The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 6

A-6 HIE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Tuesday, July 20, 1976 Peckinpah Disciple Makes 'Mohammad' 1 tfic -v Films ikr ities, filming entirely on location amid sandstorms and other mishaps of nature. "I didn't realize how much longer the Aramc version would take," said the filmmaker. "The Aiabic language is much more flowery, andthe actors are more dramatic with their gestures. THE SEVEREST BLOW came when the filmmakers were expelled from Morocco because, said Akkad, "King Hassan had been pressured by religious extremists who threatened trouble because of the film." Mecca and the entire "Mohammad" company was moved by rail, air and boat to Tripoli in Libya, where the movie was 1' it 7 "iHI' yior -v ously, one with an English-speaking cast, the other Arabic. That was one of the factors that stretched the budget to the breaking point.

A $700,000 replica of Mecca was thrown up near Marrakesh, Morocco, and Akkad began filming in late 1974. Progress was slow. He was working with 40 members of each cast, crowds of 5000, a 300-person crew that included 28 national completed in May 1975. mil 'Lifeguard's' Lifeguards Parker Stevenson and Sam Elliott Last performances this season! Film Prep-type Stevenson tongs To Play A Psycho Wednesday and Saturday By BOB THOMAS LOS ANGELES (AP) The gospel according to Sam Peckinpah: "If you want to become a filmmaker, don't screw around with menial jobs. Start at the top: be a producer-director and make your own film." Once a film student at UCLA and USC, Moustapha Akkad followed the advice of the hard-bitten Peckinpah.

The result is the $17 million epic "Mohammad Messenger of God," which Akkad produced and directed through a series of troubles that would have frayed the nerves of a Job. "But I think It has been worth It," said Akkad, making final cuts for the July 29 premiere in London. "There are 700 million Moslems In the world, and there Is great Interest in the Middle East for the film. "THERE IS ALSO a curiosity about the title and the subject In the West. My picture won't be a but I think it will be well received here.

There seems to be a return to spirituality today, as the machine is taking over. I think people in the western world will be interested in learning about the Moslem religion. Nobody here knows that Islam believes in Christ, in Noah, and all the prophets, in the virginity of Mary." Not that "Mohammad Messenger of God" is a religious tract. It is a full-scale spectacle with Anthony Quinn as the warrior-disciple Hamza, Michael Ansara as Meccan leader Bu-Sofyan, Irene Papas as his wife, plus the Demillean cast of thousands. MOUSTAPHA AKKAD was born 43 years ago in Aleppo, Syria, attended the American college there and came to California to learn filmmaking.

After graduating, he learned the bitter truth of 1950s Hollywood: There were no Jobs for film students. Then he found work with Peckinpah on "Ride the High Country" and learned the invaluable advice. Akkad produced and directed TV documentaries, notably "Cesar's World" with Cesar Romero. Then in 1970 the film-maker decided to go for broke. He commissioned British writer H.A.L.

Craig to write a script about Mohammad. "We had one major problem: the Islamic religion forbids the portrayal of Mohammad," said Akkad. "I solved that by having the camera act as the eyes of Mohammad. He is never seen, nor does he speak, but you feel his presence as the action swirls around him." FINANCING THE FILM was the easiest part, Akkad claimed. The initial $10 million came "from sources in the United States, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Morocco." Akkad had an ambitious plan: to make two versions simultane- A true story of lasting love.

Baited of The Bog By ROGER GROOMS Enquirer Contributor There is a disquieting sound which accompanies young Parker Stevenson wherever he goes. It's the sound of teeth grinding in envy. Stevenson, in town recently to promote his new film, "Lifeguard," is a Princeton senior majoring In architecture. Almost criminally photogenic, he was picked out of prep school for a nationwide Clearasll commercial and proceeded to pay for his education by huckstering a variety of products on TV. Despite his lack of theatrical training he was also selected, with practically no effort on his part, to appear in two major films prior to "Lifeguard," "A Separate Peace," and "Our Time" in both playing a New England prep school student.

"Strange how everything seems to work out so perfectly," Stevenson mused, "those roles just fell Into my lap and the filming schedules always coincided with school vacations. 'Lifeguard' we did last fall at Torrance beach in 1.A. So far I've gotten to do Just one basic character a sensitive young preppie and. I'm really eager to be a really wacky psychopath. Something on the order of Anthony Perkins In maybe.

STEVENSON CONTINUES to live with his parents In Rye, N.V. His mother, Sarah Meade, is a veteran performer on Broadway and In commercials, but his father, an extremely successful Investment advi sor, shares Stevenson's own opinion that acting is an interesting and profitable diversion but basically a means to another end. At Brooks, a prep school in Massachusetts, Parker's great Interest was rowing; advancing In competition as far as the Prlcess Elizabeth cup race at the Henley Regatta. At Princeton he rowed with the freshmen lightweight crew team which won the 1971- 72 Eastern sprint races. When not figuring out ways to eclipse Frank Lloyd Wright as a designer of custom homes, he sings with the Princeton Tigertones.

Stevenson, naturally, Is an accomplished swimmer and scuba diver (did you expect anything else?) and the general aura of go Id en-beach-boy-with-patina-of-brains qualified him for his supporting role in "Lifeguard," a fascinating script dealing with the sunburnt sub-culture of Southern California. Through all his Infuriating good fortune Stevenson retains an Intense and ingenuous personal charm. He is quite aware of his astonishing string of successes. He doesn't apologize for the ease in which his life has worked out thus far and, in a quirky way, seems to look forward to some kind of obstacle to his goals. Whatever obstacles there could possibly be have never faced an opponent like Parker Stevenson.

To a counterpoint of gnashing molars he will just smile them away. The classic American opera, by Pulitzer Prize-winner Douglas Moore. First time at Cincinnati Opera! July 21 24 at 8 p.m. pi Baby Doe, sung by brilliant young New York City Opera star. Norma French.

(Hailed by OPERA NEWS as "electrifying!) Augusta Tabor, sung by famous NYCO mezzo Frances Bible. Renowned in particular for this portrayal which she created in the 1956 world premiere. Horace Tabor, sung by Julian Patrick, of the New York City. Chicago Lyric and San Francisco Operas. (One of America's great singing actors!) Barbara Karp, artistic director of the Pittsburgh Opera, directs.

Jonathan Dudley, general director and principal conductor of Omaha Opera, conducts. Outdoor Festival At Dayton Hydroglobe The first outdoor music festival of the summer has been booked for Dayton's Hydroglobe Saturday July 31. Aerosmith featuring Rick Derringer, Ted Nugent, Henry Gross, and Rory Gallagher are the scheduled performers. Officials for the Dayton Hydroglobe Music Festival anticipate a crowd of No bottles or cans will permitted on the premises. The gates open at noon and the music starts at 2 p.m.

Dayton's Hydroglobe is an hour from Cincinnati off 1-75 North. Take the Route 4-Springfield East Exit. The Hydroglobe is located at Harsh-man Road and Route 4. Ross Todd, the festival's organizer, said he has plans for another outdoor festival, "later this summer at Dragway 42 between Mansfield and Cleveland." At the present time he has no outdoor events scheduled for the immediate Cincinnati area. SJeef SSoarfis JllT iOniw irew AlC nrji PRESEXTS 11355 most IN NEIL SIMON'S PLAZA SUITE CXESTER ROAD SHARON ROAD EXIT OFF 1-75 i Reservations Recommended Call 771-5671 Tues ttiroiiah Sun JULY 20 through JULY 25 SPECIAL SUMMER PRICES Sun.

ONLY tai per person FOB DIMMER SHOW Comifig to Beef 'n' Boards July 20 New Christy Minstrels July 26 Woody Herman his Orchestra SENIOR CITIZENS DAY, JULY 27 NOW APPEARING IN THE MEDITERRANEAN RICK KARRIS, CANDY MR. 'D' ann MILL dancing and siifgjjra In the star UMnokS. OUR DINNERS '3" to '9" i jreirseH a) ur ticitiii salad ar I CaB For Information On Group Rates Cole Porter MuiictfX OUR RATHSKELLER LOUNGE, LOWER LEVEL OKI SIX HltNTS 1 WEEK MORIAT thra StTHRItY SPECIAL COCKTAIL HOUR 5 P.M. TO 9 P.M. RITA BEACH I LITE FROST P.M.

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