TAKE ME HOME AGAIN (THE LIES BOYS TELL)

US, 1994, 90 minutes, Colour.
Kirk Douglas, Craig T. Nelson, Bess Armstrong, Bonnie Bartlett, Ernest Thompson, Marley Shelton, Eileen Brennan.
Directed by Tom Mc Loughlin.

Take Me Home Again is based on a novel called The Lies Boys Tell but was adapted for the screen by Ernest Thompson who wrote On Golden Pond. Thompson also appears in this film as Cal.

The film is taking on familiar material: Kirk Douglas as an elderly dying man, Craig T. Nelson as his son who was a draft dodger twenty years earlier and whom he calls back for him to drive him to his home town so that he can die in the bed that he was born in. The family are over-protective of the old man – rather frantically so at times. They are also hostile to the long-lost son. What follows is a road film across the United States as father and son encounter various people, play golf at an exclusive club, visit an old flame (Eileen Brennan), stay with the old man’s sister as well as his daughter-in-law, the former wife of his son. Eventually the family are in pursuit – and all assemble and are present at the death of the old man.

Kirk Douglas does this kind of thing with great ease (filmed when he was seventy-seven although he was still alive in his early nineties). Craig T. Nelson is the son and Bess Armstrong is sympathetic as his former wife.

The film was directed by Tom McLoughlin?, director of many television films and series episodes.

1.A film about old age? Dying? Family troubles? Reconciliation? How well did it work as a drama? As a comedy?

2.The American settings, the homes, the roads, the final goal in the west coast? A piece of Americana? The musical score?

3.Kirk Douglas as Ed: memories of his life, on the road as a salesman, his relationship with Sada, his respect for his wife and care for her? His children? His alienation of Larry? His love for Larry and inviting him back? Russ and his fussing? Nell and her support? His relationship with his wife, her concern about his illness and dying? His feisty spirit, his plan to go back to the place of his birth, wanting Larry to do it? The preparations, the money, the car, persuading Larry? The quick escape?

4.The adventures on the road, the people they met, the service station, Sada and the memories of the past and his relationship, the exclusive golf club, the con, Larry and his winnings? Their getting the cap? Seeing the experience as a road adventure?

5.Larry, his background, hippie, conscientious objection, escaping from the US and the draft in the 70s, his marriage to Connie, not seeing his children? The reason for his return? The reaction of Russ, Russ’s wife, the various members of the family? Nell welcoming him back? His antagonism towards his father, his father’s expectations? Being persuaded to go on the road? The adventures, the motels, the diners, petrol, playing golf, the meeting with Sada? Going to the aunt’s house? Her welcoming her brother, supporting him? Ed and his decision to go to see Connie, Connie and the children, their love for their grandfather? Meeting Cal? The family in pursuit, finding the bed, wanting to go to his birthplace?

6.Connie, sympathetic, love for her children, bringing them up? The visits to Ed? Her farm, relying on Cal? Welcoming Larry, going with him on the trip? The children welcoming their father, also going? Cal, in the background, hostility towards Larry, phoning the family to reveal where he was?

7.Russ, his wife? Uptight? Their son? Russ and his resentment towards Larry, the credibility of the final reconciliation? Nell, supportive, Larry liking her, her daughters, their getting on well with their grandfather, his not wanting to frighten them about death?

8.The arrival in the home town, the paying of the money to the couple in the house as if it were being used for a film commercial? Ed and his collapse, dying, final words, the reconciliation with Larry?

9.Larry, with the whole family, the family at peace? Connie leaving with the children and the car? His finally pursuing them?

10.A look at family issues – with a rather light touch?