THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW

US, 1985, 97 minutes, Colour.
Emilio Estevez, Craig Sheffer, Kim Delaney, Jill Schoelen, Barbara Babcock, Morgan Freeman.
Directed by Christopher Cain.

That Was Then, This Is Now is the fourth film version of novels by S. E. Hinton. Francis Ford Coppola made two in quite an idiosyncratic way (with the help of Hinton): The Outsiders, Rumble fish. The film version of Tex was much more straightforward. Matt Dillon was the star of all three films.

Emilio Estevez, son of Martin Sheen, appeared in The Outsiders (as also in In The Custody Of Strangers, Repo Man, Nightmares, Breakfast Club, St. Elmo's Fire). Estevez wrote the screenplay and stars. He gives an intense performance which is well matched by The film is set in Minnesota, uses the atmosphere of Minneapolis- St. Paul for its urban story of teenagers, friendships, betrayal and growing up. These are typical S. E. Hinton themes - presented more straightforwardly than in the other films, but quite persuasively.

1. The youth film of the '80s? The comedies? Exploitation? This film as a more serious look at adolescence? For an American audience? Overseas?

2. The popularity of the writings of S. E. Hinton? Her sympathy with youth, her understanding of the problems, the outsiders, relationships, change, violence, hurt? A feminine viewpoint on male adolescence?

3. Emilio Estevez and his contribution to the film, writing, acting?

4. The atmosphere of the city. Minneapolis? Authentic atmosphere, the streets, school, homes? The musical score? The theme?

5. The title and its explanation, use by Bryon? Change, coping?

6. Friendship, growth, change? The styles of the two boys, the leader and led, age. experience, youth, tough attitudes, fights, games? The light and the serious? The two boys and the driving, sharing, hanging out together? The threats to their friendship? Upset? Intruders, reactions? Loneliness, violence? The need to break out? A variation on the American buddies theme? Needs, love, hurt?

7. The background for the two boys: the home. the sharing? Mrs. Douglas and her husband? A home.. her ease with Bryon? Taking Mark into the home? The muddle and the revelation about his parents, shooting, illegitimate, nine? The scenes at the bowling, the hospital, home and school?

8. Mark and the introduction to his personality: speeding, the car ride, dare, school, fights, dances? Terry? M and M? The fights. Mark with M and M? Kathy and her reaction, dancing, the bottle? Mark feeling more and more betrayed? The visit to Charlie, the nature of the rules, the pool? Hustling - leading to the shooting and Charlie's death? His response to Mrs. Douglas? Home? M and M and his singularity, the hideout? Being involved with the drugs? His anger and hurt at finding Bryon in bed with Katherine? The despising of Angela. cutting her hair? Bryon being bashed? Mark changing, Bryon kicking him out? The fight. the car, the police, prison? The sad story of his life? The confrontation with Bryon in prison? His future? Type, energy. spirit? The meaning of the adolescent outsider?

9. The contrast with Bryon: friendship with mark, sharing home, more balanced, the car, the bus? The friendship, tough encounters, the fights with the gang? Wanting Mark to lighten up? His friendship with M and M? His love for Kathy, visiting her home? The past friendship with Angela and the breaking of it? The gang? His mother in hospital? Bryon as polite, the influence on Mark? Mark's help about the shirt? The visits to Charlie, playing pool, the clash with the gamblers? The impact of Charlie's death? Deborah? And her grief? Kathy, the dance, fights? Angela and the cutting of the hair, bashed? The dates? Searching for M and M, finding him, his anger with Mark, ousting him? His mother's influence? Trying to soften him? The visit to prison, the talk, the final drive - like Mark driving? Lightening up?

10. Kathy as pleasant and attractive, at work in the supermarket, family, Bryon's visit? The clashes with Mark? The dance? Experiencing Mark's jealousy? M and M and his strangeness? Love for Bryon, the sexual encounter, the break between the two? The reconciliation? The comparison with Angela, old girlfriend, the break, going out with the boys, drinking, her hair, anger? The encounter at the supermarket? The contrast of the two girls?

11. Mrs. Douglas as a good woman, open-minded, hospitable to Mark, in the hospital, understanding, supporting each of the boys?

12. M & M and his place in his family, the attacks by his father? Vague, writing poetry, bashed? With mark, running away, the drugs. found, hospital? Bryon and his response to the family? The sketch of the parents?

13. The gangs. their toughness, poses, fights, bashings?

14. Charlie and the bar, a good man, wise, interest in mark and Bryon. helping them, angry with them? The pool game, his supporting them? The pathos of his death? Deborah and her love, grief?

15. The pool-players and the hustle game, their reaction to being hustled, the violence, the court case and the boys being involved?

16. The background of contemporary youth: school. clashes? Cars, hanging out? Fights? Relationships, change, taking responsibilities, growing away from each other?

17. An interesting and involving exploration of contemporary youth themes?