THE IMPOSSIBLE YEARS
US, 1968, 92 minutes, Colour.
David Niven, Lola Albright, Chad Everett, Ozzie Nelson, Christina Ferrare.
Directed by Michael Gordon.
The Impossible Years is based on a play of the late 60s, echoing the protest of the time, the move for freedom, protests and the difficulties of parents in working with their children. This offers the conventional story of the psychiatrist who is unable to work with his own family. The film is certainly of its period - seeming somewhat dated now. However, it is carried by the usual performance by David Niven. The film reminds of what it was like in the late 60s - and least according to Hollywood and popular comedy. The direction is by Michael Gordon whose films range from Cyrano de Bergerac to Pillow Talk to I Can Get it for You Wholesale.
1. Entertaining family comedy and problems of the late 60s? Based on a stage play and popular hit?
2. California locations, the university, the protests and demonstrations of the late 60s? Wide screen photography? musical score and theme song?
3. The title, for adolescents, for parents?
4. The 60s, the movements for freedom of speech and expression, the Vietnam war and protest? The Hippy movement? The effect on youngsters, universities? The effect on parents and their trying to cope? A humorous interpretation of these times?
5. David Niven as the psychiatrist: his lectures, watching the demonstrators, his pride in his own family, his love for his wife (and echoes of touches of permissiveness in the past?) The news about his daughter, her placard and the word? jail, standing on his dignity, the clashes with his daughters? His relationship with his wife, support and understanding - and her support in his drinking? The clashes with Linda, his angers, refusing her permission to go out, the car? Her untidy room? His clashes with Freddie and the other boys? His writing his-books, best sellers, liaison with Richard and their clashes? Linda and her holiday, return home and the change? The news of her pregnancy? His angry reactions, the boys and psychologising them? The underlying theme of his wanting to be head of the psychiatry wing, the interviews, the party, the painting, the chancellor and the pool? His)drinking and further exasperation? Finding’ out the truth, his angers? The happy ending with his getting the job, reconciling with Richard, understanding Linda? And the prospect of Abby and the whole thing starting again? The conventional presentation of this kind of parent?
6. Alice, the typical mother of the 60s, love for her daughters, concern, support of her husband? Puzzled by Linda, hurt by the marriage, her taunts about becoming old?
7. Linda, the teen-ager of the late 60s, protesting, at high school? Too old and yet too young? Flirting with Freddie with the other boys, posing for the picture - and her defence of herself? The clashes at home, her room? Her going on the holiday, changed when she returned, more demure and tidy~? The party and the portrait? Confiding in her sister, the secret uncovered? The identity of her husband, the bond with him? Her age, understanding herself, her parents? The sketch of her sister, age, clashes with Linda, the process starting again?
8. Freddy and the other boys, the caricature of the sex mad teenagers, the bearded artist? The times, holidays, the beach party atmosphere? Holidays on Catalina? Freddy and his father - and his hypochondria? Jonathan and his forbidding Linda
to see Freddy? The other boys at the party? The characters of the other two men and possible husbands for Linda? The interrogation - and the humour of the painting, the cars interlocking?
9. Richard, the suave young academic, his relationship with the professor, correcting his work, the plausibility of his being in love with Linda and marrying her?
10. The academic background, the dean and his promoting Jonathan, caution about Linda's protests? The chancellor and the party - hit over the head and falling into the pool?
11. Popular comedy of its time?
