DREAMER
US, 1979, 86 minutes, Colour.
Tim Matheson, Susan Blakely, Jack Warden.
Directed by Noel Nossek.
Dreamer is a light sports drama made in the wake of the success of the success of Rocky. If focuses on tenpin bowling - not the most dramatic of sports.
Tim Matheson is the local champion, Jack Warden is his coach. Susan Blakely is his girlfriend. He goes to tournaments, practises at home, argues his case for being a member of the bowling association. He meets his rival, clashes with his girlfriend, his coach gets ill and dies. He wins.
The film is quite pleasant - in an American style.
1. Entertaining drama? For sports fans? Tenpin bowling?
2. The American small town? Bowling tournaments? Audiences identifying with characters and places? Musical score, theme song?
3. The title, the focus on the young man, his ambitions? Conversations about dreaming - and Harry's dreaming as well?
4. Dreamer, the young boy and the credit collage of the history of tenpin bowling, his work in the alley, growing up and winning? The championship and his rival? Winning the cup, coming home, buying the car, telling Harry the news? His boss, fixing the machinery? Karen's arrival - and her being hurt? The bond between the two, relationship, covering it up at home? Clashes? His training, his work, his boss and the question of partnership? Harry and the training? The letter about the association, his going to St Louis, barging into the office, arguing his case and winning? The clash with Karen, the jealousy of Spider? The tournament, the car breaking down? Winning? Harry and his collapse, illness and dying? Reconciliation with Karen? The support of the town, the championship, the TV interviews, the tournament on television? His victory - and the bowling alley in memory of Harry? An American small town hero?
5. Harry, the old man and his memories, photos, training of Dreamer, supporting him, the clashes, the clash with Karen, his collapse, death?
6. Karen, small-town girl, in love with Dreamer, wanting to be number one, her self-assertion, the relationship, the clash, giving him space, the fight with Harry and his collapse, her blaming herself? The relationship with Spider? The final relationship?
7. Spider, playing pool, his flirting with the girls, Flo? Flirting with Karen, helping with the luggage, the clash with Dreamer?
8. The members of the board, anti-Dreamer, the others accepting him? His rival - and the clashes in the tournament?
9. The bowling alley, the people playing, part of the American lifestyle? The two Hispanic repairers and their work, flirting, comic touches? The boss, his threats?
10. A cross-section of American town life, the place of tenpin bowling, champions?
