A TIGER'S TAIL
US, 1987, 97 minutes, Colour.
Ann- Margret, C.Thomas Howell, Charles Durning, Kelly Preston.
Directed by Peter Douglas.
A Tiger's Tail is the story of a 19-year-old young man and his falling in love with a middle-aged woman. It all takes place in a small Texas town where everybody knows everybody else.
C. Thomas Howell tries to make the young man credible. Ann Margret brings her talent to the role of the middle-aged woman, trying to bring up an unwieldy daughter (Kelly Preston) and falling in love with this young man, having to face a decision about the future. Charles Durning is the young man's father.
The film creates the atmosphere of the small town, draws its characters quite sharply - and raises the emotional and moral issues. The film was written and directed by Peter Douglas, one of Kirk Douglas's sons.
1.A film about relationships, commitment and marriage? Comic treatment?
2.The atmosphere of the town, the details of its life, style? Musical score and songs?
3.The title, the literal application, the tiger in the film, Bubba's pet, having to give him up? The symbol of Rose as a tiger - and needing to be freed?
4.The portrait of Bubba: his story, his age and experience, wanting to be a vet, handling animals? Playing with the tiger, being wounded, going to the hospital? His friendship with Rose? Outings with Shirley, her precocious attitudes, wanting to compromise him with her mother? Their arguments? His meeting Rose, the discussions, the affair - infatuation and seduction? Shirley and her complaints about her mother's behaviour? Pop, his arguments, support? Claudine and her arrival in the house? The sexual experiences, the aftermath? Rose and her advice? The dance, the boys, the fight, Rose rescuing him? Going home, his seductive behaviour? Acting older? Pop and the truce about the morals? On the drive-in hill, the chase with the tiger? The question of pregnancy diaphragm? Rose's pregnancy, the discussion about abortion, his accompanying her to the clinic, taking the responsibility? The argument with the couple and the mother who wanted the abortion? Rose's leaving and going through her pregnancy? His living in, his jealousy, attacking the car? Going away, Shirley's return and her being more peaceful? Their both helping Rose in her pregnancy? The tiger growing up, going away to free it, Rose accompanying him? The decision to go to college, to go to California, his hitchhiking - and Rose picking him up? Did they have a future together?
5.Rose as a nurse, her divorce, marrying at 19? Clashes with her ex-husband? The fights with Shirley, Shirley trying to be provocative? Her friendship with Bubba, and the clashes with Shirley? At the hospital, the lunch, their sexual encounter? Her trying to make a decision? Stopping her drinking and smoking? Going to the dance, the drive-in? The clash with her husband and his girlfriend? Shirley's tantrum and going away? Bubba living in, her pregnancy, anger at Bubba, going to the clinic, her disgust at the woman and her arguments for the abortion? Shirley's return, being calmer? Cashing her ex-husband's cheques? Going to free the tiger? Her decision to leave? Bubba and his notices, picking him up on the road?
6.Shirley, her age, her absent father, provocative to her mother? The arguments? Leading Bubba on, trying to get caught by her mother? Standards? The boys, Randy? The drive-in, the dance? Her father's coming, going away with him, her anger with him, the girlfriend shooting him? Her return, becoming calmer? Helping her mother? Love for Randy, living with him, the plan to marry? The phase that she went through?
7.Pop, selling gas, the animals, the snakes, his relationship with Bubba, bringing him up? His friend, bringing Claudine? Arguments, the dance? The comments about Rose's pregnancy, the illegitimate grandfather? The tiger destroying the dog? His advising the tiger be freed? The ending and his letting his son go?
8.Randy, the boys in the town, their attacks on Bubba? Randy and Shirley? Together? The doctor at the hospital, his spiel about dealing with women?
9.The theme of pregnancy and abortion? The clinic, the selfish woman and her discussion with her husband? Rose's reaction and keeping her baby?
10.Themes of love and relationships, commitment? Audience presuppositions about the younger man with the older woman? Behaviour, morals? Did the couple have a future?
