KANSAN REVIEWS CONCERTS: Symphonic delight
By GENELLE RICHARDS
Arts & Reviews Editor
Offering a varied program easily adaptable to all musical tastes, the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Victor Alessandro, performed before a crowd of nearly 3,000 people Thurs. in Hoch Auditorium.
Opening the concert was the vibrant, exciting "Carnival Overture" by Dvorak. The relatively short piece exploded throughout the auditorium leaving its audience with the appropriate mood of brilliance and yet not forgetting the softness of violins in the middle.
Perhaps the poorest selection of the concert if there was one, was "Symphony No. 2 in D Major" by Brahms. The four movements ranged from the melodice, smooth sound of the first two to the more vibrant, exciting experience of the third and fourth. The finale was the most surprising unlike the usual Brahms with a high level of brilliance.
A really delightful selection, "Huapango" by Moncayo had a definite Mexican influence. The composition was very entertaining carrying a pleasant theme throughout with variations from gaiety to bravado.
Intermezzo from "Vanessa" by Barber was very short, quiet and pretty throughout giving the audience a peaceful change and preparing them for the final and longer selection.
"The Pines of Rome" by Respighi contained four movements but was without interruption. The first was playful, fast moving and fun like children playing. The next was of a more pious mood then followed by the flowing sound of birds and ending with a loud, processional, grand build-up to the impression of a magnificent march and a triumphant conclusion.
FILMS: Legend gone sour
BY RICHARD GEARY
Assistant Arts & Reviews Editor
Ben Hecht was one of the more colorful characters to emerge from that legendary era of journalism in Chicago at the turn of the century. Years later, as a successful reporter, playwright and screenwriter, he set down his reminiscences of the old days in Gaily, Gaily," a lively lexicon of definitive anecdotes of the period. The film version, directed by Norman Jewison, loses quite a bit in the translation; in fact, it is little more than a gross caricature of every worn-out device in movie history.
Here we have young Ben Harvey (Beau Bridges) an unbelievably—inhumanly—naive lad, with a sheepish grin and a bowl-and-scissors haircut, who has yet to have his First Sexual Experience—or any experience at all for that matter. He comes to The Big City, all wide-eyed to change the world with his pen, and is befriendened, first, by The Prostitute With the Heart of Gold (He lives in her baroque bordello thinking it only a rooming house), and, next, by The Salty Veteran Reporter (Who else but Brian Keith?) who gives Ben his First Taste of Liquor. Thrown in for good measure are assorted crooked politicians, bawdy newspapermen, and we even get a glimpse of a young Carl Sandburg, in a McKuenish turtleneck, reciting "Chicago."
There is more than enough material from that raucous era to make a darn good movie, and "Gaily, Gaily" might have been just that, if Jewison and his writer, Abram Ginnes, had not been straining so hard to be charming and witty and stylish. Every time Ben drops his jaw and stares at a female bosom, or backs into something, or his hat falls over his eyes, they undoubtedly expect an uproarious response from the audience. Jewison is a slick, shallow director, whose reputation inflates as the quality of his product goes steadily downhill (Since "In the Heat of the Night," he has become well enough established for the credits to say "A Norman Jewison Film").
"Gaily, Gaily" can be readily compared to "The Rievers," since the two cover much the same ground thematically: the former has to put forth such obvious effort to achieve what comes naturally to the latter.
Feb. 20
1970 KANSAN 5
Classified ads get results
NEW YORK FILM CRITICS AWARD
7:00 and 9:00 p.m., February 20, 21 Woodruff Auditorium $.50
The Weekend Scene
"TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN"]—Woody Allen's neat little spoof of crime pictures is almost always hilarious.
"THE REIVERS"—A delightful period piece, in set in Faulkner's South and starring Steve McQueen.
"GAILY, GAILY""—See review this page.
"FANNY HILL"—Held over for those who want it.
“SWEET CHARITY”-Another treat from that great playwright Neil Simon who brought us “The Odd Couple,” this movie reaches us from Broadway bringing with it some excellent musical numbers.
BOOKS
ANNIE, COME HOME, by Barbara Michaels (Crest, 75 cents)—Gothic stuff, about an old house in Georgetown and a mysterious presence from the past. It has shades of "The Uninvited" (no pun intended) about it, and those who go for this kind of thing will be vastly entertained.
*****
LITTLE BIG MAN, by Thomas Berger (Crest, 95 cents)—Reprint of a long, funny novel about the Old West, brought out to coincide with the new film featuring Dustin Hoffman and Faye Dunaway. "Little Big Man" is a tall tale about the only man, supposedly, to survive Custer's Last Stand, as well as many other wild western adventures. Drags some, but worth your time.
Official Bulletin
Today
KU Judo Club: Robinson Gym
Today
Popular Film: "George Girl"
Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas Union.
International Film: "Red Beard"
(japanese) Hoch Auditorium, 7:30 PM
Folk Dance Club: 173 Robinson,
7-30-10-20 p.m.
Experimental Theatre: "Rimers of Eldrich." 8:20 p.m.
Swimming: Nebraska. Natorium.
Bobinson, Gymnastics., 2 p.m.
Popular Film: "Georgy Girl"
Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas Union,
Wooldruff Auditorium, Kansas Union,
7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Experimental Theatre: "Rimers of Edinburgh" 8:20 pm
Basketball: Colorado at Boulder. 9 p.m.
Carillon Recital: Albert Gerken, 3 p.m.
Sunday
Ben Harvey's juices are all damned up!
THE MARSHAL PRODUCTION IN COMMON PROJECT
A NORMAN JEWISON FILM
The movie of a 19 year old who went to town- who went to town!
starring Beau Bridges Geo. Kennedy NOW!
Eve. Shows 7:15 - 9:15
Mat. Sat. & Sun. 2:30
"GEORGY GIRL" (SUA Popular Film, Fri. and Sat.)—This 1966 British picture about an ugly duckling who makes good is enjoyable because of Lynn Redgrave, James Mason and Alan Bates.
Coming May 4 "EASY RIDER"
who love theatre this is a must. Should prove worthwhile with fine acting and directing.
"RED BEARD" (International Series, Fr.)-The latest (1965) film by the Japanese master Akira Kurosawa tells of life in a modern-day hospital. Starring Toshiro Mifune.
"THE RIMERS OF ELDRITCH"
(theatre production)—For those
REAN RUTLEDGE AND UNDERGROUND MOVIES (Middle Earth Coffee House)—The Coffee House is new this year at KU providing something different from the usual movie and pizza date. Added attraction this week-end is an open mike between acts, so for those of you who sing or play an instrument here's your chance to prove yourself before the public.
Even The Movie Roots For This Crook
"rib cracking comedy"
JUDITH CRIST,
TODAY SHOW
FROM THE AMERICAN COLOR / BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC.
DISTRIBUTED BY CINEMA RELEASE CORPORATION
Adults 1.50; Child .75
Eve. 7:20 - 9:15
Mat. Sat., Sun. 2:20
Tain't Nobody Like 'M
Steve McQueen "The Reivers"
Panavision®&Technicolor®
A Cinema Center Film Presentation
A National General pictures Release.
Eve. 7:30 - 9:30
Mat. Sat. - Sun. 2:30
Adult 1.50; Child .75
Hillcrest
COLOR by DeLuxe
From the country that gave you "I A WOMAN"
"INGA" and "I AM CURIOUS"
(YELLOW)
'FANNY HILL' is a "porno-classic!"
— ANCHER WINSTON
"In there with sex and love all the way!"
Jerry Gross and Nicholas Demetroules
Drawn
new... and from Sweden
Adults 1.50; Child .75
Eve. 7:10 - 9:35
Mat. Sat., Sun. 2:10