SWEET LIBERTY

US, 1986, 107 minutes, Colour.
Alan Alda, Michael Caine, Michelle Pfeiffer, Bob Hoskins, Lilian Gish, Saul Rubinek, Lois Chiles.
Directed by Alan Alda.

Sweet Liberty was written and directed by Alan Alda. Alda also stars. He performed this work and acting for 1981's The Four Seasons and 1988's A New Life.

The film is a gentle satire on the movie industry, the types that are found in film-making, the descent of a film crew into a small American town for the summer and the repercussions on the life of the town. It also satirises the writer and director and the adaptation of a serious work of history to make it a popular comedy. (Young audiences wanting acts of rebellion, violence, and people taking off their clothes.)

There are many witty lines in the film - Alda has a good ear for dialogue and humour. There is a wide range of characters who are presented with sympathy and with a satiric touch. A strong cast is led by Alda himself, with Michael Caine as a vain womanising actor, Michelle Pfeiffer as an ambitious actress. Lilian Gish is good as Alda's mother but Bob Hoskins stands out as the crass American writer wanting to make a success of himself.

Not particularly memorable, but entertaining on the screen.

1. Alan Alda's writing, direction, acting? Perspective?

2. The American town, in the summer, its day-to-day life? The change with the movie-makers arriving? Musical score and theme?

3. The satire on films and movie-making: the arrival of the crew and cast, the bus, taking over the town, the director and his bombastic attitudes, the writer and his wanting privileges, the stars and their behaviour, the politics on the set, the effect on the town?

4. The satire on films and film-making: ideals, entertainment, the three criteria for young audiences, the possibilities of corruption because of the politics of film-making?

5. Michael as the central character: his writing of the book and its success, his history classes, his relationship with Gretchen, past marriage, living with her, the question of marriage? The arrival of the film-makers, the meeting with Stanley, the kiss, the truth about the screenplay, the possibility of rewrites? The meeting with Hodges, clashes with him, his overriding attitude? Faith and the idealising of his character? Devotion to her, sexual liaison with her? Meeting Elliott socially? Fencing with him, being wounded, the sword fight? His wanting an authentic script? Following the advice of Stanley, the rewrites? The build-up to the finale, his changing the director's plans, the exploitation: violence, rebellion, nudity? The chaos and yet the happy ending of the film?

6. Gretchen, her commitment to Michael, her wariness about his plans, her love for his mother, going to visit her, the concern about his mother's wishes? The encounter with Elliott, the outing to the fun fair, the end and the deal, the pregnancy?

7. Michael's mother, odd and eccentric, in hospital, her not eating food, her living in her own world, her memories of a past beau, hospitalised, Michael reassuring her after his visit to see the beau? Her presence at the film premiere?

8. Elliott, famous star, sexual appetite, his skill in acting, his local liaison, the arrival of his wife, his affair with Faith? His attraction towards Gretchen? Friendship with Michael, fencing, the attacks? The outing? His performance and wanting his star role to be accented?

9. Faith, her speaking like the part, living it, the real Faith, the meal, wanting to learn about the character, reading the letters, the affair with Michael, with Elliott? A film star and her own ambitions?

10. The director, his crassness, his fulfilling the letter of his contract, discussions with Michael and Stanley? The build-up to the finale, his plans being thwarted, his exploiting them?

11. Stanley, being a writer, his past, his adulation for Michael, following him around, the rewrites, the advice about the politics, his knowing looks, his success, with Michael's mother at the end?

12. The picture of the town, the townspeople involved, the historical society, as extras, their skills, their not being put to use, their participating in the final battle? Lesley, her role in the town, her audition, affair with Elliott?

13. The happy ending with the premiere and the recapitulation of all the characters?

14. A piece of Americana - the light touch, but the satiric points?