KWSAN REVIEWS
FILMS: Tale of doomed love
By RICHARD GEARY
BY RICHARD GEARY
Assistant Arts & Reviews Editor
"A Walk With Love and Death" is the kind of movie many people will be wary of, because it appears to be a mere trend follower. There are definite echoes of "Romeo and Juliet" in any story of two young lovers trying to escape a world gone mad; and here, the tragedy takes place during the Hundred Years War, with a peasant revolution thrown in for even more dimension.
The distinction of this eloquent little motion picture is in its refusal to take vulgar advantage of its sensational elements. Director John Huston and screenwriter Dale Wasserman have chosen not to exploit any "alienated youth" theme, or a revolution or anti-war theme; there is no parallel-seeking between medieval and modern times. Instead, they concentrate upon the human relationship at the center of the story.
Heron of Voix, a Parisian student, traverses his war-ravaged country in a spontaneous journey to the sea. He meets Claudia, a daughter of aristocracy, whose family and home have been destroyed by the angry peasants, and they wander together, as the raging conflict closes in about them.
The two stars, Angelica Huston (the director's daughter) and Assaf Dayan (the general's son), are both very pleasing to watch and give professionally restrained performances; and, indeed, there is a sense of restraint and refinement about the entire film. Such restraint and refinement that, at times, it seems as if it will waste away to nothing, were it not for the visual presence of the two lead actors. Occasionally, Wasserman's dialogue becomes overpoetic, as do a few of Huston's lingering shots of the lush French countryside; but who can blame them for getting carried away, once or twice, with the lyrical subject matter?
With his usual skill, Huston gives attention to minor characterizations: A traveling group of religious fanatics; a band of gypsy actors; Claudia's revolutionary uncle (played by Huston himself); arrogant knights; equally arrogant peasants are presented with a brilliant eye for detail. Small incidents stand out also; the young couple emerging from a chapel to find their horse being eaten by peasants; a glimpse of a wife-seller at an inn; a visit to a monastery, its inhabitants in a state of perpetual penitence.
The larger, more important scenes, though, are not as intense as they might be, because of the film-makers' reluctance to underscore their drama.
It is almost impossible today to find a love story between young people that has not been buried beneath layers of "significance" and social importance. The issues are certainly there in "A Walk With Love and Death," but this modest, deliberately "small" film has no pretensions. It exists to please and does a fine job of it.
RECORDS: Engelbert joins select
By WILLIAM D. LAFFLER
NEW YORK (UPI)—Engelbert Humperdinck, who often has appeared as a guest star on television, now has a show of his own and let us hope it will remain on the screen for a long time.
For Engelbert undoubtedly belongs in that select crowd of singers peopleled by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, the late Russ Columbo, and Vaughn Monroe.
If Engelbert were to be paired with any of the above, it would be with Sinatra for essentially Humperdinck is a balladeer, technician and craftsman.
His latest hit, "Winter World of Love," is on its way to a gold record the platter awarded by RIAA to the artists whose discs reach the one-million sales mark.
It is included in "Engelbert Humperdinck" (Parrot PAS 71030), a long-play album distributed by London Records. But there are several fine numbers in this selection, among them "I'm a Better Man," "Love Letters" and "Didn't We."
While Engelbert is undoubtedly best on slow-tempo songs, he is vibrant on fast-paced numbers, such as "Aquarius" and "Let the Sunshine in."
And Glen Campbell should like the way Engelbert handles "Gentle on My Mind."
This is one of those rare LPs which is entertaining from beginning to end, for almost an hour. And, for this reason, it is a tribute to the showmanship of Engelbert Humperdinck.
BOOKS
ARUNDEL, by Kenneth Roberts (Crest. $1.25)—Reprint of one of the best historical novels written in America. "Arundel" is the story of a group of young men from Maine and their march to Quebec under the command of Gen. Benedict Arnold, early in the Revolution. If you'd like several hours of absorbing, exciting adventuring back into the past, here is your book.
*****
14 GREAT TALES OF ESP, edited by Icella Purnell Stone (Gold Medal, 75 cents)—A collection of stories about the human mind and the so-called unseen world. A number of good writers—Iasca Asimov, Frederic Brown, Eric Frank Russell, and others—are represented.
Feb. 24
1970 KANSAN 5
SCANDAL IN THE PENTAGON, by William McGaffin and Erwin Knoll (Gold Medal, 75 cents)—An expose that purports to show our the establishment and the military-industrial complex (to use two readily graspable terms) are out to sell democracy down the river. McGaffin is a Chicago Daily News man and Knoll is Washington editor of The Progressive. Both publications are reputable.
THE MAFIA TALKS, edited by Joseph Volz and Peter Bridge (Gold Medal, 75 cents)—A record of secretly taped conversations made in the office of Sam "The Plumber" DeCavalcante. The FBI bugged the office and produced the results: labor unions, construction industry, vending machines, garbage collection, policemen, politicians, murder, law enforcement.
*****
"Fail Safe" (Special Films)—Suspense-filled drama about nuclear annihilation. Directed by Sidney Lumet-1964.
"Sons and Lovers" (KU Film Society)—1959 British film of the D. H. Lawrence novel. Directed by Jack Cardiff.
On campus this week
Senior Recital (Swartout Recital Hall) - Judith Mathers, soprano, 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday
"Derring-Do Revisited" (Classical Film)—Two silent films starring the master of athletic heroism, Douglas Fairbanks: "The Gaucho" and "The Three Musketeers." (One showing each).
Faculty Recital (Swarthout Recital Hall)—Frank Brown, trombonist, 8:00 p.m.
"Casablanca" (Special Films)—The ultimate in movie nostalgia, starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Peter Lorre, Sidney Greenstreet, Claude Rains, et al. Directed by Michael Curtiz—1943.
Best sellers
Faculty Recital (Swarthout Recital Hall)—Ramon Salvatore, pianist, 8:00 p.m.
Fiction
THE GODFATHER—Mario Puzo
THE UEENTENAT—WOMAN
John Fawler
LDE THE GANG THAT COULDNT SHOOT STRAIGHT —Jimmy Breslin
THE INHERITORS—Hardee Robbins
THE STRAND—Daphne du Maurier
FIRE FROM HEAVEN—Mary Renault
THE GANG THAT COULDNT SHOOT STRAIGHT—Jimmy Breslin THE SEVEN MINUTES—Irving Wallace
IN THIS HOUSE OF BREDE—Rumer Godden
MUSIC
TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT—
Graham Greene
THE SELLING OF THE PRESIDENT 1987-Joe McGinister
DON MCCLINN
JOE McCLIINN
PRESENT AT THE CREATION—
Drew Aheenberg
Dean Acheson
THE PETER PRINCIPLE—Laurence L.
Lee
J. Peter and Raymond Hull
AMERICAN HERITAGE DICKI-
TON
AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTION-
MENT
AMERICAN HERITAGE
IMAGE
=Wilbur Martz, dildr-icar
IMAGE
THE GRAHAM KERR COOKBOOK
-Galloung. Gourmet.
Goulinet
AMBASSADOR'S JOURNAL—John
K. Gobershaw
THE COLLAPSE OF THE THIRD
PUBLIC-William L. Shirer
PRIME TIME—Alexander Kendrick
THE MOONES'S SH AUDO-W Rod
McKuen
One liners...
United Press International
HOLLYWOOD — "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich," dealing with Soviet prison camps in the Stalin era, will be filmed on location in Norway starring England's Tom Courtenay.
HOLLYWOOD—Yvonne De Carlo will return to the screen for a cameo role in "The Delta Factor," based on a Mickey Spillane novel.
HOLLYWOOD—Rex Harrison has replaced Richard Harris in the title role of "Serooge" because of conflicting schedules.
HOLLYWOOD—"The Delta Factor" was delayed three months awaiting actor Chris George to complete his role with John Wayne in "Chisum."
HOLLYWOOD—Stuart Phillips has completed six songs for the sequel "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls."
HOLLYWOOD—Gordon Wile, former director of "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In," will direct an hour musical-variety special, "The Haunted Mansion" for Disney.
HOLLYWOOD—Bruce Davidson, who co-starred with Kim Darby in "The Strawberry Statement," will play a guest star role in an episode of television's Medical Center."
HOLLYWOOD—Richard Lang, son of famed director Walter Lang, will make his own directorial debut in a segment of television's "Julia."
So It's Rated M;
It's still one
of the best
'Dancing Donkey' opens as second children's play
The second production in the Children's Theatre Series at the University of Kansas will be "The Dancing Donkey," by Eric Vos of the Children's Professional Theatre in Holland.
The only public performance is Sat., at 2 p.m. at the University Theatre in Murphy Hall, The Wed., Thurs., and Fri. performances are reserved for city and county school children in grades one, two, and three. Tickets for these shows will be available through the schools.
"The Dancing Donkey" is the story of a wandering Friar from Asia and his talented donkey, Arlecho, who dances when he's happy. On their travels they encounter two pretty girls as well as two scoundrels who decide to steal Arlecho and make a fortune. For a time the Friar is outwitted and loses Arlecho, only to buy him back from the scoundrels. He finally teaches the scoundrels a lesson, retrieves his money, and reforms the men so that the two girls can marry them.
The play is part of an increasing international repertory of plays for children and has been produced in Italy, France, Yugoslavia, Denmark, Norway, Finland, England and Czechoslovakia as well as Holland.
Winters works for safety
HOLLYWOOD (UPI)—Comedian Jonathan Winters has been named honorary president of the National Safety Council and will tape a series of spot radio announcements to be broadcast across the country.
The cast: Friar—Art Sloan, Norton sophomore; Arlecho—Philip Davis, Topeka sophomore; Billy Badd—Steve Scott, Prairie Village sophomore; Ernie Pug—Bruce Brownlee, Prairie Village sophomore; Amelia—Kathryn Mitchell, Topeka freshman; Azelia—Roberta Eaton, Wichita sophomore.
20th anniversary
date—feb. 27-28
time—7:58
price—$2.25 - $1.75
tickets on sale—
Feb. 17
KU-Y office,
information booth on campus. Bell's, the sound, Kief's sponsored by KU-Y
SUA special war anti-war film series
Fail Safe
Sidney Lumet - director
Short: I'm No Angel-Mae West
Feb. 24-7 and 9 p.m.- DYCHE -75c
JOHN HUSTON CREATES A LOVE STORY FOR TODAY!
20th Century Fox presents
A Walk with Love
COLOR by DE LUXE
and Death
Eve. 7:10 - 9:10 Adult 1.50; Child .75 Hillcrest
Ends Tonight
"rib cracking comedy"
—JUDITH CRIST,
JUDITH CRIST
TODAY SHOW
COLOR /
Eve. 7:20
9:15
NOW!