VANISHED

US, 1971, 196 minutes, Colour.
Richard Widmark, Skye Aubrey, Tom Bosley, James Farentino, Larry Hagman, Murray Hamilton, Arthur Hill, Robert Hooks, E.G. Marshall, Eleanor Parker, William Shatner, Robert Young, Stephen Mc Nally, Sheree North.
Directed by Buzz Kulik.

Vanished was the first American telemovie to be shown in two parts – a preface to the era of the miniseries.

The film was made during the Nixon era and considering the history of that administration in the subsequent years with Watergate and the resignation of President Nixon in 1974, the film is interesting as a political perspective on that period. There are similarities to the John Frankenheimer film of the 1960s, Seven Days in May, with its nuclear themes and the role of the president of the United States.

In this film, a presidential adviser disappears. A secretary, played by James Farentino, decides to get to the bottom of the issue. However, he uncovers all kinds of secrets on Capitol Hill from blackmailing nuclear scientists, to interfering politicians, to arrogant southern senators, to homosexual relationships, all geared to affect national security.

The film is very well cast, has a lot of Hollywood stars who were to make the transition into television and telemovies in the 1970s, including Richard Widmark as the president, Eleanor Parker, Robert Young, Stephen Mc Nally and Sheree North.

The film was directed by Buzz Kulik. He was a veteran television director and moved into making quite a number of films in the 1960s including Warning Shot, Sergeant Ryker, Villa Rides and Riot. He made A Storm in Summer for television in 1970 and continued making telemovies right throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s where he also made a number of miniseries including Sidney Sheldon's Rage of Angels and Jeffrey Archer's Kane and Abel.

1. The significance of the title? Enticement of the audience? An enjoyable television movie? What did it want to communicate to its audience? Comment on its length, the insertion of commercials? Was it able to sustain its suspense over the long period? Audience concentration, initial clues, participating in the resolution? The value of this kind of political suspense drama on television?

2. Why audience interest in the plot and the themes: the ramifica¬tions of American politics and politicians, the communist threat, American-Russian? relationships, peace and the threats to peace, espionage, extremism of both right and left? Audience interest in a puzzle and a mystery? How good were the ingredients? How successfully put together?

3. Could the audience identify with the characters and with the situation? with the President? How could the audience enter into the film and its complicated intrigue?

4. The central presence of the President? What kind of person was he, strengths and weaknesses as a man and as a President? The visualizing of his personal style? The explanation and exploration of his policies? The importance of secrecy, the atmosphere of trust? His relationship with Greer, the irony throughout Greer's disappearance, the end? His dependence on Culligan, the fact that he could not tell him all the truth? His relationship with Sue? With Ingram? American judgment on him, his colleague's judgment on his, his own integrity? The way that he coped with various pressures The ultimate vindication? Good, presidential behaviour?

5. Audience interest in Greer? Was sufficient shown of his charac¬ter before his disappearance? Strengths and weaknesses of character? Home background, money issuest the framing of him, themes of loyalty? The melodrama of his disappearance? His reputation and people's reaction? Comment on the varying reactions, public opinion, the Press? The ultimate significance of his work? What had he achieved by the end? Personally, for America, international relationships?

6. How credible vas the character of Culligan? His work as a secretary, the trust the President had in him, the fact that he could not know everything, the human side? His involvement in the puzzle? Relationship with Jill? The picturing of the various techniques for work, his reactions under pressure, loyalty to the President? Was he a good example of the American public servant?

7. The role of women in the film: Sue and her contribution, Jill and the tests?

8. The background of the C.I.A., Ingram and his self-righteousness, the backing of his decisions? His politicking and diplomacy? His pressures? The vindication?

9. The importance of the Senator Grannon scenes? The complications of politics and diplomacy? Senator Grannon's background, human interest, pressures for those he represented, political and business interests? The film's comment on the values behind him?

10. The portrayal of the army, loyalty, contribution, Palfrey and his role?

11. The significance of Storm, the introduction of black themes, the sailing and the contribution to the drama?

12. The introduction of science and questions of modern science and polities? The character of Freitag? His speculations, character, contribution?

13. The world of the Press as represented by Paulick? How sympathetically were the Press presented? How critically? The role of communication, leaks, pressures?

14. The international flavour of the film? How realistic and authentic in its presentation of international crises?

15. The optimistic tone of the film towards peace? A positive contribution via entertainment media for world peace?