FORBIDDEN LOVE
US, 1982, 96 minutes, Colour.
Andrew Stevens, Yvette Mimieux.
Directed by Steven Hilliard Stern.
Forbidden Love is an entertainingly glossy telemovie, glamorous soap opera style. It is a story of a man in his 20s falling in love with a divorced woman in her 40s, their affair, the reaction of his parents, her daughter, criticisms, defying conventions, coming to a realisation that they could not commit themselves to each other for a lasting marriage. The material is familiar, often presented (not quite as forbidden as the title seems to suggest).
The film offers an opportunity for Yvette Mimieux to look glamorous, for Andrew Stevens to combine being intellectual as a doctor and to present himself in hunk style.
While the film is glossy, it does offer a popular opportunity for the theme of differences of age to be dramatised and for audiences to reflect on the potential for the success of such marriages and commitments.
There is a strong supporting cast including Dana Elcar and Lyn Carlin as Stevens's parents and veteran actor from many Warner films of the '30s and '40s, Jeffrey Lynn, as the hospital doctor.
1.Entertaining telemovie? Theme of age difference in love and commitment? Designed glossily for the popular audience?
2.Californian locations, the hospital, scenery, affluent mansions? Restaurants, etc? Musical score? Reality/unreality?
3.The title, the focus on the relationship between the two? The emphasis on `forbidden'? The dramatisation of people's antagonistic attitudes?
4.Andrew Stevens as Casey: young, successful doctor, intern? His buddies? Man about town? His chance meeting? Falling in love, meals, meetings? Moving in? The discussions about age difference? The couple seeming a possible pair, both glamorous, going out, society? His not telling his parents, their suddenly turning up, the meal, their walking out, his father's disgust, refusing to talk with him? The phone calls, his going down to discuss with his father, the daughter, her arrival, her mother unable to tell her, her reaction? Nasty behaviour, her change of heart? The continuation of the affair, going to the ballet, the elderly woman with her gigolo, Casey attacking him in the rest room? His having to reconsider, his clothes being bought, the gift of the car, his feeling of being kept? The return, the tension, talking out the differences, the break-up? Did the relationship have a future? Casey as a credible character, credible emotional commitment, being his age (especially with his guests at the party)?
5.Yvette Mimieux as the older woman, still looking glamorous, in society? Her wealth, divorce, love for her daughter? Her love for Casey, the meetings and the meals, her paying, the clothes and the car? The sexual relationship? His moving in? The ballet, the innuendo from the friends? Her not being able to share his tastes, the contrast between the ballet and the disco? The reaction of her daughter? Her pleading? The age difference, 20 years' time? The break-up, the hurt?
6.The parents, conventional attitudes, coming as a surprise, their shock about their son, the house, the father and his anger, leaving, refusing to talk to his son? Accusing him of being a gigolo? His mother and her love for her son, support for her husband?
7.Pam, thinking her mother wanted to marry her off, the discovery of the truth, her attacks on Casey? Talking things over with her father? His more tolerant approach? Her concessions to Casey? Their parting?
8.Casey's friends, work in the hospital, young men, with the nurses, the rowdy party, into the pool? Their innuendo and criticisms of Casey? Greg and his sister at the apartment - and the shock for Casey's parents? Style and behaviour of people in their 20s?
9.The doctor, his concern, Casey's mistakes, his warning him?
10.Populaar characters, soap opera glamour? An important theme being explored - with what depth, for the ordinary television audience?
