THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK

US, 1987, 113 minutes, Colour.
Jack Nicholson, Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer, Susan Sarandon, Veronica Cartwright, Richard Jenkins.
Directed by George Miller.

The Witches of Eastwick is based on the novel by John Updike. It has been simplified by playwright Michael Cristofer (The Shadow Box). it has been directed by Australia's George Miller Mad Max films, Twilight Zone the Movie). He treats it as burlesque demonology - and it is enjoyable on that level. Jack Nicholson indulges his capacity for manic glee (Cuckoo's Nest, The Shining) as Darrel van Horne, a middle-aged, pudgy Devil incarnate who stops off at the New England town of Eastwick at the call, it seems, of three vivacious women played expertly by Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer. They set up a menage a quatre until the witches turn on their devil to teach him a lesson (thanks to some clever special effects). The diabolical shenanigans are amusing and stylish, there is some satire on American manners, especially in the form of the town's denouncing do-gooder, Veronica Cartwright. This is an elegantly light moral fable about good and evil and the battle of the sexes. it is a stylish souffle.

1. Offbeat comedy? The blend of the serious and the comic? Satiric?

2. The work of George Miller? His interpretation of a renowned American author? Massachusetts locations, the town of Eastwick? The natural and the supranatural? Atmosphere? The special effects (in the Exorcist vein? The musical score and the range of songs? John Williams' score?

3. The choice of New England as the setting, the tradition of witchcraft and investigations in the 17th. century? Modern witches, tradition? The plausibility of the plot or not?

4. John Updike and his comic observation of men and women? Relationships? The spoof aspect of Updike's work?

5. The introduction to each of the witches: Jane and her performance with the band, the advances, her summoning up the storm? Alex and her sculpture work? Julie and her children? Felicia and the song? The ironies of the women and the contrasts?

5. The impact of the opening, the speech, the storm, an atmosphere which is ominous? The rain?

7. The reunion of the women, the esprit de corps among them? Their talking over their relationships with men, their needing them, spurning then? Their summoning of the ideal man? Their power? The intercut of the arrival of Darrel? Whose initiative for him to come and stay?

G. The gossip, the shopping, people unable to remember his name, the interview, buying all Alexandra's dolls, the shopkeeper and the effect? The social gathering and all the talk about him - and Darrel the focus of attention?

9. The concert and its comedy, the bearing of the snoring, Darrel and his sleeping? its effect? Felicia and the denunciation, the injury, the hostility towards Darrel and the women?

10. Felicia and her illness, her words in hospital, the heightened sequence in the church and her denunciation? Felicia at home? Clyde, the paper, his weakness of character, the Exorcist-style experience and her vomiting? His taking the poler to her? Her death?

11. Alex and her curiosity about Darrel, the ride, the invitation to the dinner, its being served meticulously, her abusing Darrel and attacking his manhood, the seduction, the sexual passion and its effect?

12. Jane as prim, her music lessons, the practice, his arrival, the heat and the fire, playing the duet, letting her hair down, passionate playing and seduction?

13. Her work on the paper, children? The pool and the seduction?

14. The set-up of the menage and its style, the balloons and the children, the scandal and Jane's reaction?

15. The making of the video and the telling of their stories? The revelation of their characters, attitudes, relationship with Darrel? The effect of the death of Felicia? The women turning on Darrel?

15. Darrel and the phone, the visit, the revenge, his age, the snakes, illness? The women and their fears?

17. Their pregnancies, the return, sending Darrel out for the food, taking the doll, casting their spells? The dog?

18. The effect of their witchcraft on Darrel, his pain, his going to the church, his chauvinist denunciation of women, in the street, the feathers and their blowing and his being blown across the open space, the car and its splitting, the explosion?

19. Eighteen months passing, the children, switching Darrel off as he appeared on the video - realism, satire?

20. The themes of men and women, chauvinist? The film as fantasy, tongue-in-cheek? Themes of American religion, tradition, evil?