LOVE LEADS THE WAY

US, 1984, 99 minutes, Colour.
Timothy Bottoms, Eva Marie Saint, Arthur Hill, Susan Dey, Ralph Bellamy, Ernest Borgnine, Patricia Neal.
Directed by Delbert Mann.

Love Leads the Way is a family telemovie about the origins of the seeing-eye dogs. The film opens in Nashville, Tennessee, with Timothy Bottoms as a young man suddenly blinded in an accident. He hears about the work of Dorothy Eustace in Switzerland in training seeing-eye dogs and goes over to Europe to be trained himself. On his return, he attempts to focus the American public on the potential of seeing-eye dogs but runs into prejudice against animals in public places, restaurants and offices, finally confronting the New Jersey legislature.

The film has a strong supporting cast with such stalwarts as Patricia Neal and Arthur Hill as his parents, Eva Marie Saint as Dorothy Eustace, Ralph Bellamy and Ernest Borgnine as senators. Susan Dey appears early as the hero's girlfriend.

The film is presented in Reader's Digest style, a story full of sentiment for the widest possible audience. The focus on Buddy, the seeing-eye dog who is faithful to the hero for so many years, finally dying, gives a tearful dimension to the popular response. The film was directed by veteran Delbert Mann, whose films credits include Marty, Separate Tables, Dear Heart.

1.Popular telemovie for the family? Blindness, the seeing-eye dogs, the help for blind people?

2.Nashville, Tennessee in the '20s? Morristown, New Jersey, in the '30s? The Swiss locations? The musical score?

3.The title, the focus on the seeing-eye dogs and their devotion? The effect on the human beings associated with the dogs?

4.Morris, his brother, his family? The plan to be married to Beth? His training, the boxing bout, the accident and his blindness? No hope? His personal bitterness? Keeping Beth at a distance? The help of his parents? His going to the institute and their recommending him to read Braille? His silence, sarcasm? His eventually being persuaded to go out, the devotion of Beth? His resisting her? His reliance on Jimmy, moving around, trying to sell insurance? Prejudice against the blind? Jimmy letting him down by being delayed and his antagonism towards him? His change of heart? Jimmy showing him the article about Mrs Eustace and the seeing-eye dogs? The change in his life, the determination, writing to Mrs Eustace? The reply?

5.His going to Switzerland? Mrs Eustace and John? The sequences of their training the dogs? Audiences understanding the techniques, the training, the rewards for the dog? Seeing Buddy in action? Morris introduced to Buddy? His impatience, his having to learn how to work with the dog? The trial in the town - especially with the runaway horse? Success? The bond between Morris and the dog - not letting it on his bed (and later changing heart when it had saved his life)?

6.His return home, not allowed in the taxi, the bus? Travelling with the freight? People's prejudice against the dogs? His appointments and being late? His impatience - but Buddy stopping him falling down the lift well? In the car, the accident? Buddy dragging him from the burning car? The newspaper reporters - and the article, publicity, phone calls?

7.Dorothy Eustace and her coming to Nashville? Deciding to set up the seeing-eye centre? The number of dogs, the training? The decision to move to a cooler climate? Morristown, New Jersey? The prospering of the institute?

8.Morris and his involvement, Beth and her marriage? His loneliness? The friendship with Dorothy Eustace? The meeting with Lois, chatting with her, the rapport? Her decision to give her time for the legislation and the cause? The discussions with the senator at the vet - and his interest, the private members bill? Morris and his taking Buddy to the restaurant and their being ousted?

9.The senator, the resistance of the legislature? The discussion with the hostile senator? The challenge for the test? The irony of Buddy becoming old and sick? The scenes at the vet? The plan for the test - and Morris encouraging Buddy? The dog's shrewdness in avoiding the obstacles - and then returning through them? The applause of the legislature?

10.The film as a human and humane story? Hope for those who are handicapped? The pioneering work in such ventures as the seeing-eye dogs? Public prejudice and trying to break down the prejudice? The lasting success?