THE GLITTER DOME

US, 1984, 96 minutes, Colour.
James Garner, John Lithgow, Margot Kidder, Colleen Dewhurst, John Marley, Stuart Margolin.
Directed by Stuart Margolin.

The Glitter Dome is one of many film versions of Joseph Wambaugh's police novels: The New Centurions, The Choir Boys, The Onion Field, The Black Marble. The style of this film is home box office - for the television audience. Though it is frank and violent, the treatment is television-style smooth for the home audience.

The film is the work of Stuart Margolin, from The Rockford Files and many other films. He directed, scored the music, co-produced and wrote. His friend from The Rockford Files, James Garner, takes the central role (and many commented on the resemblance of the style to the television series). James Garner is perhaps a bit too cheerful to be persuasive as the world-weary Los Angeles detective.

John Lithgow (World According to Garp, Terms of Endearment, Blowout) has a good, if over-wrought role, as the buddy detective undergoing an emotional breakdown. Margot Kidder is a film star. Stuart Margolin himself is a camp Hollywood producer. Colleen Dewhurst has a strong guest role.

The film shows the ugly side of the American cities, especially Los Angeles with its film industry, fantasy - and exploitive side with child pornography.

Interesting, but not as telling as other versions of Wambaugh's novels.

1. Interesting thriller, police story? The squalid world of Los Angeles?

2. Production values: the atmosphere of Los Angeles (with Canadian locations)? Light and dark, night and day? The ugly world of the streets? The affluent world of Hollywood, producers, stars? The studios? The pornography world? How credible a real world? The musical score?

3. Impact for audiences? Home box office and gearing for home viewing? The film's resemblance to a police television series? The popular treatment, focus on plot development rather than characters and themes?

4. The world of Los Angeles: the ordinary world, the dark streets, the squalor? The comment that this was the same as anywhere? The differences - Los Angeles heightening this kind of squalor? Its effect on people? Effect on the audience?

5. James Garner as Al? His image from television series and films? His voice-over comment? A typical Joseph Wambaugh cop? The gaudy Glitter Dome and his drinking there, picking up girls - who want to pick up policemen? A burnt-out case, sexual impotence etc.? His skill at his work? Friendship with Martin - and support of him? The past marriages and break-up? The Chief and the briefing sessions? Cynical tone? Jobs, completion - often by accident? Being assigned to the’ murder investigation? His worry about Martin - his visits to the church, dreams? His sense of responsibility for him? Their work together? Friendship? The interviewing of the various suspects - the visit to the studio, the camp nephew of the producer, the black man who posed for the homosexuals, the film stars? The response to the world of the studio, filming? Enjoyment of the party? The encounter with helpful information? His ringing her at the end, disappointment in her, her coming to the Glitter Dome? The young girl caught up in the pornography world, the visits to her father, the tracking down of the photographer at the skating rink, the director, following the leads? Lorna and her protection of Jill? Her threat of libel action? The chasing of Lloyd Bozeman? Extracting the confession from the Chinese who spoke no English? Marty's death? The funeral? Farrell at the funeral and Al's pursuing him? The truth?

6. Martin and his work as a detective, the failure of his marriage, his trauma at this? The case of the father castrating his son - and its being a recurring nightmare? Catholic background? The emphasis on Catholicism, conscience, responsibility? His praying in the church? His contact with Elliott, the Mexican informer, the arrest and his being tricked into putting the finger on Elliott? Going to the cinema to warn him away? Elliot's death and his blaming himself? Participation in the interrogation? His awkwardness at the Hollywood party? The encounters with Lorna, Farrell? His awareness of the truth? The overwhelming effect and his driving his car over the cliff? A typical Wambaugh cop who cannot cope?

7. The picture of the police, the Chief and the reaction to him, Ferret and Weasel and their punk style, the stake-outs and chases? Their contribution to law and order in Los Angeles? An oppressive experience? The police on the beat - the comedian policeman stalking Bozeman up the steps - almost as if a comedy routine?

8. The world of the film studios, the extension to pornography? The snuff movie background? The photographer, the petty thief and film producer? The links with American studios and Sinclair? Jill and her work on the streets. propositioned. participating in the sado-masochist film? Her ordinary life with Lorna? Lorna being able to kill for Jill's protection? Her father actually killing for her?

9. The sketch of Lorna. care for Jill, relationships, information - and threat to the police?

10. The interview with Farrell, his appearing at the funeral. confrontation with Al, the truth?

11. The ugly American cities? Values? Loss of values? The law and order-keepers - and where do they get their help?