MADE FOR EACH OTHER

US, 1971, 100 minutes, Colour.
Renee Taylor, Joseph Bologna, Paul Sorvino, Olympia Dukakis.
Directed by Robert B. Bean.

Made for Each Other is the work of husband and wife team Renee Taylor and Joseph Bologna. They had written the play, Lovers and Other Strangers and received an Oscar nomination for their screen adaptation. They worked together for many years including It Had To Be You (1989).

The film has a strong Jewish background with Renee Taylor as Pandora and an Italian background Joseph Bologna as Giggy Pimimba. The film is in the vein of the emphasis on therapy in the late 60s and early 1970s with the couple meeting at a session, falling in love, having reservations – but eventually committed to each other. (Taylor and Bologna were married in 1965 and continued their long marriage for many decades.)

The film is very much in the language and atmosphere of the period – however, it is an interesting and humorous look at individuals, people thinking they are misfits, people falling in love. Joseph Bologna made his film debut with Made for Each Other and continued for many decades as a screen actor. Renee Taylor also continued her career – but is probably best known around the world for the 92 episodes of The Nanny, playing Fran Dreschler’s mother.

I. The significance of the title and the credits splitting of the title? The semi-autobiographical nature of the film, by the stars, based on their own experience, the fact that they wrote the screenplay? The impact of truth, by exaggeration, unreality?

2. The importance of the pre-credits sequences? The similarities of conception, birth? The implications for the two children? The similarities and contrasts of the parents? The Jewish background? Astrology, philandering husband? The Italians and their attitude towards sexuality and family? The moving from this into the credits and the wandering of the two stars? The atmosphere of the thirties, the influence on these characters via their parents, arriving in the seventies?

3. The quality of the performances and their conviction? The semi autobiographical background?

4. The influence of the New York locations, the modern aspects of life in the complex world, the life in the city? The use of the New York locations for e.g. homes and streets, night clubs, the harbour?

5. The ironical nature of the film and its exploration of relationships? How much was it overdrawn? For purpose of satire and comedy? How much truth told in an overdrawn portrait? How particularly American the portrait? American extroversion and wearing its heart on its sleeve emotionally?

6. The background of group therapy? The laughs and satire at the running of the groups and its imposition on people? The membership, their comments on themselves, their psychological worries, the amount of money they paid? Gig and his reluctance to participate? Panda and her participation? The doctors running the group? The analysis and motivations, behaviour, needs and therapy? The leaders and thetr later refusal to help Panda? The comments being made on this kind of therapy its use and abuse?

7. How likeable a character and heroine was Pandora? her explanation of herself at the group? Her imposing herself and dominance? Yet the significance of the flashbacks, the memory of her birth, the building up of her girlhood in order to be a star, the despising of her father, his always going out? The superstitions of her mother and her disappointment in her husband? The significance of the party and the gift of money for the brassiere? Panda, the pictures and imitating Rita Hayworth? The various people she lived with, the Chinese artist, the homosexual dancer, the Welsh actor and his living with two women? The background of her being mixed up - how did all this background influence her? Audience interest and sympathy?

8. The nature of her character: impulsive, unstable, the accuracies of her analysis of it?

9. Gig and his participation in the group? His reluctance, his being over bearing, his voicing his opinion? His worry about the would-be suicide? The memories of his life, his boyhood and the Italian background, his religious mother and as a fanaticism about sexuality, his going to the seminary and sexuality and the seduction of the cleaning lady, his expulsion? His experience in the marines and his reluctance to kill people? His late development and wildness as a university student? his graduating and his studies of racism ( his father’s attitude to this?) His work as a barber? The attitude of his mother and father to him and his failure? His relationship with women and his guilt about this? His breakdown at the encounter group and the people comforting him?

10. The nature of the first entounter, the speedy sexual encounter, the satire?

11. The wisdom of living together? The eccentricities of both? The revelation of character in regard to the other? The sexual fulfilment, especially for Panda? Her relating of this to her mother?

12. Panda's achievement in the cabaret? The cheap burlesque act? Her rehearsals for it, her out of key performance and the pathos of this comedy, her mother's reaction, the manager of the burlesque, Gig's reaction and his wanting to tell her the truth?

13. The impact of the truth on Panda? her being hurt? Her fighting Gig? Her rehearsing to try to improve it, and yet not realising the truth of how bad it was ? The insight into Panda's inadequacy?

14. A visit to Gig's family? The clashes, the revelation of the truth? The reaction of the family, especially the mother in her horror? The father then warning Gig about Panda?

15. The desperation of their fighting, the love-hate relationship, the proposal?

16. How would this marriage succeed? Did it have real possibilities? Did they know each other well enough, their inadequacies in order to marry?

17. The insight into men and women and their relationships? Insights into love, sexuality, communication, fulfilment? how valuable was the exploration of these via comedy?