A BUNNY'S TALE
US, 1985, 104 minutes, Colour.
Kirstie Alley, Cotter Smith, Lisa Pelikan, Joanna Kerns, Delta Burke, Mary Woronov, Diana Scarwid.
Directed by Karen Arthur.
A Bunny's Tale is the story of Gloria Steinem, the feminist, early in her career researching Playboy Bunnies and their life and her subsequent articles. The film, set in the early 1960s, is a look at changing attitudes towards women, their exploitation, the code of Hugh Hefner's Playboy Bunnies and the clientele at the Playboy clubs.
Kirstey Alley is quite effective as Gloria Steinem. There is a strong supporting cast - especially those who portray the Bunnies and the harshness and hard work at the club. The film is directed by Karen Arthur (Her Life as a Man).
The film is geared towards the widest possible audience and so is not an intense study of feminism and feminist attitudes, but rather an entertainment which raises consciousness for the television audience.
1. Interesting story? America in the TOT The Playboy tradition? Exploitation of women? Gloria Steinem and her influence on American thinking?
2. The re-creation of the '60s, New York, newspapers and magazine, the streets, homes, the Playboy Club and its style? Musical score?
3. The title and its cute focus? irony?
4. Audience knowledge of Gloria Steinem, her background, writing, contribution to thinking about women in the U.S. Her explanation of her background, coming to New York, her ambitions, work as a journalist, interest in covering race relationship issues? The joke about the Playboy ad? The bosses and their suggesting she follow it up? Their canting something funny? her decision to follow through?
5. Her attitude towards going to the interview, lining up with the girls, acceptance and reaction and the criteria; the chaperone and her choices, her pleasant attitude towards those accepted? The return for the interview, the rules, the Playboy rule and their having to memorise it, classes and training, tuition, exams? The humiliation, the physical examination and the attitude of the doctor? Acceptance as a Bunny? Costumes and makeup? The relationship with the other girls, getting to know then, interest, sympathy with them? financial burdens for them? The routine for pleasing customers? The strict rules? The long hours, tiredness? The effect on Gloria, on her writing? Discussions with Toby? her continued interest in the various women, Pearl and the clashes, Andrea and her age and children, Bobbie and the stealing, the young women with the husband and having to support her? The variety of women? The floor manager and his laying down rules? Demerits? The growing pressure, her decision to help Andrea rather than Greg? The final night, her decision to leave, clashes, Andrea's being assaulted, her going on instead? The subsequent articles and their being accepted? An insight into the Playboy code from experience?
7. The background of the theatre, Gloria's relationship with Med, his play, the rehearsals, his reliance on her, the party and his accusations of her not helping, his temperament, clashes, apology, her missing the opening night?
8. The friendship with Toby, her art, her focus on men, on playwright, on the waiter? The contrast in their attitudes?
9. The sketch of the world of the theatre, actors, producers, writers, temperament?
W. The sketch of the various women: Lee and the unwanted attentions of the customer who came every night, her friendship with Gloria? Andrea and her aloofness, the children, the bashing? Pearl as tough but friendly? Jobbie and her husband, being sacked for taking the clothes?
11. A 1980s view of '60s behaviour? Exploitation of women in the workplace, as sex objects? The value of this aim of the film for the wide television audience?
