THE CHRISTIAN LICORICE STORE

US, 1971, 84 minutes, Colour.
Beau Bridges, Maud Adams, Gilbert Roland, Monte Hellman, Jean Renoir, Theodore Flicker, Gwen Welles.
Directed by James Frawley.

The Christian Licorice Store is a cinema oddity and received very little release. It echoes the uncertainties of the anti-heroes of the late '60s and early 1970s - this time a tennis star who succumbs to the superficiality of the celebrity round and money and the media. Beau Bridges gives his usual efficient performance in the central role. Maud Adams who made a few films such as Rollerball, The Man With The Golden Arm, is the co-star and there is a brief performance by Gilbert Roland. For the art cinema audiences there is a long sequence where the hero and heroine interview the celebrated French director, Jean Renoir. Many Hollywood personalities appear as guests at parties e.g. director Theodore Flicker, actress Gwen Welles.

The screenplay was written by Floyd Murtrux, writer of several screenplays and director of such films as Aloha Bobby and Rose, American Hot Wax, Hollywood Nights. Direction is by James Frawley who worked in television and directed the satiric Kid Blue, The Big Bus and The Muppet Movie. The film is not particularly entertaining, nor very interesting - it is an example of a trend that was representative enough of the early 1970s.

Music is by Tim Mc Intyre - who was to appear for Murtrux in American Hot Wax. The title derives from the ironic lyrics of a song used later during the film.

1. Audience interest in the film, characters, themes? How entertaining? Limited release of the film? Its being particularly dated and tied to its time?

2. The film reflecting the late '60s and early 170s: personalities, types, issues? Individual themes, social themes? The arty and modern treatment?

3. Audience involvement in the life of the characters, their questions and problems? Audience interest in sport, the world of sport? The possibility of the celebrity being able to live a human life or not? The role of the coach? The star, the media, interviews, casual relationships, women? The lure of the commercial world - advertising, film stardom?

4. The irony of the title and its imagery? The later song and its tone, lyrics? Irony about heroism and success? Corruption?

5. The portrait of the hero - his skill at tennis - on and off the court, the discussion with J.J. about his racquet? His ability to listen to advice? The frequent travel and the plane trips? Television interviews? Casual relationships with women? Meeting Cynthia at the film screening, the build-up of the relationship? His superficial relationship with her? His moving on to competition? Boredom? The interlude with Jean Renoir and the discussion about the meaning of life? The discussions with Cynthia? His instability, watching the television sports greats? His leaving and becoming involved in the film world?

6. The decline of his character? His narrowing of interests, selling himself to television and film? His final self-absorption? The prospect for his life during the '70s?

7. Gilbert Roland's portrait of the past star with his memories, a better day of sports activity and skill? Less commercial? His advice to Frank? His death? The TV programme about the sports greats of the past and the changes?

8. Cynthia as heroine - photographer and her skills, Hollywood, her meeting with Frank and the beginning of the affair, the fidelity, trying to build the relationship, the domestic scenes, her inability to related to Frank's boredom? Watching him on the television commercial at the end?

9. The sketch of the Hollywood types? The groupies?

10. Sport and its achievement and the tennis sequences and the use of professionals?

11. The media world and the use of the media?

12. The reflective passages of the film? The quality of the reflection about the meaning of life, unsettled times, futility? How much insight in the film - or how much a reflection of moods of the time?