Hollywood Studio Magazine (August 1972)

■ DELIVERANCE — Here's high adventure, the likes of which we haven't had all year! Based on James Dickey's extremely successful novel (with a good screenplay by the author), John Boorman's film is a taut, quick-paced exercise in suspense. The story is about four city men who take a weekend canoe trip down a wild river charted for conversion into a recreational lake facility. The party faces misunderstandings and a different sort of communication with the mountain people of the Deep South, then encounters homosexual rape, murder and the question of justice. Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty and Ronny Cox are the adventurers. Voight gives his best performance since "Midnight Cowboy”; Reynolds spends most of his time hamming it up. Director Boorman has selected ideal locations, which Vilmos Zsigmond has photographed carefully and splendidly. The sound and special effects are also very good. "Deliverance" may be a bit much for the squeamish, but it's a powerful piece of drama. ■ PORTNOY'S COMPLAINT — Philip Roth's funny novel about the frustrations of a nice little Jewish boy has been brought to the screen. The result is a tedious film bad enough to give you heartburn. Richard Benjamin's one facial expression is amusing . . . once. Lee Grant, too good for roles like the cliche Jewish mother she portrays, moans and grimaces through her part, with good reason. Only Karen Black as The Monkey comes off the least bit credible, and under Ernest Lehman's direction, you expect her to burst into a chorus of "The Sound of Music” any minute. Was this film really necessary? ON STAGE ■ JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR — The new Amphitheater overlooking Los Angeles from atop Universal Studios offers quite a sensational experience. Nature seems to be right on cue, complete with moon, crickets chirping, fresh evening air. "Jesus Christ Superstar" is the perfect stage vehicle for such a the ater. As a recorded rock opera, the Tim Rice-Andrew Lloyd Weber work is startling, inspired, musically excellent. As staged by Tom O'Horgan, the opera becomes quite complete. Bizarre, imaginative sets and costumes make extremely effective visual impressions for a story of Jesus' final days. Ted Neeley, seen as "Tommy" a few months ago, is an adequate Jesus Christ, but he gives the impression that he feels more like Superstar. Neeley will have to work considerably harder to achieve that Status. Carl Anderson's Judas is energetic, and Heather MacRea is a perfect Mary Magdalene. Miss MacRea's singing voice, sure and resonant, does much justice to her interpretations of "I Don't Know How to Love Hirn" and "Everything's All Right." "Jesus Christ Superstar" plays nightly except Monday with two shows Fridays and Saturdays. Dress warm to it and have yourself an exhiliarating evening out. ■ THE ROTHSCHILDS — In the best of Civic Light Opera's first three productions for this season, greed, human suffering, power struggles and the rags-to-riches success of a determined Jewish ghetto family are set to music, and very nicely indeed. History is dispatched in a few tunes, and the story line, following the family's rise to the top of world finance, is intense and direct. Hai Linden is superb as the father Rothschild. The music by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick is nothing close to their "Fiddler on the Roof," but the local presentation of "Rothschilds" is resplendent with beautiful sets and costumes and a very polished Company. PRESTIGE VALLEY ESTATES Residental & Income Property Commercial Listings Skaff Ask for Joe or Lila Skaff R.Jt STATE 8-9111 17228 Ventura Blvd orA Encino THE VALLEY'S LARGEST MARINE DEALER Featuring a complete 1972 line of Johnson outboard motors,Sea Ray Boats, as well as water ski and boating accessories. The Valley's Center for Boat Sales & Service TnronutsjfcoG *geistteh 6036 Sepulveda Blvd.,Van IMuys California (213)787-7414 9301 fjlTampa Ave. | Northridge Specialists in the Worlds Finest Cheese Since 1860 FREE CHEESE SAMPLES FÜRS ^COLD STORAGE(i RENTALS APPRAISALS, ETC.j PICK-UP & DELIVERY WOODLAND HILLS FURRIERS PHONE 213/346-4083 22896 Ventura Blvd. Woodland Hills