SWEET WILLIAM
UK, 1980, 90 minutes, Colour.
Sam Waterston, Jenny Agutter, Geraldine James, Anna Massey, Arthur Lowe.
Directed by Claude Watham.
Sweet William is a modish, bittersweet romantic drama of the early '80s. It was directed by Claude Watham (That'll Be The Day, All Creatures Great and Small and the Australian drama, Hoodwink). Sam Waterston is the American star - who plays a variation on the seemingly amoral but exceedingly affable Alfie type. The focus of the film is on Jenny Agutter, a somewhat passive woman who is engaged, dominated by her mother, alienated from her father, who encounters Waterston by chance and falls in love with him, and then has to face the reality of his marriages, philandering, irresponsibility and her subsequent pregnancy. The supporting cast includes Anna Massey as Waterston's wife, Geraldine James as her friend and Arthur Lowe as her non-speaking and remote father.
The film raises issues of infatuation, truth and lies, male irresponsibility, pregnancy, choices and commitment.
1. Interesting romantic comedy drama of the early '80s? Of its time? Now?
2. The English settings, the homes, the cities, the theatre, schools? An authentic feel? The musical score?
3. The title, the focus on William, his attributes, his deception?
4. William as likable or not? Audience sympathy for him or not? The initial encounter with Anne at the school, imposing himself, taking her for coffee, the television, the play, the interview (with the actual Melvyn Bragg)? Her falling in love, their meetings? The passionate commitment by Anne? His seeming commitment? His explanation about his first marriage while not explaining his second? His attitude towards Edna? Playing off Anne against Edna? His will-o'-the-wisp behaviour, the charm with Pamela? His ready answers for everything? The play rehearsals, going to Liverpool, leading Anne on? The final confrontation with Edna? The revelation that he had written her letter while he had dramatised it to Anne? His inability to face responsibilities? His not wanting a divorce? His lack of moral attitudes despite his charm? His future?
5. The focus on Anne, her seeing her fiance off, the tentative relationship, no ring? The tantrums of her mother? In the block of flats, her relationship with the various people, wanting to be alone? Her friendship with Pamela - but not listening to her talking about the pregnancy? The encounter with William, infatuated, watching the television? Falling in love? Their passionate time together? The discovery about Edna, Edna coming to see her? Her refusal to face the truth? Her visits to Liverpool, to the rehearsals? The happy times together? Edna's letter and the tear? Her being pregnant? Going to visit her mother, her mother's criticisms? The remoteness of her father? Her sense of being alone, the final confrontation with Edna, William's arrival? The birth? Her being left alone with her child? Her future?
6. Pamela as best friend, pregnant, her concerns, supportive of Anne, infatuated by William?
7. The woman in the block of flats, friendship and concern, also infatuated by William?
8. Edna, her age, love for her husband? Stating that only she understood him? His fidelity to her, her trying to warn Anne? The visits, the explanation of the letter? William staying with her?
9. Anne's mother, her tantrums, her behaviour during the visit, wanting her daughter to marry, putting her down, criticising her relationships and responsibility? Telling her to sit up at the table...? The silent father, his love for Anne, his inability to express it?
10. How realistic and authentic a picture of a young woman in love, infatuated but betrayed? Having to stand on her own feet?
