A CHRISTMAS WIFE
US, 1988, 90 minutes, Colour.
Jason Robards, Julie Harris, Don Francks.
Directed by David Hugh Jones.
A Christmas Wife is a Christmas story for an adult audience, a telemovie for the cable channels. It has sympathetic and strong performances from Jason Robards as a widower looking for company at Christmas, the first after his wife's death. Julie Harris is the timid woman who accompanies Robards to the house built in the woods for Christmas.
The film is a brief portrait of two lonely people, their interactions, talking with one another, learning affection and having to make decisions for the future. Direction is by David Jones (84 Charing Cross Road, Fire in the Dark).
1.The impact of the brief telemovie? For an adult audience? Christmas setting?
2.The American city, the cabin at the lake? Musical score?
3.The film as a two-hander, the strength and presence of the stars?
4.The focus of the title? John and Iris and their relationship?
5.John, his age, experience, retired? His continual memories of Florence - real and ideal? Discussions with his son Jim, the possibility of the visit, his deciding to stay by himself? His noticing the advertisement? The discussions with the manager, a compatible companion, $500? His concern, the phone message from the manager, the meeting at the hotel, the meeting with Iris, her observing him, their first discussions? His loneliness, motives, hopes?
6.Iris and her timidity, the mystery about her, the appearance, wanting to see John, make her decision, the initial conversation, her not wanting him to ask any questions, his agreement?
7.The trip to the country, their discussions? The house, the growing bond? The drink, unpacking, the Christmas tree and decorations, the meal? The exchange of gifts and her not having a gift? The music box with Fur Elise and her crying? The night and their separate rooms? Breakfast, John's skill as a cook? The talk, breaking his routine, the walk by the lake before dinner? The phone call from Jim - and his father not telling him that he was with someone? The Christmas dinner and its joy? The plans, the growing intimacy? Their keeping separate?
8.Calling each other by their name? Iris avoiding the questions? Her finally telling the truth? John's reaction? The unavailability of companions? Iris and her relationship with her husband? The first time that she had done the work, the need for the money?
9.The bonds that had grown up between them? Tenderness, affection, truth? The admission of loneliness? The ending and their going on their separate ways, each having enriched the other?
