THE GUARDIAN
US, 1984, 102 minutes, Colour.
Martin Sheen, Louis Gossett Jr, Arthur Hill.
Directed by David Greene.
The Guardian is a strong telemovie which focuses on American urban violence and the consequences for ordinary citizens in apartment blocks. The setting for this story is New York City.
The screenplay was written by Richard Levinson and William Link, prominent television producers and writers (Rehearsal for Murder, and the interesting focus on violence in the media, The Storyteller).
Martin Sheen stars as a television director, an ordinary citizen with his family, menaced by junkies and thieves. Louis Gossett Jnr (just after his stern role in An Officer and a Gentleman) is the ruthless security man who becomes the people's guardian. Arthur Hill is a doctor who speaks for ordinary people.
The material is familiar: the threats to citizens in their homes, the junkies and the thieves in the New York streets, the citizens afraid but not knowing what to do, the ruthless guardian who employs tactics that make him similar to the criminals. There is an ambiguous ending as the guardian rescues the Sheen character who has seen the danger in the situation.
1. Interesting telemovie? Contemporary situations? Violence in the American cities? For the home audience? The writing of Levinson and Link and their television background?
2. The authentic city locations, apartment blocks, Queens and the ugliness of New York streets? Musical score?
3. The atmosphere of fear, violence, threats? The audience identifying with the characters?
4. The violent attacks, the two thugs in the apartment building, getting in, the gun at the apartment, their fears, being chased, shootings? The junkies, the thieves? The gang in Queens attacking Charlie?
5. Individuals and their families, the apartment blocks, fears, dangers, meetings, the voicing of difficulties, angers? Administration unable to help? The need for security?
6. Charlie, his family, love for his son, his wife, the home sequences, television directing, discussions about security guardians? The meeting, voicing his opinions? the encounter with John, support of him, discussions about his weapons, John's ready answers, Charlie's suspicions? Not wanting John to be with his son, the photos? His making inquiries of John, of the police? His calling the meeting, wanting John dismissed, seeing him as mentally and emotionally disturbed? His anger with John, the phone call, the taxi to Queens, the attack by the gang, his fear and whimpering, rescued by John? John taking him home, his going to work, John opening the door and Charlie thanking him? The sketch of his wife, the son and his friendship with John?
7. John, his appearance and style? Background? Talking to the apartment-dwellers, the explanations of security, highlighting their breaches of security? His weapons, the strong attacks on the delivery boy? Rudi and his injuries? Charlie's complaints? His having answers to every question? His control over the tenants, appearing in their apartments? Ida in the park? His relationship with Charlie's son? Not coming to the meeting? The tenants in support of him? His strong rescuing of Charlie? Keeping his position? Control of everyone? Was he mentally disturbed?
8. Dr Julian and his wife, their opinions, the cynical touch, support of John, defending him at the end? The other members of the apartment block? Their fears, the couple attacked at the beginning? At the meetings, their clashes with Charlie and his ideas?
9. The threats in the modern city: junkies and the need for money for drugs, thieves, black and Hispanic gangs? Impotence of the police? Atmosphere of fear? Need for justice?
10. The ambiguity of the characterisations - neither black nor white, John as guardian and as menace and controller?
