UNWED FATHER
US, 1974, 74 minutes, Colour.
Joseph Bottoms, Kay Lenz, Joseph Campanella, Beverly Garland, Kim Hunter.
Directed by Jeremy Kagan.
Unwed Father is an interesting and unusual telemovie directed by Jeremy Paul Kagan, director of the telemovie Katherine starring Sissy Spacek as a revolutionary, and of the feature films Heroes, with Henry Winkler and Sally Field and The Big Fix with Richard Dreyfus . This film stars Joseph Bottoms, brother of Timothy, at the beginning of his career when he made such feature films as The Dove. Kay Lenz was also at the beginning of her career. The film shows two teenagers at school about to become parents and their differing attitudes, the girl wanting the baby to be adopted and the boy suing for custody. His efforts to provide for the child are very interesting and raise many questions about the role of parents. The film finally opts for his giving the baby away for adoption for its own betterment but not before a very serious struggle and much reflection. An interesting blend of entertainment and social reflection.
1. The role of telemovies - entertainment in the home, social comment, the raising of questions? How well did this film blend these aspects? How moving, how many questions did it raise?
2. The title and its irony, variation on the unwed mother theme? Audience expectations? The rights and wrongs of the father asking for custody? The emotional treatment of the theme, audience identification? The use of songs and the lyrics during the film?
3. How authentic was the film: Peter and his playing football at the beginning, at school, his age? Vicki and her dancing? Vicki's parents and their attitudes, social status, influence? Peter's nether as adoptive mother, widow, drinking and watching television? Friends, Peter's job? The background of school. law agencies, shops? The judge and his comment? Could audiences easily identify with the characters and situations?
4. The film's reflection on the themes of parenthood: pregnancies, unmarried parents, age and responsibility, experience? Discussions about abortion? Discussions about adoption? Opportunities for the child? Adoptive parents versus the love of natural parents? Family, marriage commitment, premarital sex?
5. How well did the film sketch the situation in its brief running time: Pete as character, his strengths, emotional reactions, his attitude towards his mother and adopted children, his disappointment with her. his asking much of her, his anger with her? His learning of the child? His meeting with Vicki's parents and discussions? His reaction to Vicki and her not wanting the child to be cared for by him? His discussions about studies and advancing his leaving class, his angry reaction with the bike and crashing into the car? His job, his boss and the jokes, his trying to persuade him to advance him a permanent position? What did he learn by his preparations for fatherhood? His shopping, pleading with his mother? His encounter with the law advisers? His hearing the comments of the judge and acting on them?
6. How right was Vicki in wanting the child adopted? Her preoccupations about herself, her lack of experience? Her worry, antagonism towards Peter? Fighting the case, her reaction to the birth, her reaction to the judge's comments?
7. Vicki's parents and their support of their daughter, helping her, the father and his trying to pull strings at the college, Vicki’s brother and his comments, especially about abortion etc., Vicki's father and his taking sides yet supporting Peter at the end?
8. Peter's mother and her story, drinking, television? People's opinion of her? His discussions about the adoption and her agreement? Her change of attitude, the smashing of the television? His final confrontation with her, her presence at the court?
9. The finale with Peter and looking at the room, walking the city, looking at his child in the hospital, making the decision to give the child up? Was it the correct decision?
10. Peter's decision in the light of what the judge said, the probationary period? The responsibilities, natural love, opportunities?
11. How well do films like this raise issues, present a point of view, stir the audiences into serious social reflection?
