DOOR TO DOOR

US, 2002, 90 minutes, Colour.
William H. Macy, Helen Mirren, Keira Sedgwick, Kathy Baker.
Directed by Stephen Schacter.

Door to Door is an award-winning telemovie about a man with cerebral palsy who has the strength of character to become a successful door-to-door salesman.

The film was co-written by the team of Stephen Schacter and William H. Macy (other films include The Con, Every Woman’s Dream). It is based on a true story and newspaper and magazine articles about Bill Porter.

William H. Macy gives a tour-de-force performance as Bill Porter, showing his life over a period of more than forty years. He is able to communicate the strength of personality behind the physical disability. He is also a man of intelligence and warmth. Helen Mirren, in a different kind of role, portrays his devoted mother who eventually succumbs to senility. Keira Sedgwick is the young woman whom he employs to help him with his deliveries, Kathy Baker is a sympathetic but lonely alcoholic woman who supports him, buying his goods over many, many years.

The structure of the film is in glimpses of particular years in Bill Porter’s life, his getting his job, the difficulties at the beginning, his gradual acceptance by the people on his route, his having to deal with his mother, having Shelley help him with his deliveries, the transition in the 1990s from door-to-door selling to phone selling. He also climaxes his career with being awarded Salesman of the Year.

The film is in a long line of dramas about people overcoming disabilities. This is a brief film, warm in its presentation of its characters, inviting a wide audience to understand people with physical disabilities.

1.The film based on a true story, designed for the television audience?

2.The structure of the film: the glimpses, the different years, the look of each period, clothes, cars, the music, the range of songs? The range of changes from the 1950s to the 1990s?

3.The title, salesman, the role of men in these jobs? The personal story? The hard and disagreeable experiences of salesmen?

4.Bill Porter, the cerebral palsy, his explanation of what happened at his birth? The effect on him physically, psychologically? Bill Porter in himself, his personality, his abilities, strength of mind, strength of motivation, his voice and his consciousness of how it sounded, his appearance, walking? The early scene in the café with the young people calling him a retard? The job interview, the opportunities, taking them? His friendship with the people along the route, even acting as a mediator? His success over the years? Salesman of the Year?

5.The portrait of his mother, her memories of her marriage, with Bill, urging him to get the job, driving him, the joy and the celebration of getting the job, watching him, the meals, the “accident” with the young people calling him a retard? Her being lost, absent-minded at home, the question of her going to the institution, coming home, in care, the loss of memory, the ambiguous attitudes towards Bill? Her ageing, dying? Bill’s tribute to her at his award?

6.1955, the interview, his plea for the job, the experience of rejections on the first trip, the quarrelling families and the half tree? The first meeting with Gladys, her support? The boy who was frightened – and returning after the complaint with the puppet? The door slammed in his face? People being busy?

7.The 1960s, his growing success, his mother and having to care for her, the quarrelling neighbours and their using him to mediate, Gladys and her continued support?

8.His going to the doctor, the question of his spine, the interviewing for help, Shelley and her bluntness and questions? Hiring her?

9.His getting older, success, the greater range of clients, his always taking the opportunity to sell?

10.Shelley and her personality, directness, helping, the bond between the two, her studies and graduation, her boyfriend, Bill and his wariness, bringing the children to visit him in hospital, the clash and the argument about his need assistance, the later reconciliation and apologies?

11.His employer, his supporting him over the decades, the young man and his scepticism? The award, his speech?

12.The change to phone sales, the closing of the department, his accident, the heavy costs, his stubbornness, deciding to sell the house, the problems of selling?

13.Shelley driving him, her reconciliation?

14.A film of hope, role modelling, especially those with limited abilities?