WHEN THE CIRCUS CAME TO TOWN

US, 1981, 100 minutes, Colour.
Elizabeth Montgomery, Christopher Plummer, David Aykroyd, Ed O'Neill, Dwight Schultz.
Directed by Jeff Bleckner.

When The Circus Came To Town is an interesting and offbeat human drama. It is a star vehicle for Elizabeth Montgomery who excelled on the small screen both in series such as Bewitched and in numerous telemovies. Her co-star is Christopher Plummer, equally at home on screen, television set and stage. There is a good supporting cast including Eileen Brennan and stage star Gretchen Wyler.

The film focuses on Mary, a southern genteel woman who has been looking after her parents. She takes the opportunity to run away and joins the circus and experiences something of the variety and complexity of life. Christopher Plummer is the owner of the circus which is losing popularity and in need of financial support. The film has an interesting atmosphere of circus, behind the scenes tension and a look at America's southern states.

1. An interesting and entertaining film? A humane story? A story of hope?

2. The telemovie style - for the home audience, emotional response?

3. The symbol of the circus - the Big Top, the caravans, the acts, the personnel, animals, audience? Fantasy and reality? Clowns? Audience delight? Real/escape? The image of people wanting to run away and join the circus? The circus as a microcosm?

4. The contrast between Duke and Mary? The credits sequences highlighting this difference? Audiences anticipating their coming together and the effect?

5. Mary and the funeral, dowdy, grief, not weeping? The wake and her having to entertain, the friends' and relatives' questions about her life? Her strong reaction? Leaving? Aunt Helen and her intruding? The encounter with the circus on the way home from the funeral? Mary driving away, the diner, seeing the circus people? The interview with Duke and persuading him to join? The circus people not welcoming
her at the table? Louie welcoming her? Yet her being uncomfortable with him? Her growing friendship with him, tenderness, play, his love for her? Duke and the continued clashes? The initial friendship with Jessie but Jessie's suspicion? Her falling in love with Duke? Going out with him after refusing, the sexual liaison? Duke making her work, her work in the cages, as the clown, the clash with the acrobats, her having to become an acrobat herself, her fears, the training, her success and its effect? Her changing her appearance? Her clash with Duke, leaving? The return to Savannah and its effect? Her beginning to live her life? The portrait of a spinster, her devotion, sacrifice, care of the dying, life passing her by? The importance of the circus experience for her life in Savannah - or her move away from it?

6. Christopher Plummer's style as Duke, rough, a poor circus, the parade and his playing up to the girls, his relationship with Jessie (and the background of their story, marriage, his drunkenness)? His relation ship with the rest of the troupe? The encounter with Mary and his employing her? His being tantalised by her? Clashes, his bluntness and her reaction? Making her become an acrobat? Going out with her, the sexual relationship? Jessie's clash and dislike? The discussions with Louie, his realising that Louie loved Mary? The financial crises, money, the sale, the breaking up of the circus? His inability to settle down, going on? The effect of Duke on Mary's life?

7. Jessie as tough, wandering with the circus, blowsy style, clash with Mary, hurt by Duke's behaviour, watching the two, the final reconciliation?

8. Louie, personality, friendship with Mary, the dwarf, comforting her, her being uncomfortable with him, his work, the clown sequences and Mary working with him, his illness, the clash with Duke, his loving Mary, his going to stay with his sister, the final joke?

9. The atmosphere of the circus, people quarrelling and bickering, the acrobatic troupe and their constant argument, dislike of Mary, Mary slapping the acrobat and the return of the slap, the basis of friend ship? The shooting?

10. The world of the circus, the portrayal of the various acts and items, audience delight in these? The background, the hard work, the dirt? The bonding of the circus people, inner circles etc.? The wandering lifestyle?

11. Life in Savannah, the elegant old house, old world manners, Aunt Helen?

12. The film as a Cinderella story - an ugly duckling story? The spinster coming to life? An entertaining exploration of values?