MAGIC MOMENTS

UK, 1989, 105 minutes, Colour.
Jenny Seagrove, John Shea, Paul Freeman.
Directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark.

Magic Moments is a British telemovie made for Yorkshire Television under the general title, Harlequin Romances. In the old days this would have been called a woman's film. However, while it. It is geared to feminine audience and sensibility, it is also geared to a wide television audience.

The film has charm, deals with romantic characters and creates a romantic, if unreal world. It is the world of television, and the magic show. John Shea exerts a grinning charm as the magician, Jenny Seagrove is suitably serious and British as the heroine. Paul Freeman (the villain in Raiders of the Lost Ark as well as Professor Moriarty in Without A Clue) glowers in a hostile role.

There are attractive London and country settings as well as much of the action taking place in Madrid. There is a romantic score. The film is based on a Harlequin novel, 'This Magic Moment,' by Nola Roberts.

1. Attractive romance? Harlequin romance story? For what audience was the film geared?

2. The glamorous and glossy style? London, the English countryside, Madrid and Spain? Musical score, theme song?

3. The title, the emphasis on magic and conjuring, hypnosis, magic moments of love?

4. The plausibility of the plot: Melanie and her career, relationship with her father, falling in love with Troy, hypnosis, Troy and his career, love and commitment?

5. The credits, the opening performance, Melanie in the audience and attracted, Troy and his skill, his sly glances to Melanie, falling in love?

6. Melanie as self-possessed, her relationship with Brian, the plan for the TV show, going to visit Troy, attracted, storm, her return, staying the night, the contract, his clause for her to produce? Brian and his hostile reaction? The phone calls, his jealousy? Melanie going to Madrid, the rash judgment about Troy and the accusations of molestation? in love, talking, sharing, walking? Preparing the programme? Brian and the file? her drinking, upset, the talk wit Beth? The clashes with Lee? The truth about Troy, the apology, making Brian apologise? In love, the relationship? Brian as her stepfather? The television special, the dare for the special escape? Her worry? The success that she marry Troy? Their future?

7. Troy and his skills, Lee and Beth and entourage, the attraction towards Melanie, her arrival at his house, the conjuring with the pigeons and the rose, trying to enchant her? The meal, providing the storm, her staying the night, gentlemanly behaviour, the contract and the flames? Taking her to the restaurant, the heart charm in the champagne bottle? Going to Madrid, sharing, talking, in love? The clash over the file? His drinking, Lee training him to be sober, the lighting of the pyre and his slow escape? The build up to the television show? The dare of the three safes, his motivation, the performance, the ending and his being disguised as the doctor? In love? A future?

8. Brian and his possessiveness with Melanie, their work, watching her, suspicions, surveillance in Spain, bringing the file, her making him make the apology, the television show, wishing Troy were dead, his disappointment at the end?

9. Lee and his help, telling his story to Melanie, drugs and alcohol, Troy helping him together, his music and song, in love with Beth, Melanie's help, the flowers? Helping Troy to be sober? Beth and her help, love for Lee, the flowers? her fears with the final escape?

10. The world of television and producers, audiences, sensations ? keep on filming?

11. The magic, hypnosis, the attraction of the magic show, seeing what we want to see?

12. A pleasing Harlequin romance, the touch of the soap opera, the strength of the actors and their characters bringing soap opera to life? Values and relationships?