WOMEN & MEN: STORIES OF SEDUCTION (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television production, based on three short stories, is about various aspects of romance. In the first episode, “The Man in the Brooks Brothers Shirt,” based on Mary McCarthy’s short story, married salesman Gerry Breen is traveling on a train, reading newspaper accounts about FDR’s latest accomplishments. When he gets restless, Gerry begins a conversation with Vicki, a pretty journalist. Vicki agrees to go to Gerry’s compartment for a drink, then lunch. He finds out that she’s en route to her father’s home to tell of her recent engagement to a radical named Max. The pair talk about Vicki’s first marriage as Gerry continues to flirt with her. As Vicki gets drunk, they become more intimate and ultimately go to bed. When Vicki wakes the next morning, Gerry tells her that he loves her. Despite her radical leanings, Vicki finds herself drawn to Gerry and his capitalist beliefs. The couple makes love again, after which they contemplate marriage. When Vicki leaves the train without making any commitment, she goes to see her father but fails to tell him about Max. She then arranges another rendezvous with Gerry. When he arrives, Gerry says he’ll ask his wife for a divorce, then departs. Once alone, Vicki questions if they’ll actually have a future.
In the second episode, “Dust Before Fireworks,” based on Dorothy Parker’s short story, flapper Kit gets gigolo Gobie out of the shower. After kissing on Hobie’s apartment terrace, Kit talks about her attempts to keep her jealousy in check. All bets are off when Hobie gets a phone call from paramour Connie. No sooner has Hobie sweet-talked Vicki out of her anger than he gets another call, this time from client Evie. After the pair shares a passionate moment, Hobie gets yet another call, this time from the ever-needy Margot. Ultimately, Kit says she’s leaving, though she can’t get out the door without trying to make up with Hobie. When the phone rings one more time, Kit walks out for good and Hobie immediately arranges for another woman to come to his apartment.
In the third episode, “Hills Like White Elephants,” based on Ernest Hemingway’s short story and set in Spain of 1925, lovers Robert and Hadley disembark from a train so that Robert can send a telegraph seeking money from his New York bank. Over drinks, Robert, a writer, tries to convince the wealthy Hadley to go through with an abortion so that they can once again “be happy.” Robert tries to explain why having children would be a mistake for them. The pair reflect on their complicated past, and Hadley says that their debate about abortion will serve as fodder for one of his short stories. Though Hadley thinks they’re destined to separate, Robert maintains that they’ll soon be “perfectly happy.” This program is closed-captioned.
Details
- NETWORK: HBO
- DATE: August 19, 1990 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:23:19
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:64096
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Literature - Adaptations; Romance
- SERIES RUN: HBO - TV, 1990
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- for "The Man in the Brooks Brothers Suit"
- Ted Hartley … Executive Producer
- Jerry Offsay … Executive Producer
- David Brown … Producer
- William S. Gilmore … Producer
- Pamela Hedley … Associate Producer
- Frederic Raphael … Director, Writer
- Mary McCarthy … Based on the short story by
- Marvin Hamlisch … Music by
- Beau Bridges … Cast, Gerry Breen
- Elizabeth McGovern … Cast, Vicki
- Liza Ross … Cast, Gambling Woman
- Louis Mahoney … Cast, Train Attendant
- Philip O'Brien … Cast, Vicki's Father
- Dominic Hawksley … Cast, First Young Man
- Paul Raphael … Cast, Second Young Man
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt
- for "Dusk Before Fireworks"
- David Brown … Producer
- William S. Gilmore … Producer
- Pamela Hedley … Associate Producer
- Ken Russell … Director
- Valerie Curtin … Writer
- Dorothy Parker … Based on the short story by
- Marvin Hamlisch … Music by
- Molly Ringwald … Cast, Kit
- Peter Weller … Cast, Hobie
- for "Hills Like White Elephants"
- David Brown … Producer
- William S. Gilmore … Producer
- Carlos Gil … Associate Producer
- Pamela Hedley … Associate Producer
- Tony Richardson … Director
- Joan Didion … Writer
- John Gregory Dunne … Writer
- Ernest Hemingway … Based on the short story by
- Marvin Hamlisch … Music by
- James Woods … Cast, Robert
- Melanie Griffith … Cast, Hadley
- Carmen Segarra … Cast, Maid
- Felipe Garcia Velez … Cast, Telegraph Operator
- Luis Maluenda … Cast, Man with Donkey