A SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM

US, 1990, 91 minutes, Colour.
Michael Caine, Elizabeth Mc Govern, Peter Reigert, Swoozie Kurtz, Barbara Baxley, Jenny Wright, John Mc Martin, Will Patton, Christopher Durang.
Directed by Jan Eggleson.

A Shock to the System is adaptation from a novel by Simon Brett. With its American setting, it highlights American personal psychosis and corporate ruthlessness - a black comedy. Michael Caine is the hero, destined not to be promoted, when his life changes as he accidently kills a beggar in the subway. When it is interpreted as suicide, there is no holding him as he arranges murder after murder, getting his way to the top and not being punished. The irony of the screenplay is very heavy- although, Caine is made to look as something of a magician as he goes through spells and mock magician gestures to get his way.

The cast is very strong, led by Caine, with Elizabeth Mc Govern as his girlfriend, Peter Reigert as his rival, Swoozie Kurtz as his mercenary wife, one of his early victims, Will Patton as the pursuing policeman. Playwright Christopher During appears as a convention speaker. The film is directed by Jan Egleston, director of many telemovies for American playhouse.

1. An effective satire? On the world of business and ambition? Ruthless Wall Street? Ambition and violence - cleverness and cover-up?

2. New York City, the offices, the subways, the homes? A plausible setting for the implausible behaviour?

3. The title - the shock to the victims, to Graham Marshall to the corporate world?

4. The strength of the cast, the adaptation of a satirical novel, transference to the U.S.A.?

5. Michael Caine as Graham? His personality, in the office, being passed over? His ambitions - and threats to his rivals? the interactions with Brewster, with Bob Benham? The advertising world and failure? His rushing home, the encounter with the beggar at the subway, his killing the beggar? His panic, behaviour, the after-effects? The magician - and the incantations and spells which control him?

6. Graham and his values - unhinged, or calculating? His return to his wife, her ambitions, expectations, nagging? The interactions? His fixing of the socket - and her death?

7. Henry Park, the computer wizard, into Graham's office? His reactions? Plotting? His attention to Stella, compensation? The love for Stella, using her? George Brewster, the sense of failure, the farewell? Driving him, the card? Stella and her involvement, drugging her, his later setting up the accident, the further murders? Loosing his cigarette lighter - and its becoming a key and a clue?

8. Graham's dealing with the police, the visits, the interrogations? Handling the situation of the lighter after the initial shock? His using Stella, her realisation of what had happened? The threat on the subway station? Hen giving him back the lighter? The arrival of the police? The irony of the promotion, his new office? And his continuing his murder with the blowing up of the Cessna? The death of his boss?

9. The contrast between Bob Benham and Graham Marshall? Young, yuppie, his reactions, work? Advertising campaigns? Henry park and his computer skills? The yacht - and Graham destroying them in the yacht?

10. George, a sense of failure and futility, his retirement? Graham driving him, used by Graham, the credit card? His suicide?

11. Stella, her role in the office, work, pleasant? Her consent to the affair? Her relationship with Graham, the night together, her being drugged, used for an alibi? The cigarette lighter - her conscience, Graham persuading her to give it back? Their being transferred to Los Angeles?

12. Inspector Laker, his personality, the police and their investigations, questions? The cigarette lighter? Their arrival - and Stella's safety?

1.Realistic/stylised? Satiric/real? The world of advertising - and the detailed portrayal of the office, the jobs, the style, the personalities? Graham and his code, his sense of disappointment, the accidental killing, the complete change of values? The importance of Michael Caine in the central role, the dramatic device of the voice over, his comments, tone, evaluation - and its effect on the audience?