METEOR
US, 1979, 103 minutes, Colour.
Sean Connery, Natalie Wood, Brian Keith, Henry Fonda, Martin Landau, Trevor Howard, Richard Dysart.
Directed by Ronald Neame.
Meteor contains fairly straightforward disaster material (still alive after so many films) and includes an avalanche and tidal wave as well as the menacing meteor. With its pre-credits scientific explanations, the film capitalises on space trends and interests. It also has some pertinent US - USSR collaboration (with Henry Fonda as President, reminiscent of Failsafe) and some cynical reminders of hypocrisy and diplomacy in international politics. Sean Connery is a stern Hero and Natalie Wood glamorously wooden as a Russian interpreter. Brian Keith is excellent as Connery’s very genial Russian counterpart (speaking only Russian). How plausible it is and whether nuclear devices are needed for protection from meteors, who knows!
1. Popularity of the disaster films in the 70s? Audience interest in participation in disasters? their magnitude, effect on the world? Threat and menace? Coping psychologically, technologically? The range of disasters? This film in connection with the space exploration and adventure trend?
2 How enjoyable was the film? Its stars? The initial explanation about meteors and outer space? Contemporary interest? The nature of the threat, the structure of the seven days and the building of suspense? The way that the Americans had to cope, collaboration with the Russians? Politics, international diplomacy (and hypocrisy)? The incidental disasters, the risks? The ultimate victory? The use of nuclear weapons to avert disaster?
3. The focus of the title and the pre-credit sequences, the visual impact of the meteor? The vastness of the impending disaster, the size of the splinters, an act of nature? The possibility of protection against such disasters? The information given at the end?
4. The introduction to Paul Bradley, the personality of Sean Connery and his sturdy ability? On the yacht, the abrupt taking off to Houston, to Washington?' His manner, his rather sour attitude towards NASA? Separation from his wife? His objections to nuclear warfare use of his project? His reaction to information about the disaster, his competence, the discussions about his taking charge, his impatience at meetings? His ability to avert the disaster?
5. Karl Malden as the NASA man? friendship, power of persuasion, his tactics with the President, with the General in charge? Friendship with Bradley? Liaison with the Russians? His ability with the missiles? His presence at the end and the disaster in the subway? The vindication in the finale?
6. The picture of the American General and his Hawk attitude? His anger at the takeover, the President's treatment of him? His protests, disruptive behaviour, his final apology, his being killed?
7. Henry Fonda as the President, his responsibilities, his strategy, his speeches on the television and making hypocrisy serve diplomacy? His words to the nation?
8. The Russian reaction, the similarities to the American diplomacy, having their own missiles, the way they were forced to admit this? The decisions for collaboration?
9. Brian Keith as the Russian scientist? His jovial personality, the constant translation from the Russian? His reactions, friendship with Bradley, collaboration, success?
10. Natalie Wood as the interpreter? Her rather wooden personality, Russian style? Her work, the amount of translation? Formal manner, bending with the human western touch? Her sharing in the disaster? The end and her possible return?
11. The focus on technology, the missiles and their abilities, their being turned towards the meteor, the way they were fired, their travelling and explosion? Somebody remarked that audiences should say "God bless the bomb!"
12. The screenplay and its treatment of the threat, the days and the times, the visuals of the pieces over Pisa and the panic in Italy, the splinter striking the snow in Switzerland and the avalanche and the engulfing of the tourists, the warning about the tidal wave in Hong Kong - the magnitude of the wave, the people fleeing the streets, the disaster?
13. The British connection and the information given, the threat to New York, the striking of New York and such large destruction? The cave-in and the, scientists trapped below, their means of escape, those who died, the ooze and sludge from the river and its covering the people, the train, the subway and the final rescue?
14. The intercutting of the missile sequences and the meteor coming towards Earth, the final collision success?
15. The happy ending - international collaboration, the satisfying human touch, the end with excitement? Satisfactory for this kind of entertaining disaster film? How plausible was the plot, how realistic, how much fantasy?
