THE 24-HOUR WOMAN
US, 1999, 93 minutes, Colour.
Rosie Perez, Marianne Jean- Baptiste, Patti Lu Pone, Diego Serrano, Wendell Pierce, Melissa Leo, Aida Turturro.
Directed by Nancy Savoca.
The 24-Hour Woman of the title is a TV network of the late 90s. It also indicates the theme of the busy professional woman.
Rosie Perez is a producer and creator of stories for the morning sequences of the television network. She has a very severe boss, played with relish by Patti Lu Pone. However, she wants an assistant and interviews Madeline, played by Marianne Jean- Baptiste from Mike Lee’s Secrets and Lies. She is also married to one of the presenters, Eddie, played by Diego Serrano. He is also an aspiring film actor. When word gets around that she is pregnant, it is announced on air – and the following nine months there is follow-up in the talk shows as well as all the other programs on the network.
The crisis comes when Grace has to take time off for the birth. At first she is wary of the baby, but then bonds with it, doing work part-time, creating stories. However, she wants to get back to work and employs a nanny.
Madeline has been organising things well while Grace has been away, although a rival producer is jealous. There is a climax when a family expert is touring New York City, is nabbed by the other networks, and Grace goes to a book-signing, confronts her and persuades her to come on TV – while she does advocate taking responsibility for bringing up their children. Grace has an immediate reaction – but all is resolved happily. The subplot with Madeline and her husband gives a balance to the central story.
The film was written and directed by Nancy Savoca (True Love, Dogfight, Household
Saints, If These Walls Could Talk). She collaborated in the screenplay with her husband, Richard Guay.
1. A women’s film? Women’s issues? Women’s response? A film for men?
2. The media world, television, studios, offices? The gathering of stories? Reality TV? How much real, how much spoof?
3. Grace and Eddie and their home life, the issue of children, her pregnancy, the birth of the baby, strains, the nanny? The issue of work and home?
4. Grace, her type, personality, coming on strong? On TV? Behind the scenes? Workaholic? Her wanting to be at work? The interactions with Joan Marshall?
5. Eddie, the compere, his role in films, at home, love for his wife, the strains, going to Los Angeles, the issue of the retake and his missing his daughter’s first birthday party?
6. The shows, the issues, the questions, twenty-four hours, the focus for the audience?
7. Grace, her job, interviewing Madeline, the jealous assistant? Joan, her personality, demands? Her erratic behaviour – for example the transgender show? The announcing of Grace’s pregnancy on air? A nine-months story on air?
8. Madeline, at home, with her husband, the children, going for the interview, getting the job? Her efficiency, the unpredictable hours, the demands from Grace, phone calls, early hours? Her husband, at home, getting desperate, his being with his daughter – the suspicious person ringing the police? Madeline having to come to get him out of jail? Home difficulties?
9. Grace and the birth, the time, the baby, the difficulties, bonding?
10. The year after the birth, part-time work, wanting to work? The nanny and her role? Getting on well with the baby?
11. The author, the phone calls, going to the book-signing, the discussions, the interview on air, the effect on Grace, responsibility for her child?
12. The nanny, the bond, the phone calls, going out, the socials, at the studio? Letting the nanny go, trying to take responsibility?
13. The birthday party, the delays, the police, getting the gift? The aftermath of the party? Her parents? Their comments? Her husband missing it, coming home, reconciliation? And happy ending?
