YEAR OF THE GUN

US, 1991, 111 minutes, Colour.
Andrew Mc Carthy, Sharon Stone, Valeria Golina, John Pankow.
Directed by John Frankenheimer.

The Year of the Gun, according to this film, is 1978 and the place is Italy, the year of riots and the activities of the Red Brigade, especially the kidnapping and execution of Prime Minister Aldo Moro.

The potentially interesting material is treated in a somewhat lackadaisical way, surprising from director John Frankenheimer who made such interesting films in the '60s and '70s as The Manchurian Candidate or The French Connection 2. Part of the difficulty is Andrew Mc Carthy, a rather passive actor, in the lead role. However, the screenplay relies on action rather than explanations of motivation for the civil unrest and the violence in Italy. There are some effective action sequences - but the film seems rather prolonged and intricate in its plotting of betrayal and relationships. Sharon Stone (prior to Basic Instinct) is vibrant as a freelance photographer - though, perhaps, defying credibility and being too active in comparison with Andrew Mc Carthy.

It offers the opportunity to look at some aspects of the '70s and terrorism in Italy.

1. Audience interest in terrorist themes, the '70s, the Red Brigade and Italy, the kidnapping and execution of Aldo Moro? Seen in the retrospect of the '90s?

2. The authentic Italian settings, Rome, Venice, the countryside? (Though there do not seem to be many people about in the authentic Rome.) Action sequences? The score by Bill Conti - and its restrained and quiet tones?

3. The title, David's book, the reference to Italy? The world of the bestseller - and comparisons with The Day of the Jackal?

4. The audience arriving in Italy with David, his past experience, the information about the activity of the Red Brigades? His meeting with Italo, the friendship? Going to work, taking stock of his life, his apartment, his experience? His going to work for Pierre? The liaison with Lia, his care for her son? His hopes? His decision to write the novel, keeping the manuscript secret, his bland articles and the more sensational material in the novel? The relationship with Lia, his being bashed? His friendship with Italo?

5. Events in Italy in early 1978, the picturing of the terrorist attacks? The party and the invasion? The hold-up of the bank - and Alison photographing it? His becoming more involved, the photos, Italo and the connections? His interviews? Alison and her wanting to find out the truth? - the sex, the lies and the story?

6. His being pursued by the Red Brigade, his being taken, Italo stealing the manuscript, the irony of its outline of what was actually happening? The confrontation and torture? Lia and her belonging to the Red Brigade, not being able to help David and Alison? The blindfold, the cliff - and the execution of Lia? Their being allowed to go - for media sake? The finale and his anger, the slow-motion attack? The postscript with the collaborative book, Dick Cavett and the media interview, Alison on location in Beirut? The achievement?

7. Lia and her life, her relationship with Italo, the relationship with David? Marco? The clashes with her husband, his supervising her? Sexual encounters? Venice - and the irony that she was in the Red Brigade? Her control, not being able to save David - and her being executed?

8. Italo, the professor, the Red Brigade students, his sympathies? Living alone, wealthy? His liaison with the wealthy boy - the staging of the abduction, the accidental death and execution? His friendship with David? The meetings, the phone calls to Giovanni - and the disguised voice? The information about the manuscript, his being asked to steal it? The hurt in stealing the manuscript, betraying David? The confrontation with Giovanni, his anger and his being shot?

9. Alison, the tough American, photography, photographing the robbery, Time Magazine? At Pierre's party, the attack? Her interrogating David, believing him to have information about the Red Brigade? The relationship, sexual encounter, her lies? Reading the manuscript? The question of the CIA link? With David in the streets and the riot? Her being captured, blindfolded - and the possibility of execution? Finally seeing her in Beirut, wanting to be in the action?

10. Pierre, the paper, blasé, his wife - society? As part of David's novel? Becoming victim and his death?

11. The background of Italy and politics at the time? Moro and the interviews at the airport? His status with the Italian people? The impact of his being kidnapped? His death? Riots, the police?

12. Terrorists in the '70s in Europe? The Red Brigade, the various members, the hold-up gang, their going to Italo's and camping in his house? Masks, identities - anonymous terrorists? Giovanni and the governing group? The pressure on Italo? Terror, fighting? The networks? Brutality?

13. The aim of the film - action thriller, perspective on real events, dramatising terrorism and the confrontation of terrorism?