THE LOVE WAR

US, 1970, 74 minutes, Colour.
Lloyd Bridges, Angie Dickenson, Daniel J. Travanti.
Directed by George McCowan?.

The Love War is not a film about romance or marriage or divorce but a science fiction telemovie. Directed by George McCowan?, director of many telemovies (The Ballad of Andy Crocker), the film has Lloyd Bridges and Angie Dickinson as space aliens and an alien empire in a struggle with earth. The film has as its background the post-nuclear wars of two planets and the decision that representatives of the planet bail out the future of the Earth on Earth. Bridges plays his normal self an engaging character as hero of the battle. He encounters the attractive Angie Dickinson and relates well to her, a performance of an alien trying to be human. (His son Jeff Bridges did a similar thing in the engaging Starman.) Doomed since Angie is actually is alien opponent

The film is a piece of Americana - but with the science fiction background of the 1970s. Among the supporting cast is Daniel J. Travanti (later of Hill Street Blues).

1. An entertaining telemovie? Science fiction?, in contemporary America? Credible drama and science fiction?

2. The countryside, the way of life in the '70s, aliens inserted into this kind of atmosphere? Special effects for the aliens? The stunt work for the battles and, crashes? The quality of the cast, to give the plot credibility?

3. Earth and its environment? The planets, their developing technology, nuclear issues, the clashes of the planets? the decisions to have representatives do battle? Earth as the battleground for the aliens? The future of Earth in this galactic atmosphere of war? The irony of the title in the relationship between Kyle and Sandy - its ultimate irony?

4. The picture of contemporary America: the roads, the towns, hotels, police? Aliens able to insert themselves into this kind of atmosphere? Kyle's awkwardness, his stilted stilted speech? His ignorance about human feelings? The encounter with Sandy, and his learning from her? The irony of Sandy's skill in inserting herself into the human condition?

5. The portrait of Kyle as a being, his charm? Using his wits? The cat-and-mouse techniques of chase and hide? His being able to eliminate his pursuers? The encounter with Sandy, the humanising of Kyle, his trust? His reliance on her? The tension of their relationship? The irony of her being the enemy? His defeat?

6. Angie Dickinson's style as Sandy, girl around situation, friendship with Kyle, humanising him, the quality of the relationship? The effect on her? Her mission - and her success in seducing him, persuading him not suspect her, getting his trust? Her decision to fight for her planet?

7. The supporting aliens, their disguises, their human behaviour, the battles - along the line of gangster and western films? Audience enjoyment of these conventions? American action?

8. The pathos of the ending - the betrayal of Kyle, Sandy's betrayal? Me aliens and their victory? The consequences for Earth?

9. The value of science fiction fables? The possibility of looking at human situations through the eyes of aliens? The quality of this film as science fiction?