A LITTLE ROMANCE
US, 1979, 109 minutes, Colour.
Laurence Olivier, Diane Lane, Arthur Hill, Sally Kellerman, Broderick Crawford, David Dukes.
Directed by George Roy Hill.
Romeo and Juliet were teenagers (and our couple visits Verona) and young romance has always charmed. Two youngsters (the very talented U.S. Diane Lane and the French Theloneous Bernard) experience an innocent puppy-love in Paris and, under the conman persuasion of gentlemanly old pickpocket Laurence Olivier. overdoing it enjoyably, go to make a legend, kissing under the Bridge of Sighs in Venice. This means Panavision European locations, chic Paris settings, echoes of Hollywood films (especially director George Roy Hill's own classics Butch Cassidy and The Sting), comedy touches well done (especially a teenage comedienne called Ashby Semple as Natalie) and a little romance and more than a little sentiment.
1. How engaging and attractive a film? Its appeal - to younger audiences, adults, the audiences of the '70s and the interest in love stories, the reaction against over-violent and realistic films?
2. The contribution of the colour photography, the Panavision photography of European locations? The scenic effects, the use made of Europe and its cities for the plot? The contribution and atmosphere of the musical score? A real/unreal world?
3. The title and its tone - the focus on romantic love, the dash, the indication that the film was focusing on teenagers?
4. The traditional literary and cinema heritage of Americans in Europe? American innocents abroad in the traditions of experience? The new world and the old? The irony of the girl being the experienced one from the United States and the boy being an innocent? The innocence of Lauren and Daniel thinking that he was experienced? The blend and appeal of these themes?
5. The film as self-conscious cinema - the work of director George Roy Hill, his use of sequences from his own Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting? The homage to Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, to John Wayne in True Grit? The use of sequences from these film? The calling of the heroine Lauren and Daniel calling himself Bogey? The reality of cinema plots, heroes and heroines? Film posters? The imitation of the cinema stars? (And the ironic contrast with the cinema of pornography, its effect, the revulsion for Lauren, the contrast with the pornographic poster?)
6. The importance of legends, myths? Their truth, their being untrue? Making legends and fulfilling them? Julien and his creation of the legend and the young couple making it by fulfilling it?
7. How attractive a boy was Daniel? His age, charm, family background and difficult times, audiences identifying with him? especially adolescent boys? His interest in films and watching them? His buying, stealing? His father and his taxis? His high I.Q., philosophy knowledge etc.? His wanting to watch the film being made, the discussion with Broderick Crawford and correcting him about his own films? A real character for a little romance, a contrived but attractive character?
8. The introduction to Lauren and the contrast with Daniel? Her presence at the film-making but not watching it, her reading? The engaging encounter with Daniel? The contrast with her mother and her fussiness, her attendance on George? Her being bored? Her school, her skill at her work? The friendship with Natalie? Meeting Daniel and her arrangements with Natalie? Sharing the experience with Daniel? The genteel kiss? The visit to the pornographic movie and her revulsion? Daniel's friend? Her I.Q., her isolation, the discussion about Heidegger? How credible an adolescent girl?
9. Kaye and her flirting, her marriages, her relationship with Richard and his kindness, George and her presence at his filming? The party, her reaction to Daniel and considering him an intruder? Her frenzied worry? Her reaction to Lauren's going? And her being the cause of it by insulting Daniel? Her concern, the attack on the French police? Richard and his eliminating George from the scene? His reconciliation with her?
10. The interaction of Lauren and Daniel? The quality of friendship, Daniel waiting at the station and Natalie's coming instead of Lauren, the outings, the pornographic movie, the encounter with Julien and listening to his story, his story firing their imaginations, the plan for getting the money, the computer, the races, Julien and his help and their decision to go? Its being important because of Lauren's imminent return to America?
11. How attractive an old gentleman was Julien? Laurence Olivier's style - exaggerated, engaging? His appearance, his stories, his wife, his visiting her grave, the story about Venice? Their seeking him out and his helping them at the races? The irony of his pick pocketing the money? The train trip, his help, the talk, the irony of his being left behind? The American tourists and his robbing them? The bike race and his cycling? The build-up to the showdown and his arrest? The police brutality? His holding out till sunset for them? Richard and his friendship with Julien and his being vindicated?
12. The build-up to crisis for the train trip? What had gone before in term of preparation, anxiety? The phone call to Lauren's parents? Verona and the visit, the bike race? The arrival in Venice, the mercenary gondolier, going down the Grand Canal and success and fulfilment? How touching? (And the irony of going to see The Sting while they were waiting!)
13. The theme of adolescent love, innocent love, puppy love? The ending? Daniel's reaction to George and his innuendo about sexuality? Daniel and Lauren and integrity?
14. The contribution of the character of Natalie, her continually saying 'Oh God', her curiosity? A good comedienne for this film? Being balanced by Daniel's French friend?
15. The portrait of American types in Europe, business, wealth, computers?
16. The contrast with the French? Daniel's father and his treatment compared with that of the Americans?
17. The contribution of set pieces e.g. the party, the races, the chase, the bike ride?
18. The perennial appeal of a little romance and love stories?
