THE LONG JOURNEY HOME

US, 1987, 88 minutes, Colour.
Meredith Baxter, David Birney, Mike Preston.
Directed by Rod Holcomb.

The Long Journey Home is a melodramatic telemovie, a crime thriller with the background of the Vietnam War and prisoners missing in action. It was co-produced by the husband and wife team, the stars, Meredith Baxter and David Birney.

The film highlights the impact of the Vietnam War, the prisoners missing in action, the need for groups of wives with memories of their missing husbands. It has echoes of search and recover expeditions into Laos. It also has overtones of corruption, drug dealing and crime amongst operatives. It is also sinister in its presentation of government undercover agencies.

The film is highly emotional, focusing on Meredith Baxter Birney's character, her being reunited with her husband in his danger, his falling in love again with her, her realisation that time had passed and that the past could not be recovered. An entertaining, time-passing thriller.

1.Interesting telemovie? Crime thriller? The Vietnam War background? A piece of Americana? Designed for the wide popular television audience?

2.The American cities, big business, affluent families? The contrast with the background of the '60s and '70s, campus revolutionaries? Soldiers in action, prisoners of war, the men missing in action? The background of government agencies, undercover espionage? Crime?

3.The title, the reference to Maura and her experience, to Carter?

4.Maura, with her group, their support, the plan to marry? Her memories of Carter, falling in love, protests, he being the professor, the reaction of her wealthy family? No children? The photo albums? Her being in love with Gray, the relationship, the plan to marry? Her going to Los Angeles for business? The gift from Gray? The phone call from the lawyer? Her going to the airport, the encounter with Carter, her disbelief? The physical danger, Mota and his dangerous pursuit? Car chases, the story from Carter? Her trying to deal with the situation? Going with him, the airport, on the plane, getting off, the explosion? Hiding out - but falling in love again with Carter? Her bewilderment because of Gray, wanting to contact him, going to the funeral ceremony, the dog, letting it loose? Her being unsure of Carter? In the city, the possibilities of getting new passports? Walking on the beach, sharing memories? Assessing the past? Her regrets? The continued dangers? Her decision to go with him? Giving him the photo for the passport? Seeing Mota, Carter in danger? The pursuit? Her return home, Gray and his reaction, her business partner? The truth about the money? Carter's return, Mota, the shooting? The truth? Her disillusionment? Carter going over the cliff with Mota to save Maura? Her going to the passport-makers and finding that he had got a passport for her? Her bewildering emotional journey, being used by the lawyer, his death? Her having to let go of the past?

5.Carter, the professor, protests? Love for Maura, the marriage? Service, missing in action? His escape - and not letting Maura know? Double agent? Mota as a double agent, drugs and money, the killing, Mota pursuing him? The plan to get Maura's money, seeing her again, the danger? Sharing, falling in love, the passports? The danger? Mota catching up with him? The shots, his return to Maura, the taking of the money, the declaration of love, gunpoint on the cliff, his destroying Mota and saving Maura?

6.Mota, background in Vietnam, his killing the lawyer, pursuing Carter, the explosion of the plane, following the clues, the cigarette packets, the shop? The funeral? Catching up, the confrontation and his death?

7.Gray, businessman, relationship with Maura, the planned marriage, the gift? The police and their suspicions of him? The interviews? The funeral, her return, his attitude - a possible future with Maura?

8.The business associates, Marsh and his plans, the fake suicide? The elderly business adviser? The secretaries, the interviews with the police?

9.The police? Personalities, suspicions, interviews?

10.The melodramatic story and its plausibility? Characters, behaviour, interactions? Love, grieving, marriage and remarriage? Undercover agencies? Criminal activity? Vengeance?