MARTHA – MEET FRANK, DANIEL AND LAURENCE

UK, 1998, 88 minutes, Colour.
Monica Potter, Joseph Fiennes, Rufus Sewell, Tom Hollander, Ray Winstone.
Directed by Nick Hamm.

Martha – Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence is a light romantic comedy. It was written by Peter Morgan who went on to write a number of significant plays and films including The Deal, The Queen, The Special Relationship, The Last King of Scotland, Frost/Nixon.

American actress Monica Potter portrays a young woman who wants to escape the United States, gets the cheapest flight and finds herself on the way to London. At the airport she encounters a record executive, played by Tom Hollander, who is attracted by her and gets himself seated next to her in the plane. They seem to connect very well. When she arrives in London, he arranges for her to go to a hotel. However, she backs out of what seems to be a dangerous relationship. Tom Hollander is Daniel and he summons his friends Frank (Rufus Sewell) and Laurence (Joseph Fiennes) to discuss the situation. Frank later encounters the young woman and takes her to the Tate Modern exhibition. However, the story is told from the point of view of Daniel who is in a dilemma, confiding in a neighbour who is a psychiatrist, played by Ray Winstone. It emerges that the significant person in Martha’s life is actually Laurence whom she had met at the airport – the screenplay cleverly misleading the audience in terms of the relationships. She provides a final challenge – and, of course, Laurence is the winner. (The Americans did this kind of romantic comedy and multiple suitors with a flight attendant played by Jane Wyman in Three Guys Named Mike.)

Direction is by theatre director with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Nick Hamm, who moved to television and films including The Hole and Godsend.

1. A British romantic comedy of the 1990s?

2. The work of Peter Morgan, the sprightly dialogue, the clever plotting?

3. The scenes in Minnesota, the wide American expanses? The contrast with London, the details of the locations, the parks, the galleries, restaurants, flats? The musical score?

4. The title and the leads for a romance? Martha and her relationship with each of the three? Audiences thinking that she was relating to Daniel but was relating to Laurence?

5. Laurence, his anxieties, going to the psychiatrist, talking, the psychiatrist listening, the story and the complications – and the interruptions, audiences finally realising that Martha was at Laurence’s place?

6. Daniel, his work, the lifestyle, the record company, his wealth, the encounter with Martha at the airport, the ticket and the trick, the apology, first class and the other woman in the seat? Changing seats, talking, self-revelation, the offer of the hotel, the card?

7. Martha and her life, her job, life collapsing, leaving her apartment, leaving the US, the UK for ninety-nine dollars? Daniel and his ploy, her reaction? Her arrival at the airport?

8. Laurence, continuing his story, the audience thinking that Martha was in love with Daniel? The final revelation?

9. The meal, the arguments, the ideal woman, Laurence upset in discovering that she knew Daniel?

10. Frank, his acting, his past, his fears of performance, fighting Daniel, going to the audition, rehearsing, with the other actors, leaving and not performing, in the park, the encounter with Martha, her story, his recognising her, the argument, going to the gallery, the bet about her meeting someone, his phoning Laurence?

11. The irony of Laurence’s story, going to the airport, missing Daniel, meeting Martha, the car, the information and the announcement, the ride, talking, showing her the city, the meal at the hotel, he being the one for Martha, Daniel’s flowers?

12. Meeting Martha again, the apology, the return, tired, at home, the bond, his going to the psychiatrist, her going to sleep, seeing the photo of the friends, leaving the note?

13. The meeting with all three, the different reaction of each, Laurence and his chase, happy? Her doing the trick with the ticket – and going to Iceland?

14. A romantic comedy about love at first sight?