The World According to Garp (1982 George Roy Hill)

A very good screenplay by Steve Tesich, adapted from John Irving's novel. I liked Hill's touch that Garp doesn't pick up the phone bearing bad news - we just hear his wife (Mary Beth Hurt) answer, off-camera. (It was set up like this by Hill, editor Steve Rotter recalls - there was no shot of Hurt on the phone.)

Is full of little bouncy reflections - Poo through the trees, the two occurrences of the helicopter (and that link to flying), the car cruise with the engine off... A kid growing up in hospital, his son essentially the same.

Garp's relationship with Roberta (John Lithgow) is beautifully written (and played) - he and Glenn Close were Oscar nominated.

George Roy Hill's a most underrated director. The World of Henry Orient (1964, Peter Sellars), is most overdue. Hawaii, Thoroughly Modern Mille (Julie Andrews, James Fox) - thought I'd seen this but not sure. Then Butch Cassidy and the again overdue Slaughterhouse-Five. The Sting, The Great Waldo Pepper, Slap Shot, A Little Romance... then in 1984 The Little Drummer Girl, with Diane Keaton, and finally Funny Farm, with Chevy Chase.