PURSUIT

US, 1972, 73 minutes, Colour.
Ben Gazzara, E.G. Marshall, William Windom, Martin Sheen, Joseph Wiseman.
Directed by Michael Crichton.

Pursuit is a very interesting melodramatic telemovie. Brief in its scope, it shows something of political fanaticism in the United States, the atmosphere of political rallies and assassination attempts, germ warfare and technology, the dangers of such power being in the hands of madmen. E.G. Marshall effectively portrays the mad politician. Ben Gazzara is good as the cool hero who is excellent at solving puzzles. The film was directed by Michael Crichton, the writer of such movies as Terminal Man and the director of West World and Coma. Very good of its kind.

1. An interesting and entertaining telemovie? Telemovie techniques for retaining interest for the home audience? For suspense and melodrama for a home audience?

2. The San,~~ background and the atmosphere of authenticity and plausibility of the gas threat? The scientific and technological background? knowledge about germ warfare? The incidental information about the use of such germ warfare in reality, in Vietnam etc.? The film's comment on germ warfare? dangers?

3. Audience involvement through the structure of the film; the atmosphere of the credits, the political rally and the indications of extremism. the setting up of Wright as an extremist political candidate, the contrast with Graves as the man who could understand puzzles and who would track down an adversary? The interaction between the two characters? The build-up to the crisis, the importance of the time element? The visualising of the time passing at the bottom of the screen? The expected crisis at 5 o'clock and the new telling of the time for after 5 o'clock? How did this add to the suspense?

4. The significance of the title, its reference to the characters, to the themes?

5. The authentic atmosphere of the rally setting? The background of American politics? Reverence for the
President and Presidential candidates, extremists and their assassination attempts on such candidates? The nature of Wright’s extremism? His moving towards power? His being on the fringe of politics and yet his intelligence system. his wealth, his knowledge to gain power, criminal associations?

6. The portrait of Wright as a person? His appearance, age, words, his intense fanaticism? The nature of his
fanaticism? The surveillance and the information gathered about him? photographs of his criminal associates? Wright’s own knowledge, his shrewdness in understanding Steve Graves' psychology, leading him on? The importance of the setup for the bombs and the release of the nerve gas? His awareness of the surveillance and his waving to the watchers? His arrogance, the ingenuity of his tricks? The irony of the pursuit and the suddenness of his death? The irony of his being away from the situation and yet it continuing after his death? The nature of such gigantic madness?

7. The portrait of Jim Drew and the C.I.A. arresting him? His background, cover, the work that he did for Wright, his being intimidated and questioned? The type that would be involved in this kind of exploit?

8. Steve Graves as the hero of the film? His personality, intensity, doing puzzles? His calm, ruthlessness? His
good working relationship with his assistant? The quality of his work, understanding of Wright, the long sequences of the trailing of him? The importance of the visit to his psychiatrist and the chat over lunch? The clues given by the psychiatrist and the way that these were used for the climax? The confrontation with Wright in the shop? Wright setting up his bomb and Graves watching him? Graves and his collaboration with Philippe and the other authorities? A man of ideas, his solution for the problem and his bravery? The challenge of finding the explosive? Ruthlessness and recklessness and his on-time discovery of the truth? A credible man, agent?

9. The personality of his assistant, his role in the pursuit and detection, his wise advice? The importance
of his run downstairs to get the key and run back again?

10. Phillips and the authority figures, his presence, control over Graves, decision making? The relationship with the army and with Washington?

11. How much suspense was there in the film? How well was it controlled? As action melodrama, as a plausible threat to a large city? The impact of such germ warfare scares and destruction? The tension with Graves' getting into the room, the breaking of the window, the gas? The telephone? Putting together the clues about the canister in the hallway? A satisfactory ending?

12. The values of society explored in this film? The rights of government and army to have such material available? The infiltration of security? Such implements in the hands of madmen for political purposes and for destruction?