JENNIFER: A WOMAN'S STORY

US, 1979, 100 minutes, Colour.
Elizabeth Montgomery, Bradford Dillman, Scott Hyland, James Booth, Kate Mulgrew, Doris Roberts, Arthur Franz.
Directed by Guy Green.

Jennifer: A Woman's Story is a lavish pilot for an intended series which was not made. It was based on a British series of the '70s, The Foundation.

Elizabeth Montgomery, after Bewitched, became a strong star in telemovies such as these. There is a strong supporting cast including Bradford Dillman as her husband, James Booth as the chairman of the board, Kate Mulgrew as Jennifer's husband's mistress.

The film is set in affluent San Francisco, uses the city locations well. It is a story of big business, jealousies, marriages and infidelity, death and the consequences? The ultimate point is that Jennifer wants to take her place with the men in the running of the company. Familiar ingredients - but nicely done in the lush American style. The director is the British Guy Green whose credits include The Angry Silence.

1. Entertaining telemovie? Prospective pilot for a series? Transferred from British origins?

2. The beauty of San Francisco, the affluent world of homes and business and board meetings? Musical score? The cast?

3. The title and the focus on Jennifer, the subtitle of A Woman's Story and the feminist stances?

4. Elizabeth Montgomery as Jennifer, the loving mother, devoted wife? Going to the dinner with Donald? The tension, his not coming home? Her knowing the truth, discussions with her sister, not wanting to bring up the divorce question? Wanting to share the work with Donald, wanting to go back to work? Her relationship with her children? Donald's illness, his death? Her suspicions about Joan? Her relationship with George and the deals about his being chairman? The relationship with Jack and being executor of the will? Suspicions of Lee? The support of Bob? Her not being told the truth about the relationship with Joan and the intended remarriage? Her decisions about the board, discussions and meal with George, confrontation with Lee about the locked cabinet? Her strategies for the meeting, getting herself elected, her becoming executive vice-president? The collaboration with George - and his threats for next time? Her future? The portrait of the businesswoman of the '70s and '80s?

5. Donald, relationship with Jennifer and the founding of the firm? The estrangement? The foundation and his speeches? Relationship with Joan? The tension at home, always working? His skill with his firm and the boats? The visit to the marina? Reliance on Lee? His attack, Joan, hospital, workaholic, death?

6. Lee, the right-hand man, successful with business, diplomatic, the relationship with Joan? Getting her to London? His ambitions, clash with Jennifer? Taking the material from the file? Not resigning - not wanting to be defeated by a woman? Typical enough executive?

7. George, chairman of the board, sexist attitudes, diplomacy with Jennifer, mutual support, his being outwitted, further determination? The other members of the board, their stances and reasons?

8. Jack, friendship, executor, supporting Jennifer, the manoeuvres at the meeting?

9. Bob, friend, the foundation, family doctor, not knowing the truth about Donald and the drugs? His support of Jennifer? The boy and the cigars, reassuring her that she needed to combine mother and businesswoman if she wanted to?

10. Joan, the mistress, devoted to Donald, ambitious, wanting to marry him? Grief, the deal to go to England? The bequest in the will?

11. Television material - material for a series? Audience interest in this kind of family story, business dealings and intrigues.