LIPSTICK

US, 1976, 90 minutes, Colour.
Margaux Hemingway, Chris Sarandon, Anne Bancroft, Mariel Hemingway, Perry King.
Directed by Lamont Johnson.

Lipstick has many interesting details and strong themes, opening forcefully but the ending is too hurried and contrived. The film offers a feminist viewpoint on rape and savagely attacks the indignity plaintiffs suffer and the legal ease with which a rapist can escape justice. The vigilante violence here is emotionally understandable though morally questionable. The film's value lies in probing the sex-appeal world of advertising and the effect on the model as she poses and on men affected and frustrated by it. Margaux Hemingway, well-known as a model, gives authority to her role. Chris Sarandon is an ambiguous rapist, Anne Bancroft is strong as a lawyer.

1. A interesting film, entertaining? Significant about a personal and social issue? Its point of view, its campaign about women as rape victims, American justice? An intellectual response to the film's themes and treatment, emotive response? Justice?

2. The presentation of the issues visually, thematically? A valid and valuable presentation? Exploitive?

3. The structure of the film: the build-up of Chris' reputation as a model, the world of commercial advertising and its values, her approach to life and the setting for Cordon Stuart's introduction? The build-up to the rape? The transition in mod to the court case and the proceedings? The third segment with the resumption of work, the change of mod, the coincidence for the rape of the sister. The epilogue with violence and Carla Bondi's statement from Darrow about justice?

4. The technical aspects of the film: the use of colour photography, the world of fashion and photography, models? The use of the various locations - the studio and the open air, the affluent world of apartments? The contrast with the convent? The many scenes in the court room and offices? The contrast with the final building, a theatrical atmosphere, the corridors and their sinister overtones, the culmination in the parking lot? 20th. century buildings and environment? An authentic atmosphere? California?

5. The glossy atmosphere of commercial advertising, the jargon of the photographers,, the aspects of the model's behaviour, movement, music, clothes? American, universal?

6. Margaux Hemingway in the central role? Her acting ability? Her appearance, style as a model? A model in real life? The examination of her behaviour, attitudes when modelling, the purpose of modelling and advertising? The linking of this with sexual response in men and women, the culmination in rape? Presenting these themes to judicial inquiry in a court setting? The repercussions of violence?

7. The film's considerations of advertising – pro and con? The sex appeal in so much advertising? The effect for men, for women? As explained especially in the court case? The focus on lipstick and the close-up of lips, the photos, the association with sexual postures and attitudes? The various posters, billboards, the lipstick uglily used at times as a symbol? The significance of the detailed court discussion about images?

8. The impact of the opening, the collage of modelling work, its suggestive overtones and their later use?

9. Audience sympathy for Chris? A pleasant woman, to some extent naive, her love for Steve? Her skill at her work, her style? Her attitudes towards sexuality as explained in the court, her own personal life and sexual relationships? The significance of her Catholic background for moral purposes, injunctions and laws, traditions? Her brother the priest? Her skill at her work, her politeness especially to Cordon? Seeing her on location, her meeting of Cordon, her sexual attitudes on the rocks, the shower during Cordon's visit? Was the build-up to the pre-rape sequence credible and suggestive enough to help the audience understand Stuart's attitudes?

10. The introduction of Gordon Stuart? Kathy, her favourite teacher, his music, his skill, his arrival and the voyeur overtones of his looking at Chris modelling? The opportunity to associate with Chris for his own advancement? His taking the music to her apartment, his attempts to play it and her indifferent reactions, her having forgotten that he was coming and his being hurt by this, his being hurt by her lack of interest, the phone call? His being provoked, becoming cruder, violent? The music and its significant title, 'The Furies'?

11. How persuasively and violently was the rape presented? The time given to it, the smashing, the tearing of clothes, the ugly smearing of the lipstick and the blame on it and its provocation, the tying up of Chris, Stuart's comments against her, the intimidations of sexual abuse? A man's response to this rape sequence, a woman's response? The importance of this sequence being persuasive for the subsequent court case?

12. Kathy as an attractive teenager, her love for her sister, her interest in Mr. Stuart, her being the cause of Stuart's coming and of the rape, her feelings of guilt, her return and not doing anything about Chris in the bedroom, the way that this was used later in the court?

13. The two sisters and their bonds, sharing the hurt,' the explanations to the police and the doctors? The mutual support throughout the ordeal to come?

14. The introduction to Mrs. Bondi? A strong-minded woman, a skilful lawyer, definite feminist views? The impact that she made on the audience ? sympathetic or not? Promoting a cause and justice? Her having the last word of the film? Mrs. Bond's explanation of the issues, her sympathy for Chris, her putting her through all the stresses? Testing her out with ugly questions? Her giving of statistics about rape and the acquittal of rapists?

15. Chris going to see her brother, Kathy staying at the convent and the overtones of this background? Her brother and his sympathetic understanding, his supporting her in her anger? Steve and his role in Chris' life, as part of the advertising business, his being part of the exploiters of her sexuality, his support of her in the court case, his reaction to Mrs. Bondi's testing her out?

16. The build-up of the court sequence? The various witnesses, cross-examinations, the insinuations, proof? The importance of the discussion about sexuality and attitudes? The posters, the photos? The personal attack on Chris? Her having to explain her interior images and motivations during advertising and photographic sessions? Stuart and his suave personality? The playing of the music and its being open to ridicule? The various outbursts and Stuart's protesting his innocence? The violence of Chris' reaction - preparing us for the end? The skill of the two counsels? The role of the judge?

17. The significance of the glimpses of Chris and Stuart overnight? Chris' anxiety, Stuart and his playing of his music? taking up again earlier sequences where he recorded the sounds and orchestrated them?

18. The role of the press, sensationalising the issues, the verdict and people's reaction, the attempts to leave the court house?

19. The aftermath of the case for Chris and Kathy? For Mrs. Bondi? The seeming injustice and audience response to this?

20. Chris and her decision to go back to work? People's ambiguous attitudes towards her? Seeing her as victim or as seductress? Her inability to concentrate on her work? The importance of the planned hunting holiday, the work sessions and her resuming her old career - in the light of the court case examination?

21. Kathy and her presence, the ominous wandering of the building, the encounter with Stuart, his reinstatement? The rehearsal? His luring her on, the heart-beat sounds, her awareness that all was not well, the rape and its understated presentation?

22. Was it credible that Stuart would rape Kathy? Psychologically, traumatically? His smugness, her disillusionment and returning to Chris' session?

23. The importance of Stuart's reinstatement, the fact that he was working for a nuns' school, the nuns congratulating him, his rehearsals of the music?

24. His smugness and self-satisfaction? A man's response to these final sequences, a woman's?

25. How credible was Chris' anger, the getting of the rifle, the shooting?

26. The final statement about the court case, the acquittal, Darrow's comments about justice and its administration?

27. How well presented were themes of law and order, justice, individual retribution? Problems of the 20th. century and legality and morality?

28. Rape as a fact, statistics, women victims, men aggressors, the criminal aspects of rape, social justice and its administration?

29. How well did the film explore sexual issues, advertising, the sexual atmosphere of the contemporary world?

30. The focus on individual rights and their assertion and protection?