SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY
US, 1987, 94 minutes, Colour.
Jaclyn Smith, David Dukes, Cyd Charisse, Maureen Stapleton.
Directed by James Goldstone.
Sentimental Journey is a human interest telemovie. It is based loosely on the John Payne-Maureen? O'Hara film of 1946, directed by Walter Lang. This was remade by Henry Koster as The Gift of Love in the '50s with Lauren Bacall and Robert Stack. It focuses on an adopted child, the love of the parents, the death of one of the parents and their presence afterwards.
This is a vehicle for Jaclyn Smith. She is supported, well by David Dukes and by an attractive, if precocious, young girl.
The film has a New York theatrical background, is full of sentiment and warmth, is geared for the widest possible television audience. There is an enjoyable supporting performance by Maureen Stapleton.
1. The impact of this telemovie? Style? Gloss? Sentiment?
2. The film for the home audience? Adaptation of character and themes for the widest possible audience? For emotional response? Understanding?
3. The New York locations, affluent backgrounds, the theatre, performance? The musical score?
4. The title and the reference to the '40s film? The tone of the title?
5. The opening with the theatre performance, New York theatre, plays, production, rehearsals, tantrums? First night, success, reading the reviews? Award nominations? The ethos of the theatre? As a setting for the film,?
6. The portrait of Julie, her success, her relationship with Bill and his success? The desire to adopt a child? Their scenes together, love, friendship, hopes?
7. Bill, his performance, acclaim? Love for Julie? The question of children? in the park, the encounter with Libby, the talk about Camelot, its imagery? Returning Libby to the group, the visit to the orphanage, the possibility of adoption, discussions with Julie, taking Libby home?
8. Libby and her past, her mother abandoning her, the attraction towards Bill, the Camelot imagination, sharing, going home, resisting Julie, Bill and the fable about the dog and the mutual love? Growing together?
9. The sadness of Bill's death, the accident? The effect on Julie, her grief? Bill's presence to Libby? The milk and the cookie? The clashes with Julie? The discussions about Bill and his presence? Not talking? The party, the gift? Returning to the orphanage? Running away? Going back to Central Park and the castle?
10. Julie and her grief, giving up, the Tony Award nominations, opting out? Her decision to seek Libby?
11. The home sequences, Ruth and her help, the party? Alicia and her friendship, her course?
12. Ruth and the theatre world? Her friendship? Aunt? The various personalities around the theatre, interactions, rehearsals, clashes? Their treatment of Libby?
13. Relationships, love, hurt, the reality and acceptance of death?
