PAPER MOON

US, 1973, 102 minutes, Black and White.
Ryan O'Neal, Tatum O'Neal.
Directed by Peter Bogdanovich.

Paper Moon proved to be a very enjoyable comedy and a good example of what can be done when Hollywood goes for the nostalgia vein. One of the most striking features of the film is the performance of Tatum O'Neal , acting confidently along with her father. She won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for 1973.

The film was written by former film critic Peter Bogdanovich who has proved to be a competent director whose films generally have been modelled in style and tone on some of the classics of the past. Targets (1968) had a horror film background; The Last Picture Show (1971) was an ironic comment on the changes in the American west. What's Up Doc was one of the best comedies. Daisy miller was an elegant version of a Henry James novella.

Paper Moon has a Depression setting (is photographed and given musical background accordingly) and evokes well the atmosphere of the 30's.

1. Why was this film so easy to take? Why so enjoyable? Was it a valuable film? Was it a well-made film? Why? With which character did the audience identify most? Why?

2. How central to the film was Addie? Did the film explain what kind of a little girl she was? Her appearance at the funeral, her relationship to her mother and her mother's career, the incidents that had made up her life, the fact that she was a tomboy, the fact that she was so shrewd? Her need for a father and her identification of Mose as her father? Her relationships with Mose and her conning him? Attitude to the various people buying the bibles? Growing dependence on Mose and her hold over him with the money? Jealousy of Trixie, friendship with Trixie's maid? How did she change during the film? Did she grow up at all? Did she learn something of love?

3. How attractive a hero was Mose Prey? what kind of a conman? Did you disapprove of him at all? Was he really Addie's father? How clever was he in his conning tricks? Why was he outwitted by Addie? Did he use her too much in various tricks, for example, the switching of notes in the drapery shop, at the fair? How did he grow in love for Addie and dependence on her? Did he realise what he was doing to her when he took up with Trixie Delight? His handing her back to her Aunt and Uncle? Why did he wait at the end? The impact of the paper moon with Addie by herself? What future did Afose and Addie have together?

4. How attractive were the con-tricks? How skilfully were they done? Did they victimise people? Was this ignored in the film? The morality of their tricksterism? As a part of the Depression atmosphere? Was the film asking us to approve them or not?

5. Comment on the film's use of the Depression backgrounds? Its use of the nostalgia element for the audience, romanticising the past. Was the film better in black and white than in colour? Why? How well did the film use the music and the songs? The significance of the Paper Moon song? The atmosphere of Jack Benny on the radio, the types of cars, the towns, the roads, the shops, the shop assistants, garage assistants, waitresses?

6. How important was Trixie Delight in the film? Did she explain herself well in her confrontation with Addie? How was she being satirised? How sympathetic was Madeline Kahn's performance? Especially in her confrontation of Addie on the hill? Her trying to get something out of life? Did you feel sorry for her when she was victimised? The fact is that she fell for Addie's tricks.

7. How important a character was Imogene? As black relating with a white girl? Her relationship with Trixie? Her poverty situation? Her style? Her entering into tricking Trixie?

8. How enjoyable were the adventures towards the end of the film? Did it make the film more serious? The bootleg atmosphere etc... the bashings? Did they fit into the framework of the film? The exploitation of the bootleggers by Mose and Addie? The implication of the sheriff being in league with the bootleggers? The importance of the chase? (How good a chase was this for the film?) The reality of the bashings and the losing of money?

9. How much sentiment was there in the film? Too much? Just right? How did the film balance sentiment and humour and realism? What values were presented in the film? On being human? Relationships? Needs? of people relating to their situations?