CADDYSHACK
US, 1980, 98 minutes, Colour.
Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight, Michael O'Keefe, Bill Murray, Sarah Holcomb, Henry Wilcoxon, Albert Salmi.
Directed by Harold Ramis.
Caddyshack is a broad, farcical American comedy in the tradition of National Lampoon's Animal House and the Canadian variation Meatballs. In fact Bill Murray from Meatballs has a role in Caddyshack. However, the screenplay is more controlled -in the sense of there being a plot, a sense of development of characters and situations, the farcical and crude elements being worked into this framework. The film also boasts an excellent cast who are at their best - even with farcical and crude, sometimes juvenile humour. Rodney Dangerfield is the personification of the brash nouveau riche builder imposing his wealth on others. Ted Knight is the personification of snobbery as Judge Smails. Chevy Chase, a pleasant comedian, has much less to do but does it nicely. The hero is Michael O'Keefe, Oscar nominated for his interesting role as the son in The Great Santini. The film has a broad range of targets and goes at them broad American style. Some incidents will appeal, some repel. On the whole, it does provide quite a number of laughs as well as making its point.
1. American comedy? Its broad humour and style? The background of revue material? Satire and parody? Good taste and bad taste - by what criteria? Farce of the '70s and '80s? How funny, how successful in achieving aim?
2. The traditions of American comedy: broad, loud, the comeuppance of snobs, the poking fun at self-inflated people, romance and sentiment? Thews of American comedy - class, wealth, ambition? The crude tone from National Lampoon and its pervading black comedy of the '70s and '80s? The musical score - and the way that it was humorously used to frame the film with the gophers?
3. The title and the reference to the country club, the establishment, the nouveau riche? The contrast with the ordinary family, the poor family? The young people at the caddyshack?
4. The framework of the gophers - and their chewing away at the golf course? In the manner of the film itself! The song, music, the rocking of the gophers to give a tone to the beginning and end? Carl and his work, Vietnam experience, madness, pot-smoking, filthy room, exasperation with the residents? The visit of Ty and their discussion? Zany and broad humour? The idiotic touch? The final explosions?
5. The focus on Danny's story for the plot emphasis? The initial portrayal of his large family and their getting up in the morning, the issue of the scholarship? Danny's work at the caddyshack and the various types there - friendliness, fights, rivalries? The self-promotion of each of the caddies? Danny and his wanting the scholarship? His working with the judge and saving his reputation after he knocked out the man? Danny and his getting in well with the judge's family - the invitation to the ship? His overdressing? The encounters with Lacey - at the restaurant? On the ship? The sex encounter at the judge's home? Their being discovered and the farcical chase? The contrast with the relationship with Maggie, the sexual liaison, Maggie and her expected pregnancy and Danny expecting to do the right thing? The friendship with Ty, advice, looking ahead to career? Danny being champion golf player? The competition? The grudge match between Cerik and the judge? His involvement? His decision to break away from the judge and supporting him, and win against him? The support of the crowd? His odd win - by luck? The central character of the story?
6. Ted Knight's style and embodying the snobbish judge? His attitude in the shop, buying the cap etc., his golf clubs? His being a stickler for the rules? His wife supporting him? The exasperation with A1 Cerik and his new buildings, manner, the Japanese tourist, brashness? The restaurant sequence and Cerik poking fun at his wife? The launching of the ship and the attack by Cleric’s boat? His being saved by Danny? The offer of the scholarship? His reaction to discovering Danny and Lacey in the bedroom? The confrontation with Czerwik and the bets? His continued cheating? The satire on him as a judge, American upper class? How true the satire, how effective?
7. The contrast with Al and his loud talk, manner, clothes? His manner of speaking - almost cartoon character! The Japanese tourist? His electronic golf bag? His attitude towards real estate and buildings? Vulgarity in the restaurant? His boat cutting down the judge's boat? The tournament and his pretending to have hurt his arm? His reliance on Ty? The parallel satire with the judge?
8. Ty and his easy manner, his skill at playing golf, his living in abstraction, not interested in wealth, his friendship with Danny and advice, his encounter with Lacey - and the humour of the massage etc.?
9. His practising for the tournament and encounter with Carl and his visit to his room? The tournament and winning against the judge?
10. Maggie and her Irish background, relationship with Danny, the feared pregnancy, the possibility of many fathers? The contrast with Lacey and her being seductive on the prowl?
11. The satire on the church with the bishop, his expressions of snobbery and racism, his excessive love for golf? His playing in the rain and being struck by lightning, his transformation into an alcoholic? The point being made?
12. How pointed this kind of satire, how offensive? Laughs? Bad taste - the vomit sequence, the chocolate bar in the pool, sex sequences? The exposing of hypocrisy?
