Kansan Reviews
FILM: Satired to death
By BOB BUTLER
If one may draw some conclusions from his latest film, "The Charge of the Light Brigade," director Tony Richardson doesn't care much for the "good old days." In fact, he denies that they ever existed.
This is the fourth movie retelling of the fateful charge of the British light cavalry against half the Russian army. Before now the Crimean war has been handled on film with a reasonable amount of respect and a lot of glory.
Not so in Richardson's version. His English officers are bungling, vain incompetants who bought their positions and with aristocratic authority send their soldiers out to die. Lord Cardigan, played by Trevor Howard, is an arrogant fool whose sole source of military knowledge rests in his phrase, "If they can't fornicate they can't fight."
Sir John Gielgud's Lord Ragland, commander of the British force, is a absent-minded idiot who can't remember if the French are allies or the enemy.
The central character, Captain Nolan, played by David Hemmings, is also a young aristocrat, but one who has worked his way through the ranks—not bought it. He is appalled at the treatment of the common soldier and the stupidity of his fellow officers. Yet, in his own way, he is as stupid as the rest—for while more efficient than most, he is still a killing machine.
"I had such hopes for this war," he sadly tells his best friend.
This is the perplexing trouble with "The Charge of the Light Brigade." What does one do with a movie full of unlikeable characters? Unfortunately one gets a little bored.
For fully two-thirds of the film we must listen to foppish, dull-witted and totally unconcerned aristocrats spout off about the glories of war and British might. What Richardson needed was a hero—but perhaps history couldn't supply him with one.
Technically the film is terrific. Not since Richardson's "Tom Jones" have I seen a period in history so perfectly represented in costume and setting. The photograph subdues the greens of England and makes of them a misty land where fancy ladies dance and gentlemen ride for sport.
The charge itself is a hair-raising kaleidoscope of pounding hooves, flaming cannon and flying limbs. It builds up slowly at first, then a little faster, and finally at full gallop until men and horses are blown to pieces by the Russian guns.
The highlight of the film, however, is in a series of Victorian cartoons which come to life on the screen. We see the Russian bear beating up the Turkish turkey while the sleeping lion of Britain snores on his cozy isle. At one point a caricature of Queen Victoria lifts up her skirts to let the British fleet sail out from between her legs.
"The Charge of the Light Brigade" is by no means a bad picture, but too much satire can be a wearying thing.
RECORDS: Rhinoceros
By WILL HARDESTY
Most albums released are at least decent and will appeal to a part of the buying public. There are a few bombs which are really atrocious. And there are a few albums which are tremendous and appeal to a wide audience. RHINOCEROS by Rhinoceros on Elektra fits into the latter category.
This is the premiere album for the group which was practicing under the name "Supergroup" until Elektra "discovered" them. They are definitely worthy of their former name.
The seven-member group plays a brand of music which might best be called "white soul." It is a mixture of rhythm and blues, rock and soul.
The album's jacket is also worthy of mention. It is the most artistic and beautiful jacket I have ever seen. It's a picture of a rhinow made of paint, beads and buttons. Also included in the purchase price is a poster of the album cover. While other albums and magazines have threatened the buying public with posters "suitable for framing," the RHINOCEROS poster is the first one I have actually put up.
Foreign flics big in Lawrence
Foreign films are being played more and more in Lawrence movie theaters. Fears of losing money or audiences no longer exist.
A real A-plus album.
Ronal E. Cote, Groveland, Mass., graduate student, explained, "The Lawrence theaters do have a definite problem in booking quality art films because there is no circuit in the Midwest."
Cote, chairman of SUA special films, is helping the Commonwealth Lawrence Theatre Corporation in getting together a chain of foreign and art films.
"The theater owners want to show what the people want to see and at the same time make money," he said. "Booking of films depends upon theater location and audience. Therefore, Lawrence never receives many films popular in New York."
Films which may not prove to be successful at K-State or MU could possibly be successful here, Cote added.
He spoke of "BuHitt," which he said would be successful in any college community, as opposed to "Birthday Party," a "way-out" film with varying audience appeal.
"Hillcrest III has been devoted totally to art or foreign films," said Eldon W. Harwood, Commonwealth Lawrence Theatre city manager. He added, "Of course, foreign films are not necessarily art, and art films are not necessarily foreign."
The theater was built small, 275 seats, specifically for the purpose of showing art films with limited audience appeal.
Jazz concert here Saturday
Harwood said the theater nas experimented as to where audience tastes might be. "Success of the art films have been within or above expectations."
"An Evening of Traditional Jazz" will be presented by the Lawrence Jazz Society at 9 p.m. Saturday in the Big 8 Room of the Eldridge Hotel.
The concert will feature the Salty Dogs of Purdue, a traditional jazz group evolving from the Purdue Salty Dogs Jazz Band which originated in 1947. The present group has recently recorded two records, "The Salty Dogs" and "On the River."
Tickets for the concert, which is presented in cooperation with SUA Jazz Forum, are available at the information desk of the Kansas Union, the front desk of the Eldridge Hotel and at the door. Tickets are $1.50.
Robert Browne, chairman of the SUA Jazz Forum, said the SUA did not learn of the concert until it was too late to sponsor it. However, he said the SUA had received permission of the Kansas Union to use the information desk as an outlet for ticket sales.
BEIRUT, Lebanon (UPI)
—Police have ordered the dozens of night clubs in Beirut — known as "The Paris of the Middle East" — to eliminate striptease from their floor shows. Vice squad members tour the clubs to ensure compliance.
Strip Stripped
Feb. 7
1969 KANSAN 5
"Keep him away from the windows!"
A suicide-prone Felix (Neil Fenter) is wicked away from temptation by Oscar (Roy Sorrels, far left) and four poker-playing buddies in "The Odd Couple," playing this weekend in the University Theatre.
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