BEACHES

US, 1988, 118 minutes, Colour.
Bette Midler, Barbara Hershey, John Heard, Spalding Tray, Lanie Kazan.
Directed by Garry Marshall.

Beaches is a story of friendship. It is a star vehicle for Bette Midler (after her success with Touchstone Pictures in Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Ruthless People, Outrageous Fortune, Big Business). She is matched well by Barbara Hershey.

The film reminisces on the life of two women who are quite diverse. One is an entertainer from Brooklyn, the other a high society lawyer from San Francisco. (The young girl who plays Bette Midler as a young girl is extraordinarily like her and excellent.)

John Heard appears in the role of a New York director. Spalding Gray has a small role as a San Francisco doctor.

There are plenty of songs for Bette Midler. There is a great deal of humour, great deal of sentiment. However, it is an interesting and moving portrait of friendship between two women. Direction is by Garry Marshall (The Flamingo Kid, Nothing in Common).

1. A portrait of friendship, between two women? The meaning of lives?

2. The importance of the stars, their interrelationship with each other? Bette Midler and her style, songs, verve and performance? Barbara Hershey with the more quiet and aristocratic style?

3. The title of the film, a memoir? The beaches of their lives? The final beach holiday? The structure of the film: the opening situation,, C.C. and her career, the decision to drive to San Francisco, her memories, the lives in chronological order?

4. The focus on C.C., Bette Midler's style and presence, verve? As a star? Alert concerning her anxiety about Hilary? The drive to San Francisco, the wet night, the police? Helping us to understand what happened?

5. The two girls, C.C. and her smoking, Hilary lost, Leona and her forcefulness, taking C.C. to the audition, the style of 'The Glory of Love' (and her singing it at the finale)? The girl with the handstands and her winning the audition? C.C. and her clashes with her mother? her mother's moodiness? C.C. as bright, the decision to become friends with Hilary? Their going to the hotel, having the soda, Aunt Vesta and her arrival? The build-up of the letters over the years, C.C. and her opportunities, Hilary at school and her money?

6. C.C. and her job at the bar, the discussions with Leona, Leona going to Florida? Hilary and her studying law, in the tradition of the family? Her arrival in New York, the renewal of the bonds between the two? Discovering each other? Sharing the apartment, lifestyle, the singing of the Christmas carols? C.C. and her job as a birthday bunny and singing the greeting to John? His response, his invitation to C.C. to come for the play, the audition, the acting, the one line? C.C. and her noticing John's response to Hilary, jealous? The musical and her success, the party and her continued Jealousy? The build-up to the fight with Hilary after her night with John? Their strong words to each other?

7. Hilary and her background, the law, stifled at home, wanting to break free, her helping of C.C., her work with those in need? The initial encounter with John? The night with him? The build-up to the fight with C.0 Her having to leave, her father's illness, looking after him, his death, her dating Michael, the letters telling C.C. about this and the marriage?

8. C.C. and John, their friendship, the sexual liaison, her decision to marry? John accepting this, the build-up to the ceremony, her slapping him so that he would remember it? A successful career? Whether to go into the review or not? Her decision to play it and its comic routines? Hilary and coming to New York, Michael's reluctance, Hilary's support? The response to C.C. and the play? The gaudy life, the apartment? The fussiness over John? The meal and the service? The talking together between the friends but their distance? The implied criticising, by Hilary? Hilary declaring her values as wife, involved in charities in San Francisco, C.C. and her ambitions? the build-up to the finale , the clash between the two, the words exchanged, Hil1ary crying in the plane? Her not replying to C.C's letters? The anguish in her letters?

9. C.C's success, the differences with John, breaking and their friendship, the build-up to the film and her failure, the clash with the director, to Florida to see her mother, her mother's telling her about her attention -demanding, her decision to go to San 'Francisco?

10. Hilary and her marriage, her love for her husband, the bond between the two and her pregnancy? the irony of the storm and her going home to find him with the other woman? Her going to C.C., the mutual forgiveness, the growth in the friendship? C.C helping with the pregnancy - and her knowing about illness (and its reality)? The friendship with Richard, C.C's infatuation, to marry? His offer of the lead in the play? Her accepting it? Wanting Hilary to tell Richard the truth? Hillary's handling of the situation? Her returning for the birth of the baby, going to the hospital, the comedy, her fainting? The little girl and her love for her?

11. Hilary's settling down, C.C. and her records and growth, looking after her daughter, not able to give her full attention? Her physical collapse, her heart and the illness, going to the hospital, Victoria's response, C.C. coming? The effect of her illness? Her looking for the photo of her mother and concern about her hands? Her going, to the beach for the proposal that C.C. go there, C.C. and the clashes with Victoria? Their going to the beach, sharing, the holiday, Hilary's attitude and C.C's attack on her as not being yet dead - and her getting up, enjoying the holiday? The build-up to Hilary's death sequence and the use of the song 'The Wind Beneath My Wings' and Hilary's dying, the sadness of the funeral?

12. The aftermath of the funeral, Victoria and C.C. and their grief, the discussions, Victoria's decision to go with C.C., her wanting to see her father? The final concert with Victoria present, singing 'The Glory of Love'? The future, C.C. being fulfilled as a mother, and her love for Hilary?

13. The end, the photo of the two girls - and the memories and the bonds? The reality of the friendship, the ordinariness and extraordinariness of the women, the stereotypes of their experiences, yet real? The nature of the bonds, the love, and the essential issues in friendship? Issues of marriage, career, jealousy, betrayal? Children?