BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS

US, 1986, 108 minutes, Colour.
Jonathan Silvermann, Blythe Danner, Judith Ivey, Steven Hill, Jason Alexander.
Directed by Gene Saks.

Brighton Beach Memoirs offers a more mellow Neil Simon comedy. It is also autobiographical. It is the first of a trilogy, followed by Biloxi Blues and Broadway Bound.

The film has something of the same setting as Woody Allen films: Brooklyn, the 1930s and 40s, young Jewish boys growing up in rather large and extended families. The humour is also similar though Neil Simon's one-liners are of the humorous witty rather than the humorous witty and intelligent clever style of Woody Allen.

The film re-creates the atmosphere of Brighton Beach, of Brooklyn at the time, the perspective of a teenager? The young Neil Simon is portrayed by Jonathan Silverman as Eugene Morris Jerome? Blythe Danner and Bob Dishy are his parents and there is an enjoyable performance by Judith Ivey as his aunt.

Direction is by Gene Saks, a regular director of Neil Simon's plays and films including The Odd Couple and The Prisoner of Second Avenue. This was the first of a trilogy of plays (and films) leading to Biloxi Blues and Broadway Bound.

1. The popularity of Neil Simon? The quality of his comedies? Wit? His literary style: characters, sight? His autobiographical comedy? situations? One-liners?

2. The re-creation of Brighton Beach and Brooklyn in the 1930s? The streets and the homes, the shops? The atmosphere of the neighbourhood? The people in the neighbourhood? Accents and styles? Lifestyle? The music of the period?

3. The title and the focus on the young Neil Simon? The teenager in Brooklyn in the 1930s? The influence on his life? His family?

4. The portrait of Eugene: 15 years old, his living with the extended Jewish family, his love of baseball, the preoccupation with sex, his diary and his recording his experiences? His relationship with his mother, the stress in her life, her sending him to the shop? His relationship with his father, his older brother, the rest of the members of the household including Aunt Blanche and her two daughters? Nora and the focus on sex? Laurie and her heart flutter? The atmosphere of the United States after the Depression, the focus on the experience of the Jews in Europe, the approach of World War Two? The problems of his parents? Nora and the chorus role? Stanley and his work, going into the Army? The finances, Jack's heart attack and its effect on the family? Blanche and her relationship with Frank Murphy? Stanley and his advice on sexuality to Eugene, the lock on the bathroom door for seeing Nora? The pool hall games? The hustlers? Stanley going to the Army, change of mind? The news of the refugees coming from Poland? Stanley giving Eugene the card? The transition through puberty and his future?

5. The portrait of Kate, hard work in the house, her love for her children, with Blanche, the rest of the family? Supporting Jack? The details of life, the details of work? The worry about the family? Her not liking Frank Murphy, his mother? The jealousy with Blanche? Blanche's wanting to leave? Her having to cope with everyone? The portrait of the Jewish mother? Contrast with Jack, less stressed, invalid and the heart attack, his relationship with his children? His evening work, his place in the house, his advice to his son? Stanley and his role in the family, his parents, his work at the hatters? Stanley and Nora? The threat of dismissal, the written apology, the importance of defending the black worker,(and the rather more preaching tone of the screenplay)? Pool games and his being beaten, running away to the Army, change of mind? Giving the postcard to Eugene?

6. Blanche and her presence in the house, her own experiences, her relationship with her daughters, going out, Frank Murphy, the date, calling it off, his drinking? His relationship with his mother? Bigotry? The fight with Kate and her wanting to leave? Her relationship with Nora and Laurie? Nora and her relationship with her cousins, the possibility of going to Broadway, the chorus? The concern about Laurie and her heart murmur? The object of Stanley's and Eugene's attentions?

7. Frank Murphy, with his mother, the insults from Kate, the car accident, his drinking, Blanche's going to meet Mrs Murphy, the breaking down of prejudice? The Irish and the Jews in Brooklyn?

8. The social comment about the time, the Depression, families, poverty, the racial tension? Religious bigotry? Jews and Christians?

9. An enjoyable comedy? The wry touch?