DANIELLE STEEL'S HEARTBEAT

US, 1993, 95 minutes, Colour.
Polly Draper, John Ritter.
Directed by Michael Miller

Danielle Steele's Heartbeat is one of the many television movies made in the early 1990s of the novelist's romances. They tend to follow a pattern - affluent American society, marriages and marriage breakdown, a portrayal of family, the possibility of reconciliation or a new life, the promotion of traditional values of love, romance and marriage. Heartbeat is no exception.

Polly Draper is attractive as the television executive, in love with her husband, abandoned by him when she becomes pregnant, he seeing it as a betrayal of the promises made before the marriage. She encounters a divorced television executive, her neighbour, who is very supportive. He is played by John Ritter as the film calls him, `a nice guy'. He also has two children. The rest is quite predictable - enjoyable in watching the emotions as the plot takes its course. This film was directed, as were many of the others, by Michael Miller.

1. The popularity of Danielle Steel's novels? The formula? The values? The romance and the happy endings?

2. The Californian locations, the television studios, the supermarkets, the homes, hospitals? The forest and the lake? The typical American affluent locations? David Shyer's musical score?

3. The title - especially with reference to Adrienne's pregnancy? Bill's comment about heartbeats?

4. Adrienne's story: her work as an executive, her partner? Her love for Steven? The social and his bad reaction to the children? Her comments about children? His wanting to make a good impression? His not wanting children? Her telling him about the pregnancy, his bad reaction? His demand that she have an abortion? Her going to the clinic - the dramatic pause for the audience to wonder whether she terminated the pregnancy or not? Her meeting Steven, her explanation of what she had done? His walking out, clearing the house, setting the lawyer on her, the divorce? His complete disregard for her? Her loneliness, her discussions with her friend? The chance meetings with Bill, the decision to go with him and the boys camping? Her getting on well with the boys, saving Tom's life? Hospital and the truth about the baby? Bill's support? The birth of the baby? Her ringing Steven, his coming to visit, his demanding attitudes and willingness to forgive her? His departure? Her worrying about Bill, his coming to the hospital, the declaration of love, the baby taking his name, the wedding?

5. Bill, the soap opera, his relationship with the star, her affair? Being written out of the soap opera? The director and their discussions - and his trying to pick up the nubile girls playing volleyball on the beach? Bill and his love for his boys? The chance encounters with Adrienne, inviting her to the party, listening to her problems? Inviting her to go camping, propriety, enjoying the time away, his reaction to her saving Tommy? The discovery about the pregnancy and his hesitation, his support of her, love for her? His reaction to Steven's presence? Coming again to the hospital, the planning of the marriage? The new family?

6. The boys, their love for their father, camping, the dog, getting on well with Adrienne?

7. The world of TV, news, soap operas, the tantrums of the stars, their being written out of the show? The popularity of the soaps?

8. Steven and his selfishness, ambitions, the promise made by Adrienne, his walking out on her, depriving her of everything? The return to see the baby and his condescending attitude?

9. Traditional romantic values? Soap opera style? Audiences identifying with this kind of story?