Movies depressing
Film producer ponders worth of American picture business
By Joyce Grist
The products of Hollywood studios depresses John Houseman, Hollywood produce and newly appointed director of the Juilliard School of Dramatic Art.
Houseman said he is "extremely depressed" at the condition of the American film business today, not on ideological grounds, but on the basis of what's coming out of the Hollywood studios. He spoke at the Kansas Union Thursday night.
Television's presence has had both psychological and economic effects on the film making industry, he said. "The industry talks of a renaissance, but actually fewer and fewer people in relation to the population as a whole are viewing films in the theaters each year."
"CURRENT MOTION pictures are irrelevant to contemporary life and largely insensitive to our age." Houseman said. "Many young people and large numbers of the intellectual elite now go to foreign films rather than American ones."
THIS ENCROACHMENT of television into the mass communications field has taken motion pictures out of their "golden age," Houseman said. "It has caused the motion picture industry to try to be more selective and of a less mass produced nature.
"An enormous cleavage has now developed between the popular successes and the works of art, said Houseman. "The James Bond pictures are an international phenomenon. I regard them with loathing, revulsion and alarm. They are totally innocuous, however, and the fact that they represent what a number of people want is extremely revealing."
He said this type of picture has always been produced and dates back to the "Pcrils of Pauline."
"The BEST FILMS produced now are made in Europe, where an amazing kind of freedom exists for the filmmaker," he said. "Such films as 'The Knack' and the first Beatles picture, both European made, are the type which represent the personal expression of the filmmaker.
"As an art and entertainment form, the motion picture is in a state of violent flux. It's hard to foresee the future at this point, but under the current producing system it is impossible to produce a reasonable, intelligent and interesting film," he said.
GO-GO GLAMOUR
Houseman said the film industry ceased to create original film material 20 years ago. It now looks to established successes from other media for most of its material.
Parm' Bates fashion's first
Parmelice Bates, New York City sophomore, is the 1966 KU Best Dressed Girl.
Representing Chi Omega sorority, Miss Bates made one trip more down the modeling ramp than the other 11 finalists when she was declared Fashion Flashes' winner last night.
Fashion Flashes was the KU Best Dressed Girl Contest finals. Miss Bates was chosen to represent KU in Glamour Magazine's annual Ten Best-Dressed College Girl Contest. She will also be a member of next year's Fashion Board.
ENSEMBLES OF SPORTS wear, campus wear and evening wear were modeled by each of the finalists.
Miss Bates' first ensemble was hip hugging, bell-bottomed pants with a yellow ribbed sweater. A wooden necklace, multi-colored bracelets and gold go-go shoes completed her outfit.
For a school outfit she chose a green hipster corduroy skirt with a burgundy sweater. Her accessories included a gold pin, burgundy bangle bracelets and low-heeled burgundy shoes.
MISS BATES' final ensemble was a peacock blue evening gown of India silk. From a crystal pin at the classic empire waist, the A-line gown fell to the floor. Matching silk shoes completed her dress.
Miss Bates said. "I'm so very happy. But I really wasn't sure my legs were going to stand up throughout the show."
A member of the six-judge panel, Helen Louise Bush, Lyons senior and Fashion Board chairman, said, "The evening ensemble was the clincher. We had a hard time deciding among the excellent girls."
THE CRITERIA for the panel of judges, half male and half female, included: appropriateness of clothes, wardrobe planning, modeling ability, grooming, personality and photogenity.
Emily Taylor, dean of women, commented. "These fashion shows are a fine thing. Many beautiful clothes have been modeled by beautiful girls tonight."
Fashion Board members Sally Martin, Tulsa, Okla., junior, and Jo Lee, Kansas City junior, narrated Fashion Flashes.
WEATHER
Cloudy skies and cooler temperatures for tonight and Saturday are predicted by the U.S. Weather Bureau. The low tonight is expected to be in the lower 20's.
4 Daily Kansan Friday, February 25, 1966
University Theatre Experimental Series
TWO FOR THE SEESAW
by William Gibson
February 22, 23, 24, 25,and 26
Standing room only, tickets on sale at 7 p.m.
Murphy Hall
8:20 p.m.
ROCK CHALK REVUE 1966 presents
that's entertainment
Tickets go on sale Monday in the Information Booth.
TICKETS
Thursday $1-1.50
Friday $1.50-2.00
Saturday $1.50-2.00
HOCH AUDITORIUM
MARCH 3,4,5
8:30 P.M.