MY FIRST LOVE
US, 1988, 90 minutes, Colour.
Beatrice Arthur, Richard Kiley, Joan Van Ark.
Directed by Gilbert Cates.
My First Love is a vehicle for veteran Beatrice Arthur, well-known for her television performances, especially in her later years in The Golden Girls. Richard Kiley, prominent Broadway star and star of many telemovies, matches her well in this story of older-age people. The supporting cast includes Barbara Barrie and Anne Francis.
Beatrice Arthur portrays a widow who was always infatuated with a high school friend - she seeks him out, they meet, they clash, they fall in love again.
The film is focusing on relationships, the fact that people live to older age, the need for relationships, the possibility of marriages.
Direction is by Gilbert Cates, director of a number of films of high emotional relationships like I Never Sang for My Father, The Promise.
1.An appealing telemovie? For the television audience? For older-age audience?
2.The affluent American settings, audiences identifying or not identifying with the characters and their situations?
3.The title, Jean and her memories of her relationship with Sam, Sam as the first love? In high school and college times? Aftermath and repercussions? Rediscovering first love?
4.Beatrice Arthur's screen presence, her portrayal of Jean? As a driving instructor and her work with drivers, people accused of negligent driving? Her watching the video of her husband and remembering the strengths and weaknesses of their marriage? Her daughter and her concern about her mother? Ruth and the other friends? Talking things over, advice? The lunches - and the rebuke about failure in friendship after the death? Her future - interest in Sam, his letters, writing to him, his sending the ticket? Mistaking him at the airport? The enjoyable visit, living in the hotel, the dinner, his suave manner? His telling her about Clare? Her return, his not ringing? The advice of the friends? The mixed-up phone calls? Sam's visit, getting on well with everyone, kissing Jean and being seen by Barbara? Jean's return, the discovery of Clare, the clash? The final advice of the friends - his proposal? Her wanting the truth? The relationship between them, sharing the holiday, the intimacy? A basis for a marriage? The credibility of Jean as a character, the realism of her situation?
5.Ruth and the friends, their own marriages, memories of high school times, the reunion, old stories, the dancing? Their support of Jean, concern? Their listening in to Sam's proposal?
6.Sam, successful doctor, his relationship with Jean and his not marrying her? The memories of Diane and his unhappy marriage? Pride in his son? The divorce, the relationship with Clare - and her controlling him, wanting him to be younger, healthier? His defiance of her? Her wanting a child? Welcoming Jean, good company, breaking with Clare? The mixed up phone calls after his insulting Clare? His going out to plead with Jean, the holiday together, growing in friendship, falling in love, intimacy? Her disappointment in him, the talk with Clare? The birthday party and Jean talking with Clare, confronting Clare, confronting Sam? His proposal?
7.Clare, middle age, her love for Sam, controlling him, wanting him to be healthy, plan for a child? Her 40th birthday, staging the scene to insult Jean, drinking at the party, Jean talking with her? Her bowing out?
8.Barbara, relationship with her mother, suspicions, taking a stern tone?
9.Contemporary themes of marriage, widowhood, divorce, support of friends, loneliness, need for intimacy and love, marriage?
