and St. Valentine's day, Annie and Walter together, the meal, Annie telling him the truth about the magic, Walter being a gentleman and withdrawing?
18. Jonah going to the Empire State Building, looking for Annie, Sam finding him,
