FLESH AND BONE

US, 1993, 127 minutes, Colour.
Dennis Quaid, James Caan, Meg Ryan, Gwyneth Paltrow, Scott Wilson, Christopher Rydell.
Directed by Steve Kloves.

Flesh and Bone is a strong drama, made with then real-life husband and wife Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan (who had appeared together in DOA as well as Inner Space. The film also stars James Caan in a sinister role and one of the earliest performances by Gwyneth Paltrow.

The film focuses on a man who has murdered a whole family and the fact that his son wants to marry the sole survivor of that massacre. He, of course, is concerned whether she will recognise him.

The drama is played out quite intensely, the domination of James Caan and the interactions of his son an prospective daughter-in-law. The film was written by Steve Kloves, who had written and directed The Fabulous Baker Boys.

1.A Texas drama? Universal? Themes of responsibility and fate? Coincidence and chance?

2.The Texas settings, the '60s and the '90s, the home, the roads, the town, the motels and clubs, the world of vending machines and sales? The musical score?

3.The title: Arliss and his father, physical links, moral links? The influence on each other? Kay and her parents? Reality, memory, the unknown?

4.The prologue and its impact: the ordinary family, kindly, the boy sitting on the swing, the family taking him in, giving him a meal, a bed to sleep? His watchfulness, the betrayal, his father and himself and the stealing, disturbing the young boy? The father's violence, the killing of the boy? Its effect on Arliss?

5.The superimposition of the older Arliss on the boy? His age, haunted, in himself? The impact of his father? His work and the selling of the machines, checking on them, taking orders, seeing his clients? His truck, the roads, the town? His dealing with the ex-convict friend - and the suspicions of his cheating him? Seeing Ginny steal in the shop, the coincidence of seeing her again? His ability and inability to relate to others? The woman and the sexual relationship? His detachment? His watching the celebration, the cake, Kay and her drinking and her collapse?

6.The decision to help Kay, being attracted by her? Seeing her onto the bus, her long story? Her not going, his giving her a lift? The relationship, drawn to her? Going to her home, the dramatic encounter with Rhys, the gun? Helping her leave? His seeing Ginny and the coincidences of her stealing and reappearing? The motel room, Kay and her dressing up? The bond between the two? Ginny coming in the rain, taking him to his father, removing the buckshot from his father? His helping him - because they were flesh and bone?

7.Arliss seeing the photo, his realisation of who Kay was, his harshness in breaking the relationship and not explaining things to her? His departure, the phone call, Kay gone with his father? His being lured to the house, his going, walking around with Kay, knowing the details, especially of her room and where she slept? Sending her out, the confrontation with his father, his being taunted, killing him? Leaving him - and the future, by himself, fate?

8.Kay and her drinking, appearing from the cake, the collapse? Not going on the bus, the lift from Arliss? Ginny robbing her? The confrontation with Rhys, the story of her adoptive parents, Rhys and his gambling? The break-up? Staying with Arliss, her clothes, the dress? Giving Ginny her clothes? Love for Arliss, hopes for a future? Ginny's arrival, the father and his wounds? Caught up in the mystery? Arliss and his being abrupt, leaving? Her going with the father, the mystery of the house, wondering where she had slept, the photo of her mother, the reality of her story? Walking in the corn with Ginny? The shot? Recovering her past - the possibility of a future?

9.Arliss's father, sinister, using the boy as a decoy, the stealing, the shooting, the ruthless killing of the boy? His cruelty, especially to his son? Taking up with Ginny, using her? His being shot, wanting help from his son, using the relationship? Sense of menace? The photo? His comments on not leaving loose ends? Taking Kay to the house, the confrontation with Arliss, not dreaming that his son would shoot him? A portrait of evil?

10.Ginny, her reverencing the corpse and robbing him in the church? Shoplifting? Taking the $20 from Kay? The car? The irony of meeting Kay again and Ginny's recognising her? Taking up with Arliss's father? Helping him when he was shot, her being used, sharing the dresses with Kay, her going with Arliss, taking him to the house? Going walking in the corn with Kay? Her finally robbing Arliss's father of his watch?

11.Rhys, the background of his gambling, the marriage with Kay, the hard life, selling the house, the furniture? The people coming to collect it? The violence towards Kay? Her leaving him?

12.The ex-convict and the selling of the vending machines, accused of cheating, his explanation of his background and the trust to Arliss? Arliss trusting him?

13.The people of Texas, the bars, the motels, the cellars? A blend of realistic and symbolic drama?