KWSAN REVIEWS
FILMS: Side-splitter
By RICHARD GEARY
Assistant Arts & Reviews Editor
Woody Allen is a nightclub comedian whose stand-up style has been particularly adaptable to the movies, and over the past few years he has dabbled intermittently in the field, though never with complete success. His first original screenplay, "What's New, Pussycat?" collapsed on the screen because the director had no feeling for its peculiar brand of humor, and his next picture, "What's Up, Tigerilly?" in which his own script was dubbed onto a horrendous Japanese spy picture, was a once-in-a-lifetime oddity. All he has done since then is supply the material for his all-too-brief appearance in "Cinario Royale."
Now he has co-written, directed, and starred in "Take the Money and Run," and, though it sometimes isn't as funny as it seems it should be, at least it is pure, unadulterated Woody Allen.
This is a tightly constructed little spoof of a "case history" type of documentary film, which follows the career of Virgil Starkwell (Allen), an incompetent crook who never makes the Ten Most Wanted list. His life is set before us in interviews—with his parents, his psychiatrist, his childhood cello teacher ("He had no conception of the instrument. He blew into it")—and many short scenes detailing his deprived boyhood, his courtship and marriage, his first bank robbery (which fails because no one can read the note he gives the teller), and his various sojourns in prison. As a crowning touch, the story is told by an authoritative narrator, whose deep voice serves as a brilliant counterpoint to the absurdity.
The analysis of humor is always a sticky business, and it is no less so with Allen's brand. Suffice it to say that his comedy is more verbal than visual; even the sight gags are word-oriented. Fortunately, he believes that, given the premise that a comedy should be funny, it should be funny all the time, so we receive a torrent of one-liners—good one-liners, but that is all we receive. Except for a magnificent series of scenes in which six work-gang prisoners try to escape while chained together, Allen is reluctant to build his humor within a situation, to develop its potential as the silent comedians did.
But this is a funny movie; and an isolated one, considering the trash Hollywood usually cranks out to make us laugh. For a genuine side-splitter—the kind that never lets up—one must go back to the Marx Brothers and W. C. Fields, in whose tradition Allen is certainly following. The least an audience asks of a movie is entertainment and if "Take the Money and Run" lacks the persistence to keep us laughing all the time, it is much more than adequate until Woody Allen's next effort.
BOOKS
ABOVE SUSPICION, by Helen MacInnes (Crest, 95 cents)—Reprint of a famous novel of suspense that appeared shortly before America entered World War II. The setting is Germany, and the characters are a young American and his wife whose European vacation turns into terror. MacInnes is always great fun.
★ ★ ★
THE HURRICANE YEARS, by Cameron Hawley (Crest, $1.25) A big book about big business by the late Cameron Hawley, who became famous with "Executive
Feb. 17
1970 KANSAN 5
Suite" almost 20 years ago. Out of his own business background Hawley wrote several novels, and this work describes Judd Wilder, who drove himself to the top and found that it hadn't been worth it. Though Hawley was never a writer of great ability he told a story well, and this one says, in addition, much about our times.
ROYAL ROAD TO FOTHERINGAY, by Jean Plaidy (Crest, 95 cents)—Historical novel about Mary Queen of Scots. Jean Plaidy also writes as Victoria Holt, and she is a pure romantic. Historical novels and movies seem to be on their way back, and this is a big one.
"ORPHEUS" (KU Film Society)—Jean Cocteau's modernization of a Greek myth; a magnificent and fascinating classic, made in 1949.
On campus this week
* *
Tuesday
"STEEL HELMET" (Special Films)—A battle film directed by Sam Wood, one of the masters of the war genre (1951).
Wednesday
"FURY" (Classical Series)— The first American film by German director Fritz Lang; an exciting drama about mob violence (1936).
Thursday
"PORK CHOP HILL" (Special Films)—Battle action in the Korean War, with an attempt at an anti-war statement. Directed by Lewis Milestone—1959.
Best sellers
Compiled by Publishers' Weekly Fiction
The Godfather—Mario Puzo
The First Lieutenant's Woman—
John Fowler
The Inheritors—Harold Robbins
The House on the Strand-Daphne
Therold Robbins
The House on the Strand-Daphne
du Maurier
Fire From Heaven—Mary Renault
Didn't Shoot Straight Jimmy Brews
The Seven Minutes—Irwin Wallace
Pupet On A Chair—Allstar MacLea
in This House of Brede—Rumer Godden
The Silvering Sands—Victoria Holt
Nonfiction
Concubin
The Selling of the President 1968—Joe McGlinnie
Present at The Creation—Dean Acheson
Mary Queen of Scots—Antonia Fraser
seF The Peter Principle—Laurence J. Peters and Paulup Holt.
American Heritage Dictionary of the
Language-William Morris's self-religion
The Collapse of the Third Republic
William L. Stuart
Ahmoadassor's Journal—John K.
Galbrath
Kenneth K. Galbrath, Cal
The Graham Kerr Cookbook—Gal-
loping Gourmet
The Time--Alexander Kendrila
In Someone's Shadow-Rod McKuen
Official Bulletin
Tuesday
Poetr's Hour: W. S., Merwin reads
Big Eight Room, Kansas
United Union
Columbus, p.m.
Council. Result. Meeting. Forum
Room. Room Union. 4:20 pm.
College Faculty Meeting: Forum Room, Kansas Union, 4:30 p.m.
Room, Kansas Union, 4:30 p.m.
Jayhawk Joggers Club: East door.
Jayhawk Joggers Club: East door, Robinson Gymnasium. 4:30 p.m.
robinson Gymnastium, 4:30 p.m.
freshman Basketball Chanute
Freshman Basketball: Chanute
House, J. Jr.; College, Allen Field
House, 5:45 p.m.
Table Tennis Club: 173 Robinson
Gymnasium. 6:45-9:45 p.m.
NORTHROP FRYE (humanities lecture)—Frye, critic, author, educator and professor at University of Toronto will be the fourth speaker in the Humanities Lecture Series speaking on "The Humanistic Era."
Film: "Steel Helmet" Woodruff Auditorium, 7 & 9 p.m.
Auditorium, 7 & 9 p.m.
Film Society: "Orpheus." Woodruff
KU Synhero Club: Natoratium,
Robinson Gymnasium. 7-9 n.m.
Auditorium, 7 & 9 p.m.
KU Synchro Club: Natatorium.
5 p.m.
Basketball: Nebraska. Allen Field
House. 8 n.m.
Jayhawk Rodee Club: Room 2A, Kansas University, 7:30 p.m.
Kansas Union, 7:30 p.m.
Christian Science Organization:
Experimental Theatre: "Rimers of Eldrlech" 8:20 p.m.
The International Association for
Technology Education seeks a
Experiential Experience has openings for
U.S. students who wish to work
in a technology environment. See 226 Strong
Hall for information.
Christian Science Organization:
Danforth Chapel, 7:30 p.m.
SAN ANTONIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (KU Concert Course)—This concert hopefully will entertain the students as well as the Prague Symphony Orchestra did last semester. The musical director is Victor Alessandro.
ENDS TUESDAY
"rib cracking comedy"
—JUDITH CRIST,
TODAY SHOW
All Week
"THE RIMERS OF ELD-RITCH" (theatre production)—Continuing all week "The Rimers of Eldritch" gives its audience a rewarding experience, making it worthwhile to see.
ENDS TONIGHT
From the country that gave you"IA WOMAN"
"INGA"and "I AM CURIOUS"
'FANNY HILL' is a "porno-classic!"
— ARCHER WINSTON
"In there with sex and love all the way!"
-N.Y. Post
Fanny Hill
Jerry Gross and Nicholas Demetroules
Distributed by CINEMATION INDUSTRIES·COLOR by DeLuxe
Mat. DAILY 2:30
Exe. 7:15 - 9:15
Eve. 7:15 - 9:15
Varsity
THEATRE ... telophone VI3-1065
KU CONCERT COURSE presents the SAN ANTONIO SYMPHONY
Victor Alessandro Musical Director
PROGRAM
Carnival Overture Dvorak
Symphony No. 2 in D Major Brahms
Huapango Moncayo
Intermezzo from "Vannesa" Barber
The Pines of Rome Respighi
Hoch Auditorium Thursday, February 19
8:20 p.m.
K. U. I.D.'s admit free—it's a great date