MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD
US, 1983, 99 minutes, Colour.
Martin Sheen, Blythe Danner, David Hemmings, Craig T. Nelson.
Directed by Dick Richards.
Man, Woman and Child is a pleasing family soap opera from the pen of Erich Segal (Love Story). The film has popular television ingredients and style: the affluent family, a deep secret, its revelation, conflict and resolution. It is all presented in a romantic light, smooth and colourful locations, an affluent world. The film has a score by George Delerue.
Martin Sheen and Blythe Danner do very well in the central roles. David Hemmings has an oddball supporting role which he does in an oddball way. The film is pleasing of its kind - though it is also the kind of tearjerker that critics can scorn cheerfully.
1. Enjoyable and entertaining soap opera? A family weepy? Melodramatics? A film for the widest audience? images, insight?
2. The perspective of Erich Segal and his love stories? Reality and unreality? Elements of truth? Of perennial conflict? The generic focus of the title?
3. American locations, the world of academia, suburbia? The 'typical' American family? Lush visual style? 1,1usical score? The contrast with France and its beauty? A 'pretty' film?
4. The portrait of the American family: the place of mother and father, love for children? Traditional values? Home lifestyle and details? The secret, the disruption? The reality of the changed situation? Bob having to look at himself, his relationship with Sheila, his memories of the lyrical idyll, the reason for it, the consequences with the birth of Jean-Claude?
5. Martin Sheen as Bob: pleasant man, father, husband? Academic work? Friendships, colleagues? The relationship with Sheila and his daughters?
6. The information from France and its effect on him? His telling Sheila? Coping with her reaction? His own self examination? The plan for Jean-Claude? to come to America rather than Bob go to France? The tension for the arrival, Jean-Claude? in himself, the effect on Bob, the effect on Sheila and her not liking him? His discovery of the
truth about his parent? The pressure on the boy?
7. The insertion of the subplot about Gavin Wilson? Sheila's work on his book, his flirting with her, proposing? Her turning him down? the failed meal? Sheila and her commonsense, hurt, seeing Jean Claude as the son she never gave to Bob? Advice from Margot? The clash with Bob and the possibilities for resolution?
8. Gavin Wilson as a celebrity, type, attracted towards Sheila, flirting with her, propositioning her? Margot and her sophisticated back ground, worldly advice?
9. The Ackermans and their friendship, colleagues? Their son and his knowledge of the truth? Hearing it from his parents? His telling the girls? The consequences?
10. The situation viewed from the point of view of the children: the girls, Davey and Jean Claude playing, joy with each other, a happy holiday? The failed meal with Jean Claude preparing it? The truth and his running away? The reconciliation with Bob? The reconciliation at the airport ? and the promises of holidays to come?
11. The credibility of the reconciliation? Sad, emotionally satisfying at a popular level?
