Hollywood Studio Magazine (April 1972)

\ __JACK ONG _ J ON FILM WHAT'S UP, DOC? — What's up indeed! Director-Producer Peter Bogdanovich ("The Last Picture Show"), ever reverent to cinema past, pays homage to the comedies of Tracy and Hepburn, Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello . . . you remember 'em, you've got 'em in this fast, very funny film. In a nice little casting move, Bogdanovich has teamed superstar Barbra Streisand with super-hero Ryan O'Neal. They're excellent together! True to the form of yesteryear's comedies, "What's Up, Doc?" doesn't have much of a plot, but it does have plenty of clever dialogue, sight gags and a Keystone Cops chase through San Francisco that could make "Bullitt" shudder. Basically, the story (by Bogdanovich himself, with screenplay by Buck Henry) is about everybody wanting a particular plaid suitcase. Matters are slightly complicated when four identical pieces of baggage turn up in the same hotel, on the same floor. Simple as that. But by the time every heister is heisted and they all end up in court just like Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney's friends did in the old Andy Hardy flicks, you wonder about the simplicity. As always, Barbra Streisand is flawless. She even gets to sing a bit. To sum her up briefly, it's sufficient to say that the lady's got style, real style. And O'Neal gives his best performance to date as an absent-minded musicologist. Other madcap jobs by Madeline Kahn as O'Neal's frantic fiancee and Mabel Albertson as a wealthy matron are very good. MACBETH — Leave it to Roman Polanski. The master of gore has taken the most violent poetry in a tragedy by the master of words and socked it right up there on the screen for all to see. What Shakespeare merely implied so well, Polanski has graphically thrust. And wouldn't you know, Polanski's bloodiest, most macabre scenes are the best in his otherwise stodgy, lackluster translation of "Macbeth." The performances are adequate for the most part, especially by Jon Finch as Macbeth and Francesca Annis as Lady Macbeth. But they are just that: performances and no more. Finch and Miss Annis are younger than previous "Macbeth" stars. We don't know the reason Polanski went "young," but it doesn't lend or detract from the work. The film was shot on location in Wales, which has been captured nicely in the new Todd-AO 35 process. ON STAGE GOLD WATCH - A new play depicting the life of a Japanese-American family just before it enters an American concentration camp during World War II. Academy Award nominee Mako (for "Sand Pebbles" in 1966) stars with Nobu McCarthy. Performances Wednesday through Sunday at 8:30 p.m., with a Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m. Inner city Theatre, 1615 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles. APPLAUSE — Lauren Bacall repeats her Broadway musical-comedy success in the first production of this season's Civic Light Opera schedule. The anticipation of her appearance rivals that of Katharine Hepburn's in "Coco" last year. "Applause" is the musical version of the film "All About Eve." RICHARD II — Richard Chamberlain shines in his Los Angeles stage debut. Through April 15 at the Ahmanson. VOLPONE — Raucous comedy by Ben Jonson, presented by Center Theatre Group with music and lyrics by Jack Rowe, Timothy Near, Holly Near and Jeff Langley. The lively production stars Avery Schreiber and Joyce Van Patten. Through the 23rd at the Mark Taper Forum. FREE! KEY PROTECTION IN SOLID BRONZE You don’t have to be a customer . .. come in today, and protect your keys with North Hollywood Federal’s solid bronze “Key Minder” service. There’s no obligation. Here’s how it works: • you visit one of the NHF offices • we give you a solid bronze medallion attached to a sturdy key ring • we personalize it with your own “Key Minder” number • we keep this number in our confidential files • if you ever mislay your keys, the finder simply drops them into the nearest mail box • North Hollywood Federal and the Post Office do the rest. . . FREE It works! One family lost their keys in Europe . . . they beat them home to California! North Hollywood Federal likes to find the keys to customer problems. We’ve given this kind of friendly service to North Hollywood since 1923. So, drop in at either NHF branch. Maybe your keys will open up a solid friendship. NortM-ipIlywood Savings & Loan Association 4455 LANKERSHIM BOULEVARD 5226 LANKERSHIM BOULEVARD TELEPHONES: 766-3701 984-2810 877-3426