TWO MOON JUNCTION
US, 1988, 104 minutes, Colour.
Sherilynn Finn, Richard Tyson, Louise Fletcher, Burl Ives, Juanita Moore, Kristy McNichol?, Don Galloway, Millie Perkins, Milla Jovovich, Martin Hewitt.
Directed by Zalman King.
Two Moon Junction is a film version of one of those rather lurid short stories in magazines which wants to be the equivalent of a big bestseller. Some commentators called the film lurid trash. It is certainly exploitive - glossy onthe surface, presenting affluent life in the deep south and contrasting it with the world of the carnival wanderer.
The wealth beauty queen just pressurised into marriage to an affluent pillar of southern society is infatuated by the rouse-about and has a torrid, literally breathy and steamy affair with him. There is exploitation of the situation - also of the heroine, a Playboy model.
What is surprising about the film is the strong cast which agreed to perform, including Louise Fletcher, Burl Ives, Kristy McNicoll? (in a very effective role). The film was written and directed by former actor Zalman King, who produced 9 1/2 Weeks and The Red Shoes Diaries.
A touch of prurience and exploitation in the south.
1. The film wanting to be the equivalent of the magazine story for the bestseller, the south, the lurid touch? The strong cast?
2. Southern locations, wealthy homes, school? The local carnival? Musical score?
3. The picture of the south, the exploitive touches?
4. April as queen of the class, her engagement to Chad, her wealth, her father as a senator, the family and her sisters? Grandmother and the sense of heritage? The wedding dress? Going to the carnival, her roving eye, seeing Perry, defying him about the ferris wheel, the hot night, her return, the interaction, his coming to her home and taking the shower,
the lovemaking and the video? Chad and the preparations for the wedding? The clash with Perry? Going to him, his drinking, the meeting with Patty-Jean? and the talk, changing dresses, the dancing? Her leaving him, the preparation for the wedding? The night at Two Moon Junction with Perry? The wedding, her hesitation? Her being in his shower? A future together or not? Type, glamour?
5. Perry, strength, work in the carnival, an eye for April, the night, the shower sequence, the video? His drinking, relationship with Patty-Jean? The ferris wheel and the danger at the carnival, the fight, his being dismissed? Putting up the tent in preparation for the wedding? Meeting April at Two Moon Junction? The police shooting him? His surviving, the end? A future with April or not?
6. Chad, wealthy background, the college men, in love with April, his ambitions, on the golf links with his peers? The bucks' party? The wedding sequence? His being stood up?
7. Belle and Delilah, the black woman and the white, companions, the traditions of the south, her home, her pressure on April, memories of her past? Giving her dress? Her police contacts, the pressure on them, her influence at the wedding, her authorising the shooting of Perry? The clash between them?
8. The sketch of April's parents, senator? Her mother's concern? The lively sisters?
9. The interlude with Patty-Jean?, her robust and striking style, frank manner of speaking, relationship with Perry, influence on April, the change of dresses, the dancing?
10. The law, the police, the sheriff under the influence of Bell, his presence at the bucks' party, the stripper dressed as a policewoman? The shooting of Perry?
11. The film called lurid trash - was it anything more than this?
