THE THREE WISHES OF BILLY GRIER
US, 1984, 100 minutes, Colour.
Ralph Macchio, Hal Holbrook, Viveca Lindfors, Season Hubley, Betty Buckley, Jeffrey Tambor, Lawrence Pressman, Conchata Ferrell, Laura Dern, Ed Lauter.
Directed by Corey Blechman.
The Three Wishes of Billy Grier is a star vehicle for Ralph Macchio (The Karate Kid). He portrays a teenager who has a rare disease causing premature ageing. The film is in the vein of the movie illness of the week, but treats its subject sympathetically and gives the audience some insight.
The film shows the effect of the illness on Billy, his wanting to see his father who abandoned the family many years earlier, his encounter with the sympathetic dancer, would-be beautician, played by Seasan Hubly. Betty Buckley portrays his anguished mother. Viveca Lindfors and Hal Holbrook are part of the supporting cast. The film was written and directed by Corey Blechman and, while not based on an actual story, is based on research.
1. Impact of the telemovie? For the home audience? For understanding an illness? Theconsequences on the victim? Coping with the illness? Treatment?
2. The setting of the town, the hospital, the bus, the American cities? The world of Billy Grier? Audiences identifying with him and his world?
3. The title, the focus on Billy, his life and death?
4. The framework of the film: seeing Billy as aged, the family holiday home, with the children? The premature old man? The flashbacks and his remembering his life? Coming back to the shells and the children at the end and the pathos of his death?
5. Billy as a ordinary young teenager, sport, relationship with his friends? His love for Chrissy and their encounters, sexual bravado, intimacy death? friends, teachers, the final phone call and his having to leave her? His relationship with his mother, clashes and her tension, helping her - and the memories of his absent father? His love for his grandfather, the crotchety old man, the friendly neighbour? His illness, going to the doctor, the further tests? His mother's reaction? The battery of tests, the interviews? His understanding his condition? Trying to cope, the decision to run away to meet his father, meeting Phyllis on the bus, talking with her, the meal, at home, his talk about himself, about sexuality ? His playing his musical instrument, in the restaurant? His dream of being a musician? The friendship with Phyllis, trying to help her with the loan? The intimate sequences? His going to find his father, in the bar, approached by the woman, being sent away? Finding his father, the response of the dog, his father not recognizing him? His grandfather coming to see him, persuading to come home?
6. The pathos of the illness, its rarity, its effect? On the sufferer? On family and friends? His mother's inability to cope?
7. Nancy, love for her son, abandoned by her husband? Her proneness to being in crisis, emotional? Her friehdship with Frank, his visits, support? Love for her son, clashes with him? Her inability to accept the decision of the doctors, walking out, fainting? Trying to care for her son? His leaving, her anguish? Reunited?
8. His grandfather, cranky old man, love for Billy, the friendship with the woman down the hall, borrowing sugar, going shopping? Together? persuading Billy to come home?
9. Phyllis, on the bus, her story, hopes, wanting the loan? At home, her tough attitude? Not wanting sexual encounter? Growing friendship, intimacy? The car, driving? Trying to get the loan? Billy affecting her life? Bringing qualities out of her?
10. The doctors, concern, tests? Treating Billy? Offering him hell? His return to the institution, their interviewing him, learning about the disease from him?
11. His father, walking out, glimpsed by Billy - but no contact?
12. The use of this kind of telemovie to dramatise an illness, help audiences to be informed, appreciate the effect on the victims, the repercussions for family and friends? For doctors and research?
