The Apostle (1997) - Robert Duvall

December 27, 1989

THE APOSTLE E.F. HART

Screenplay by Robert Duvall

Synopsis by Brian Aldrich

SONNY DEWEY is a Pentacostal preacher who is devoted to his ministry. He returns home to find his wife, JESSIE, is sleeping with the assistant pastor, HORACE. He holds his temper in check until he finds out Jessie has gotten the church board to fire him. He is kicked out of his church. When he goes to visit his children he is hassled by Jessie and Horace. Sonny caves in Horace's face with a two by four. Sonny runs away.

He changes his name to E.F. Hart and takes off to find God's will. He hangs out on the bayou with a black man and fasts for a few days. The black man tells him about his brother, a retired preacher who lives on Pecan Island, Louisiana.

Hart comes to believe that the Lord has called him to be an apostle. Hart goes to Pecan Island and befriends the brother, BLACKWELL, and starts a church. He gets several part-time jobs to support his ministry. He makes a deal with the local radio station to get advertising time. He begins to date a secretary named TOOTSIE who is separated from her husband and child. Hart's ministry prospers. People love him and he helps a lot of people. Finally, Jessie identifies his voice on the radio and a STATE TROOPER comes to arrest him for murder. Even in prison, E.F. is a passionate minister.

Summary Criticism: While many of the characters are sympathetic, the plot is repetitious and boring. Nothing much happens except a lot of preaching and good intentions.

The Apostle (1997) - imdb

Rich, Louis, Brian - circa Spring 1987

What Construction? 14th & Pico - SM

The Affair of the Necklace (2001) - John Sweet

March 23, 2000

THE AFFAIR OF THE NECKLACE

Screenplay by John Sweet

Synopsis by Brian Aldrich

COUNTESS JEANNE DE LA MOTTE-VALOIS was born of royal lineage, but was reduced to poverty by King LOUIS XIV, who, eager to dispose of a rival to the throne, ordered the seizure of her family’s estate and killed her father DARNELL VALOIS. Shortly after, her mother, IRENE, dies in giving birth to Jeanne’s SISTER. The orphans are taken in by the MARQUIS & MARQUISE BOULAINVILLERS. Jeanne’s baby sister dies. At 24, Jeanne tries to petition QUEEN MARIE ANTOINETTE for the return of her family estate, but is thrown out by House Minister BRETEUIL. Gigolo RETAUX DE VILETTE comes to her aid and walks her home, but fails to seduce her. Jewelers BOHMER and BASSENGE try to sell an opulent diamond necklace to Antoinette. She refuses. Meanwhile, Retaux shows Jeanne around the court, introducing her to Cardinal LOUIS de ROHAN, a debaucher and enemy of Antoinette. Faking a friendship with Antoinette, Jeanne tells Rohan and promises to reconcile their relationship, but in return she wants him to help verify her royal lineage. His friend CAGLIOSTRO, a German mystic, meets Jeanne and warns Rohan of her. With her lover Retaux’s help, Jeanne fakes encouraging letters from Antoinette to Rohan who gives her a large sum of money in return. Jeanne uses the money to upgrade her appearance and habitat. When all the DOWAGERS believe the rumors that Jeanne and Antoinette are friends, she becomes popular in court. Hearing of her new wealth, Jeanne’s long-lost, unfaithful husband, NICOLAS DE LA MOTTE, returns to find her and Retaux having sex. When he tries to kill Retaux, Jeanne’s new maid, ROSALIE, shoots and wounds Nicolas, rescuing Retaux. Believing the rumors, Bassenge approaches Jeanne, offering her a commission if she convinces Antoinette to buy the necklace. Jeanne fakes a letter from Antoinette asking Rohan to discreetly buy the necklace for her so the public won’t know about her extravagance. He refuses until she gets him a private audience with Antoinette. (Jeanne figures after she gets the necklace, Rohan, afraid of scandal, will pay off the jewelers.) Jeanne has a WOMAN IN BLUE masquerade as Antoinette and flirt with Rohan. The jewelers sell Rohan the necklace who believes Antoinette will repay him in 3 months. Cagliostro predicts Rohan will be made PM. Jeanne has Retaux, masquerading as the Queen’s messenger, pick up the necklace from Rohan for Antoinette. Later, Jeanne, Retaux, and Nicolas celebrate their venture.

The trio sell off some of the diamonds and retreat to the old Valois estate in the country. Jeanne is finally at home. In the streets, patriot CAMILLE DESMOULINS preaches against the monarchy’s decadent excess. When Nicolas narrowly escapes from some GENDARMES, Retaux wants to leave the country, but Jeanne figures she can use Rohan’s love letters to the Queen to blackmail him. Bohmer tells Breteuil he has been defrauded. Breteuil and the Queen confront Rohan who is arrested. Nicolas and Retaux flee. Jeanne burns the letters. Breteuil arrests Jeanne. Antoinette wants public vindication of her innocence. Retaux is captured and tortured into implicating innocent Rohan. Prostitute NICOLE D’OLIVA is revealed as the Woman in Blue. Jeanne refuses to implicate Rohan. Jeanne, Rohan, Cagliostro, Retaux and Nicole are tried. Nicole and Cagliostro are acquitted. Retaux is banished. Rohan is acquitted and exonerated. Antoinette is furious and has him reduced to poverty. Jeanne is imprisoned. The French Revolution guillotines Antoinette. Jeanne escapes to England.

Summary Criticism: Excellently crafted, the characters are wickedly sympathetic and the plot is compelling. A true story, the themes of “excess” and “greed” have contemporary implications.

The Affair of the Necklace (2001) - imdb

Air America (1990) - John Eskow

September 11, 1988

AIR AMERICA

Screenplay by John Eskow

Synopsis by Brian Aldrich

Laos, 1971. Nixon tells the American people that there is NO war going on in Laos. Meanwhile, civilian pilots employed by the CIA, the "Air America" forces, are dropping bombs and getting shot down over Laos. ROB DIEHL is the CIA representative. GENE RYACK is a weary pilot, bitter towards the CIA, but having three native wives and massing munitions for his own profit. Rob needs more pilots. BILLY COVINGTON is a young helicopter pilot who checks on the freeway traffic for a radio station. He makes a crazy scene on the radio and loses his license. A CIA rep signs him up for Air America. Arriving in Laos, he finds himself to be the straight man in a world of crazier pilots. Gene befriends and guides him. Billy has eyes for Rob's woman, CORIENNE, an American who tries to help the natives. Billy gets into the swing of things, dropping food, pigs, and the CIA's psychological weapons to the natives by day and getting roaring drunk at the local whorehouse by night.

Rob is in league with MAJOR LEMOND, an American, and GENERAL SOONG, a Laotian who wants to open a Dairy Queen in America. The trio are running Soong's opium in the Air America planes (unknown to the pilots) in return for Soong's armies assistance in the "secret war". Billy is shot down and crash lands onto an abandoned airstrip. Soong shows up to rescue Billy's cargo of heroin. Gene arrives to save Billy. Gene and Bille become aware of the drug scam. Meanwhile, Lemond and Rob are worried about the arrival of SENATOR DAVENPORT, a moralist looking for problems. They romance the Senator and tell him that there is a drug problem, but the pilots are responsible. Billy helps Corienne rescue a tribe of natives by flying them to a refugee camp. Their village was destroyed by Lemond's bombs because they wouldn't sell their poppys to Soong. Rob decides to set up Billy as a drug runner to satisfy the Senator.

Gene decides to sell his hidden munitions and move to Thailand with one of his wives. He loads up a plane with his cargo and goes off to sell it. Billy loads up his plane with cargo for his daily drop. Unknown to him, Rob has planted heroin and shorted his gas supply. Rob, Lemond, and the Senator wait to catch Billy at an airstrip near the one where Billy crash landed. Rob senses the setup. He crash lands at the airstrip and hides his aircraft inside the cargo bay of the previous wreck. Rob and Lemond can't find him. The Senator senses a setup. Rob is rescued by Gene who is enroute to his last drop. Corienne radios for help as the refugee camp is about to be massacred by Soong's army. With Billy's bidding, Gene lands, pushes out his cargo, and loads the natives. Lemond shows to arrest Gene, but Gene blows up the weapons and sails off with his cargo of natives.

Summary Criticism: Despite some pointless red herrings and contrivances, the script works, but is rather boring and laborious.

Air America - imdb

Farmers & Merchants National Bank - 4th & Main

Wesley, Brian, Johnny, circa 1965