Cast plays by rules; “Marriage’ is success

Daily News

Monday May 10 1982

By Rick Sherwood

Michael Hagen is a somewhat successful 42-year-old married man who writes trashy but successful Mickey Spillane-style detective novels to support his wife and two children, their Connecticut home and a Fire Island retreat. He’s about as sensitive to his family’s needs as his writing is Pulitzer material. He feels his life is unfulfilled.

Joan, his wife of 15 years who was married at age 23, knows of husbands unfulfillment but is equally dissatisfied with cards fate has delt her.

Both are in search of an identity, and the conflicts and relationships that develop as a result make for the basis of “Rules of Marriage,” a fine two-part-mini-series airing on CBS tonight and Tuesday from 9 to 11 (KNXT Channel 2).

The production stars Elliot Gould and Elizabeth Montgomery in demanding roles, which they handle with skill come to be expected of them. Gould’s confusion, Montgomery’s anguish and vulnerability, and the heartbreak both come through loud and clear as their union becomes strained, then finally disintegrates.

The situation is complicated by the presence of a young son, Charlie (Sean Astin), and his pubescent sister, Margo (Susan Blackstone), neither of whom will accept the problems of the marriage or their parent’s subsequent relationships.

Michael Murphy as (Alan Murray) fills the cast of major roles and complicates matters even more as Gould’s good friend who becomes Montgomery’s lover and suitor.

The film’s makers begin tonight’s segments with soliloquies from the four members of the Hagen family in successful effort to explain personalities and situations without bogging down the storyline. Other filmmakers with less insight would have bored viewers through an extra hour to make the same points.

As a result, the made-for-television film is then able to launch right into two gripping hours of tension, emotion, passion and distress that intrigue with both the power of the writing and the performances.

As the relationships and the desires begin to evolve you will reach the foregone conclusion that the marriage is over, but the manner in which the characters get there will keep you interested.

Tuesday’s installment packs nowhere near the same punch taking up where one part leaves off, but taking a lot longer to reach its dramatic apex and disappointing conclusion. The script by Reginald Rose and direction by Milton Patselas give that part some very strong moments, though not nearly as many,

“Rules of Marriage” is the story of personal marriage-love, hate, friendship and fulfillment-which works because of the fine effort between cast and crew.

For those with an open heart, it surely will touch below the surface.