TOUGH GUYS DON'T DANCE

US, 1987, 110 minutes, Colour.
Ryan O' Neal, Isabella Rossellini, Wings Hauser, Lawrence Tierney, Debra Sundland, Penn Jillette, Frances Fisher, Clarence Williams III.
Directed by Norman Mailer.

Tough Guys Don't Dance is a really oddball thriller, written and directed by Norman Mailer from one of his novels. It has much of Mailer's philosophy as well as re-creating his world, a macho world of tough guys and gangsters, of drug dealers and drug-takers, of passion and violence.

The film does not quite come together - but is one of those films which is considered so bad In its style that it becomes something of a cult piece of Americana. Ryan O' Neal does his best in the role of the central character. Isabella Rossellini is also serious In her role. However, Wings Hauser goes over the top as the manic policeman. Lawrence Tierney appears as the hero's father.

The film has New England settings, looks quite glossy - but had flashbacks within flashbacks which make it rather complicated, has a range of characters who are strong on rhetoric rather than on characterisation. An oddity.

1. The impact of this thriller? The work of Norman Mailer? His reputation in the United States? Writer, director, macho image?

2. The film as a piece of Americana, the east coast, the seaside town, homes, parties? The musical score and the romantic theme? Songs?

3. The title and its references? Tim's father and the initial explanation?

4. The introduction to Tim and his father? Tim telling the story, the flashbacks? His head, the parties, the seance, the hallucinations, the bodies in the cellar, the passing of the five days, the memories of Madeleine, the Screw magazine advertisement, the wife-swappIng, the plan of Patti Laraine, the accident and Madeleine not able to bear children? Patti Laraine and having Tim as the chauffeur, marrying him?

5. The flashbacks within the flashbacks: the parties, cocaine, sex, Regency coming as policeman, his staying on? The seance and the fears about murder? The women, the scream, Patti Laraine and her glamour, the new chauffeur, her declslon to leave and Tim counting the days?

6. The passing of the five days: the number in the mirror, going to the hotel, the encounter with Jessica and Lonnie, the discussion, the jokes, sex, drugs? His waking up with the tattoo, the blood on his clothes? The discussions with Regency? The head in the bag? The car in the parking lot? The seance friends, the explanation of the tattoo? The growing mystery?

7. Jessica and Lonnie, her X-rated movies, real estate and wealth, sex, her laughter, the disappearance? The link with the seance? Lonnie and his possessiveness, drugs, relationship with Wardley? Homosexuality?

8. Regency and his coming to the party, talking with Tim, the interviews, the blood, the talk about the drug stash in the forest, Tim going to get it? The letter of Lonnie? The irony of his being married to Madeleine, his lies about the family? His madness? The investigation, the irony of his doing the killings, trying to frame Tim? the maniac and the policeman? The final violence?

9. Madeleine and the flashbacks, nice, her relationship with Tim, living with him, the poem, the advertisement in Screw magazine, the Christian couple, going to Carolina, the wife-swapping, tier disgust, the church service? The drive back, the car accident, tier not having children? her anger with Tim? The irony of her marrying Regency? Their life together? Coming back to Tim, helping him with the investigation, the final killings? Her hatred of Regency? Buying the new house - a future?

10. The Christian couple, their advertisement, sex, Stu and his apocalyptic preaching? Patti Laraine, her playing the organ? Getting rid of her husband, Tim as the chauffeur? Divorce proceedings? The irony of their marriage, the parties, her glamour? Her marrying Wardley and the separatthe money deal? Her death?

11. Wardley and his friendship with Tim in the past, homosexuality, the marriage to Patti Laraine, the divorce proceedings? His devotion to Patti Laraine? The drug deal and the connection with Lonnie? The importance of his final confrontation with Tim, expression of love, with the gun? Tim responding to him, his shooting himself?

12. The rhetoric of the characters, wordiness of the screenplay? Persuasive -for instance Tim's 'Oh God, Oh Man, Oh God ...?

13. The seamy world of drugs, police corruption, sexual passion, violence, drinking, madness? The irony of the echo of Jessica's laugh at the end? To what purpose?