MISS RIGHT

US, 1981, 98 minutes, Colour.
William Tepper, Margot Kidder, Karen Black, Virna Lisi, Marie France Pisier.
Directed by Paul Williams.

Miss Right was written by actor William Tepper, who plays the central role. He co-authored the story, along with director Paul Williams.

The film has a Roman setting with attractive scenery and locations. However, by focusing on William Tepper's Terry, we see a self-preoccupied male chauvinist, fantasising about his own sexual attractiveness, fantasising about the main women in his life. He invites each of them to a meal, makes a cake for them, intends never to see them again so that he can have his freedom and Miss Right. Feminists would be immediately up in arms at his attitudes, let alone the sequences in which distinguished actresses encounter him and seem to find him so attractive that they will be prepared to destroy their lives for his sake. The actresses are Marie-France? Pisier, Virna Lisi and Karen Black. Margot Kidder eventually arrives as Miss Right - there may be some comeuppance for him at various times, but the film is dominantly chauvinist.

1.Interesting and entertaining drama? The story of a man and his sexual relationships? The role of the women in his life?

2.Roman settings, exteriors, interiors, workplaces - and echoes of the Red Brigade? The musical score?

3.The title, Miss Right for Terry and his criteria for judging her?

4.Terry himself, the introduction, his talking to himself, the credits and his proposals to the various women, attraction, rejection? His work? His neighbour - and his bringing his fiancee to see Terry? Amy ousting them? His co-worker and his description of what he should do? His feeling lost?

5.The visit of B.B. - and his memories of meeting her on the job, modelling the clothes, the sexual encounter? Her visit, her relationship with the other woman? Trying on the dress, conversation with Terry, his wanting to end the relationship? Her skill in cooking? Her cake? His treatment of her, her subservience to his emotional domination? Her leaving?

6.Anna, the older woman, leaving her husband? The memories of their relationship? The young man, flattering the older woman? Her subservience to him? The meal, the conversation, the separation, his wanting to be free? Her putting the pasta all over him? Taking him out to meet her husband? His rejection?

7.Amy, the memories of the first encounter, her wanting to write a novel, imagining the relationship and its consequences? Her visit, her love for him, dependence on him, his chauvinistic treatment of her - putting her outside the door, dragging her in the chair? Her relentlessly wanting to stay with him?

8.Seeing Miss Right in the street - and imagining his chasing her, talking with her, the mutual attraction? The encounter, her going home, talking with him, telling her story, his listening? The note? His desperation, elation? Going to the studio - and her posing rather than being an artist? Any future?

9.Romance, battle of the sexes, equality of the sexes, the male perspective on women? The male's comeuppance?