COMEBACK (LOVE IS FOREVER)

US, 1983, 96 minutes, Colour.
Michael Landon, Laura Gemser, Jurgen Prochnow, Edward Woodward, Priscilla Presley.
Directed by Hall Bartlett.

Comeback was conceived as a long telemovie for American audiences but was abbreviated for cinema release throughout the world. It was based on Australian journalist John Everingham's story of his time in Laos, his work as a journalist, his rescuing his Laotian fiancee from the Communist regime.

A postscript of the film indicates that Everingham's life has been threatened three times - even during the filming in 1982 in Thailand. The atmosphere of South East Asia is suggested - but is placed in a context of-cold war confrontation between Them and Us.

The stars are television-popular stars, especially Michael Landon~ Edward Woodward has an enjoyable role as a British naval officer who trains Everingham. Priscilla Presley makes her acting debut.

The film was written, produced and directed by idiosyncratic Hollywood director, Hall Bartlett, responsible for a range of offbeat films from Unchained in the 50s to Jonathan Livingston Seagull in the '70s. The film was not well received - critics thought it too simplistic and old-fashioned in its propaganda and confrontational style.

1. Entertaining film? 'Based' on a 'true story'? A story of the 1970s? The film made originally as telemovie? The telemovie style, home audience? its treatment? Television stars and their popularity? The style of writing? The facts of John Everingham's story? In the context of South East Asia and the 70s, Laos and Thailand? The Vietnam war? The West and its attitudes toward Communists? Russian aid for, Laos? American for Thailand? The Australian connection - underplayed? Reference at the end? The 'them and us' style of antagonism? Heroes and villains painted larger than life? The old style propaganda film?

6. The structure of the film: introduction to Everingham, the first attempt to save his fiancee, the flashbacks? The use of dates, times and places?

7. The initial attempt, the techniques of swimming under the Mekong River, the dramatic tensions? His arrival, the signals, the failure of the attempt, the flashback within this context?

8. John Everingham and his journalist background, presence in Laos, quality of his work, articles and information for American magazines like Time and Newsweek?

9. The boat raid? The antagonism towards the Russian officer? Suspicion? Keo and her work with him? Spying? Shared experiences together? The martial arts fight and the humiliation of the officer, arrest, torture, deportation? His decision to rescue Keo, his training, supplying of information
to Keo, the attempt, the second attempt and the success? The
strong love story?

10. The Russian officer, his sinister style and portrayal, the echoes of the Nazi villains of the '40s? His place in Laos? The Secret Police, spies and information? Torture? The raid on the boat? The humiliation by Everingham? The arrest and deportation? The hold over Keo? Sexual attraction? Setting her up as mistress? His being thwarted?

ll. Keo and her place in Laos, her work, her skills, the brochure and the photographs by Everingham? Shared experiences? Falling in love? The lyric romantic touches? Her family? Everingham's deportation? Her playing games with the officer? Receiving messages from Thailand? The failure of the first attempt? Waiting, fear?

12. Edward Woodward and his British style and the training of Everingham? Priscilla Presley and her presence, her character - abbreviated for the cinema version?

13. Laos and the South- East Asian Wars, Communism, freedoms, escapes, the boat people? Massacres? An accurate picture of the situation? Sufficient for the film?

14. The filming of the escape, the underwater photography, reality, dangers, Keo's panic etc.? The pursuit by the Laotians? The firing?

15. The film as an adventure love story for television audiences? Its relationship to fact?