LAURA LANSING SLEPT HERE

US, 1988, 95 minutes, Colour.
Katherine Hepburn, Karen Austin.
Directed by George Schaeffer.

Laura Lansing Slept Here is a pleasant telemovie - but a star vehicle for Katharine Hepburn at the age of 79. She is still a marvel to watch - and the character is probably based on a lot of the star's own characteristics.

She plays a celebrated author who is dared to live with a normal family for a week. She does, interfering at a great rate, but gradually sensing what was happening to each of the people in the family and offering her help. Needless to say, she is able to write a great and popular novel - and finally joins them watching a talk show on television. There is a good cast who play up to Katharine Hepburn and her star status.

The film was produced and directed by George Schaeffer, who did the same for Katharine Hepburn's 1987 telemovie, Mrs Delafield wants to Marry.

1.Pleasant American style comedy? Star vehicle for Katharine Hepburn? Entertaining?

2.New York affluent locations, the contrast with Hicksville and ordinary suburbia on Long Island? The film highlighting the contrast between the two? The world of the affluent author, talk shows, soap operas? Musical score?

3.The title and its humour - echoes of George Washington as well as of the famous celebrity?

4.The film as a star vehicle for Katharine Hepburn: her age, her screen presence and assurance (despite her illness)? Playing the grande dame used to all of life's luxuries as well as life's independence? The parallels with Miss Hepburn's own life? Her entourage, her success with her novels? celebrity? Her manner, entering into people's homes, rearranging everything, rearranging their lives, introducing them to `finer things'? And the effect on her and on them?

5.Laura Lansing as successful novelist, hearing her on the talk shows, the failure of her novel, her need to write? Discussions with Larry, the bet? Her secretary and wariness about the whole experiment? Her going to the household, meeting them, Melody and her fainting? Her going into the house, the champagne, taking over? The rules for the use of the bathroom? The meals and her changing things, the enormous shopping load? Her offhand remarks showing her affluence? Her irritation with everybody and the noise? The clash with Annette and her changing her attitude? Her wanting to type - yet watching the soap opera after being told plainly by Melody? Becoming involved? Discovering the truth about water, her phone call to Larry and inquiries about Violet, confronting him in the bathroom? Her arranging for the soap star to come and have lunch with Melody? Her style? Melody and her going to visit the star, Laura and her intervention, being able to reconcile husband and wife? Talking over problems with Annette? Friendship with Walter Junior? Malcolm and his forever crying - and her telling him the little story and her loving the child? The effect on her, writing the novel - and watching the talk show with them?

6.Larry, the New York agent, the bet, with Walter, discussing with him, the status of his family, organising the stay? His suspicions of Walter and Violet? The happy ending?

7.The office, Walter and Violet? His marriage, his children, his fascination, going to her apartment - and the failure? Irritation at home, the challenge by Laura? Seeing Violet for who she was, his jealousy, punching the soap star, the reconciliation? Melody as wife and mother, pleasant, her household, giving every credit to Walter, childhood sweethearts? The neighbours coming in? (And Laura's graciousness with irony to the neighbours?) Her lack of suspicion, the cuisine, her style, the soap star coming, her enjoying it, going to his apartment? Leaving? The reconciliation, the truth? Her pregnancy?

8.Annette as the typical teenager, her dislike of Laura, her room disrupted, the furniture? Her problems - and being able to talk with Laura? Walter Junior, his disliking Laura, having to do the dishes, etc., her showing interest in him? The baby?

9.The sketch of the soap star - on the show, in real life, favour for the dinner, his seductive style (using the soap opera words)? The lunch and Walter's attack?

10.Laura's staff - working for her - but seeing through her?

11.The light comic touch? Old themes - pleasantly done?