THE GIFT OF LOVE

US, 1978, 96 minutes, Colour.
Marie Osmond, Timothy Bottoms, Bethel Leslie, June Lockhart, David Wayne.
Directed by Don Chaffey.

The Gift of Love is one of those pleasing romantic telemovies with a Christmas setting that is often shown at that season. It also marked the acting debut of Marie Osmond, the popular television entertainer. Timothy Bottoms serves as the hero for this romance set in New York early this century. The sentimental touch is there as indicated by the title and the title song. However, there is comment on arranged marriages and their lack of love and the need for true love for a marriage bond. June Lockhart gives good support as Aunt Constance. The ending of the film takes its cue from 0. Henry's story The Gift of the Magi. David Wayne acts as host, introducing and ending the film and pointing its Christmas message of love.

1. The role of the telemovie - home entertainment, social comment, stirring audiences for reflection? How well did this telemovie combine these elements?

2. The film as a vehicle for Marie Osmond? Her presence, charm? The supporting cast? The period aspects of the film, New York, costume, manners? The film as a piece of Americana interpreting and remembering the past? David Wayne and his role as host?

3. The significance of the title and its focus on love, love as a gift, the title song, its reference to Beth's father? Its use throughout the film and repetition, Rudi and his liking for the song?

4. Themes of arranged marriages and the presence and absence of love? The parallel of Beth's arranged marriage in America with Rudi's in Europe? Americans and the European tradition? The emphasis on America and freedom? Audience identification with the characters and the them? The importance of Beth's parents and their runaway marriage and its love as a criterion for the film?

5. Marie Osmond's presence as Beth, American sweet, American strong? Her role in the household, relationship with aunt and uncle and gratitude towards them, her being trained for the wealthy American class and its manners and style? Her friend Mary and the down-to-earth friendship and shared enjoyment? Beth's attitude towards the arranged marriage. wanting to please her aunt and uncle? Agnes and her dominance? Her fiance and his seemingly weak character, interest in ornithology, going into the arrangement and his formality at its announcement? The hurt for both of them? The difficulties? Beth trying to remain faithful to the arrangement? The background of combining fortunes, social life and entertainment?

6. The ironies of the skating sequence,, Mary and her boyfriend, the encounter of Rudi and Beth,, the skating and the pretence, the fall? The clash of personalities? The ironies of the dance, Beth and her being the belle of the ball? Their further clash? The cab ride home? Rudi discovering the truth about Beth, the clash? The change into friendship,, the pledge to each other.. falling in love? Their meetings - the humour of the skating with Beth's fiance.. with the service to the migrants? The feeling of the relationship between the two? A genuine gift of love?

7. Rudi and his personality, the migrant, Swiss background, working? Saving money for the family, the arranged marriage? His pursuit of Beth, genuine feeling for her, sharing his experiences with her? The decision to leave? The pain, his leaving the ship?

8. Beth's aunt and her fussing, snobbery, training Beth? The uncle and his stern approach to her mother, to herself? Going out without permission and his rebuke, his strict rules? His expelling her from the house and the bolting of the door? Agnes and her arrangements, her fussing about her brother. financial agreements?

9. Beth's fiance and his personality, weakness, skill at ornithology? His awareness of the situation,, his allowing Beth to break the engagement, his encouraging her to leave?

10. Mary and her friendship with Beth, her flirting, the Swiss boy and his flirting and enjoying it? Mary's mother and the making of the dress? The staff at home,, the butler and his observations. dancing at the ball, taking responsibility for Beth? Their all being sacked? Their presence at the home, their participation in the marriage and its celebration?

11. The culmination of the breaking of the engagement, Beth's decision to leave the house, hurrying to the wharf, Rudi leaving the ship, the meeting and the preparation for the marriage?

12. The wedding celebrations? The exchange of deer symbols and the overtones of 0. Henry's story The Gift of The Magi? The Gift of Love?

13. The Christmas setting, the Christmas message? Audience entertainment, experiencing people's ordinary lives, difficulties, love? A satisfying telemovie?