A SPECIAL FRIENDSHIP
US, 1985, 95 minutes, Colour.
Tom Aldredge, Richard Brooks, Le Var Burton, Tracy Pollan, Josef Sommer.
Directed by Fielder Cook.
A Special Friendship is a telemovie based on a true story during the civil war. It focuses on the friendship between a young white girl and the black slave who is bought by her family in Richmond Virginia in the 1840s. By the time of the war, the girls have grown up and the father of the family has freed his slaves. The Van Lew family is consequently not popular in Richmond, especially with the outbreak of the Civil War.
Both girls act as spies for the Union during the war and the film is interesting, highlighting the possibilities for espionage in the war - especially for the sake of abolition and the preservation of the Union.
The film is quite well acted, attractively mounted - but, avoiding much of the squalor of the par, it looks more like a Readers Digest version of the events. The film is directed by Fielder Cook, a specialist in telemovies.
1. Interesting telemovie? For the wide home audience? A piece of Americana?
2. Virginia in the 19th century, Richmond Virginia and wealthy society, the families, the slaves? The contrast with Philadelphia? the atmosphere of the Civil War? Musical Score?
3. The title, the focus on the friendship between Elizabeth and Mary, origins, slavery, racial prejudice, friendship transcending bigotry, education and learning, opportunities? in the war itself, each helping the Union side? Mary's saving Elizabeth’s life? Importance of the afterword - the reputation of Elizabeth Van Lew, post mistress in Richmond? Mary's disappearance and the monument to her?
4. The background of slavery, auctions? treatment of the slaves? The attitude of the owners? The atmosphere of the auction, Mr Van Lew and Elizabeth, her interest in Mary, the bidding for the family? Elizabeth taking Mary into the carriage? The parents walking behind? Life on the Van Lew property? Mary and Elizabeth as friends, Elizabeth educating Mary, sharing the lessons? her reaction to her mother? Her mother being from the North, helping the father to realise that the slaves must be freed? The father's death, reading of the will, the freeing of the slaves?
5. Elizabeth, going to college, the friendship with Mary? Her education? The return, her father's death, her grief? Using the money to educate Mary? The clashes with her mother? her place in Virginia society, her well known views, her attraction to Tom, his later criticism of them (and his not reporting her when she sheltered the soldier, his later interrogation of her)? going to parties, the applause for confederate victories? Being snubbed by the church group? The approach by Quacker, her sending him away, going to the bakery, motivation for espionage? The bakery, taking the bread to the Union lines? The visits to the prisons? The escape, sheltering the prisoner, caught by Tom, being let go? The visits to General Winder and getting his help? set-up, her giving of the information? arrest, the interrogation? The evidence not proving her guilty and her being allowed to go, her reunion with her mother and Mary, her defiance outside her house? Portrait of a patriot as well as a woman with social conscience?
6. Mary, her future as a slave, friendship with Elizabeth, the education and her memory? Being freed? Going to Philadelphia, enjoying school, her memory and capacity for learning? The Shakespearean performance and her meeting Ben, friendship, love, the marriage? His signing up and her return in Richmond? the household, Elizabeth and the decision she go to Jefferson Paris's home? Her angry reaction, Elizabeth's apology? in Davis’ household, pretending not to read, gaining the information, the boy reading it out? Her taking it to the Union headquarters, avoiding the massacre? reconciliation with Elizabeth, the sadness of Ben's death? the significance of her speech outside the house and the urging of people to live with one another?
7. Mr and Mrs Van Lew, the south, ethos, slaves, ideas from the North? Mr Van Lew’s death and the freeing of the slaves? Mrs Van Lew supporting her daughter? Snubbed, concern about the espionage? The finale?
8. Richmond society, slavery, fear of the north? Treatment of the slaves? The Jefferson Davis household, Davis being President, his wife and her attitudes? Treatment of slaves?
9. General Winder, the confederate army, his giving permission to Elizabeth? Suspicions of her, the set-up, his having to let her go? Tom and his patriotism?
10. Union soldiers, headquarters and the general? Prisons, escape? Humanitarian acts in the south for similar treatment in the North?
11. The glossy presentation of the story and characters? Suggestions of the horrors of war, anti-war speeches and sentiments? Insights into racial bigotry? Waging of the war? Abolition?
