MASQUERADE

US, 1988, 90 minutes, Colour.
Rob Lowe, Meg Tilly, Doug Savant, Kim Cattrall, Dana Delaney, John Glover.
Directed by Bob Swaim.

Masquerade is a plush thriller with the old plot about the heiress being threatened by the money-seeker. Meg Tilley is attractive as the vulnerable heroine, Rob Lowe ambles amiably through the part of the gigolo sailor, There is good support from Doug Savant as a double-dealing policeman. John Glover gives another variation on his sinister roles. Kim Cattrall is the bored wife of the yacht-owner businessman.

The settings on the U.S. East coast are lavish - both in the mansions and on sea. There is an atmospheric score - and a few unexpected variations on the theme. However, the film is fairly straightforward. Direction is by Bob Swaim, an expatriate American director who made big impact with his French thriller, La Balance.

1. Entertaining murder mystery? Romance?

2. Affluent world, society, boats, mansions, restaurants, the town? Atmospheric score?

3. The title, the plot, the boat?

4. The plot and the expected characters, situations? Appearances and reality? The twist with Gateworth, the twist with Mike? Changes in the characters? The final ironies?

5. Olivia as graduate, her dead mother, Gateworth as stepfather, the clashes with him, his girlfriend? Meeting Tim, attracted, talking, letting herself be seduced? Talking about herself, love and friendship? Against Gateworth,
the dinner, the sexual encounter, Gateworth's intrusion, the shooting? The decision about the cover-up, her answering questions? The effect on her? Relationship with Mike, his questions? The relationship with Tim, the marriage
ceremony? Her pregnancy, in love with her husband? The dangerous drive? The suspense and the possibility of her being killed?. Her seeing Tim's death? Her grief, discovering the photo. the fight with Mike and his death? The funeral and the finale with the truth about Tim and his attitude towards
the money? A happy future with her child?

6. Rob Lowe as Tim: the tailor, the sexual encounters with Brooke, escorting her to socials, gigolo background? The attraction towards Olivia, his gentleness with her, falling in love, sailing, the seduction? The dinner, in bed, confrontation with Gateworth and killing him? The irony of seeing him with Gateworth and knowing that he was part of the plan? His doubts, in love with Olivia, not wanting to kill her? The cover-up of the killing, the time and his going back to Brooke and her later using this with Olivia? Investigations? His work on the boat? Love, marriage? Mike and his threats? Not wanting to kill Olivia? Packing and the irony of trying to save her, his death - as planned for Olivia?. His final message about the money? Redeemed?

7. Gateworth and his ugliness, girlfriend, spurning of Olivia, the irony of the plan with Tim, the set-up, his ruthlessness, Tim killing him?

8. Mike and his niceness, law background, the police in the small town, his father working there, his devotion to Olivia?7 The murder and his covering up, taking the glasses? Suggesting Tim’s guilt and its being rejected by the police? Gateworth's girlfriend and the threats - and his killing her? The truth about his hatred for Olivia? In on the plan with Tim? The crash not coming off? Confrontation with Tim, pressure on him? Rigging the boat, the screwdriver in the drawer? Expecting Tim to be killed? The confrontation with Olivia and his death?

9. The police and their protecting the locals? The investigation?

10. Gateworth's girlfriend, the argument with the-police, putting the blame on Tim, her death?

11. Brooke as the bored wife, drinking, sexual liaisons, her husband, the boats, being catty towards Olivia?

12. Olivia's friends, their support, the lawyer, high society and glamour, the world of sailing?

13. Adequate murder mystery, twists? Evil and redemption?