FILMS: 'Fisherman'
By BOB BUTLER Kansan Arts and Reviews Editor
"The Shoes of the Fisherman" is the kind of film Hollywood does well. It's pompous, melodramatic and expensive. It alternately tugs at the heartstrings, chills the spine and turns the stomach. It's both fascinating and boring, and if one leaves the theater unconvinced at least he has been entertained.
Skillfully adapted from Morris West's novel, "The Shoes of the Fisherman" is the story of the first Russian Pope, fresh out of a political prisoners' camp in Siberia and faced with reconciling a starving China threatening war and a western bloc more concerned with supply and demand than humanism. What does he do? Easy. Sell the Church's vast properties to feed the starving millions in the hope that the capitalist nations will follow suit to prevent an impending nuclear holocaust.
Anthony Quinn plays Pope Kuril I with the same well-intentioned common-man-given overwhelming—responsibility technique which his fans (evidently) love. He seems perfectly at ease in his role, and why not? He has played it many times before.
Oskar Werner gives his usual competent performance as a young dissident priest on trial for heresy and Sir Lawrence Olivier does a fine job as the Russian premiere burdened with overwhelming responsibilities of his own. Less successful is David Janssen as a television reporter—a part which seems to have been thrown in so that he can explain over the air what is happening as the heads of the Church vote for their new Pontiff. Janssen has the emotion of a wooden Indian and he's so shifty-eyed one half expects a one-armed man to jump out of the crowd scenes at any minute. Added attractions are Vittorio de Sica and Leo McKern as cardinals who befriend the troubled Pope.
Most of the really fine scenes are provided by Werner, especially those in his heresy examination. Director Michael Anderson has managed, however, to present the pomp and grandeur of Vatican ceremony with great respect and chilling authenticity. Who can be unmoved as a dead Pope lies in state surrounded by darkness while the great chapel is filled with voices joined in a mournful chant? One scene between Kuril and a servant is very effective, as the Pope tries to convince the awed servant that he is only flesh and blood and reaches for a friendship that can only end in worship.
Other scenes, such as the one in which the Pope disguises himself as a common priest to explore the Rome he has never seen, turn to TV sloppiness.
Undoubtedly "The Shoes of the Fisherman" will join the ranks of films such as "Doctor Zhivago," "Bridge Over the River Kwai" and "Lawrence of Arabia," which strived for greatness and never quite made it. I suppose that's really not bad company.
Literature, history and economics are three fields of study in which KU professors have received recognition.
Professors awarded grants for research
Andrew Debicki, professor of Spanish and Portuguese, received $500 from the Penrose Fund of the American Philosophical Association in support of his research on the poetry of Jorge Guillen.
Anna M. Cienciola, associate professor of history, was awarded a prize of $500 by the Pilsudski Institute of America for her book "Poland and the Western Powers, 1938-1939." This award was made in recognition of distinguished publications, during the last ten years, regarding the modern history of Poland.
Thomas Weiss, assistant professor of economics, has been granted $23,200 from the National Science Foundation to support collaborative research on profitability of the southern manufacturing sector.
Paraders to face possible action
A committee of administrators, faculty and students met today to consider whether action should be taken to discipline student demonstrators in Wednesday's campus disturbance.
The group of war protesters disrupted student elections in Strong Hall, paraded through the Military Science building and taunted law enforcement officers in a criminal investigation seminar in the Kansas Union.
"WILD ONE"
Marlon Brando
Starting Fri. at the
CENTER
917 Highland
(one block east of
lowa at 9th)
Admission 30c
Shows—Fri. 9-11
Sat 9-11
More effective and creative use of residence hall rooms, hallways, social areas and living rooms could be made to "humanize and individualize" KU's residence halls, said Mary Ann Boyle, Great Bend junior and president of the Inter-Residence Council (IRC).
Better use of dorms wanted by IRC
At a meeting of the IRC Wednesday night, Miss Boyle said these improvements would include "more prompt and efficient maintenance service, an extra room on each floor for art students, living room partitions, and use of warmer colors for decorating."
The IRC recommends hiring a catering service; Miss Boyle explained if food preparation was a private enterprise, more pride would be taken in the work, the result would be improved conditions.
She also suggested making the cafeterias more attractive through changes in the preparation and display of food. Dormitory employees are part of the civil service, she explained, their inadequate pay forces many to hold second jobs.
The IRC also suggested freshman and sophomore men, as well as women, be required to live in residence halls.
Apr. 25 KANSAN 1969
PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE of Dept. of Social Work. All Day. Kansas Union.
NOW SHOWING!
Ends Tuesday
Open 6:30
Start At Dusk
STATE MUSIC FESTIVAL.
5A-4 A Schools. All Day. Also
Saturday.
Official Bulletin
MAKEUP FOR OLIVER AND CENTENIAL COLLEGE SCHOOL MAY, 753 Fraser Hall. For all those who missed research assignment last week.
Friday
POPULAR FILM. 7 & 9:30 p.m.
"Night of the Generals." Dyche
Auditorium.
INTER-VARSITY CHRISTIAN
FELLOWSHIP. 7 p. m. 829
FELLOWSCHIP. 7 p. m. 829
SPECIAL FILM. 7:30 p.m.
"Identification Marks . . ." 303
Bailey.
PHYSICS FILM. 7:30 p.m.
"Gravitation." 124 Malott.
SUA MINORITIES LECTURE.
7:30 p.m. Playthell Benjamin. Union Ballroom.
FOLK DANCE CLUB. 7:30 p.m.
173 Robinson.
SPRING FLING DANCE. 8 p.m.
National Guard Armory.
OPERA. 8:20 p.m. "Midsummer"
Night's Dream." University Theatre. Saturday
SUA MINORITIES PANEL. 10 a.m. Turner and Benjamin. Union Ballroom.
GREEK WEEK PICNIC. Noon.
Memorial Stadium.
SPRING FLING GAMES, Potter
Lake Hills races, Memorial
Sports Stadium, 11pm.
BASEBALL. 1 p.m. Colorado.
Quigley Field.
SUA MINORITIES SEMINARS,
Fall Forum and Jayhawk
Rooms, Kansas State
HINDU SOCIETY MEETING. 5 p.m. Methodist Student Center.
Sunday
OPERA. 8:20 p.m. "Midsummer Night's Dream." University Theatre.
GREEK WEEK SING. 8 p.m. Hoch
Auditorium.
SPRING FLING BANQUET.
CARILLON RECITAL. 3 p.m.
Albert Gerken.
sponsored. Lewis Hall.
TENNIS . 30 p.m. Oklahoma
City University.
SUA SPONSORS LANGSTON
CAPPELLA
CHORI, 5:40 p.m. Union
MGM PRESENTS A STANLEY KUBRICK PRODUCTION
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