Dr. T and the Women
But to what end? One day the good doctor's wife, Kate, goes shopping with her friends in a shopping mall where such women as Kate would go, and snaps. She removes all her clothes and ends up in a fountain. Of course she is institutionalized. A psychiatrist explains to T that she suffers from a syndrome that often inflicts affluent, upper-class women who have all they want and need: Hestia complex.
Simply, too much of a good thing can screw a person--a woman--up very badly.
It is an interesting premise, this. And made specific--Dallas, it carries a greater impact. It is given more impact by way of Dr. T and by the fact this woman is a woman he loves, cares for, and cherishes very much.
All of which should lead to certain box office success.
But won't.
The explanation is simple: Robert Altman.
Altman has made a reputation for himself by way of the women he chooses to surround himself with. Which is fine, perfectly acceptable. A problem arises, however, when he attempts to translates this reality to the reality of the silver screen. Agreeing that Altman is Dr. T and Dr. T is Altman, one has to wonder why Altman, who has never been Hollywood, would deliberately reduce himself to a Hollywood cliche in the plot: When it seems Kate will be locked away for a very long time Dr. T begins to see another woman.
Why does this have to be? Wouldn't it make more sense for Dr. T to examine his life in an attempt to understand what has happened to his wife? Of course it would. But since Dr. T is an Altman fantasy Altman is inflicting himself on an otherwise interesting film, bringing about its final failure at the box office.
Understand: "Dr. T and the Women" will make money (Gere being the draw). I will say here and now it will hit the top ten at the box office opening week. But once word gets out and people learn how Altman betrayed them (not to mention himself) with his indulgence on-screen the film will drop from the commerical radar. And fast.
I noted before that Altman has done a great job through the years juggling multiple story lines. Here he does well, with the aid of his writer, Anne Rapp. Not only is there a story line front and center, but in the background, and when these story lines (along with others) intersect
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