LISTEN TO YOUR HEART

US, 1985, 100 minutes, Colour.
Kate Jackson, Tim Matheson, Will Nye, George Coe, John Mahoney, Tony Plana, Cassie Yates.
Directed by Don Taylor.

Listen to Your Heart is a popular and routine romantic comedy, made for television. The central characters are a book editor, played by Tim Matheson, and his co-worker, played by Kate Jackson. Matheson made quite a number of telemovies and Kate Jackson was famous for her role in Charlie’s Angels. The film was directed by actor Don Taylor who moved to films and telemovies and was quite prolific as a director.

1. The appeal of this kind of telemovie? For the popular audience? The blend of romance and comedy?

2. The title, the romantic overtones?

3. The Chicago settings, the city, the offices, homes? Real – or the location for romantic soap operas? Musical score?

4. The world of young singles, 1980s yuppies, the bars, the dates? The meetings, the conversation, the beginnings of relationships?

5. The world of publishing, the details of work?

6. Social life, time passing, commitments, breaking up?

7. Josh, his work as a book editor, his skills? His friends? The meeting with Fran, working with her? The Japanese, the boss? California, the clash? The reconciliation?

8. Fran, her work, personality, the break? Stacey, going out, the night, work, the lyrical touches, the break and the hurt? The end?

9. Stacey, her life, help, support? Josh’s friend and talk? Relationships?

10. The editor, the workplace, the staff?

11. Pleasant, credible, portrait of love and relationships?