INTIMATE AGONY
US, 1983, 95 minutes, Colour.
Penny Fuller, Anthony Geary, Mark Harmon, Arthur Hill, Judith Light, Brian Kerwin, Robert Vaughn.
Directed by Paul Wendkos.
Intimate Agony is one of many telemovies coming from the United States in the '70s and '80s which highlight social problems. The Americans have used the telemovie as a device for social consciousness-raising - taking a headline issue, an issue of social concern, especially one about which people are reticent, and relationship, in the television, even soap-opera, style.
The subject of this film is herpes - people's ignorance above it, the infectious nature of herpes, the dire consequences as well as the ways of coping with it. The film uses the device of a tourist resort and people being infected - and uses echoes of Jaws where the entrepreneur feels that business must succeed - while he neglects his family and underestimates the spread of the disease.
With this familiar material, audiences are able to watch, begin to identity, learn about social issues which they would otherwise be ignorant of. This means that the screenplays are often contrived - but indicate that this is an excellent way of informing as well as dramatically entertaining the public.
1. The focus of the film on herpes? The need for this kind of telemovie? An important social concern - dramatised for the television audience? Geared for this audience identification and acceptability?
2. The American style - the tourist island, the focus on medicine (the realm of the soap opera), the range of people (American style, television style)? The editing and pace, the dramatics, the laughter and tears - to obtain full audience response?
3. The title - indicating the result of herpes, the psychological and personal consequences? As dramatised by the various groups in the film?
4. The basic situation: the tourist island, the development interests, the range of people on staff, tourists? The medical practice? The hero coming to take the local doctor's place and causing upset? The clash of personal interests with financial interests? The pigheadedness of the wealthy father in not listening to his daughter? The mutual agonies of people in and out of relationships? Familiar relationships?
5. The focus on Kyle as hero? His arrival, friendship with Steve, the incidence of herpes and his knowing it? His background as outspoken? His meeting the patients, discovering the presence of more herpes, the newspaper interview, the decision to set up the clinic? The clash with Steve on his return? David Fairmont and his reaction? Kyle's friendship with him - and the reality of his having herpes? Advice? His relationships, the encounter with Marsha, her resistance, the outings, visiting her home, her child? Her support in his quest? The holding of the meeting - and the truth about Katie, the success of the meeting - and a positive outlook on herpes support groups? A credible doctor hero?
6. The Fairmonts: David Fairmont as the business executive, relentless, his arrogance? Relationship with Steve and his investment? His neglect of his wife? His not accepting his daughter's growing up? Her attempt to talk with him and his inability to hear her? His-resentment about the news of herpes? Katie and her contracting the disease, her being ashamed, moodiness, talking to Lisa and Lisa's inability to help her? The hurt? Lisa's reconciliation? Katie wanting to talk to her father and his unwillingness to listen, her smashing her room? Her mother reading her private letter, the talk between mother and daughter, her mother not wanting to touch her? Katie going to the meeting, her-father discovering the truth? Her mother coming and holding her hand? Family reconciliation?
7. Nick and his contracting of herpes, the relationship, his inability to tell his wife, his false name at the doctor's? His relationship with his wife, her pregnancy, tension? Their relationship and his communicating the disease? Her labour, the child infected and dying? His meeting her in hospital, her rejecting him? The dramatising of the consequences - and as powerful within the context of this telemovie?
8. Tommy as the tennis pro, coaching, relationships with women, his discovery of herpes, feeling it was the end of his life, Kyle's explanation and support? The friendship with Lauren - and her friendship with him irrespective of disease? His ability to calm down, re-assess his life and relationships?
9. Steve as doctor, investment in the resort, his going on holidays, his concealing of the truth, his anger with Kyle, the information about the disease, the dead baby, his change of heart?
10. The background details of affluent America, the styles of the wealthy, the tourist resorts, the staff, tennis coaching, bars and dances, socials? Relationships? Permissiveness?
11. How well aid the film dramatise and explain herpes, the communication of the disease, its effect on people's lives, the possible consequences?
