MAN ON A SWING

US, 1975, 108 minutes, Colour.
Cliff Robertson, Joel Grey, Dorothy Tristan, Peter Masterson.
Directed by Frank Perry.

Man on a Swing is an interesting and entertaining murder thriller and investigation. However, it leaves its audience somewhat up in the air at the end. The film was directed by Frank Perry who had made a mark in the '60s with such films as David and Lisa, The Swimmer, Last Summer. In the '70s, he made interesting but sometimes more routine films and in the '80s made such melodramatic films as Monsignor and Mommie Dearest.

Cliff Robertson brings a seriousness to the role of the investigator. Joel Grey (Oscar winner for Cabaret) gives a tour-de-force performance, full of emotional range, as a clairvoyant.

1. Interesting thriller, police investigation, dramatising of the work of a clairvoyant?

2. The American atmosphere, the town? The world of the Policemen? The world of the clairvoyant? Atmosphere, score?

3. The basic situation of the victim's death, her background, the photos, the audiences being absorbed by the victim and her story, the Chief and his fascination, audiences identifying with him? Puzzle, information and clues, detective work, the suspects and the interrogations, the psychological atmosphere, the repetition of the rape and killing?

4. The film's portrait of police work and investigations, questionings, clues, research?

5. The Chief and his personality, dedication to his work, interviewing suspects, collaboration with fellow officers, his friends, his being fascinated with the victim ? contemplating her photos, calling her Maggie? His relationship with his wife, expecting their child? Tension and love in this relationship? The effect of the investigation?

6.. Franklin and his ringing, police suspicions and listening over the phone, his story, information, the details about the glasses, their checking him out at his work? Seeing him in person, audience response to him, his going into trances, his uncanny knowledge, the impact of the trances and his dramatic living out of the other person's experience? His personal enthusiasm, crises? His not remembering? wanting to help? The dramatic build up of the re-enactments and their effects on him? The leads offered?

7. The effect on the Chief, asking experts for background about clairvoyants, the information given to the audience, the opinions of the experts, the psychiatrists and their interviewing of Franklin, the tests and the averages? Their conclusions?

8. The threats at the Chief's home, the anonymous phone calls, the visits? The effect on the Chief's wife? ? Was it Franklin?

9. The rapist and his being brought in, interrogated? The repetition of the situation, the car chase, his arrest? The contact with Franklin?

10. Franklin and the rapist, their bonds, his knowledge ? what did this mean? Franklin as clairvoyant? Setting up the rapist?

11. The ending and the uncertainty? The film based on a true story ?and the investigation incomplete?

12. A piece of Americana: town, murder, victim, friends, suspects, the police, clairvoyants?