Between the Lines (1977 film)
{{short description|1977 film by Joan Micklin Silver}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Between the Lines
| image = Between the Lines film.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster by Richard Amsel
| director = Joan Micklin Silver
| producer = Raphael D. Silver
| writer = Fred Barron
David M. Helpern Jr.
| narrator =
| starring = John Heard
Lindsay Crouse
Jeff Goldblum
Gwen Welles
Bruno Kirby
Stephen Collins
Joe Morton
Marilu Henner
Richard Cox
Michael J. Pollard
Lane Smith
Raymond J. Barry
Guy Boyd
Charles Levin
| music = Michael Kamen
Steve Van Zandt
| cinematography = Kenneth Van Sickle
| editing = John Carter
| studio =
| distributor = Midwest Films
| released = {{Film date|1977|4|27}}
| runtime = 101 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget =
| gross =
}}
Between the Lines is a 1977 American ensemble romantic comedy-drama film{{cite web |title=Between the Lines (1977) |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/55312 |website=AFI Catalog |publisher=AFI}} from Midwest Films. It was directed by Joan Micklin Silver{{Cite web |title=Between the Lines |url=https://mubi.com/en/us/films/between-the-lines |website=MUBI}} and produced by her husband Raphael D. Silver. The film was nominated for three awards at the 27th Berlin International Film Festival, winning two of them.{{cite web |last1=Heuck |first1=Marc Edward |author1-link=Marc Edward Heuck |title=Joan Micklin Silver's Between the Lines |url=https://thenewbev.com/blog/2019/05/between-the-lines/ |website=New Beverly Cinema |access-date=16 April 2023 |date=May 8, 2019 |location=Los Angeles |language=en |quote=When it premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in June 1977, Silver won two prizes – the Interfilm Otto Dibelius Film Award, and the Reader Jury of the Berliner Morgenpost Award – and the film was nominated for the Golden Bear, ultimately won by The Ascent from the Soviet Union.}}{{cite web |title=Between the Lines |url=https://www.inter-film.org/filmarchiv/1977/between-lines |website=inter-film.org |access-date=16 April 2023}} For her work as director, Silver was awarded the New Generation Award at the 1977 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards.{{cite web |title=Awards for 1977 |url=http://www.lafca.net/Years/1977.php |website=LAFCA |access-date=16 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321001212/http://www.lafca.net/Years/1977.php |archive-date=21 March 2023}}
Plot
The film revolves around a team employed at The Back Bay Mainline, an alternative newspaper in Boston,{{cite web |date= |title=Joan Micklin Silver |url=http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/silver-joan-micklin |accessdate=2011-02-13 |website=Jewish Women's Archive}} as they face the threat of a takeover by a major corporation. The key figures in this story include Harry Lucas, a disenchanted lead reporter with an on-and-off again girlfriend Abbie, Max, a flaky music critic, Michael, a writer/author intending to relocate to New York, David, an eager cub reporter, and Frank, a beleaguered editor-in-chief.{{cite news |last1=Murthi |first1=Vikram |date=21 February 2019 |title=How a 1970s Jeff Goldblum Film Predicted the Current Journalism Crisis |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/02/how-a-1970s-jeff-goldblum-film-foresaw-the-journalism-crisis.html |access-date=15 April 2023 |work=Vulture |language=en-us}}
Various subplots unfold throughout the narrative. For instance, Laura grapples with her relationship with self-absorbed Michael, who plans to move to New York using the proceeds from an upcoming book. A party celebration leads to Laura spending the night at Harry's house before Michael arrives for a confrontation. Ultimately, Laura decides to accompany Michael to New York.
David, a youthful reporter who commutes on a bike, seeks a significant and potentially risky story. Max, Harry, and Abbie attempt to intercept him as he meets a source, arriving just in time to witness David getting a bloody nose.
Throughout the film, rumors circulate about the newspaper's acquisition by a corporation, specifically a communications empire. Towards the end, it is revealed that a group led by Roy Walsh intends to purchase and manage the paper. In a meeting, Walsh asks Frank to dismiss Harry, branding him a "moving force in the wrong direction." Lynn, the secretary, is the first to resign.
In response to his termination, Harry fantasizes about walking to Walsh's office and shoots him with a suction cup dart toy pistol. In reality, he meets Abbie and Max at a bar, and Max cons a stranger into buying him a drink.
Cast
- John Heard as Harry Lucas, disillusioned lead reporter{{cite web |title=Between the Lines |url=https://www.siskelfilmcenter.org/between-lines |access-date=15 April 2023 |website=Siskel Film Center}}
- Lindsay Crouse as Abbie, talented photographer, Harry's girlfriend
- Jeff Goldblum as Max Arloft, music critic{{cite web |last1=Seuling |first1=Dennis |title=Between the Lines (Blu-ray Review) |url=https://thedigitalbits.com/item/between-the-lines-2019-bd |website=The Digital Bits |access-date=15 April 2023 |language=en-gb |date=31 July 2019}}
- Jill Eikenberry as Lynn, secretary, Ahmed's girlfriend
- Bruno Kirby as David Entwhistle, eager cub reporter
- Gwen Welles as Laura, Michael's girlfriend
- Stephen Collins as Michael, arrogant former reporter, wanna-be book author
- Lewis J. Stadlen as Stanley, priggish advertising manager{{cite news |last1=Phillips |first1=Michael |title='Star Wars' ruled, but 'Between the Lines' a film gem from '77 |url=https://digitaledition.chicagotribune.com/tribune/article_popover.aspx?guid=3a7dbbb3-365c-4da0-9bac-ed24abb24557 |access-date=15 April 2023 |work=digitaledition.chicagotribune.com}}
- Jon Korkes as Frank, editor
- Michael J. Pollard as The Hawker, news vendor
- Lane Smith as Roy Walsh, corporate operative
- Joe Morton as Ahmed, advertising salesman
- Richard Cox as Stuart Wheeler, publisher{{cite web |title=Between the Lines |url=https://www.reelingreviews.com/reviews/between-the-lines/ |website=Reeling Reviews |access-date=16 April 2023}}
- Marilu Henner as Danielle, stripper/interviewee{{cite web |title=Joan Micklin Silver |url=https://cinema.wisc.edu/series/2021/fall/joan-micklin-silver |website=Cinematheque |publisher=wisc.edu |language=en}}
- Raymond J. Barry as Herbert Fisk
- Gary Springer as Jason
- Susan Haskins
- {{cite news |last1=Chow |first1=Andrew R. |title=After 25 Years, the Curtain Closes on 'Theater Talk' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/16/theater/theater-talk-cuny-tv-susan-haskins.html |access-date=16 April 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=16 September 2018}}
- {{cite web |title=Susan Haskins-Doloff: Credits, Bio, News |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Susan-Haskins-Doloff/ |website=Broadway World |access-date=16 April 2023 |language=en}}
- {{cite web |title=Humanities and Media Studies Acting Chair Steven Doloff Wins 2017 New York Emmy Award |url=https://www.pratt.edu/news/humanities-and-media-studies-acting-chair-steven-doloff-wins-2017-new-york1/ |website=Pratt Institute |access-date=16 April 2023 |language=en-us |date=6 June 2022}}
- {{cite web |title=The Ultimate Legacy |url=https://globalcitypress.com/the-ultimate-legacy/ |website=Global City Press |access-date=16 April 2023 |quote=Susan Haskins-Doloff was the first Art Director of La MaMa Experimental Theater and now is the Artistic Director of Theater Talk Productions, for whom she oversaw 23 years of their weekly NY Emmy Award-winning series, Theater Talk, nationally syndicated on PBS. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, she taught over three decades at Pratt Institute. She is a freelance graphic artist and illustrated the books On The Streets: A Guide to New York City’s Buskers, Good Garb, and Moment of Bliss.}}
- {{cite web |title=Susan Haskins-Doloff |url=https://www.goldderby.com/author/susan-haskins/ |website=GoldDerby |access-date=16 April 2023}}
- {{cite news |title=New York Theater Talk Series Ends Production After 26 Years |date=2018-09-17 |url=https://playbill.com/article/new-york-theater-talk-series-ends-production-after-26-years |access-date=16 April 2023 |work=Playbill}}
- {{cite web |title=Susan Haskins Doloff '67 Wins an Emmy |url=https://www.latinschool.org/alumni/news-article/~post/susan-haskins-doloff-67-wins-an-emmy-20170508 |website=Latin School of Chicago |date=May 8, 2017 |access-date=16 April 2023}}
- {{cite web |title=John Braswell Papers |url=https://www.sarahlawrence.edu/archives/collections/finding-aids/j/john-braswell-papers.html |website=Sarah Lawrence College |access-date=16 April 2023 |language=en}}
- {{cite web |title=Susan Haskins-Doloff '71 |url=https://www.sarahlawrence.edu/alumni/news/2017-07-25-susan-haskins-doloff-71.html |date=July 25, 2017 |website=Sarah Lawrence College |access-date=16 April 2023 |language=en}} as Sarah
- Guy Boyd as Austin
- Charles Levin as Paul
Production
Fred Barron, who had written for both The Phoenix and The Real Paper, used his and Harper Barnes'{{cite web |title=SLIFF 2019 Interview: Harper Barnes – His Career Inspired the 1977 Film BETWEEN THE LINES |url=https://www.wearemoviegeeks.com/2019/11/sliff-2019-interview-harper-barnes-his-career-inspired-the-1977-film-between-the-lines/ |website=We Are Movie Geeks |access-date=15 April 2023 |date=12 November 2019}} alternative newspaper experiences as the basis for his Between the Lines screenplay. Joan Micklin Silver had herself worked for The Village Voice.{{Cite web |last=Klein |first=Julia M. |date=June 3, 1997 |title=Between Lives |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1977/6/3/between-lives-pbobld-times-mean-good/ |access-date= |website=The Harvard Crimson}} Doug Kenney, co-founder of the National Lampoon, has a cameo role.
It was largely filmed on location in Boston for two weeks, with locations including pawn shops, record stores, bars, porn theaters, strip clubs, and derelict apartments. The remainder of filming was done in New York City, though no scenes are set in New York.
The film marked the screen debuts of John Heard, Joe Morton, and Marilu Henner.{{cite web |title=Between the Lines |url=https://tiff.net/events/between-the-lines |website=TIFF |access-date=15 April 2023 |language=en}} Robert Costanzo makes a brief appearance as a hired goon, his second film role.
The Real Paper, Boston Phoenix Los Angeles Free Press, SoHo Weekly News, and the Village Voice are thanked in the end credits.{{cite news |last1=Romney |first1=Jonathan |title=Film of the Week: Between the Lines |url=https://www.filmcomment.com/blog/film-of-the-week-between-the-lines/ |access-date=15 April 2023 |work=Film Comment |date=22 February 2019 |language=en}}
The success of the film led to an unsold 1980 TV sitcom pilot, with Sandy Helberg, Adam Arkin, Gino Conforti, and Kristoffer Tabori, also titled Between the Lines.{{cite web |title=Unsold Abc Tv Series Between Lines Pilot |url=https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/unsold-abc-tv-series-between-lines-pilot |website=Getty Images |access-date=15 April 2023}}
Reception
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|94|7.2|18||access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}{{cite web |title=Between the Lines |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/between_the_lines |access-date=February 10, 2024 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |language=en}}
The film received positive reviews at the time of its release.{{cite news |last1=Canby |first1=Vincent |author1-link=Vincent Canby |date=28 April 1977 |title=Film: Good Reading 'Between the Lines' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/04/28/archives/film-good-reading-between-the-lines.html |access-date=15 April 2023 |work=The New York Times}} Gary Arnold of The Washington Post called it "the most likable and encouraging American movie to be release so far this year."{{cite news |last1=Arnold |first1=Gary |date=18 May 1977 |title='Between the Lines': A Most Appealing Comedy |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1977/05/18/between-the-lines-a-most-appealing-comedy/d30151b0-820d-4525-85c2-56e95c9bfc53/ |access-date=15 April 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}
Over time, the film has come to be regarded as an accurate depiction of the alternative newspaper era.{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=Rob |date=November 2007 |title=Encore: Between the Lines |url=https://www.filmcomment.com/issue/november-december-2007/ |access-date=15 April 2023 |work=Film Comment |language=en}}{{cite web |last=Bjorkenheim |first=Cosmo |date=February 18, 2019 |title=Between the Lines |url=https://www.screenslate.com/articles/between-lines |access-date=15 April 2023 |website=Screen Slate |language=en}} Writing of the film's restoration in 2019, Matthew Monagle of Film School Rejects said: Those looking for the newspaper industry’s answer to Broadcast News will find a welcome film in Between the Lines. The film has countless moments of insight into the struggle of the American journalist, from the staff’s shabby living conditions — the film offers perhaps the most realistic look at big city apartments ever committed to film — to how well-meaning writers navigate the competing interests of truth and financial trendlines. With an all-star cast and some great comedic bits — enjoy watching Goldblum engage in a battle with a local performance artist at the Back Bay Mainline headquarters — Between the Lines is a late addition to the already impressive canon of essential 1970s cinema.{{cite web|url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/between-the-lines-film/|last=Monagle |first=Matthew|title='Between the Lines' Makes Its Case as a Forgotten '70s Classic|website=Film School Rejects|access-date=20 February 2019}}What makes Between the Lines such a timely film even decades later is its depiction of the diminishing space offered journalism in a world of corporate takeovers. Pages of copy are cut to make way for more advertisements; writers are asked to choose between walking out and compromising their integrity. The film makes it clear that the Back Bay Mainline, even in its diminished capacity, still has its finger on the pulse of the Boston community in a way no major newspaper could. When that is gone, something vital goes with it...
Steve Prokopy of Third Coast Review wrote, "There’s not much by way of story in Between the Lines and a great deal of the dialogue feels spontaneous and improvised, which only adds to the film’s authenticity."{{cite web |last1=Prokopy |first1=Steve |title=Review: 1977's Between the Lines Features an Impressive Cast in Workplace Drama |url=https://thirdcoastreview.com/2019/04/05/film-review-between-lines-1977/ |website=Third Coast Review |access-date=15 April 2023 |date=5 April 2019}} The Hollywood Reporter expressed that "the most memorable scenes work better as stand-alone episodes than as part of storylines".{{cite news |title='Between the Lines': Film Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/between-lines-1189118/ |access-date=15 April 2023 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=22 February 2019}}
Richard Winters of Scopophilia opined "when the film deals with the relationships there seems to be too much of a feminist bias as the men are always shown to be the ones at fault due to their 'insensitive and selfish natures' while the women come off the ones who are 'reasonable and unfairly neglected'. This could be a product of the fact that it was directed by a woman as well as the era where men were somehow supposed to feel guilty simply because they were men."{{cite web |last=Winters |first=Richard |date=28 December 2012 |title=Between the Lines (1977) |url=https://scopophiliamovieblog.com/2012/12/28/between-the-line-1977/ |access-date=15 April 2023 |website=Scopophilia |language=en}}
In The Guardian, Ryan Gilbey described the film as "a fond but not uncritical portrait of the disaffected staff at a formerly radical, fictional alt-weekly Boston newspaper, from the street-corner hawker all the way up to accounts, editorial and the much-despised incoming corporate boss...Silver’s sympathy for radicalism, and her deft cutting between different pockets of action unfolding in the same space, lent the film an Altmanesque feel."{{cite news |last1=Gilbey |first1=Ryan |title=Joan Micklin Silver obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/jan/14/joan-micklin-silver-obituary-crossing-delancey |access-date=15 April 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=14 January 2021}}
Margaret Moser of The Austin Chronicle said, "There's no way for us to modestly skirt this film's effect: This story of an underground paper in Boston facing corporate buy-out was the inspiration for starting the newspaper you hold in your hand."{{cite news |last1=Moser |first1=Margaret |author1-link=Margaret Moser |date=1996-09-27 |title=Between the Lines |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/1996-09-27/524662/ |access-date=15 April 2023 |work=The Austin Chronicle}}{{cite news |last1=Barbaro |first1=Nick |date=August 2, 2019 |title=We Have a Lot of History Here: The Austin Chronicle and Between the Lines |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/2019-08-02/we-have-a-lot-of-history-here-the-austin-chronicle-and-between-the-lines/ |access-date=15 April 2023 |work=The Austin Chronicle}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|0075744|Between the Lines}}
- {{rotten-tomatoes|between_the_lines}}
- {{TCMDb title | id= 68533 | title= Between the Lines }}
{{Joan Micklin Silver}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Between the Lines}}
Category:1977 comedy-drama films
Category:American comedy-drama films
Category:Films about journalists
Category:Films about journalism
Category:Films directed by Joan Micklin Silver
Category:Vestron Pictures films