EVERYBODY'S ALL-AMERICAN

US, 1988, 127 minutes, Colour.
Jessica Lange, Dennis Quaid, Timothy Hutton, John Goodman.
Directed by Taylor Hackford.

Everybody's All- American is a story about American footballers. It covers a period of 25 years, from 1956 to 1981. It highlights the changes in American society during that period by focusing on a champion footballer, his career, his retirement, his family.

The film was directed by Taylor Hackford (Idolmaker, Against All Odds, Officer and a Gentleman). It features Dennis Quaid, persuasive as the footballer. Jessica Lange is very good as his wife, Timothy Hutton is the friend.

The film is particularly American in tone, especially in its establishing Louisiana, the popularity of football, the competitions which highlighted the young southern bells in the '50s and '60s. It also highlights the changes during that period - especially with the '60s, the challenge to American ideals, the emergence of women in substantial roles in society.

1. A piece of Americana? The period? The changes? The focus on American sport?

2. The period settings, Louisiana and the south? The city and its style? Homes and details? Football events? The musical score, songs reflecting the period?

3. The title, its focus and its meaning?

4. The structure: 25 years, chapters in the life of Ghost and Barbara? The links between the periods? Glimpses of these characters and their changes? The information given, the development? Seen in retrospect and the changes?

5. Garry and his nickname, Ghost? His personality and Dennis Quaid's style? Upfront and outgoing? Playing, his skills, wins? Relationship with the team? His friendship with Lawrence? Socialising, the dances? Babs as the Queen? His friendship with Cakes? Courtship, marriage? On tour with games? The early married life, children? The scene with the crowning of the Southern Queen and his kissing Babs instead? Popularity? Pressures? The money, the gambling - and Lawrence's betraying him, Lawrence's death? More children? The years going on, playing, the plan to retire, his speech? His restlessness and the decision to go back? His failure in Denver? Having to settle down, the kids growing up, the pace of his life, wealth? Playing golf? The changes in his relationship with his wife? Especially their getting older, her going to work, her skill with Real Estate? His fears about her fidelity? Cakes and his visit, with the kids, a chance to review his life? The tribute to him, his making a fool of himself in the field? His anger with Cakes, suspicions about him? The reconciliation? His final speech, rediscovering his wife? What future?

6. Babs as a young woman, the southern pageants, attractive, the young girl, in love with Gary? Marrying him? The relationship, the family? The house? Working hard? Her disillusionment with Lawrence and the losing of the money? Being desperate, appeals for money, the jobs? Maintaining life through the difficulties? The encounter with Cakes and her love for him? His backing off? Her strength in the ups and downs? Her husband's career? The passing of the years, her work, competence? Her husband and his suspicions? Donnie and his visit with his fiancee, bringing things to a head? Clash? The rediscovery and her response to her husband?

7. Cakes as quiet, on the sideline, joining in the horseplay, admiring Ghost? The games, the wins? The study, his writing and degree? His appearance and the changing trends? Political stances, protests? Writing about the Civil War? His devotion to Babs, the incident with her? The passing of ten years, his return, book, the fiancee? Trying to care for them both and yet making a mess of it? The clash with Gary, the reconciliation? Happy ending?

8. Lawrence, the big man, the games, play, horseplay, talk? His work, the money, the gambling? The violence and his murder? Swindling his friend?

9. The sketch of the children, growing up, relationship to their parents, the changing of the years?

10. Donnie's fiancee, her visit to the south, her view of the characters, the situations? The critical eye?

11. The world of sports and teams, glory and fans? The contrast between success and failure? The Denver sequences? The 25 years memorial - and the fans praising the new players? Memories of the past and reunions?

12. The changes in American society over 25 years?