KWSAN REVIEWS
FILMS: why say anything?
By RICHARD GEARY Assistant Arts & Reviews Editor
Allen Funt's "Candid Camera" show went off the air a number of years ago, partly because of sagging audience interest and partly because Funt had run dry of material—material, anyway, that he could use safely on television. Only for the permissive movies could he effectively make the kind of candid documentary he wanted.
"What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?" is, in essence, a big screen version of the TV show: a rambling, loosely organized series of short, candidly photographed scenes, in which people are placed in artificial situations and expected to reveal surprising things about themselves. The difference, of course, is that these situations are sex-oriented. Funt's fiendish lenses capture just about every thought, illusion and inhibition it is possible to have about any aspect of the subject. And perhaps this film will demonstrate, finally and forever, the essential dishonesty of the "Candid Camera" technique.
All moviemakers are, to a degree, voyeurs (as are all movie audiences), but Funt carries the business to a wretched extreme, by taking advantage of a basic human weakness: the delight in seeing others make fools of themselves. But do the subjects really make fools of themselves? Responses that would, under ordinary circumstances, be very natural and very human are made to appear flakeish on screen in Funt's manufactured situations.
To be sure, the film has its enjoyable moments: Who can resist kids talking about the facts of life or old ladies arguing about dirty movies? But in general, one can detect a distinctly immature attitude toward humanity. Funt uses his camera not to reveal truths about people, but merely for low comedy entertainment, turning his unsuspecting subjects into disgustingly cute performing animals.
After the TV series and this miserable motion picture, one might be misled into thinking that this is the only use to which the hidden camera technique of film-making can be put. Actually, the possibilities of the method have barely been explored, and, unfortunately, "What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?" is likely to halt progress for quite a while.
BOOKS
THE BEAUTY TRAP, by Jeanne Rejaunier (Pocket, $1.25)
—A book about modeling, and you'll get the picture fast with word that Joseph E. Levine, the wonderful man who gave us "The Carpetbaggers" and "The Adventurers," is going to make a movie about it. It's inside dope stuff—beautiful babes, agents, clients, lovers, openings, disco-theques, jet-setting, and all that fabulous kind of thing.
****
THE PURITAN JUNGLE, by Sara Harris (Pocket, 95 cents)—The subtitle is "America's Sexual Underground," and it's an expose keyed to the scene, with interviews with prostitutes, pimps, homosexuals, police, wife/husband swappers. Another book that bills itself as "telling it like it is." Love that original language of blurred.
***
JAMEY, by Edwin Gilbert (Pocket, 95 cents)—This one tells it like it is about American youth, by one who has been about for some time and who is not exactly youth. The hero is a folk rock singer, and the tempo, if you will
pardon another trite one, is now Has no generation prior to the present one ever sought for identity, in great desperation?
****
THE GREAT CHILI CONFRONTATION, by H. Allen Smith (Pocket, 75 cents)—Herein funnyman H. Allen Smith has sport with the Dallas Chili Appreciation Society International. There's a lot of nonsense about Smith's competition with a Texan who represents the anti-bean school, and there's a Chili Appreciation Day, and press coverage, and somehow you gather that it all could happen.
****
BOX and QUOTATIONS FROM CHAIRMAN MAO TSETUNG, two plays by Edward Albee (Pocket, 95 cents)—Short plays that can be read or performed separately but that in the opinion of Albee himself should be joined, as they were when presented in this country two years ago. Regarded as one work this is complex and experimental, and it received considerable attention when it opened in New York.
"RIVERRUN" (Hillcrest 3) — John Korty's modest look at life "close to the source," in its third week.
DOUBLE FEATURE (Hillcrest 1)—Two funny, sensitive, well-written and acted movies about the younger generation: "The Sterile Cuckoo" and "Goodbye, Columbus."
"ANNE OF THE THOUSAND DAYS" (Hillerest 2)—A stodgy, puffedup melodrama about Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, in its third week.
One liners...
"IN SEARCH OF THE CASTA-WAYS" (Granada)—A Disney adventure movie, supposedly taken from a Jules Verne story. "WHAT DO YOU SAY TO A NAKED LADY?" (Varsity)—See review this page.
RUSS TAMBLYN CO-STARS HOLLYWOOD (UPI)—Former juvenile star Russ Tamblyn landed a co-starring role in "The Last Movie" which stars Dennis Hopper.
HOLLYWOOD (UPI) — Producer-director Daniel Mann received written confirmation of clearances from the Israeli government to film "Shattered Silence" on location in Israel.
"CAT BALLOU" (SUA Popular Film)—A wild, ridiculous Western comedy with Jane Fonda and Lee Marvin. Directed by
HOLLYWOOD (UPI) — Producer Euan Lloyd will make five films all starring Steve Boyd in screen adaptations from Louis L'Amour novels — "Catlow," "Radigan," "Flint," "Down the Long Hills," and "Hanging Woman Creek."
United Press International
The Weekend Scene
'GOOD NIGHT, SWEET PRINCE HOLLYWOOD (UPI) — Gene Fowler's biography of the late John Barrymore, "Good , Night Sweet Prince," will be adapted for the screen by Oscar-winning screenwriter James Poe for Avco Embassy Pictures.
CANADIAN STARS
HOLLYWOOD (UPI) — Susan Clark, voted Canada's 1969 "Star of the Year," will appear in two Universal movies "Tell Them Willie Boy is Here" and "Skull-duggery."
Elliot Silverstein; 1965. (7 and 9:30, Fri. and Sat. Woodruff Auditorium).
JACQUELYN BEAHM — She will give her student recital, performing on the piano (8 p.m. Fri. in Swarthout Recital Hall).
"QUANTRILL"-This final performance of the KU theatre season is full of surprises which should prove to be very entertaining (8:20 p.m. all weekend in the Experimental Theatre).
SYMPOSIUM OF CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN MUSIC A chorus and orchestra concert will be featured at 3:30 p.m. Sun. in Hoch Auditorium and a chamber music concert will be given at 8 p.m. in Swarthout Recital Hall.
May 8
1970 KANSAN 5
Coming May 15,16 TOM JONES SUA Popular Film 7&9:30 p.m. Woodruff Aud. — 50c
Allen Funt
His first Candid Camera feature film.