LOVING COUPLES
US, 1980, 95 minutes, Colour.
Shirley Mac Laine, James Coburn, Susan Sarandon, Stephen Collins, Sally Kellerman, Nan Martin.
Directed by Jack Smight.
The romantic comedy has always dealt with marriage and infidelity. In the '60s this became franker and, by now, a long tradition of sex comedies mirrors contemporary morals - to make us laugh, cry, be alarmed, disgusted or merely diverted. This film is to divert - with an (over?) optimistic view that people can learn, change, be sorry, reconcile and build. Very similar to Shirley Mac Laine’s A Change of Seasons but more cheerful (less farcical and barbed), this is generally inconsequential except that, under the veneer, lies a great deal of reality reflecting the insoluble marital tangles of today. James Coburn and Susan Sarandon add charm to some affluent fluff - with a point.
1. The appeal of romantic light comedy? The tradition of the screwball comedies of the '30s. the sex comedies of the '60s? Sex farce? Good humour with serious point?
2. The glamorous background of the film, Californian affluence? The stars? The reality and unreality of the Los Angeles and Californian locations, homes, shops, professional world?
3. The picture of California - the world of doctors, hotels, holidays, charity benefits, TV? The glamour and false glamour? The film's light and frothy touch? Music, songs and lyrics?
4. The irony of the title - its reference to Walter and Evelyn and to Greg and Stephanie - and the changing partners? The point about couples and fidelity of one to another? The point about loving - and the nature of loving, commitment, qualities of love, giving? The changing couples and the final reconciliation?
5. Evelyn as the focus of the film? Shirley MacLaine's presence and style, age, beauty - and her wardrobe showing her to advantage? The glamour of middle age? Her skill as a doctor? Her tending Greg at the beginning? Her work in the hospital? The meeting with Greg and being ready for an affair? Her response to Walter, his being late, going out? The outing and the memories of their first meeting and the seduction? The interruption with the arrangements about Walter's trip to Cleveland? His being unaware of how she felt? Her ease in lying to Walter - especially about the Palm Springs weekend? Audiences identifying with her, judging her? Personal point of view, moral point of view?
6. Greg and the modern type, his charm, his work. push, ambition? His taking Evelyn out, the horse-riding and its comedy, the picnic? How plausible was it that Evelyn would fall in love with him? Their outings - and being spied on by Walter and Stephanie? His opening Evelyn's horizons? The disco dancing practice and Walter watching? His moving in? The callous break with Stephanie and ignoring her? The ironic comic scenes with Mrs. Liggett? Her seeing him at the shop, at the benefit? His reaction to formal outings? Evelyn trying to educate him. make him read? His fickle attitudes? Evelyn's discovery of the truth from Mrs. Liggett and her talking to him, throwing him out? His trying to go back wit
8. Stephanie - ordinary young woman, worried about her relationship with Greg, telling Walter, spying on the two? The affair with Walter? Her work, her not being very good at it, her interviews - with the nude volleyball player? Her being hurt by Greg? The decision to leave Walter - and the device of the cinema ticket? Greg's visit to the studio and her ignoring him for the future? How had she changed by her experiences?
9. The hotel meeting in the swimming pool and the embarrassment, coping with the relationships? The way the affairs broke up? Possibilities of self-discovery, change?
10. Mrs. Liggett and her nymphomania, the downfall of Greg, the comedy in the clothing shop, her observing him at the party? Her visit to Evelyn?
11. The final break-up of the couples? The nature of Greg's advice to Walter and the comic putting it into practice for the ending?
12. The end of the film - tone? This kind of story as mirroring society, reflecting values? How much insight through comedy?
