HARRY AND SON

US, 1984, 117 minutes, Colour.
Paul Newman, Robby Benson, Wilford Brimley, Ellen Barkin, Judith Ivey, Ossie Davis, Morgan Freeman, Joanne Woodward.
Directed by Paul Newman.

Harry and Son is very much a Paul Newman film. Not only does he star, he has co-written and directed the film. Wife Joanne Woodward has a good supporting character role. Newman also acts his age - a man almost 60, having lived a hard working life, now suffering illness and eventually dying. His would-be writer son is played by Robbie Benson (in his characteristic, almost idiosyncratic way).

Produced at the same time as Terms of Endearment, this film highlights father-son relationships. There is a toughness as well as sentiment in the treatment. There is also much warmth and insight. An excellent supporting cast including Wilford Brimley and Ellen Barkin make this an entertaining and thoughtful film. It did not do very well at all in the United States on its first release.

1. An entertaining film? A Paul Newman film - his contributions in acting, writing, directing? Audience response to Paul Newman over the decades? To the older Paul Newman?

2. The '80s and interest in family films? The influence of television and soap opera? The family film as highlighting relationships, feelings? Insight into relationships? A piece of Americana?

3. The Florida backgrounds, the emphasis on the ordinary American way of life: the building sites, car-wash, the average homes? The atmosphere of the ordinary? The quiet Henry Mancini score?

4. The emotional impact of the film: Paul Newman as older, ageing, illness and death? The contrast with Robbie Benson and the new generation? The quality of life, the bonds? The impact
of death? Sentiment, regret, tears?

5. The title and its focus on Harry as Harry whereas Howard is emphasised as son? The title sounding like the name of a firm? The highlighting of relationships, the father-son relationship? The traditional expectations in this relationship? Recent changes?

6. The portrait of Harry: seeing him at work, demolishing the buildings, his relish of this? The credits sequences and his exhilaration? Love of his job, its steadiness. skills? The best and Harry's accuracy? The bowling after work with. the buddies? Drinks? Harry's pain, his eyes, his almost killing his colleague? Its shattering effect on him? His pride? His leaving work? The sequences of his vainly looking for a job? The effect on him, his need for work? His drinking, going downhill? Going back to the machine at night and bashing the building? The police bringing him home? Seeing him at home: his slob behaviour e.g. at the meal? Yet his expectations of order and tidiness on Howard? Dressing up for dinner? Yet Harry's criticism of Howard e.g. about the beer, even driving to the beach and walking into the water? Yet the strong bond between the two? Jennifer's death and Harry's grieving? The two sharing visits to the cemetery? Talking? Yet Harry's expectations for Howard about work, not considering the car-wash worthwhile, wanting him to get a real job, the visit to his brother and working in his store? The fishing sequences and the bonds between the three? The growing criticisms, feeling that Howard couldn't hold down a job, Howard leaving the factory, the repossession firm? His attitude towards Lily and Katie? Howard helping Katie with the delivery? Yet Harry telling him to leave home? Howard's present of the coat? The outings later? Harry going to hospital and bringing the flowers? Reading the letter about Howard's success, his cheque for writing? His pride in his son? The night out, going to the secretary's house, the sexual encounter? The reconciliation with Howard? Going to the house, talking with Lily - their antagonisms, their friendship? An evening of contentment? Howard finding him dead? The meaning of his life, his work, his driving himself, his relaxing? Paul Newman embodying Harry?

7. Robbie Benson's portrait of Howard? As Harry's son? His love for his mother and her memory? Love for his sister and visiting her? Brother-in-law, the child? His intensity with his writing? The number of rejections? His theory about Hemingway and rejections? His working in the car-wash and enjoying it? The friends made e.g. the secretary and the sexual liaison, getting the job? Harry wanting him to get a job? The cardboard factory and the antagonism of the foreman, working, the assembly line, speeding it up and everything going skew-whiff? His being sacked? The friend at the carwash and the offer to join the repossession group, the pep-talk, the techniques, visiting the house, taking the car, getting caught? The friendship with the negro? Their discussions, the negro taking the job - and being successful? Howard and his athletics, swimming, surfboard? The tension at home - his love for his father, yet reaction e.g. to his coming and walking into the surf? His love for Katie, his being hurt, meeting her, talking, her expecting more of him, the reconciliation, the real love? Talking his story over with her? The buying of the coat? Her pregnancy, his comic anxiety, delivering the baby during the traffic jam? His father turning him out? The gift of the coat? The hospital sequences and his love for Katie? Lily's admiration for him? Visiting his home, living at the YMCA and knocking on his father's door? Taking him out - and Harry wearing the coat, the receiving of the cheque? Taking Harry to the secretary? Buying the house, everything set up for Harry's happy old age? The death and his grief? The funeral and all the friends present? His uncle, the negro, Lily? The final sequences of Katy and the young Harry (called after his father, the nickname of Big Fella which Harry had given him) on the beach? The difference between father and son?

8. The film's comment on the changing generations? Perennial themes? Love, difficulties of expression? Hurts? Harry's antagonism towards his daughter, their visit and the cynicism about the insurance, ridiculing her, breaking the crockery? Howard's disgust with his father? The daughter's grief at her father's death and yet wanting to find some blame?

9. Katie and Howie, the friendship, her pregnancy, her accusation towards Howie of neglecting her, the reconciliation, sharing, the story, the birth, the hospital visits, Katie giving her baby Harry's name because Howie loved him so much?

10. Joanne Woodward's sketch of Lily: eccentric, her shop, advice, antagonism towards Harry, the birth, the beach - and the moment of intimacy?

11. Harry's brother and his wealth, the fishing, his support of Howie at the end?

12. Sally and her friendship with Howie, sex, the encounter with Harry?

13. The comic touches with the repossession sequences, Ossie Davis the negro, his car, friendship with Howie, going into the repossession business?

14. The portrait of the American man's world - work, buddies? The regrets for a workaholic life? For lack of understanding for the next generation?