CRAWLSPACE

US, 1971, 74 minutes, Colour.
Teresa Wright, Arthur Kennedy, Tom Harper, Gene Roche.
Directed by John Newland.

Crawlspace is an offbeat, unpredictable telemovie (one of the earliest of the telemovies, 1971). It is the story of two retired people who encounter a wandering young man and invite him into their home - with surprising results in terms of friendship as well as hostility and disaster. The film is very well-acted by Arthur Kennedy and Teresa Wright as the couple.

The film has the atmosphere of the early '70s, elderly people living alone, the drug culture emerging with young people wandering the roads, the antagonism of a small town residents to outsiders. The film is strong in atmosphere, character portrayal and dramatic clashes.

1. An interesting and enjoyable film? Offbeat? Unpredictable? Character study? Melodramatic situations and tension?

2. The film designed as a telemovie for the home audience? Quick delineation of place, character, situation? The build-up of atmosphere? The development of the plot? Confrontations and
heightened conclusion?

3. Location photography, the small town, the seasons? The Graves house? Interiors, exteriors? The streets, the roads and highways, the town's shop? Special effects? The musical score
for atmosphere?

4. The title and its reference to the home, animals trapped in the crawlspace and dying, decaying? The crawlspace for Richard - and its symbolism for what happened? And his effect on the house and the household?

5. The portrait of Albert and Alice? The retired couple? Health? Relatives? Their quiet life? The encounter with Richard in his work around the house? His invitation to the meal by Alice? Albert lending him Blake's poems? Their disappointment at his disappearance? His return, coming into the cellar, their fears. getting used to his presence? His living in the crawlspace? Their puzzle about his origins, behaviour? Providing him with meals and hospitality after initially locking him out? His filling a void in their lives since they had no children? The comments about their childless state - and Alice's relatives' comments? Albert going down and talking to him without answer? The invitation to the Christmas Eve meal, the suit? His arrival, sharing with them? His love and dependence? Listening to the records? Albert trusting him with the car after he did the chopping of the wood? The aftermath of his confrontation in the town and the loss of the $20? Defending him after the ruining of the shop? The response to his telling the truth? The beginnings of fear? Their going for the enjoyable two days and returning to find the house in disarray? Alice's abhorrence of Richard? His reaction? The taunting of the young people from the town? The axe killing? His hiding in the house? Albert telling the police about the cave? The confrontation in the cellar, the attack on Alice, Albert's having to shoot him? The irony of the discussions with the police? Albert's heart attack, Alice's grief, Richard's death? A sombre ending?

6. The portrait of Richard - mysterious, genial, doing the handyman job, borrowing the book of poems, his attachment to the family, his coming in the night, his being locked out and his writing 'God' on the cellar door? His living in the crawlspace? The explanation of his way of life, living in the cave, surviving, his fears of people, wanting to be safe? His being protective of Albert and Alice? Going into town, his being taunted by the young people? His vengeance on the shop? His telling the truth? The confrontation after the chase on the road? The killing with the axe? His fear that Albert and Alice would leave him? The pathos of his death?

7. The sketch of the policeman and his concern, wanting to do his job, protecting the residents of the town? suspicious of outsiders? The young man in the shop and the others taunting Richard? The old man with the hearing aid and the ruining of his shop? The attack by the youngsters and the violent repercussions?

8. A portrait of American life, the old traditions, the suspicions moving to hospitality. the need for affection. the giving of love, the disillusionment and fear, the destruction?