MY SIX LOVES

US, 1963, 101 minutes, Colour.
Debbie Reynolds, David Janssen, Cliff Robertson, Eileen Heckart, John Mc Giver, Hans Conreid.
Directed by Gower Champion.

A pleasant but very sugary Debbie Reynolds' vehicle. She is convincing as an actress and even convincing as a woman who would take on six abandoned children and try to bring them up. Eileen Heckhart, who has appeared so effectively in many supporting roles, especially her Oscar-winning Butterflies are Free, offers good support. Cliff Robertson is pleasantly charming as an attractive Hollywood minister. David Janssen is worried in the background. Direction in by Gower Champion, the former dancer with his wife Marge in so many films of the fifties. He directed some films, including The Bank Shot with George C. Scott in 1974. A family kind of film.

1. An entertaining film? For whom was it made? Impact on the average American audience, non-Americans? Children, families?

2. The meaning of the title, its tone? The cute and sentimental aspects? The song that Janice sang for the children? How much sentiment, how much toughness in the film?

3. The film as a Debbie Reynolds' vehicle? Her style, personality, verve? The director as a choreographer and its influence in the presentation of the film?

4. Colour, Connecticut locations, the contrast with New York? The presentation of America in the early sixties, the film as a piece of Americana?

5. The atmosphere of the ballyhoo at the start, Janice's carter and celebrity, her tainting and the transition to Connecticut?

6. Audience interest in Janice, Debbie Reynolds, vitality and charm? The humour of the break in the country and being so quiet? Ethel as Janice's continued support in all the situations? The ironic and comic touch from Ethel's observations? The ironic humour of the initial encounter with Selena and her attitudes and her grooming of her daughter Ava?

7. The emergence of the six children in the film, hiding, discovered? Their varying personalities? Their being victims of their guardians? The introductions to each? Janice and her initial helping, not being able to cope? Ethel joining in the panic? How cute were the kids, how realistic? The meals, the games? Janice and her gradual change of heart? Getting Martin, for instance, to search in the rubbish tip for her doll?

8. Jim Larkin and his personality? The discovery that he was the minister? His doing the garden, helping with the kidnap his ability to cope? The growing bonds with Janice? The contrast of their different backgrounds and way of life? How authentic a screen clergyman? How well aid the group progress during the summer helping one another, the reaction of the kids? The oldest boy and his resistance to God and prayer?

9. Janice and her decisions about the play? The personality of Kingsley Cross, the critique of his play, his dominance? The critique of this kind of Broadway production? Highlighting Janice's mistake in going into the play? The humour of their rehearsals and the sharp tone? Her resignation? The over presence of Martin for her career, helping her with the kids, for example the doll, the auction?

10. The humour and contribution of such scenes an the auction and Janice's managing of it? The songs, the games? The hospital sequences?

11. The more serious tone with the arrival of the guardian, the children's hostility, the court sequences and the ruling of the judge and his harsh comments on them?

12. The happy ending, the boy talking? The themes of family, foster parents. love, career? The religious overtones?