MOMENT BY MOMENT

US, 1978, 94 minutes, Colour.
Lily Tomlin, John Travolta.
Directed by Jane Wagner.

Moment by Moment was intended by producer Robert Stigwood to capitalise on John Travolta's 1978 popularity; the film failed very badly in popularity and critical comment. Written and directed by Jane Wagner (writer for Lily Tomlin), the film risks cliche and triteness and falls foul of them generally, despite lush production and the stars doing their very best with the material Travolta has more opportunity; the versatile Tomlin can only look lonely, pained and in love. Reflecting a casual approach to marriage, the film offers an unlikely affair and pleads for love and openness, but because the screen play touches only the surface and indulges in languorous love scenes, little substantial is offered and often becomes tedious.

1. The overall impact of the film? A critical and box office failure ? why? The perennial appeal of love stories?

2. The popularity and styles of the stars, audience expectations of them individually, together?

3. The contribution of the writing and the direction from a feminine perspective? Feminine approach to the love story ? geared towards a feminine audience and sensibility?

4. The love story appeal? The relationship between men and women, needs, love? The impact of this affair? Age, needs, morality, guilt, openness. hypocrisy? Mutual hurt? Reconciliation?

5. The background of lush Californian and Los Angeles locations? American cities? The credits with the focus on wealth and the status of the stores? Trisha and her walk down the street? The contrast with Strip and his opposite approach? Beverly Hills shops? The contrast with the beach? The house, wealth, art shows? The musical score, the song and its lyrics? The use of symbols e.g. the two dogs, the pet and the injured stray, birthdays and remembering them, messages in bottles etc.?

6. How well did Lily Tomlin create a portrait of Trisha? Her appearance, age. dress, wealth? Her walking down the street, shopping, her sadness? Her response to being pursued by Strip? Repulsion, fascination? Her wandering the house, her being on the beach, her petting her dog? Her fussiness about the house, getting the sand off people's feet before entering etc.?

7. The contrast with Strip? his full name, his background and his explanation of leaving home, running away with nobody pursuing him, his initial encounter with Trisha, his friendship with Greg and the interrogation in the pharmacy shop, his following Trisha, his pursuit and persistence? How attractive the initial impact of John Travolta in this character?

8. Their clashing on the beach, the eating, his being cold? The gradual breakdown and its credibility? The two dogs?

9. Trisha's resistance to Strip, her suspicions of him? Following him in the car and seeing it broken down? Her helping him with payment, the Heal? His going off again and her discovery of the story about Greg?

10. The occasion of Greg's death as the consummation of their relationship? Credible? The night sequence and the morning consummation? The number of love sequences, the manner of their presentation? Humanity, feeling? The danger of cliche?

11. The importance of Naomi and her ringing, an indication of Trisha's background? Her visit, curiosity, the creation of tension about the discovery of Strip, Trisha's humiliating him as the delivery boy? The truth to Naomi, the importance of the long search in the boulevards and the unsavoury atmosphere of Los Angeles? The importance of the art show and Trisha's presence, Strip being out of place? His overhearing and interpreting the conversation about the end of the affair?

12. The background of Stu and Stacey? Stu's phone calls, Trisha's reaction, her accusations about his affair, his wanting to gloss over them? His presence at the art show and his reaction to Trisha? Their phone clashes?

13. The insight into brittle marriages? The motives for marriage, for separation? Divorce? Needs?

14. The climactic scene of the break up of the affair, Strip trying to hurt Trisha, her being hurt? The question of a future, age differences, social background differences, Trisha's son?

15. Trisha's finding the address, her pursuit of Strip, the reconciliation and the ending? How genuine a love, need? The use of the bottle symbolism and message at the end?

16. The audience being left with the photo album and the songs?

17. How well did the screenplay and the treatment examine relationships, love and needs, an affair? How authentic, how contrived?