THE BOYS

US, 1991, 95 minutes, Colour.
James Woods, John Lithgow, Joanna Gleeson, Eve Gordon, Alan Rosenberg, Jesse Bradford.
Directed by Glenn Jordan.

The Boys is a fictionalised memoir by William Link of his partnership with writer Richard Levinson. During the 1970s they were the top television writers for series and movies of the week. They wrote screenplays with intelligence and wit.

This film traces the last months as one of the partners, Walter Farmer, played with intensity and sensitivity by James Woods, is diagnosed with cancer, has chemotherapy and prepares for death. John Lithgow is the more flamboyant writing partner. The film is interesting in its presentation of deep friendship between two men, their reliance and dependence on each other, the fact that they saw more of each other as they worked together than they did with their wives and families. The film was also a fascinating portrait of a professional man in middle age and his preparing for death, his attitudes and stances, his continued work, trying to put his life in order as well as prepare for the separation from his writing partner.

Joanna Gleeson portrays John Lithgow’s wife, a person of commonsense, and Eve Gordon plays a younger woman with whom James Woods is in relationship. Jesse Bradford, as a child star, before his appearances in such films as King of the Hill and Far from Home, The Adventures of Yellow Dog, indicates a vitality that served him well in his adult career on screen and in television (The West Wing).

The direction is by Glenn Jordan, a celebrated director of finely-made and serious as well as comic telemovies. He made a number of films based on Neil Simon’s plays, including Jake’s Women. He made only three films for the big screen, Neil Simon’s Only When I Laugh, The Buddy System and the interesting portrait of clergy in the 1970s and 1980s with Jack Lemmon, Mass Appeal.

1.The work of Levinson and Link, their reputation as writers? The success that they had, awards? The film as fact-based? William Link writing a fictionalised memoir? His turning Levinson into the non-smoker who died?

2.The Los Angeles settings, Hollywood, apartments, streets, the jails, institutions, the studios? The musical score?

3.The theme of death, cancer, for a middle-aged man? The credits, Walter’s tests? The information from the doctor, six months to live? His decision about what he would do, his questions to the doctor? The issue of whether he thought to take his life, the reaction of Artie and his friends, his getting the gun, the bullets, and the water pistol? His joking with them? The discussions, his explanation of his situation to Artie, the possibility of Artie resenting him? Pulling the gun on Artie, giving the resentment speech, firing the water pistol? Artie’s bewilderment and being afraid? His relating to Artie and to Marie? His relationship with Amanda, love for her, not marrying? His visit to the doctor, the doctor knowing that he was Amanda’s partner? Preparing the doctor to court Amanda again after Walter’s death? His wanting to right wrongs, visit to his wife, their discussions, the visit to his son, writing the letter, his wife urging him to speak to his son? His wanting to be ready, living his life fully, continuing to work?

4.The film’s comment on cancer, lung cancer, secondary cancer? Artie and his chain-smoking, the issue of passive smoking? Marie and her blaming Artie? Artie and his not dying? The gun and Walter’s charade, its effect? Artie and his giving up the cigarettes, desperate, their arguments, his final saying that he had to have cigarettes, that he was an addict? Walter pushing him into the pool – and having to urge him to swim, save his life? The strong issue of cancer and smoking?

5.The two as writers, their friendship from early days, the twenty years partnership, the range of their success, the personalities, their working well together, their ex-wives? The importance of Marie, Amanda as supporting each of them? Walter as strictly healthy, exercising and jogging, not drinking, not smoking? Artie and his lifestyle, wearing the shorts? The working together, in the room, at the pool, the nature of best friendship?

6.The nature of friendship, close, their being a couple, the analogies with marriage, the final affection?

7.Walt in himself, concerned about his health, the unfairness of his being ill, the discussions with the doctor, his relationship with Amanda, telling Artie, having to handle Artie and his confusion? The issues of questions and denial? The gun, for his work, the pistol, the others anxious, the phone calls, his turning up? The charade with the water pistol and Artie? His taking Artie to see Artie’s mother, the visit, his trying to fix Artie’s life? His own wife, the reason for the separation? His son and the letter? The preparation for death?

8.Artie, his type, his being affirmed by Walter, smoking, his relationship with his wife, the charade, his fears, the visit to his ex-wife and its effect on him? His being pushed into the pool? His desperation and missing Walter?

9.Amanda, her love for Walter, following him, sharing her fears with Artie and Marie, love, talk together, the issue of Walter’s going to see her former boyfriend, the doctor?

10.Marie, her support for Artie, speaking the truth to him?

11.The visit to the institution, a woman with Alzheimer's, her gratitude for Artie’s visit, treating him like a child, wanting to see his reports, his tenderness towards her – and Walter making him promise to come and see her again?

12.Walter and his work in the prison, the convicts, the creative writing, Sokalow and his abilities to write, Hollywood interested? The police turning up, the irony of his release, his robbing another bank? Artie and his fears?

13.A portrait of American men, affluent men, men in mid-life, facing professional crises, facing the reality of their lives, facing illness, facing death?