A MONTH OF SUNDAYS

US, 1989, 90 minutes, Colour.
Hume Cronyn, Vincent Gardenia, Tandy Cronyn, Esther Rolle.
Directed by Allan Kroeker.

A Month of Sundays is a interesting telemovie, produced by Home Box Office. It is based on a play, relies very strongly on the dialogue and interactions of characters. However, it has been opened for the screen. The film offers a tour de force for 80yr old Hume Cronyn - he won an Emmy for his performance the year that his wife, Jessica Tandy, won an Oscar for Driving Miss Daisy.

Tandy and Cronyn had appeared in many films including The Cocoon films, The World according to Garp, Best Friends, *batteries not included. Their daughter Tandy Cronin acts as Cronin's daughter in this film - and there are some significant discussions scenes between father and daughter. Yet another interesting film on growing old, fears of the aged, nursing homes and the effect this all has on the elderly.

1. Interesting and entertaining telemovie? Based on a play?

2. A verbal film, discussions, John Cooper's comments on life? Opened out within the institution, outside, the street?

3. The title, the visiting days? The passing of time?

4. Themes of age and ageing, physical and mental health, institutions for the aged, comfort, their being looked after, the role of the staff? Physical support? Psychological support? The memories of the elderly? The support and lack of support from family?

5. Hume Cronyn's portrait of John Cooper: his age, the death of his wife, paying to be looked after? His abrasive and sarcastic manner? His skill with words? The room and Mrs Baker's comment? His enjoying sparring with Wilson, the sexual innuendo, his dreams, flirting? His cantankerous moods? his friendship with Mrs Baker, her ringing while he went to the bathroom, her comments about her father? His gift of the pearls to Tilson and the Whiskey to Mrs Baker for her father? His friendship with Aylott? Aylott's visits? Their discussions about the zombies, losing memories? losing bladder control? The background of family - Julia and Peter and their coming to visit every month, Gary (and his absences because of nightmares? In himself, his memories, talk about sex, unwillingness to walk after falling (and his talk above having falls)? The crisis, Aylott and his becoming confused? Wilson getting married? Julia offering him to live at home? The build-up to his decision?

6. Aylott, aged 71, fears of his interior? going into himself? Friendship with Cooper and visiting, him? The baseball teams and their memory? Walking to get the drops, going the wrong, way, confused in the street, the chauffeur and his giving him a lift, taking him out? His fear of being lost? Wanting Cooper to he honest? Playing, making mistakes but winning, drinking the whiskey? His greater confusion, the visit with Cooper, not wanting him to stare? Cooper and his continued interest, the baseball team, going for walks with him, Cooper making a decision for friendship and demanding that Aylott try to keep his part?

7. Wilson, an attractive nurse, sparring with Cooper, listening to his talk, the meals in his room? Her boyfriend and telling Cooper her story, the proposal on the back of the bike? Cooper's dreams? Giving her the pearls? Her concern about patients, her outburst in tears of compassion? Getting ready to go away?

8. Julia and Peter, relationship with Cooper? Coming later, the difficulties of the drive? Their home and his ridiculing of their improvements? Gary and his nightmares? Julia and her frank talk with her father, feeling shut out from them, the
frank talk between father and daughter, her offering him to come home? His appreciation?

9. The colonel, his military style, loneliness, the battle of the Sudan, his death? Out the side door - and a replacement coming the same day? George and his being in the pool, Memory loss, candidate? His sister being informed and not coming to visit anymore?

10. Themes of patients, relatives and their support?

11. A humane portrait of the elderly, of people's treatment of the elderly, emotional comfort? Staff of nursing homes? Wilson and Mrs Baker as ideals? The black chauffeur and his kindness? The film as entertaining and as a challenge?