BAXTER

UK, 1973, 100 minutes, Colour.
Scott Jacoby, Patricia Neal, Jean- Pierre Cassell, Lynn Carlin, Britt Ekland, Sally Thomsett.
Directed by Lionel Jeffries.

Baxter is a fine film indeed and can be widely recommended. It is very entertaining and at the same time has an important message and is very moving.

Roger (he says "Woger") Baxter is a twelve year old victim of a broken marriage, hail-fellow-well-met father and bitter self-centred mother (strongly played by Lynn Carlin). For the first time in his life he discovers what it is to be liked loved and be happy. Some of these sequences are very delightful and memorable.

Nevertheless, the pressures build up and are too much for him. In trying to recover, he is aided by a speech therapist, played by Patricia Neal. The mood of the film by this time has become very sombre.

Well acted and directed by actor Lionel Jeffries (who also directed The Railway Children). Baxter is a film well worth seeing.

1. Why was this film so popular?

2. Was Roger Baxter a credible character? How typical was he of the troubles of today's families?

3. Did you sympathise with Baxter? Why? How did Scott Jacoby's performance contribute to this?

4. What details built up the reality of Baxter - the plane trip, (money down the toilet), his letter, his speech defect, the flat in London, school interchange etc?

5. What was your verdict on Mr. and Mrs. Baxter? Who was more to blame for Roger final breakdown - the self-centred, ill-tempered possessiveness of his mother or the jolly casual neglect by his father? Why? How did Roger relate to each of them? Did he love either of them? Did this change during the film? (Why had the marriage broken up? why did Mrs Baxter go to London - for Roger's benefit? The phone calls to his father?).

6. How sophisticated was Roger? How well could he see what was wrong with himself, his parents, his situation?

7. Why was Lynn Carlin's performance as Mrs Baxter so convincing and so real? What was it about her that made her the failed mother?

8. What did Dr Clemm contribute to Roger's growth - the initial sympathy, a refuge to go to, a strength to withstand his mother, a hope for ultimate rehabilitation? Did Patricia Neal's performance make Dr Clemm a convincing therapist and show her as really caring for Roger?

9. Why were the sequences with Roger Tunnell and Chris so engaging - the lift, friendship, the outing in the country, the meal, songs, "Give My Regards to Broadway"? How did they change Roger's life? Was this his first real experience of being loved for himself? How did the change appear in Roger?

10. These sequences were potentially sentimental? How did the film succeed in making them happy, forceful and important?

11. The importance of Nemo in the film - her telescope, her dog, their friendship her home and her mother, the kiss?

12. Why did Roger begin to come apart - his mother's slaps and dislike, the teacher's barbs, his walking the city, the meal prepared with Roger Tunnell and his inability to come out of himself, the departure of Nemo, his final collapse?

13. What kind of treatment did he need? Was he getting it from Dr. Clemm and the hospital? Should he have gone back to his mother? Was there any way of stopping this since she was his mother?

14. Did Dr Clemm do the right thing in being so firm with Mrs Baxter? Did Mrs Baxter learn anything from all of this?

15. How crushing was the news of Chris's death? Why did it affect him so much? How mentally ill was he by this?

16. Here you glad Dr Clemm persevered with her help? Why?

17. Did the ending hold out any hope for him - Roger Tunnell's breaking through to him? What future would Baxter have as an adult?

18. How much insight was there into human nature and into contemporary society in this film?

19. The film was in turn serious, light, funny, tragic. Why was it so successful?