A Sensitive, Passionate Man

David Janssen life was that of a very sad Hollywood star. Although very successful and incredibly talented, he also had a major problem with alcohol that most likely led to his death...at only 48, though he looked far, far older (I would have guessed he looked about 60 in this movie). Ironically, here just three years before his death, Janssen stars as a man struggling with alcoholism! Essentially, he's playing, at least in part, himself...which is tremendously sad.

The story is about the Delaney Family. Michael (David Janssen) works as an aerospace engineer--not a particularly good industry during the late 70s. After all, there were a lot of cutbacks in the space program following the end of the Apollo missions. Not surprisingly, he's laid off from his very high paying job but instead of telling his family he pretends to be going to work each day. Eventually his wife finds out and the secret is out. But instead of pushing him to finally looking for work he increasingly sits around drinking. And the more he drinks the more violent, nasty and unpredictable he becomes. The film follows his progression into alcoholism as well as it's devastating impact on the family. In particular, it focuses on the wife (Angie Dickinson) as she vacillates between enabling him and just wanting to get out and protect herself and the children. This was, incidentally, one of her best acting performances.

I appreciate how this film is an unflinching view of alcoholism. It doesn't paint a magical picture of redemption like you see in "The Lost Weekend" and many other films about addiction. Instead, it's just awful and stays awful--making it a very tough film to watch but also making it realistic and a public service. It also shows what life was like when treatment facilities were practically nonexistent and AA and counseling was about your only option...an option Michael refuses to take seriously. Well worth seeing despite its awfulness. Also a great film to show to someone who really needs to see what alcoholism really looks like. It certainly pulls no punches.

By the way, another similar sort of film I heartily recommend is "Days of Wine and Roses"--either the original television teleplay or the more famous 1960s movie with Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick. Very unpleasant as well...but very truthful and blunt in its depiction of addiction.

"My Sensitive, Passionate Man" was originally an NBC TV movie, released in 1977. I have a video of this movie (released in 1994) retitled "Hooked." The video is trimmed down to 90 minutes, leaving two key scenes out. The first scene is Janssen tossing Dickinson into their pool, during one of his drunken stupors, while having a party. The following scene was cut as well. It's where the couple are having a heart-to-heart talk & she tells him how much he means to her, & expresses that she's his 'best friend' (this aided in character development). The video is not edited very well. They also had the nerve to put the "Retail" price of $59.95 on the box!!! Aside from the video's shortcomings, this is a compelling story of an alcoholic's downfall & the effects it has on him & his family. Angie Dickinson leaves her saucey Pepper Anderson ("Police Woman") persona aside to play a devoted housewife, & mom to two boys. David Janssen plays her tortured soul/boozehound husband who gives up on life after he's fired from his job in aerospace. He refuses to seek other employment or get long term help for his alcoholism. He's supposed to be 42 years old, but looks about 52 (I don't know if this was intentional but it works in this movie, showing what alcohol abuse can do to someone). In one scene he slaps her, but he's really the one you want to see smacked across the face & knocked some sense into! You know his character is sick, yet he's so obnoxious, pompous, & unlikable it's hard to really feel sympathy for him. (Also,much of Janssen's dialog is mumbled, which can get annoying). It's Angie & their sons you feel bad for. Angie Dickinson is very good in this film. She's a sexy forty-something & looks great! The two kids who play their sons are also good. This was unusual for the 70's because so many child actors were horrible, or annoying (remember Quinn Cummings & Glenn Scarpelli?!) I recommend this movie if you like thought provoking dramas about family life & relationships. (The theme song, sung by Melba Moore & released as a single, is also memorable).

Regret can't really watch films about alcoholism, Angie Dickinson's presence notwithstanding. And poor David Janssen, long one of my favourite TV actors, looked old and tired by this time.

Angie Dickenson and David Jannsen, along with supporting actors, were at their best in "A Sensitive Passionate Man."

I have often wondered why the TV networks do not run more of Janssen's films.

I'm middle aged and I remember as a little boy my "first TV series" with the original "Fugitive" with Janssen.

Contrast TV network "programming" today with what it was in the 1960's and 1970s and I'll go back in time, even with "fewer channels" and even some black and white of the mid-1960's.

Today, I am going to turn off the satellite dish and save $700 a year ($14,000.00 over 20 years.) What isn't garbage has seven and eight commercials at a time. The very few TV shows worth watching break up several times with seven or eight commercials and I sit there and wonder what it was I was even watching.

I have recently purchased several DVD's---no commercials---and one was "A Sensitive Passionate Man."

When I turn off the satellite TV at the end of this month, that will give me $70 a month to buy such DVD's with and I can watch what I want, when I want, without long, long commercial breaks.

I believe the TV, cable and satellite industries are making huge mistakes today. Viewership in down. Maybe many people are on the internet as I am now.

People who watched TV in the 60's and 70's remember LOCAL TV programming where there were actual local hosts on TV in local markets.

We had "Bob Hope" specials, Ed Sullivan who gave us a variety of talent, etc.

In my mind, TV, cable and satellite have been ruined by GREED. I began this article about "A Sensitive Passionate Man." This is what got me off on the topic of the waste of today's TV, generally speaking. There may be a few exceptions.

Give me the shows of the 60s and 70s---with far less "technical" improvements, and I will give you everything that is on cable and satellite TV today.

Bring back Angie Dickenson and David Janssen type acting and fare.

Bill Histed

Perhaps this telefilm was so good because of David Janssen's own battles with alcohol that, within three years would play a role in taking his own life. Janssen was always an underrated actor, but this was the defining role of a highly successful television career.

In the picture, Janssen plays an unemployed aerospace engineer who has lost his zest for life and finds solace in the bottle. While the audience wants to scream at the character for giving up when he was so much to live for... a sexy wife (Angie Dickinson), a nice home and two great kids, the character simply cannot see what he has to live for. This, and Janssen's performance, are the primary reasons for the quality of this film.

Janssen, in particular, is dynamite in the tragic story. He looks older than the character is supposed to be and his boozy dialogue is delivered perfectly. One scene, in particular stands out. After a while on the wagon, Janssen convinces Dickinson that it's okay to have a little cooking wine. You know the rest.

A heartbreaking story of a man with everything to live for, but who is too blind to see it and simply cannot imagine his life without alcohol. Janssen is riveting.