LADY IN THE CORNER
US, 1989, 100 minutes, Colour.
Loretta Young, Brian Keith, Roscoe Lee Browne, Bruce Davison, Lois Maxwell.
Directed by Peter Levin.
Lady in the Corner is a pleasant, glossy telemovie - for an older audience. It is a 1989 star vehicle for veteran Loretta Young. Loretta Young is made up to appear as about 50 and acts in sprightly way. (In fact she was about 75 when the film was made.) Brian Keith is the trusty and sentimental owner of the fashion magazine of which she is executive editor. Lindsay Frost is attractive as the up and coming reporter. Christopher Neame portrays Charles Patrick, a British owner of papers and magazines with an unsavoury reputation and involved in takeovers - very reminiscent of Rupert Murdoch. Direction is by Peter Levin, director of a number of films and telemovies, especially from Canada.
1. Entertaining story? Characters? the world of papers and magazines?
2. New York settings, the use of the city? Sea side resorts? Business offices? Magical score?
3. The title and its tone, the focus on Grace, the predicament at the magazine?
4. Loretta Young and her screen presence as Grace? With her family? Aunt Grace? Her work as editor of the magazine? Her meeting with Susan and the embarrassed encounter, her job? The meetings and her manner of running them, her supremacy over Susan? Her relationship with David, friendship, the past? The ownership of the magazine? The information about the sale, her despising of Charles Patrick? Suspicions of Susan and treatment of her? Challenging David? The meeting with Patrick, her plan about the option for buying? Going to Bill and getting half a million dollars? Raising money? Mr Bennett and the meetings, his interest? The clashes with Susan? The offer of the Museum job by David? Her wanting to stand on her own feet? Interactions with Susan, the fashion show and the plan for a new issue? Her realising that she must bow out, the contract, Susan as her successor, the encounter to persuade her? the meeting with Patrick? Her winning? The future of the magazine? A strong and resourceful woman?
5. David, the ownership of the magazine, the long experience, the visit to Charles Patrick, the possibility of selling? The interactions with Grace, memories of the past, offering her the job? His backing up her plan? The meetings, on her side, the final victory?
6. Susan Dawson and the audience first meeting her, her confusion? Her reputation? Strong minded, contributions at the meeting, the putdowns by Grace? Her challenging them? The relationship with Charles Patrick? The fashion show, the assignments? Her comments about going into the 21st century, criticisms of Grace? Her standards, pragmatism? Offered the Editorship? Her accepting?
7. Charles Patrick and the parallel with Rupert Murdoch? Ownership of magazines, money no object, wanting respectability? His high handed manner at the meetings? Not believing Grace? The final clash with her - and offering her unconditional management? The films criticism of the Charles Patrick types? His staff and his shrewd lawyer?
8. Bill and the family, their support of Grace? Bill and his financial deals - and the phone call for half a million dollars?
9. Mr Bennett, his interest in the magazine, money, coming to the rescue, conditions
10. The picture of the staff, at work, fashion, the ethos of the magazine, the expertise of the staff? Breaking boundaries or working within them? Good taste? The attack on the pornographic style of some fashion magazines?
11. Popular material? Glossy? Character study? Conflicts?
