Starting Out in the Evening Shines

by Frederic Richter '10

Tuesday April 8, 2008

On Friday March 14th the film Starting Out in The Evening was shown at SLC in the Donnelly Auditorium at Heimbold. The event was generously sponsored by the Friends of the SLC Library as their “Spring Gala event”. The Friends drew quite a crowd to the theater, including denizens of Bronxville and dozens of students and faculty members, to the point that nary a seat was to be found. The film, was based on a novel by SLC faculty member and alumnus Brian Morton, and notably in a year awash in literary adaptations it was described as an “intelligent, careful adaptation of a near-perfect novel by Brian Morton” said N.Y. Times film critic A.O. Scott. The film, which starred Frank Langella, Lili Taylor and Lauren Ambrose, told the story of a novelist and literature professor at the nadir of his career, recovering from open-heart surgery, attempting to finish what is likely to be his last novel, which he has been working on for ten years. His banal existence is altered when Lauren Ambrose enters his life as a young journalist who intends to write her masters thesis on his work, a thought that for him combines horror and gratification. His daughter is played by Lili Taylor who gives a fine performance as a daughter with two troubled relationships, as well as several sub-plots. It was a quiet, subtle, well acted, crafted and thoughtful movie, which was amazing considering the shoestring budget.

Following the screening there was a intermission and brief reception with coffee, wine, fruit, tea sandwiches and other party-worthy fare which was quickly consumed by the ravenous crowd like the vandals descending upon Rome. Following this pleasant little interlude, the audience was welcomed back to the theater for a panel discussion with Professor Brian Morton, Andrew Wagner (The film’s director and co-screenwriter), Fred Parnes (co-screenwriter) and actress Lili Taylor, moderated by Professor Malcolm Turvey. This proved to be a very intellectually stimulating conversation as the panel discussed the varying difficulties of adapting a work of literature into a screenplay. Indeed the way Fred Parnes first became attached to the project was that his brother was childhood friends with Professor Morton and was given the book by him. According to Mr. Parnes he realized when he first saw the book it’s importance, remarking that he told his wife that he just knew somehow he was going to make it into a movie one day. A major issue of contention was the alteration, or suggested alteration, of the fact that the other-than platonic relations between Frank Langella’s character and Ms. Ambrose is consummated in the film, but not in the novel. Professor Morton, aside from some barbs aimed at Mr. Parnes and Alexander, admitted that it is sad to see a major issue like that changed, but he realized “going in” that film is an entirely different medium and that he would have to just accept the changes. Overall the film adaptation of his novel was actually quite faithful, and thus he had little complaint, but there will always be minor issues.

The audience asked questions, among which was one about the budget, which the producer commented was actually quite diminutive at about 500,000, a pittance by today’s standards. Despite the seemingly paltry budget (given the stars attached to the project as well) the film was made in 18 days, almost all in NYC. The editing however, was done meticulously, over 3 years, and their careful attention paid off in the final product. Among the audience was one dedicated member, Ms. Morton, the author’s mother, who was clearly proud of her son and looked a good 10 years younger than her actual age. Following the panel another lavish reception was held, this time with champagne. Nearby, Starting Out in the Evening and Unbreakable You were available for discounted purchase and autograph by Professor Morton. It was a lovely evening by most accounts.