OUTSIDE WOMAN

US, 1989, 100 minutes, Colour.
Sharon Gless, Scott Glenn, Max Gail, Peter Michael Gertz.
Directed by Lou Antonio.

Outside Woman is a telemovie based on the real story of a young woman infatuated with a prisoner in a Louisiana jail, who hijacks a helicopter and effects a rescue. Sharon Gless of Cagney and Lacey is quite credible as the young woman. Scott Glenn (The Challenge, The Right Stuff) is the enigmatic and taciturn prisoner. The film offers expected scenes of prison life, of visitors, as well as expected escape sequences. There is a downbeat ending with the group arrested and sentenced to long prison terms.

1. Entertaining telemovie? Based on a true story? Prison, relationships? A piece of Americana?

2. Louisiana locations, the town, the prison? Stunt work and escape sequences? Musical score? The use of music?

3. The portrait of Joyce: the ordinary woman, the lack of meaning in her life, her relationship, infatuation, decision and its consequences?

4. Sharon Gless as Joyce: her work, her friends, humdrum way of life, relief, the choir, enjoyment? The request for visitors for Bible classes? Her not wanting to go, pestered by Junior? Her going, meeting Jesse and talking with him, not involved in the Bible class? Music, taping? Her return, the
effect, the growing involvement? Something new in her life? The routine with the prison guards? The plan, her agreement, the timing? The story about her birthday, hijacking the helicopter, the escape, paying the pilot?

5. The escape, being with Jesse, taking the others, seeing Jesse's wife on television and its effect, her love for Jesse, the relationship, seriousness, foolishness, the fooling around with the group, the excitement? Kidnapping the salesman, being nice to him? Being caught?

6. The trial, Jesse's words in defence of her, their being separated for life? her reply that this would have to do for the rest of her life?

7. Jesse as a type, meeting with Joyce at the prison, friendship, his challenging her, using her, getting to like her, listening to the tapes, interaction, the plan? Bill and his watching, Jimmy? The timing of the escape, interview on
television with his wife, buying the clothes, stealing the cars, the chase, the motel, the fooling around, taking the salesman hostage? Their being captured? The heavy sentence - and his nonchalant response, loyalty to Joyce?

8. Bill and his toughness, watching Jesse, the his violence? On a spree? Jimmy and the background of his murder, the teacher and the photography? His not wanting to go back to prison? The heavy sentences?

9. The pilot and his shock, in the escape?

10. Junior as a member of the choir, nice, friendship with Joyce, lending him her truck? His final wave to her at the prison, her waving back? Joyce's girlfriends and their surprise, at the trial?

11. A true story, focus on characters, the meaning of humdrum lives? The criteria for judging such people?