Hollywood Studio Magazine (December 1971)

PAT ROWAN PRIVATE LESSONS on fast draw and juggling with 6 guns. P.0. BOX 451 North Hollywood 91601 469-1691 * 24 HOUR SERVICE ! we swim § evecy 6ay I an6 | enteRtain I often ? ... Martha, Jim Jr., and I use ? the indoor pool and the social room for entertaining all the 9 time. To say nothing of what | we save in taxes, pool main- i: tenance and just plain work ? around the house we just sold. c Ours is a spacious 2 bedroom Y apartment at Villa Sirena and x we have our own patio, plenty § of closet room, a fully equip- ped kitchen including fridge, X fireplace and a separate dining c area. Enjoy the easy life at Villa § Sirena Waterfront Apartments. § You'll be amazed at how little § it costs. Phone the manager x at 483-3314 ? viLici^imncv f WATERFRONT APARTMENTS | On the Peninsula • Channel j Islands Harbor • Oxnard y JACK ONG _ J ■ THE LAST PICTURE SHOW — As close to a "perfect” film as we've had in years. Director Peter Bogdanovich has collaborated with author Larry McMurtry on an outstanding screenplay in which every word counts, evoking all the moods and fevers of a wilting Texas town in the 50's. Robert Surtees has photographed it for BBS Productions, which presented "Easy Rider" and "Five Easy Pieces." The stars are Timothy Bottoms ("Johnny Got His Gun"), Jeff Bridges and Ben Johnson, who turns in a superlative portrayal. What do you say for an artistic gem like "The Last Picture Show"? You say, "See it!" ON FILM ■ THE GO-BETWEEN — Director Josephy Losey and playwright Harold Pinter ("The Servant," "Accident") team up again for another study in English mores, circa 1900 this time round. Losey, blessed with the lush natural settings of England's Norfolk County, excellent art direction by Carmen Dillon and some good photography by Gerry Fisher, sets the proper mood for the story of a young boy's three-week experience that affects the rest of his life. Pinter's screenplay, however, tends a bit toward redundancy. Newcomer Dominic Guard is quite good as the naive lad who runs love letters between an heiress and a farmer. Julie Christie and Alan Bates are perfect in these roles. Margaret Leighton lends great power as the girl's aristocratic, fierce mother. ■ STAR SPANGLED GIRL - If it's laughs you want, it's laughs you get in Howard Koch's film of the Neil Simon comedy. Tony Roberts and Todd Susman as the starving underground newspaper publishers rattle off their funny lines with incredible timing. Sandy Duncan does a few good facial takes as the all-American Olympic swimmer in training, but her character lacks development, which gives the movie more of an "Odd Couple" than "Girl" look. Elizabeth Allen doesn't utter a word as the colorful landlady with a strange case of nymphomania, but so what: you'd never be able to hear over the laughter. ■ FIDDLER ON THE ROOF - It's always been Tevya's show, and on film there hasn't been a change. Russian actor Topol is remarkable as the Jewish milkman Renowned throughout the musical-comedy loving world for his conversations with the Almighty, his poverty, lame workhorse, nagging wife and five daughters. All this and a sense of humor! Norman Jewison has produced and directed the year's big-screen spectacular, resplendent with color, marvelous sound, good musical numbers and, of course, Topol. ■ THE TROJAN WOMEN - Michael Cacoyannis' screen version of the Euripidean classic offers a literate translation and four stunning performances. Katharine Hepburn, Vanessa Redgrave, Genevieve Bujold and Irene Papas take their turns well to expound the grievous effects of war and the people who make war. ON STAGE ■ GODSPELL - Or, a musical based on the Gospel according to Barnum & Bailey. There are a couple of good songs in this quite auspicious first work by 23-year old Stephen Schwartz, who did the music. A "Story Theatre" type treatment of the Old Testament would seem to hold interesting possibilities. But "Godspell" never realizes these possibilities. The script is inane (based on such material, yet!). The stage design is pointless and unimaginative, a disappointment from Peter Wexler, whose fine artistry has resulted in sets for such local productions as "Camino Real" and "Murderous Angels." And the cast, all clowns with a Jesus ringleader, is (are you ready for this?) cute! Nothing more, just cute. "Godspell" is this season's final and, we might add, weakest offering of Center Theatre Group. Through December 19 at the Mark Taper Forum. ■ THE CAINE MUTINY COURT-MARTIAL - Henry Fonda directs Hume Cronyn, John Forsythe, and Bruce Davidson in Herman Wouk's courtroom drama. Continuing at the Ahmanson. 27