LOVE AND MONEY
US, 1980, 95 minutes, Colour.
Ray Sharkey, Ornella Muti, Klaus Kinski, King Vidor, Armand Assante, William Prince.
Directed by James Toback.
Love and Money was written, produced and directed by James Toback, an idiosyncratic writer of such odd films as Fingers, Exposed. His more naturalistic film was The Pickup Artist.
The film focuses on an average American - and then involves him in international intrigue, both an affair with a multinational boss's wife as well as economic difficulties and political assassination with a teenager friend, now a president of a South American country.
The film will appeal either to those who are interested in love, the long sequences of the affair, or those interested in money, the focus on international intrigue and multinationals in Latin America.
Ray Sharkey is energetic as the hero, Ornella Muti beautiful as the wife of millionaire, Klaus Kinski at his most civilised and menacing. Armand Assante is very good as the president. There is a delightful cameo from veteran director King Vidor (The Big Parade, War and Peace). The film takes some time to get audiences involved - but at the end it is interesting, offbeat entertainment.
1.The title: focus on relationships, finance, the involvement in both?
2.The work of James Toback, writing, directing? Offbeat view of life?
3.American locations, Latin American locations? The contrast between the two worlds?
4.The portrait of Byron: in himself, his care for his grandfather, the relationship with his girlfriend, seeing him at work, the phone call, Blair and his proposal, the dinner meeting with Frederick, refusing the deal? His grandfather's and girlfriend's reactions? The encounter with Katherine, his impulsive statement about killing her, the ideal woman, the affair, the torrid affair, the detail, the consequences on his relationships at home, at work, his being fired? His decision to take the job? The flight to Latin America, the meeting with Lorenzo, the private meeting, on the beach, reminiscing, Lorenzo's sexual encounter, testing Byron? Singing the national anthem? Byron warning him about the assassination? The banquet, his relationship with Katherine, going off in the car, Blair being ordered to shoot him, his warding off the killing of Frederick? The arrest, his imprisonment, the firing squad, Lorenzo freeing him, his telling the truth to Lorenzo about his being a tyrant? Return home? The girlfriend moving out, going off with his grandfather? Meeting Katherine - and the affair not being able to work?
5.Frederick as the multinational, the silver mines, the history of the work in Latin America, deals, arrogance, fascist style? The deal with Byron, the flight, the arrival and the greeting of Lorenzo, the memories of Lorenzo's father, the banquet and his anger, threatening Lorenzo, the attempted assassination? The film's comment on multinational bosses?
6.Katherine, her relationship with her husband, sexuality, relationship with Byron, the torrid affair, sharing ideas and experiences with him? The flight, in the hotel room, the truth about the husband using her? The end and her saying the affair could not work?
7.Lorenzo: the South American president, his television interviews? His reputation, his past, friendship with Lorenzo, the meeting at the airport, accommodation and hospitality, the walk along the beach, sexual encounter, singing the national anthem? The deliberate lateness at the banquet, his story of the three men on the boat and his father rigging votes, his plan to have Frederick assassinated, freeing Byron? His final comment to Byron? The sketch of Latin American dictators?
8.The girlfriend and her relationship with Byron, the packing of the books? Leaving?
9.The sketch of the grandfather, his living in the past, his lack of memory, sitting and resting, his comments, his wisdom, the end and the singing of the American anthem? Going off with Byron?
10.Blair, his association with Frederick, the planned assassination?
11.Themes of international financial dealings, America and Latin America, personal relationships? Intensity? Integrity?
