CONFESSIONS OF A MARRIED MAN

US, 1983, 89 minutes, Colour.
Robert Conrad, Jennifer Warren, Mary Crosby, Ann Dusenberry, Lance Guest.
Directed by Stephen Gethers.

Confessions of a Married Man is an American telemovie of the type made so frequently in the '80s. It focuses on a social and domestic problem, dramatises the issues with the audiences able to identify with the characters and their conflicts.

This film focuses on a 45-year-old successful businessman who has become bored with life, is disappointed in his relationship with his wife, disappointed in his son. He begins an affair - and becomes irrational, outbursts with colleagues and with family. He decides to leave.

Robert Conrad is better than his usual macho performances in action films as the married man. Jennifer Warren is particularly good as his loving and bewildered wife. The cast also includes Lance Guest as the son who disappoints his father and Ann Dusenberry as the girlfriend.

The film is well made, is quite dramatic for the wide television audience.

1.Impact of the film? Realism? Portrait of a married couple in middle age, in crisis, family? Designed for the television audience?

2.Affluent America, the wealthy businessman, international trips, his factory? Affluent home? Educated children? The Middle American story? Audiences identifying with this world?

3.The title, how appropriate (and how sensational-sounding)?

4.Robert Conrad's portrait of Walter: the man who preferred success to effort, his successful business over 20 years, his factory and the decision to sell? The happy marriage, his expectations of his children - and his being disappointed in Arthur? The relationship with Pattie - and his becoming bored, especially with the social round, the same friends? The worry about growing old? His erratic outbursts at work, at home, at the restaurant? His relationship with Julie and his hesitation about the affair? At home with Pattie, the growing tensions? The visit of Ellen and Tommy, the discussion about their rooms at home, his outburst in the restaurant and in the street, the interchange with Pattie and his decision to leave? Moving out, his bewilderment, need of help? The discussions with Pattie, returning to get his clothes, the restaurant sequences, his decision to leave? Her embarrassment? His relationship with his children, Ellen's angry outburst at the effect on her relationship with Tommy and hoping that they would not end like mother and father? His not talking with his son? The visit to the psychiatrist, the collage of his presenting his point of view intercut with Pattie's? His hopes, decision not to return, to go to Europe with Julie? On the plane, her talking about marriage? His return to the graduation, the frank talk with his son and appreciating him, the frank talk with Pattie, how honest was he? Their going together to the motel? How well did the film portray his crisis, his hurting others, self-preoccupation, self-realisation, reconciliation?

5.Pattie, her lifestyle, loving her husband and trying to please him (and her hairstyles etc)? The social round and her enjoying parties? Love for her children and supporting them? Walter in crisis, her not mentioning his affair? The tension in the restaurant, especially about Ellen and Tom? The argument in the street, her frank talking? Her being hurt, moping, interaction with Ellen and slapping her face and being sorry? Wanting Walter out of the house yet hoping? The phone calls, the restaurant meetings and the tension? The talking with the psychiatrist and her perspective on her life, change and demands? The support of her children? The visit to the restaurant, Walter's telling her that he was leaving and her embarrassment? The graduation and her joy in her children? Walter's return, the hesitation? Her loving him, forgiving him, listening to his plea, going with him? Her frankness with her children, her dependence on her husband yet her coming out of herself when he left?

6.Arthur, in the shadow of his father, his father's success? An average boy? Ambition to go to college? The football, the tension when his father left, reassuring his mother, his description of himself as a realist seeing things as they were? The football practices, the coach and the scouts? Graduation, his talk with his father, explaining himself and success? Standing or failing on his own with football? Response to his father's appreciation? His precipitating the argument at the restaurant and accusing his father of hypocrisy? His meeting his father and asking him whether he was to blame for the break-up?

7.Ellen, accomplished, her relationship with Tom, his success? The visit, living together, the father's disapproval of this behaviour in the house? Her angry response? Blaming her father for ruining her relationship with Tom, not getting out of the bus, trying to support her mother and yet her mother reacting against her as a nursemaid? Going to Tom again? Their love for each other? Reconciliation with her father?

8.Julie, the other woman, age difference, in love with Walter, telling him that he was cheating on two women? Her joy in his return to her, the meal and meeting the business associate and her straightforwardness in acknowledging who she was? The European trip, the hope of marriage - and her disillusioning Walter?

9.The world of business, sales, colleagues, angers, embarrassments?

10.Portrait of a marriage, 20 years, crises, the need for renewal and reconciliation? Marriage collapse? Hopes for reconciliation?