SOMEBODY KILLED HER HUSBAND

US, 1978, 97 Minutes, Colour.
Farrah Fawcett- Majors, Jeff Bridges, John Wood, Tammy Grimes.
Directed by Lamont Johnson.

Director Lamont Johnson continues to make very interesting small-scale films, this time a very entertaining murder-comedy-romance, written neatly by Reginald Rose (Twelve Angry Men and others). Designed also to promote Farrah Fawcett- Majors, it gives her a good part which she handles with unexpected verve. However, Jeff Bridges as a zany would-be children's writer who works in Macy's toy department (all useful for the climax), falls in love with Farrah only to have to solve an increasing number of murders. A lot of humorous touches, good lines and a mystery with few clues for the audience shares the stars' quest. Very enjoyable.

1. The flip title, tone, indications of comedy, murder mystery? A satisfying blend of each?

2. The importance of the New York setting, wealthy people, shops, Christmas time? A realistic plausible setting? The characters inserted into this setting, plauisble plot? A realistic basis for going into fantasy for comedy and murder mystery?

3. Jeff Bridges as the focus - starting with him as a character, his stories and their detail, Benjamin and the various names? His working with the toys? His use of the tape recorder and the way that this material was used at the end? What kind of person, a cheerful engaging hero, his work with children and his mentality, working in the shop, his place in the shop hierarchy? An ordinary hero for strange and comic adventures? Could the audience like him, identify with him?

4. The initial encounter with Jenny - an ordinary encounter, how much it meant for him, in the context of the shop, talking to her, drawing? Jenny as a type? Mother, beauty? Attracting men? In difficulties? The importance of the return of the goods, Jeff Bridges continuing to make contact with Jenny? Lunch in the park? The drawings and the story with Benjie as name? Jenny's revelation of her marriage, husband? The decision for them to have a meal together? How was this all counterpointed by the relationship of the hero to the other shop assistant, her attachment to him, her psychologising everything, on again, off again relationship, the irony of their having the meal and Jenny arriving at the same time, the hero's attention to Jenny?

5. The build-up to romance, the falling in love setting. their proclaiming it to all the neighbours and the various people who knew? The sudden change of all this romantic perspective with the discovery of the corpse, the need for people not to know etc.? Jenny and the hero trapped?

6. How prudent and credible was their decision to conceal the body? How well did they cope, nervousness, worry about the witnesses, the neighbours and their knowledge of what happened? The hero going to work after spending the night, nervousness? Jenny and her arrangement with her husband's secretary, taking his diary? The way this was important for the resolution?

7. Their decision to solve the murder - and the audience seeing the events, characters, clues and suspects from their very limited point of view? An effective way to present and solve a murder mystery, for the audience?

8. The visit of the policeman, his search of the house, the irony of the corpse in the fridge and the hero trying to conceal this? The irony of the true identity of the visiting policeman?

9. The presentation of the neighbours, their odd manner and appearance, way of talking, their being witnesses to the relationship, Jenny and the hero not telling the truth, their visit and their discovery of the tape recorder? The build-up to getting into their flat and the dangers of going out on the balcony with the heights etc.? The discovery of their deaths? The bizarre visual presentation of the corpses? The further complication with the false policeman found dead? The elimination of suspects?

10. The development of their plans, climbing into the apartment? Comedy, suspense? The audience still working with the pair to solve the mystery?

11. The discovery of the jewels, the code of the diary, the revelation of the husband's work?

12. The set-up for luring the villain? His appearance and the change of character of the secretary? The set-up in the shop for the chase? The madness of the secretary and his pursuit?

13. How effective and enjoyable the chase throughout the shop - the toys and their ominous presence, eeriness especially in the basement, the hero and his taping of the confession? Dangers, shooting? The labyrinth of the toys? The irony of their capturing the villain?

14. An appropriate happy ending for this kind of film? The strengths of human resourcefulness, coping, humour? An entertaining, implausible mystery?