A DOCTOR'S STORY

US, 1984, 96 minutes, Colour.
Howard Rollins Jr, Art Carney, Uta Hagen, Viveca Lindfors.
Directed by Peter Levin.

A Doctor's Story is a strong telemovie - in the vein of so many films and television series about hospitals. However, this film is well written, has good actors in leads as well as character actors, focuses on the elderly and the new field of medicine and psychology, focusing on how to cope with old age. Howard Rollins Jnr (Ragtime, A Soldier's Story, T.V.'s In The Heat of the Night) is appropriately serious as the doctor concerned. Art Carney gives yet another of his seemingly effortless performances. There is good support from Viveca Lindfors and Uta Hagen in character roles.

The film has a recognizable New York setting, focuses on the experiences of ordinary people, highlights the plight of sons and daughters trying to deal with ageing in senility - but it also shows the need for medicine and psychology to try to better understand older people given the longer lives that the population now leads. Direction is by Peter Levin, director of a number of telemovies and Canadian features.

1. The title? Expectations? The tradition of films about doctors and hospitals? This film has a version of the 80s?

2.The telemovie, the audience and its response, the wide audience concentrating on drama, issues and characters? The film offering both information and entertainment?

3. The New York settings, the use of the streets and apartments for atmosphere? The hospital? Musical score?

4. The focus on Zac Williams as the doctor? The American doctors and their training, residency? Supervision? Ambitions, concern about medicine, concern about patients? Zac Williams and his interest in the elderly, his diagnosis and study. work at a teaching hospital? His interest in Harry Wicks and trying to support him? The criticisms of the authorities (and holding recommendations over him)? The pressure of Peter Wicks and the families concerns about their father? His reaction to Harry as a person, getting to know him, understanding him, understanding his medical and psychological condition? His concern about the other patients - Christina and her pain, the theory about the aneurism? His concern, the operation and her death? His getting the little girl to be a companion to the German woman - and to mellow them both? The difficulties of his home life - his love for his wife, children? His concern about his work and talking only about it? Exasperation on the part of his wife? The planned outings? The dinner - and his research, forgetting, being delayed, waiting for his wife, the clash? Try to listen to her complaints? Her moving out, his going to see the children, his wife's boyfriend and his being taken aback? His decision to win her again? His relationship with Wicks in the hospital, the assistant doctor and the attraction - and her offer? The voting interns and their falling in love? The characterization of the doctor as professional, as a man with problems? The final talk with Harry, his indication? Meeting his wife - and the possibility of a reconciliation? His being honoured by Harry - with his children present - and the final dance? Portrait of a doctor?

5. Art Carney as Harry Wicks - his usual stylish performance? Making Harry Wicks come alive? His background, his love for his wife, her death, his heart condition? Medication and the effect on his mind and memory? Senility? His mistakes, going back to the pharmacy to work, accusing people of stealing, even going back to the old apartment to court his wife? The exasperation of his son, the care of his daughter-in-law, Charlie? going to the hospital after falling over - and being chased by the family? Dislocating his shoulder and getting the brace? Talking with Dr Williams, his offhand manner, genial, getting to know him? The medications? In the hospital - and the threat of going to the home? His befriending Christina, defending, her piano playing, playing the piano with her, sharing and remembering, devices for remembering? Her death? The effect and his going to the Bronx to find his wife? The going, off the medicine - and his improving? His final threat for the hospital - and his getting the present for his son, remembering his birthday, talking about the past, apologising? The doctor’s care in understanding his physical and mental condition? A new lease on life? The final party and his praise of the doctor?

6. Peter Wicks, his concern, wanting to do the right thing by his father, doctors and medical advice, exasperation, the pressure on himself and his wife, the phone calls in the night, rescuing his father? Hostility towards Dr. Williams? The birthday gift - and the reconciliation? The sketch of his wife and her concern, their son?

7. Christina and her pain, the intern and the students, introducing herself before the initiate examination? Playing the piano, defended, her explanation to Harry about her life, the people that she had loved, her memories? The bond between the two, her pain, the operation and her death?

8. The German lady, her wanting to kill herself, by herself, cranky? The Hispanic girl, her cheekiness, going through the purse? The compact and the German lady giving it to her - as a memory of her mother? The cries in the night and her comforting the little girl? The growing bonds between the two?

9. The assistant doctor and her work, attractive to Zac, offering him to come home? The contrast with the supervising doctor and his permitting the experiment but holding assessment over him? The young doctors and their shyness, keeping company, falling in love? Their future? The other members of the staff, doctors and nurses, the operation?

10. Zac's wife, bringing up the children, feeling neglected by him, his being able to talk with enthusiasm only about his work? Her feeling hurt? The hopes for the outing, the dress, being stood up, coming hone late? Her desperate feelings and explaining things to Zac? Taking the children? His visits, her carefulness, the kids and the effect of their parents separation? Her going to work, her boss at hone and Zac's wariness? His trying to court her again - the possibility of reconciliation?

11. Popular themes - but intelligently and interestingly done?