KNSAN REVIEWS
FILMS: back to nature
By RICHARD GEARY
Assistant Arts & Reviews Editor John Korty's "Riverrun" is a lyrical, almost intangible movie, containing no more and no less than is necessary for the richly affecting celebration of life that it is. The tone is so quiet and the action so elusive, that it is difficult to recall particular scenes, or speak of the film in terms of technique at all.
Sarah and Dan are a young unmarried couple who leave the crowded Berkeley campus to live on a lonely seaside sheep ranch in northern California. They are today's most admirable people: dropouts with the courage and determination to practice what they preach—and the ability to make it work. As the story begins, Sarah's father, a salty merchant seaman, comes to visit for a few days; he learns that his daughter is pregnant and lengthens his stay to be present at the birth. The father gradually becomes accustomed to the kids' offbeat lifestyle, and, for a long while, it looks as if no conflict will develop at all to keep the story moving. But tension slowly builds: The father becomes increasingly hostile to Dan's ideals—unable to see how basically alike he and his son-in-law are—Sarah becomes increasingly angry at both of them, and everything culminates in the baby's premature birth in the farmhouse.
John Korty, who wrote, directed and photographed "Riverrun" is that rare animal: an independent film-maker. From financing to editing, the film is all
One liners...
United Press International
United Press International HOLLYWOOD (UPI) — The Southern California Motion Picture Council honored Alfred Hitchcock with its "Family Award" for his new thriller, "Topaz."
HOLLYWOOD (UPI) — Oscarwinning composer Maurice Jarre, who has captured two Academy Awards, will write the musical score for "El Condor" which stars Jim Brown and Lee Van Cleef.
HOLLYWOOD (UPI)—Warner Bros., under new management, will film "Diary of a Rapist" which Stuart Rosenberg will produce and direct.
HOLLYWOOD UPI)—Kristina Holland, who plays Bill Bixby's secretary in "The Courtship of Eddie's Father," will make her movie debut in MGM's "The Strawberry Statement."
HOLLYWOOD (UPI) - Producer William Orr and director Ted Post have formed a company to produce a movie titled "Pike," based on the life of the late Bishop James A. Pike.
HOLLYWOOD (UPD)—Columbia topped its single-day casting record when producer Stanley Kramer signed 25 actors for speaking roles in "R.P.M." which stars Anthony Quinn and Ann-Margret.
HOLLYWOOD (UPI)—Sidney Poitier will star in a sequel to "Heat of the Night"—which won Rod Steiger an Academy Award —titled "They Call Me MISTER Tibbs!"
HOLLYWOOD (UPI)—Universal Studios will begin production on "Justice in the Backroom" based on the 1963 Wylie-Hoffert murder case in New York City.
HOLLYWOOD (UPI)—James Mason will star in "The Yin & The Yank" in Hong Kong with Burgess Meredith directing.
Apr. 29
1970 KANSAN 5
his, and all praise and blame must fall upon his shoulders. His only blantat fault is his insistent use of short, choppy flashbacks—so obligatory these days—merely to show how irresponsible the father had been in years past. They are useless to the story and become a genuine irritation to the viewer, but fortunately they are few.
Praise, though, can be given generously: Korty's camera lingers lovingly over the small actions and artifacts of everyday life, giving them stature and beauty; his dialogue reveals the complex character relationships with sensitivity and compactness; his overwhelming conviction of the goodness of life close to the soil is undiminished throughout the movie.
Louise Ober as Sarah, Mark Jenkins as Dan and John McLiam as the father give restrained, natural performances.
The title is from the first line of Joyce's *Finnegan's Wake*—"riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of bay"—which serves as introduction to and summation of this delicate but absorbing little film: a poetic depiction of the continuity of life and man's attempt to be at peace with his environment.
'Three Penny' continues offering modern adaptions
By KAREN KLINKBERG
Kansan staff writer
"The Three Penny Opera" continues Fri on the University Theatre stage. A bawdy 1928 English musical-comedy with whores and gangsters has been given a 1970 twist by its stage director Anita Masseth, assistant professor in speech and drama.
The plot of the play centers around the exploits of a knife-carrying Macheath, played by Michael Lynott, Scranton, Pa., graduate student, and his loyal five-man gang. The action begins after Macheath's sneak marriage to Polly Peachum, played by Molly McCray, Fairway junior, despite the disapproval of her parents, played by Mary Pat Green, Prairie Village freshman and James Rigler, Highland Park, Ill., sophomore.
As the story unfolds we find out that Macheath is not only a two-timer but a three-timer laying claim to two more women in his life, Jenny, played by Barbara Allen, Lawrence sophomore and Lucy Brown, played by Jody Altman, Leawood freshman.
Several episodes later, Mack is captured by the police despite the efforts of Tiger Brown, his police
friend, played by Roy Sorrels,
assistant instructor in speech and
drama, and the play ends with
the trumpeted arrival of "The
Messenger," played by Richard
Gilliland, Overland Park sophomore,
who saves the hero.
The play, by German playwright Bertolt Brecht, is described as "anti-greed, anti-corruption and pre-Hitler" by director Mrs. Masseth.
"In its day, this play was put on in a wayout way. Brecht said the theatre was meant for change—that there were no rules," she said.
"When I heard that, I decided to follow Brecht's idea of the theatre. Every rule the audience expects in the plot is changed. The hero is made a non-hero, the set has been changed to scaffolding," she said.
Though the play is about a corrupt society in the English slums with a house of ill-repute and underworld characters, the message of the play is relevant. The greed, corruption and hypocrisy present now has been incorporated into the play through the use of slides, tie-dyed costumes and strobe lights. Though a 1928
play the message is sent in 1970 language.
The music, including the popular song of a few years back, "Mack the Knife," is being directed by George Lawner, professor of orchestra. The orchestra is composed of select music students, and includes a banjo player and versatile student on the organ and piano.
The play, a combination of the talents of music and theatre sides of Murphy, continues Fri. and runs through Sun. with a 2:30 p.m. matinee on Sun. The Fri. and Sat. performances start at 8:20 p.m.
BOOKS
THE GENEROUS YEARS, by Chet Huntley (Crest, 75 cents)—A warm, enjoyable autobiography by the celebrated news-caster. "The Generous Years" is about a Montana boyhood, long before the era of "Goodnight, David." The book received high praise for its naturalness, its capturing of a time and a place. There is much more of Mark Twain than of eastern sophistication in this charming book.
TV future outlined
HOLLYWOOD (UPI) — Nathaniel Lande is a youthful visionary at Cinema Center Films who will oversee production of two films for television next season and produce another pair personally.
He is enthusiastic about his projects, but his eyes become neon when he outlines the future of home entertainment.
"The next development in movies-television is the three-dimensional hologram," he explained. "It will be beamed from a small device in your home into
an area of space which you can walk around or see from any angle. You will be able to run your hand through it.
"There are no limitations of screens—movie or television.
"At the moment systems are being developed by IT&T, the Bell System, AT&T, Itek, Xerox and other electronic firms.
"Americans will be able to go to a library, choose a movie they want to see and bring it home in cartridge form, in a cassette. We will be able to buy them or rent them as the case may be."
INTERVIEWS
(Wed., April 29th)
Senior Class Committee Chairmen Applications Available Now at Dean of Women's Office.
220 Strong
THEY WERE REBELS.
THEY WERE IRISH,
THEY WERE CATHOLIC,
THE WERE THE "MOLLY MAGUIRES"
RICHARD HARRIS SEAN CONNERY SAMANTHA EGGAR
THE MOLLY MAGUIRES
4 MARTIN RITT PRODUCTION
FRANK FILMAY WRITTEN BY MASTER WATERTIMM PRODUCED BY MARTIN MAYER AND MALTER SEMINER DRAWED BY MARTIN KITT MUSIC DESIGNED BY MARYMAN BRANCH MANIFESTATION TECHNOLOGY A MAKROUT PRODUCTION A PARAMETRIC DIRECTORY **GP**
MAT. DAILY 2:30
EVE. 7:10 - 9:45
John Korty
The Adapter, Director, Producer & Photographer of "Crazy Quilt" & "The Own & The Pussy Cat"
PREMIERES HIS THIRD FILM
PREMIERES HIS THIRD FILM
WORLD PREMIERE WEDNESDAY!
Every generation has to run its course...
LOUISE OBER • JOHN McLIAM • MARK JENKINS • Color
Starts
Wednesday
SHE WANTED A CROWN . . .
HE WANTED A SON . . .
RICHARD BURTON as HENRY VIII GENEVIEVE BUJOLD
in
Anne of the Thousand Days
HELD OVER
Eve. 7:15 - 9:45
Mat. Sat., Sun. 2:30
Adults 1.50, Child. 75