COMPROMISING POSITIONS
US, 1985, 98 minutes, Colour.
Susan Sarandon, Raul Julia, Edward Herrmann, Judith Ivey, Mary Beth Hurt, Joe Mantegna.
Directed by Frank Perry.
Compromising Positions is an enjoyable murder mystery, a type of women's magazine story set in affluent Long Island. The victim is a dentist played by Joe Mantegna. Susan Sarandon is a former journalist who starts investigating. Raoul Julia is the police inspector. There is an interesting supporting cast including Judith Ivey as a gossipy neighbour and friend. The screenplay was adapted by Susan Isaacs from her own novel. Director is Frank Perry. In the early '60s with his wife Eleanor, he made David and Lisa and then such interesting films as Last Summer, Diary of a Mad Housewife. In the '80s he made Mommie Dearest, Monsignor, Hello Again.
1. Enjoyable Long Island soap-opera murder mystery - with a touch of satire?
2. Long Island settings, affluent, the suburbs? Smooth style? Score?
3. The title and its ironies? As applied to various characters?
4. Dr. Fleckstein, his work and skills, his range of patients? Judith getting attention? The sexual relationships? His relationship with his wife and family? Brother-in-law?. Sister-in-law? His involvement in a pornography racket?
5. Judith as heroine: wife and mother, domestic sequences, love for Bob? Former-journalist, fascinated by the murder, curiosity? Friendship with Nancy, information? The interview with Mary Alice? With the woman and going to the funeral with her? Meeting David, clash, his catching her in the dentist's office?, The visits home, sharing information, the investigation? Bob busy with his work, their clash? The painting of MYOB on their kitchen wall? The gaining of clues, the writing of the article, the gymnasium, the interview with Brenda, the interview with Phyllis? Drawing conclusions? Going to meet Dickie, being taken by Phyllis, being held in the house? The truth, the rescue? Her reconciliation with Bob? Writing the article and its success? (And moving into the era of word processors?)
6. David and his investigations, pleasant, exasperated, finding Judith at the office, his visits, overhearing Nancy, sharing information, the final set-up and rescue?
7. Nancy and her gossipy style, her art, relationships and sex, gossip?
8. Peg as the neighbour, information?
9. Brenda and Dickie, strange marriage, the pornography racket, picture6, the interview with Brenda and thinking she was Fleckstein's only love?
10. Phyllis, pleasant, the funeral, the interview, the gun, the police talking and the dog, caught? Dickie and his getting strength and turning against his sister?
11. Bob as the lawyer, father, puzzled about Judith's interest, busy about his work, clash, the reconciliation?
12. The quality of the writing, the strong cast bringing characters, even briefly, to life? Enjoyable murder mystery?
