A MAN, A WOMAN AND A BANK (A VERY BIG WITHDRAWAL)
Canada, 1979, 100 minutes, Colour.
Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Paul Mazursky.
Directed b Noel Black.
A Man, A Woman And A Bank (A Very Big Withdrawal): There have been bank robberies aplenty and this one is no better, no worse. It's done by computer rather neatly but not particularly startlingly. The theme of man conquering machine is a popular one. The characters are quite well drawn and, in fact, the strength of the film lies in the Donald Sutherland's easy charm, Paul Mazursky's comic touches and Brooke Adams' vivacious heroine. Besides a trip to Macao, we have a very attractively photographed Vancouver. A lot of attention is given to details of planning the robbery. While the presuppositions about crime and punishment are pleasantly and unrealistically amoral, the film makes it look as if robbing four million might really be possible. Direction is by Noel Black, writer-director who made such films as Pretty Poison and Jennifer On My Mind.
1. The popularity of robbery caper films during the seventies? The reason for the appeal? The tradition of such films over the decades?
2. The contribution of the Vancouver backgrounds of the film, the visits to Macao? Colour photography, editing, Bi11 Conti musical score, song?
3. The humorous tone of the film, even as regards the morality of robbing banks and getting away with it?
4. The picture of skills, computers, engineering? The skill in robbing banks and getting away with it?
5. The purpose of the film: popular entertainment, romance story, crime caper? The values of right and wrong underlying it?
6. Donald Sutherland's style: his plans with Norman, the convictions of his personality, errors? The negotiations in Macao? His stealing the plans and being photographed? The encounters with Stacey to get the photos, falling in love with her, sharing the outings, his jealousy of Peter? The development of the plans with Norman? The visits to Macao and Stacey's visit? The building up to the night of the robbery, the plans, the transport of the clothes, the disguise as a priest? His cool participation in the robbery? Being held up for the parking ticket, the bail? The happy ending?
7. Stacey as heroine, her work with photography and advertising, wanting to promote Reese's picture, her liaison with Peter and his odd behaviour? The outings with Reese and falling in love with him? Peter and his pretending to have taken the pills? Going to Macao and enjoying the trip? Bailing Reese out, the realisation of the truth, going off to Macao at the end?
8. Paul Mazursky's comic style as Norman? The credits and the van and the computer? His skill with computers? His fears about the plan, his decision to go along with it? His relationship with his wife, phone calls, the divorce? The carnival outing with the girl and falling in love with her? Condering about making a fool of himself? The apprehensions about the job? His computer control during the robbery, the happy ending? A comic character and his apprehensions, the sequence on the lift, weeping with the success?
9. The character of Peter, his relationship with Stacey, his following Reese in the car, his neurotic behaviour?
10. The light touch, the plans, the sense of play, the overseas trips, the bank itself, computers, the police? suspense during the robbery sequence? The sense of achievement? The continued popularity of this kind of film?
