DROP-OUT FATHER
US, 1982, 90 minutes, Colour.
Dick Van Dyke, Mariette Hartley, George Coe, William Daniels.
Directed by Don Taylor.
Drop- Out Father is an American telemovie showing the picture of the American rat-race, competitiveness, the possibility of changing one's lifestyle for oneself and family. It is fairly contrived - but relies on the presence of Dick Van Dyke as the drop-out father. There is a strong supporting cast including Mariette Hartley as his wife and Monte Markham as his philandering friend.
The film treats its social problem in the popular American telemovie style, for the widest audience. Direction is by former actor and director of many films and telemovies, Don Taylor.
1. Interesting and enjoyable telemovie? American style? Social problem and dramatising it? For the widest possible audience?
2. Connecticut and New York settings, affluence, the home in the country, work? The change of venues?
3. The dramatising of a contemporary problem, the credibility of characters, situations, behaviour, resolution? Title and its emphases?
4. Dick Van Dyke as the central character: his age, experience, comic touches? The morning and getting ready for work, hectic, smoking, on the run? At work, the advertisements and the campaigns? The advice from Tony? His wife, love for her, the affluent style? His children: the oldest away studying but wanting to do pottery, the daughter and her boyfriend with their Indian names and behaviour, the younger son and his wanting to be in a rock band, Elizabeth and her youth, her wisdom? The hectic pace of life, hectic work? The repercussions?
5. The impact on the father, his decision to drop out, eleven days in his room, not shaving, reading, relaxing? The reaction of the family? Coming out, not being persuaded to change? His imposing his changes on the family, their reactions? Elizabeth and her supporting him, going to New York? Walking the city, the old apartment, cleaning it up and painting it, his decision to become a photographer, his success? The reluctance of his wife, her coming to visit? Christmas?
6. The wife, the memories of the past, her complacency in her wealth and routine, her girlfriends at the club, their reaction to the husband dropping out? Anxiety, getting the fireman? her reaction to her husband? Not going with him? The discussion with the women at the club, her shock at their part-time prostitution? Her choice, going to her husband, a new career? Christmas?
7. The sketch of the children, their being spoilt, opportunities, money? The potter and his success? The daughter and her reaction, Indian style, boyfriend? Getting married and changing to ordinariness again? The boy with the rock band, meeting the black musicians, trying out with them? Elizabeth and her observations, her going with her father, sharing with him?
8. The boss, the firm, offerings of money, reactions?
9. Tony and his lifestyle, dating, women, advice?
10. The women friends in Connecticut, their rich and empty life, drinking, sex?
11. The Christmas dinner, the family joining together, the resolution of the questions?
12. Themes of busyness, the rat-race, competitiveness, opting out, doing what one likes and is good at? Self-fulfilment?
