This made-for-Australian-television movie stars the always wonderful Wendy Hughes as Melanie Hilton, the editor of a once popular women's magazine now suffering from dwindling circulation. She must contend with Noel (Peter Adams), the new marketing whiz brought on board to retool the mag for a younger audience, as well as her crumb bum boyfriend who's knocked her up. He's such a bum, though, that Melanie won't marry him--and she won't have an abortion, setting up great social conflict amongst her family, friends, and colleagues. The issues raised by this film have long since lost whatever power they had to either offend or educate, but Hughes is very good, and there's even a 'birth of a baby' reel added to appease grindhouse audiences (just kidding, but the birth of her child IS shown quite graphically, and there's some revealing nappy changing, too). All in all, a rather pointless but well made effort that might please fans of the Lifetime Channel.
4 Reviews
Important issues but poor production
PeterM2714 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This film deals with important issues - women and careers, childcare for working mothers, domestic violence, problems with jealous ex-partners, restraining orders, sexual equality and alternate family structures - but does so in a very melodramatic fashion, despite the best efforts of Wendy Hughes as Melanie. She is very capable at work, and loves her baby, but struggles with the lack of childcare, and the menacing presence of Peter (Tony Bonner), the baby's contolling, violent father who keeps demanding she marry him. She considers marrying a kinder man at work, but finds his plans for her too controlling as well. In the end, Linda, a female collegue who has been helping Melanie with childcare, volunteers to move in and help care for her and the child, which would allow her to keep her career. This is her 'Alternative', and the two women's hands touch at the baby's cot in the final shot, to confirm this new arrangement, with some overtones of lesbian desire on the Linda's part.
While the subject matter of the film is very interesting, this is undercut by the slow pacing, dull dialogue and uneven tone of the film. While a longer format (eg. Mini-series) would generally be more appropriate to examine the many issues raised in the film, there would need to be an improvement in the writing and direction to succeed. While Linda's offer seems to resolve Melanie's problems, the film's ending was too abrupt, and many doubts remain for the viewer. The film did win the Logie Award for Best Telemovie of 1978 though, and it is interesting to see Sydney in the 70s.
While the subject matter of the film is very interesting, this is undercut by the slow pacing, dull dialogue and uneven tone of the film. While a longer format (eg. Mini-series) would generally be more appropriate to examine the many issues raised in the film, there would need to be an improvement in the writing and direction to succeed. While Linda's offer seems to resolve Melanie's problems, the film's ending was too abrupt, and many doubts remain for the viewer. The film did win the Logie Award for Best Telemovie of 1978 though, and it is interesting to see Sydney in the 70s.
Off-Beat Aussie Gem
ladymidath29 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I love Wendy Hughes, she has always been one of my favourite actresses along with Penny Cook. She was excellent as the editor of a woman's magazine who not only has to contend with a new marketing whiz who is brought on board to try and get circulation up again, but also the fact that she is pregnant to her violent macho boyfriend. This film was progressive for the time it was made and thankfully didn't go for the 'shock value,' but kept the film grounded and relatable. sadly I can't seem to find this film anywhere, but I would recommend it to anyone who would like to see a good solid drama with a bit of a twist at the end.
Seventies' nostalgia - as opposed to entertainment!
uds316 June 2002
Aussie movie-making in the seventies, except for the odd gem such as PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK was in recess and this non-event of a film was typical of the period.
Wendy Hughes, an actress I rather admire, plays magazine editor Melanie Hilton, emmeshed in a web of her own making. However, watching her running the emotional gauntlet as she attempts to deal with her lover, her former lover and her pregnancy - in no particular order, does not make for scintillating entertainment, HOWEVER competent the acting levels.
The one redeeming feature, it had a mercifully short run-time, just 78 minutes in Australia!
Wendy Hughes, an actress I rather admire, plays magazine editor Melanie Hilton, emmeshed in a web of her own making. However, watching her running the emotional gauntlet as she attempts to deal with her lover, her former lover and her pregnancy - in no particular order, does not make for scintillating entertainment, HOWEVER competent the acting levels.
The one redeeming feature, it had a mercifully short run-time, just 78 minutes in Australia!
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