FILMS: 'The Sergeant'
By RICHARD GEARY
Rod Steiger is probably the only American movie performer who has become a popular boxoffice draw just because he is a great actor. He is not handsome in the Hollywood sense and definitely not sexy, but his skill and sensitivity at creating interesting, entertaining and believable characters is virtually unequalled, at least in this country.
In "The Sergeant" he plays the title role of Sgt. Callan, a tough, rule-and-regulation-minded veteran militarist, who takes command of a company of American maintenance workers at an obscure Army base in France. For some reason he becomes attached to a lanky, wholesome-looking private (John Phillip Law) and they develop a fascinating on-again-off-again friendship.
The sergeant's actions become stranger and stranger but the private doesn't seem to realize that beneath the rock-hard exterior is a desperately lonely man, isolated from human contact these many years of order-shouting.
The conflict comes with the private's French girlfriend; whom Callan rightly sees as a threat to their relationship. He follows them in his menacing black car when they go out together, and in one pathetic scene, tries to arouse the private's jealousy by dragging a prostitute into the company recreation hall. The climactic scene, in which the sergeant is finally and totally rejected, is brilliantly underplayed, and it is a testament to Steiger's acting ability that his character becomes touching and sympathetic and does not elicit the revulsion the viewer might expect. The final implication of homosexuality comes off as simply the natural extension of Sgt. Callan's agony.
The relationship of the two men is compelling to watch, it is something relatively unique in movies, and both men are remarkably human. Otherwise, "The Seeragent" is old hat: The private's love affair is terribly conventional (even to the obligatory bedroom scene with the girl's bare shoulders showing demurely above the sheet); and the other soldiers are typical barrack-room cliches.
Director John Flynn shows wisdom in laying off the camera pyrotechnetics and letting his star have the center stage (or rather screen). Steiger obliges him, and us, with a performance of feeling which should reach every member of the audience.
FILMS: Negative reaction
Dear Brothers in Sigma Beta,
We here at the KU chapter thought we ought to write to all our other chapters and warn them . . . Don't go see a movie called "Negatives." It really sucks.
I'll tell you how we got the shaft. The ads in the paper looked really good—lots of skin and words like "exotic" and things like that. So we all went to see it, and boy, did it hurt!
There's this guy named Theo in London, he's played by Peter McEnergy, and he's mixed up with this chick named Vivian, played by Glenda Jackson, and she makes him dress up in turn-of-the century clothes before he can make love to her. But maybe it isn't really that way, because maybe it's him who's hung up on the clothes, 'cause later on a real stacked chick named Diane Cliento moves in with them and makes him cut his hair and dress up like the Red Baron.
I think it was also supposed to be kinda like "Blowup," because Diane is a photographer, and Theo works in an antique shop, just like the one in "Blowup," and there's this walk in this real green park in the middle of London, and instead of making love on purple paper he beats up Vivian on a big sheet of plastic, and instead of just buying a propeller, he buys a whole airplane and puts it on his roof and sits in it like the Red Baron.
But the thing that really hurts about this movie is that there's no skin. And that's why we're writing to you guys. I mean they never even take their clothes off!
Sincerely
BOB BUTLER
Kansan Arts and Reviews Editor
Receiving national attention from a TV Guide two-page article, the Gaslight Gang, KU's own Dixiand band, has big hopes for the future.
Gaslight Gang ponders future
Recently the Gaslight Gang went to Hollywood, competing in the finals of Your All-American College show and placing second. General manager of the band, Paul Gray, Windsor, Mo., senior, said that while in Hollywood the Gang auditioned for the Dean Martin, Donald O'Conner and Joey Bishop shows. They also auditioned for a summer job at Disneyland.
"Our job prospects for this summer are tremendous in that most likely we will be playing at Disneyland six nights a week," Gray said, "and possibly entertaining on a weekly TV variety show."
Gray said all job possibilities are handled by an agent out in Hollywood.
" 'Kitsy' is a special song to me. I wrote the song for my fiancée, Kitsy Waggoner," Gray explained. " 'Kitsy' tells everyone we're keeping show business in the family.
Adding to national attention is the new album, "Paul Gray and Gaslight Gang Go Hollywood," which the band cut a few weeks ago. Most numbers contained in the album are Dixieland songs. One particular song, "Kitsy," was written by Paul Gray.
"Kitsy's brother, Lyle Waggoner, is the announcer on the Carol Burnett show."
Some immediate plans of the Gaslight Gang include a performance April 26 at the Kansas City Jazz Festival. Gray said that they were very pleased to be selected to perform at the jazz festival. The Gang will tentatively play at the grand opening of the Ramada Inn and the private club for a month.
In 1964 the members of the Gaslight Gang were attending the Midwestern Art and Music camp. One of their friends ran for a camp office. As a campaign gimmick the friends started the Gaslight Gang, the 8-member group has played together since then.
When asked if traveling for engagements caused low grades and angered instructors, Gray replied that one member had a three-point last semester and that two other members were on the dean's honor roll. University instructors have been lenient and understanding about assignments, Gray said.
Kansan Arts Calendar
Thursday
8 p.m. — Guest Recital —
Byrnell Figler, pianist —
Swarthout
Friday
ALL DAY - Art Education Conference - Kansas Union
7 & 8:30 p.m. — SUA Special Films Films of Kurasawa — 303 Bailey
8 p.m. — Rock Chalk Review
— Hoeh Auditorium
8 p.m. — Rock Chalk Review
— Hoch Auditorium
Saturday
7 & 9:30 p.m. — Popular Film
— "Texas Across the River" —
Dyche
7 & 9 p.m. - Popular Film -
"Texas Across the River"
-Dyche
2 p.m. - "Big Klaus and Little Klaus" - University Theatre
Feb.27 KANSAN 5
1969
'The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail'
"The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail" and "I Live in Fear," both by the famed Japanese film director Akira Kurosawa, will be shown at 7 p.m. Friday in 303 Bailey.
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