SOAPDISH
US, 1991, 97 minutes, Colour.
Sally Field, Kevin Kline, Robert Downey Jr, Cathy Moriarty, Elizabeth Shue, Whoopi Goldberg, Teri Hatcher, Garry Marshall, Kathy Najimy.
Directed by Michael Hoffman.
Soapdish is a spoof of television and soap operas. It shows us a soap opera in action – but is more interested in the soap opera antics of the performers when they are not on screen. They are parodied in their vanity, their security in being in a soap opera that has a long run, the jealousies and rivalries, the manipulation of the producer and the director as well as the screenwriter.
Sally Field enjoys herself as Celeste, the star of a very long-running soap opera. She believes in her own publicity, is always assisted by her writer, Whoopi Goldberg, and takes refuge in going to shopping malls in New Jersey to be acclaimed by Whoopi, in order to gather a crowd around her. Kevin Kline portrays her former lover, sacked from the soap opera out of jealousy, performing in Florida in theatre restaurants with Death of a Salesman. He is invited to come back onto the soap opera, which causes a number of crises. Robert Downey Jr is the producer who is infatuated with one of the character actors, played by Cathy Moriarty, who in a twist at the end turns out to be a transsexual. In the meantime, Elizabeth Shue as Sally Field’s niece, gets a part in the soap opera, is hailed a success and begins to act like her aunt. In supporting roles are Teri Hatcher as another jealous actress, Garry Marshall as the CEO of the company, Kathy Najimy as a costumer.
The film was directed by Michael Hoffman, who made a variety of films including A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Emperor’s Club, Restoration, The Last Station, the story of Leo Tolstoy.
1. Soap operas, their popularity? The television style? Their content? Audiences and expectations of soap operas?
2. The film as a spoof of soap operas, the scenes from the soap opera itself, the glitz of the awards, the speeches, the mock humility? Behind the scenes, the fights, the plots, the jealousies? The business bosses and their decisions? The writers and their contriving plots, plot twists? The title?
3. The strength of the cast? Their ability with comedy, timing, satire?
4. New York City, the studios, the offices, the sets for the soap opera, the streets of New York, the New Jersey malls, Florida and the theatre restaurants?
5. The tone, the awards ceremony, Leeza Gibbons from Entertainment Tonight, the crowds, the stars on the red carpet, the faces and glamour, real stars, the interviews? Laura and her wanting to be in the crowd, to see Celeste? The table at the awards ceremony, the scenes shown, the announcement, Celeste and her winning, the speeches, the reactions?
6. Celeste, on the show for twenty years, her apartment, her partner gone, the message on the answering machine, being upset and her tantrum?
7. The introduction to Jeffrey, in Florida, his dressing room, his acting the part of a great star, Death of a Salesman, the audiences eating and not listening, his being upset? David and his visit, flattering Jeffrey, persuading him to come to New York?
8. Montana, tough, her intrigues, her plots with Ariel? Her leading David on, tantalising him, getting him to improve her roles, her being anti-Celeste?
9. Rose and her writing, her friendship with Celeste, taking a bow at the ceremony, always protecting Celeste, going to New Jersey, calling out and gathering the crowds around her, the activities behind her back, for the ousting of Celeste?
10. The boss, Edmund Edwards, the board, David and his arrival, the speeches, Rose and her being ignored, the plans, the money issues? The decisions about Celeste, his being an opportunist, the disaster of the revelations, seeing them as good publicity, watching the finale and being fascinated?
11. David, marriage, the infatuation with Montana, agreeing to her conditions, part of the plots, being interviewed by Leeza Gibbons, his being sounded out by her?
12. Laura, her interview with the agent, getting the job, being part of the soap opera scene, being a mute, the plan for her to kill Celeste, the soup kitchen, talking with Celeste, the reunion, staying with her, her ambitions, becoming new Celeste, her dating Jeffrey, infatuation with him, discussions, the kiss?
13. Celeste on set, the dresser and her tantrums about turbans, about dresses? Relying on Rose? Arguing with David, David manipulating her, her finally supporting him? Seeing Jeffrey and fainting? Together, kneeing him? The antagonism?
14. Celeste and her being upset, following Jeffrey, stranded on the drainpipe, Jeffrey taking her in, the kiss, the expose? Her behaviour on set, Leeza Gibbons watching, everything being taped?
15. Jeffrey, his reaction, Laura and her reaction, anger with Celeste?
16. Celeste, the confrontation with Edmund, the build-up to the final scene, mixing the soap opera, with improvisations, with reality?
17. The revelation about Montana – and her later playing Death of a Salesman in theatre restaurants?
18. The awards, the happy ending – the reconciliation, Jeffrey as Laura’s father, the rest of the cast and the soap opera continuing?
19. A piece of froth, an expose, not anything new, but entertaining all the same?
