THE TELEPHONE
US, 1988, 82 minutes, Colour.
Whoopi Goldberg, Rip Torn, Amy Wright, Severn Darden, John Heard, Elliot Gould.
Directed by Rip Torn.
The Telephone was intended as a one-woman show for the talents of Whoopi Goldberg. However, the film is considered a disaster – and Goldberg is said to have wanted to sue to prevent the film from being released.
The screenplay is by songwriter Harry Nilsson and satirist Terry Southern (Dr Strangelove, The Magic Christian). The film is directed by actor Rip Torn.
Whoopi Goldberg appears as an out-of-work actress with psychological problems. She is at home, speaks a great deal on the telephone and has a succession of visitors played by Severn Darden, Amy Wright, Elliot Gould and John Heard.
Goldberg is a talented actress and tries her best to make her character come alive and to make the encounters and her desperation interesting. However, the film is rather hard going.
1.An interesting concept? The quality of the execution of the idea? The one-woman show? The value of this kind of performance on stage? On screen?
2.The writers and their contribution? Satire, psychological insight? - or not?
3.The room and its décor? The action taking place mainly within the room? The need for fluid camera movements? The range of close-ups and medium shots and editing? Musical score?
4.The strength of the cast and their cameo performances?
5.The credibility of the piece? The characters? Vashti? The interactions? Her desperation?
6.Whoopi Goldberg and her screen presence? Developing her character? Background, actress, out of work, the desperation? The visit with the actor and the interchange? The agent? The girl? The phone man? Their being foils for her performance?
7.The actor, agent, girl, phone man as characters in themselves? The stars and their performances? Interactions?
8.The character of Vashti: talkative, the range of her moods, the bird, the monologues, the character and expressions? Her range of voices: parody of Irish, English, the Queen? Guests? Supermarket and cigarettes? Priest and confession? Jive? A showcase for Whoopi Goldberg’s impersonations?
9.The overall impact of the film? Plot, characters, Goldberg?
