DANGEROUS PURSUIT

US, 1989, 95 minutes, Colour.
Gregory Harrison, Alexandra Powers, Robert Prosky.
Directed by Sandor Stern.

Dangerous Pursuit is an enjoyable, if routine, American telemovie of the late '80s. It is the story of a young woman who rebels against a very domineering father (Robert Prosky) and a loving but docile mother. She moves to New York to a topless bar and has a sexual encounter with a businessman - accepts money for it (for which she is ashamed afterwards and this has an effect on her willingness or unwillingness to become pregnant).

The client turns out to be a paid assassin (Gregory Harrison). She and her friend leave New York after giving information to the police and go to Portland, Oregon, where she makes a new life. She gets married. Three years later she encounters the assassin again, who is to kill a South American dignitary in Portland. The expected melodramatics ensue, especially as regards her policeman husband to whom she has not told the truth.

The film tries to do something more with its themes, especially in elaborating the tensions between daughter and father and the repercussions on her relationship with her husband.

1. The title, expectations? Fulfilment? Action and melodrama and excitement? Blended with personal and domestic themes?

2. The New York settings, the contrast with Portland, Oregon and ordinary life? Musical score?

3. The plot and its treatment designed for the home audience? Easy entertainment with serious themes?

4. The film as the story of Jo: her anger with her father and his brusqueness with her, not affirming her? Her friendship with Penny? In New York, at the topless bar, the clients, the drugs? Her decision to go with the client and try prostitution? Her wanting to go home, the brutal encounter with the client? Discovering his guns? The news and her realisation that he had assassinated the bishop? Telling the police, Penny's anxiety? Their escaping from New York? The three years passing and her transformation? Appearance, working in the office and liking her work? The continued friendship with Penny? Her marriage to Frank, their relationship, her nightmares, going to the doctor, concerned about pregnancy, his advice to go to the psychiatrist, her being unwilling? The encounter with the assassin? Her anxiety, discussing it with Penny and Penny trying to argue her out of it? Getting the secretary to investigate? Talking with him, following him, finding out what he was Portland for, the possible assassination, Frank and his being on police duty? Their being recognised, the visit of her mother and father, the dinner, her father's rudeness and her anger? The news of Penny's death? The encounter with the killer, his following her? Her telling the truth to Peter, trying to cope with her husband? Eventually telling him? His dismay and her running out? The chase, in the water, the gift of the salamander and her wounding him, her almost being killed and his death? Frank's support? Hope for the future and a relationship based on truth?

5. Penny, loud, friendship in New York, on the game? Leaving New York, the hairdressing work in Oregon? Support of Jo, the friendship, disbelieving? Her death?

6. Frank, the police, friendship with Peter, the tension about the pregnancy, ringing the doctor, questions about the psychiatrist, concern about the nightmares? His not being promoted? The envy of Peter? Jo not being able to tell him the truth? His concern, Jo telling him the truth, his inability to respond? Peter persuading him that Jo loved him and his pursuit of the killer, shooting him?

7. Peter, friendship, rivalry with Frank, getting the promotion, listening to Jo's story, trying to persuade Frank to support her?

8. Bill, alcoholic, the verbally brutal father? His humiliating his daughter? Jo's mother and her support, not wanting to live alone, putting up with Bill? The dinner sequence?

9. The people at the office? The police?

10. The portrait of the assassin: in the topless bar, picking up the girls, his businesslike attitude, the guns, the assassination? Being informed on, pursuing the girls but losing them? The chance encounter in Portland, the officers, no equipment, concealing his tracks, Jo finding out the truth? His recognising Penny, the pursuit? Terrorising Jo, his death?

11. Entertaining action melodrama? Family themes?