SIEGE

US, 1978, 100 minutes, Colour.
Martin Balsam, Sylvia Sidney, Dorian Harewood.
Directed by Richard Pearce.

A telemovie well above the average. It tells the frightening story of elderly citizens living alone in apartments in New York. While all are potential victims of robbers, muggers and people in general with violent tendencies, the aged are particularly open to this kind of attack. This story tells of some of the people who live in such an apartment, their being terrorized, their reactions - even to despair. It also tells of the stands that individuals take to safeguard themselves. Because of the anonymity of the attacks, the unwillingness of the elderly citizens to name names and give evidence for fear of reprisals and the limited resources of the police, the criminals go free. Points are very tellingly made in a strong screenplay which does not pull punches, especially for a television audience. There are excellent performances from Martin Balsam and from Sylvia Sidney in the leading roles. All in all, an exciting action police film. However, a much more serious social comment film.

1. An interesting and entertaining telemovie? A message film? how well did the film communicate its message - for the American audience, the audience of the cities, an older audience? Home audience? Its universal message?

2. The film's use of the conventions of the movie which introduces a range of people living in the one area their personalities, characteristics, interactions? how well were these used for the message of the film? The terrorising of neighbourhoods tradition? The police film? how well did the film use its conventions add to them?

3. Location photography in New York, an authentic atmosphere of the apartments, the streets, the park, the shops? Police precincts? The special effects for building up tension? The significance of the title?

4. How authentic did the plot seem? The portrait of elderly citizens? Their fears, loneliness? Phobias? Their being terrorised? The picture of young thugs and robbery, violence? The action and inaction of the police? The attitudes of the thugs towards the opposition of the elder citizens? The suicide of Mrs Gordon?

5. The basic message about elderly citizens, police protection, fears, phobias? Loneliness and irrational reaction? The need for some kind of security?

6. The picture of the thugs and their attacks - in the hallways, the elevators, the rooms, the methods of attack, the fears played on, the violence, the robberies? The helplessness of the older people? The action sequences and their persuasiveness?

7. Simon and his background? His promoting himself as king and the rituals which he went through? His young associates? His terrorizing the neighbourhood? His invasion of the flats, the rooms? The confrontation with Henry? The terrorizing of Mrs. Gordon? The police aid their inability to act? His defiance, the confrontation with Henry? How real a portrait of the thugs of the street?

8. Henry Fanchin - Martin Balsam's presence and style? A dignified old man, his background, place in the apartment, a widower, an ordinary citizen? His reaction to the attacks? The friendship with Lilian?
Their discussions about their lives? Facing old age, death? Henry and his wanting to take a stand? His seeking out Simon? The audience seeing Simon through Henry's eyes? The pleas for the police help? The attempts to help Lillian and their failure? His anger at her death? The confrontation? His courage, convictions? As a symbol for action that should be taken? The range of people unable to give evidence, fearful and yet supportive of Henry?

9. Lillian Gordon as representing the victims? The strength of her character, her life, fears? The importance of her ring and the lengths to which Henry went to get it back? his giving it back to her? The blossoming of their friendship? Her phobias and inability to cope? The continued invasions by Simon? The pathos and visual presentation of her suicide? Its impact on the audience? On Henry? Highlighting the desperate need for action?
10. The range of people in the neighbourhood. their refusal to give testimony, their wanting to give information but Simon's terrorising them? Their fears being justified? Their vindictive attitudes at the end confronting Simon?

11. A story of contemporary New York. of the contemporary cities? The film's comment on thuggery and terrorising in the streets. in liomest the plight of the aged? A valuable telemovie?