MARY JANE HARPER CRIED LAST NIGHT

US, 1977, 100 minutes, Colour.
Susan Dey, Kevin Mc Carthy, John Vernon.
Directed by Allen Reisner.

One of a number of telemovies of the late seventies focussing on social issues and social abuses especially in the family, like Sarah T. Portrait of an Alcoholic.

This film focuses on child-bashing and breaks through social classes by concentrating on a wealthy girl and her exasperation with her child and the physical violence that she does it. American in tone and style, it id compelling viewing especially in making child-bashing understandable and making us realize how widespread it is. There is a moralizing tone to the film as is to be expected. The glamorous Susan Dey, from The Partridge Family and First Love is convincing in the central role of the distraught and violent mother. Kevin Mc Carthy gives strong support as the father who spoilt her. Recommended for discussion.

1. The impact of social abuse on view? the moralizing? How well do these films adapt television techniques for the
presentation of such serious themes for the wide home audience?

2. How authentic did the film seem, American atmosphere, locations, hospital, crisis situation, violence, Child Protection societies? The influence in America, the impact for countries outside America?

3. How well was the problem presented, how realistically? The quality of the response that the film elicited? Could audiences identify with Rowena? The embarrassment and guilt toll of identification? The social comment of the film, the highlighting of child-bashing in the wealthier class? The film's offering solutions in child protection organizations and in discussion groups?

4. The drastic tone of the film, the intensity of Rowena’s feelings, the crisis situations with Mary Jane, the presentation of Mary Jane's accidents and her crying? The social critique implied? The presentation of pain, madness? The portrait of the courts? The culmination in actual death?

5. The portrait of the Harpers: Rowena and her care for Mary Jane and her love for her, her easily being hassled? Her husband's leaving her and her loneliness? Her attitudes in punishing Mary Jane and so frequently and violently? How credible were the situations in which Rowena found herself? Why could she not cope? Did the flashbacks and the explanations during the interviews with various people explain this? The film's reflection on the prevalence of such child bashing?

6. The attitude of the hospital, Dr. Bucciori and her attitude? Her background and her sympathy? Getting the necessary permissions and the attitude of Dr. Holgerson? His attitudes and their change when protecting the Athertons? the power to forbid her to pursue the matter farther? Her decision to pursue it, the risk that she took, her getting the sack? The intensity of her personality, her comments on her background, her feel for things wrong? Was she right to be so forward? The pressures in the hospital her behaviour highlighted? Her being vindicated? All doing the nay courses including Dr Holgerson? How easy a solution from the hospital paint of view? Or appropriate moralizing for this kind of film?

7. The child protective care organizations? Their role, their powers, the invasion of privacy, protection of victims? Dave Williams and his capacities? His visit to Rowena and encouraging her and yet her realising who he was? his further interviews? Pursuing of leads? The exasperation of the court case? The fact that Rowena could turn to him in desperation? The complementing this advice with the discussion groups - how vividly was the discussion represented, each telling the truth? Breaking through Rowena’s reservations and lies? The irony that she was present at the group when the house burnt and that she lost her child? The cruelty of this irony?

8. The picturing of Mary Jane, her suffering, reliance on her father’s love for her mother? The accidents? Hospitalization? The crying, the house burning? Being taken by her mother and the pathos of her death? Was it credible that she could be so exasperating?

9. The portrait of the Athertons and the visualizing of the father's love for Rowena, the mother's coldness and hostility? Their behaviour in pressurising authorities, lawyers and doctors? Relying on their wealth and position? Their being unable to believe that Rowena Mary Jane could behave this way? The challenge in the court? The film's critique of their attitudes?

10. The explanation of Rowena with the flashback, the rape and her fears? Paralleling her mother’s treatment of her? The rivalry with her mother for her love? The build-up even to killing?

11. The picture of the courts, the administration of justice, pressures and persuasion? The exasperation of the hospital and the child protective services?

12. The bitterness of the ending? What was the audience left with? The presentation of family themes, the rearing of children, pressures? The humane tone of the film, social critique, justice?