WHILE MY PRETTY ONE SLEEPS
Canada, 1997, 93 minutes, Colour.
Connie Sellecca, Beau Starr, Simon Mac Corkindale.
Directed by Jorge Montesi.
While My Pretty One sleeps is a film version of a novel by Mary Higgins Clark. She has been a popular source for popular telemovies over twenty years including Still Watch, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, Moonlight Becomes You.
This is an average Mary Higgins Clark story – although it operates in two worlds, the world of the police with extensions to the Mafia, and the world of fashion. While the focus initially seems to be on the Mafia and the police, the solution is in the fashion industry.
Connie Sellecca is a good and strong leading lady. Simon Mac Corkindale is a television correspondent. Beau Starr is her father. There is a guest appearance by Mary Higgins Clark herself.
The film is a murder mystery, but it operates on the level of a popular melodrama.
1.The appeal of Mary Higgins’ Clark’s books? Film versions? For the widest audience?
2.The New York settings, the world of the police, the world of fashion, shows? Homes? The streets? Musical score?
3.The focus on the law courts: Myles Kearny and his victory in court over Sepetti? Sepetti’s vowing vengeance? His being in jail, the years passing, twenty years, his getting out? Kearny and his apprehensiveness? The death of his wife? His being on the parole board and keeping Sepetti in jail? The threats to Niamh?
4.Niamh, her age, self-assurance? Missing her mother? Her fashion work? Her friendship with Ethel, the investigation into the sweatshops in New York? Their being seen? The big show, the other exhibitors? Ethel’s disappearance, her later being found murdered? Her relationship with her father? Seeing Nicky Sepetti Jr? His confrontation, attraction? Her friendship with Jack Campbell, his TV work? Her puzzles about Ethel, her discovery of the inconsistencies with Uncle Sal’s story? Her going to his office, the contract on her, the confrontation, her father saving her? With Sal and her disappointment? Her apology to Nicky Jr? Going off for a happy ending with Jack?
5.The Sepettis, the father, his not wanting Niamh to be killed, no blame on himself? The meetings? His being shot? The undercover FBI agent? His son and his continued work? Attraction towards Neeve, getting the apology from her father?
6.The fashion show, the designer and his sweatshops, confrontation with Niamh, the drugs being imported? The bust?
7.Uncle Sal, spilling the coffee on the book – and the significance that Niamh’s mother had made the design which he claimed? His mistaking the dates? His confrontation and putting the contract on Niamh?
8.Niamh and her father going to the country, the encounter with the widow, the attraction of the father, her bringing the cap back, talking about the book, the design? Her being present at the final confrontation?
9.A blend of Mafia stories, fashion design, romance and murder mystery?
