Tuesday, Oct. 4, 1960 University Daily Kansan Page
By Calder M. Pickett Associate Professor of Journalism
OR NERO (Peter Ustinov, 1951; Charles Laughton, 1932). Or Lygia (Deborah Kerr, 1951; Elissa Landi, 1932). Where did Jean Simmons come in? Didn't she die in the arena once? Was Poppaea in the 1951 movie (Claudette Colbert, bathing in donkeys' milk — the real thing, too, if we know De Mille, 1932)?
The recent glut of motion pictures about the Romans and the Christians and the gladiators and all the strong men of the ancient world seem to have given rise to the publication of paperback versions of familiar novels based on these themes. If the reader has not had his fill of Steve Reeves at the drive-ins, "Ben-Hur" and "The Ten Commandments" and all the rest, he may find this old-fashioned tale gratifying.
QUO VADIS, by Henryk Sienkiewicz. Bantam Classis, 75 cents.
THIS READER IS CONFUSED. My impressions are mixed. This Vinicius chap (he's the hero), for instance. He becomes a Christian and his girl friend (Lygia) is saved because her body-guard (Ursus — a kind of Steve Reeves-Mickey Hargitay type) wrestles a German bull and kills him in two out of three falls so the crowd of Romans out for a holiday demands that he be spared and Nero is forced to give the thumbs-up sign though he personally likes to see Christians die.
Oh bother. One day Charlton Heston's parting the Red Sea (with an assist) and the next he's driving a chariot. But this review allegedly is about the book "Quo Vadis."
THOSE WERENT GOOD times to live. Nero was a bad one. But then so was Hitler. Nero was as rough on Christians as Hitler was on Jews, and each had similar motives. Keep the crowd happy, create diversions, find a good scapegoat. Nero knew this a few centuries before Machiavelli.
Vinicius — he was Robert Taylor in "Quo Vadis" (MGM, 1951) and Fredric March in "The Sign of the Cross" (De Mille, 1932). March perished a Christian, or was it Taylor? Or was it Richard Burton in "The Robe"? Which one was in the chariot race? No, that was the guy-in "Ben-Hur."
Enough of this. "Quo Vadis," though its translator is not the greatest (he uses translations like "Vinicius felt terribly"), is an absorbing story, as it has been since Sienkiewicz wrote it in the 1890s. It has grueling, grim details. It is even inspiring.
We are overfed, overindulged egocentrics. We are pampered, petulant, and selfish individualists, suspended in a state Reinhold Nicbuhr calls "sophisticated vulgarity." We are unwilling to implement the ritual we mouth on Sundays and share with our neighbors. We have contrived a series of deals with pseudo-truth which has left us bloated with food and drink but ideologically naked.
Worth Repeating
For too many of us the brotherhood of man has degenerated into a glorification of the rugged individual and his ability to acquire and keep more material goods than the neighbor he does not love.—John Scott
Official Bulletin
Items for the Official Bulletin must be brought to the public relations office, 231 Strong, before 9:30 a.m. on the day material is Do not bring Bulletin material to the Daily Kansan Notices should include name, place, date, and time of function.
Ph.D. French reading examination. 9 to
11 a.m. Saturday, Fraser, Room 11.
ASC Appropriations Applications. Pick up at the offices Office and return by noon, Saturday.
All Student Organizations must submit names of presidents, addresses and phone numbers to the Dean of Students by 5 p.m., Oct. 7.
Kick-off Picnic. 5:30 p.m., Oct. 4. Potter Lake. $1.00 for Drive.
TODAY
ATTENTION all KAPPA PHI members.
Meeting 7 p.m. today. Wesley Foundation.
Discussion: Is KAPPA PHI Necessary or
Worthwhile?
Math Club Meeting, 7:30 p.m. today.
Forum Room, Kansas Union. Dr. D. J.
Heardinger, IBM Co. speaks on "Topics in
Computer Usage," and movie
"Interest."
Episcopal Evening Prayer. 9:30 p.m.
Danforth Chapel.
TOMORROW
Episcopal Morning Prayer and Holy Communion, breakfast follows. 6:45 a.m.
Newman Club. Daily in October, 12:35 p.m. Parlor A. Daily Rosary.
Student National Education Assoc. 1:30
8th grade
$4.95
Memberships Available $3.00
Mrs. W. Clarke Wescone speaks 7:15
p.m., Oct. 5. Westminster Center, Dessert
meeting. ALL WOMEN STUDENTS IN-
VITED.
The University Party will meet tomorrow instead of today as previously announced. Kansas Union.
Nothing astonishes men so much as common sense and plain dealing.—Ralph Waldo Emerson
Around the Campus
Goff Receives Ford Grant
Regular oil changes help maintain the life and power of your car's engine for years. We'll give you the proper weight and quality for your particular car!
It's Oil Change Time
Lewin A. Goff, director of the University Theatre, has received a Ford Foundation grant and appointment to the "Director-Observed" program administered by the New Dramatists Committee of New York City
Early last month he returned from leading an eight-week tour of the KU production of the musical, "Brigadoon" into the Far East. He will leave tomorrow for Toronto, Canada, where he will sit in on the rehearsals and preparations of a new play, "Love and Libel."
Mr. Goff's fellowship is one set up specifically for training and observation. He will study under the technical direction of Tyrone Guthrie, director of the show, and plans to stay with the company until it opens in New York City about November 1.
"Through this type of program, we hope to bring the college community and the professional theater closer together," said Mr. Goff, adding, "I'm looking forward to the experience."
Painting Loaned By Art Museum
LEONARD'S STANDARD SERVICE 706 W.9th
The Museum of Art has loaned a painting, "Miss C. Parsons as the Lady of the Lake," by Thomas Sully to the Art Across America exhibition in Utica, N.Y., The Munson - Williams - Proctor - Institute in Utica will open its new building with an exhibition of American art on Oct. 15. More than three hundred paintings and sculpture works will be exhibited.
First KU-Y Meeting In Union Tonight
Try the Kansan Want Ads
The first all-membership meeting of the KU-Y will be held at 7 tonight in the Kansas Union. Information about the organization will be presented to new members.
Trade Interviews To Be Held Friday
Stanton S. von Grabill, vice president of the American Institute for Foreign Trade, will be here Friday to interview students interested in foreign trade. Mr. von Grabill will be at the interview office in Summerfield Hall from 1 to 4 p.m. Interested persons should register at the Business School office.
KU-TV to Present Live News Shows
Beginning this month, a 15-minute television news show will be programmed live from the KU television center through the facilities of WIBW-TV, Channel 13, Topeka. Two or more newsmen will be featured each week delivering world, national and regional news, weather, sports and KU news.
Auditions for television newcasters, photographers and copywriters will be held at 7 p.m. today. Anyone interested is invited to audition. The producers would also like to talk with interested writers and photographers.
The Arkansas cotton crop in 1959 was 68 per cent above 1958 production.
Want Some PICTURES?
The S.U.A. PICTURE LENDING LIBRARY will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.today,offering a -
LARGE, COMPLETE SELECTION!
Our 103rd Year of Service
always first in fashion!
knee ticklers $15
a campus must this fall!
Knee news—in buttery soft woolens. The colors are alpine blue and caramel in solid colors, and alpine blue combination in plaid. Junior sizes, 7 to 15.
Weaver's Sportswear Shop - Second Floor