The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Page 14

14 THE AGE, Tuesday 22 November 1983 saunas Edby MICHAEL SHMITH Arts In the shadow of the crocodile Theatre: LEONARD RADIC God's Best County by Gordon Francis. (MTCat RusseB Street unto 17 December). T0 the question of land rights and new ver- sus traditional ownership. In that lies its interest and importance. However its craftsmanship is sadly not equal to its concerns.

While there-are moments of genuine theatricality, "there is also a great deal of old-fashioned, blood-end thunder melodrama. Francis's idea of dramatic emphasis is to have his characters raise their voices and shout abuse. They do at top pitch most of the time. In every way, this is a raw and primitive piece, overwritten but underworked. In Perth it was played with all guns blazing.

Janis Balodis adopts the same approach here. His production is unremittingly naturalistic; the acting is in the same vein. As Horse, Alan Fletch- er gives a convincing enough impersonation of a redneck Tweetie, played by Marilynne Paspaley, is a more reasonable and moderate character, as is her husband Boy (Philip Holder). It is left to. Athol Compton in the complex role of Part, to introduce a wel-, come note of ambiguity to the ill A low-budget US schlock horror- A comedy, 'Brain Damage' A which opens in Melbourne this A.

week could heat up the film censorship debate. There is a case for arguing that the federal Film Censorship Board has defied the letter of its own guidelines by giving 'Brain Damage' an certificate (suitable for cinema screening to adults). The chief censor, Mr John Dickie, said- yesterday that the guidelines allowed lee wayf or interpretation within the terms of the genre of a particular film. If 'Brain Damage' had been a realistic film rather than a piece of science fiction, the censors might have had a different attitude to it Point taken. But the release of this film gives ammunition to the Festival of Light and other organisations that insist censorship is too lax.

It is also likely to add confusion to the already muddled debate over whether X-rated films are merely pornographic or are so-called "video nasties" (that is, violently sadistic as well as sexually explicit). Although it has been released for cine-. ma viewing, 'Brain Damage' has the hallmarks of a "video a category that is theoretically not available for legal sale. As a believer in more liberal censorship of films available to adults and of tighter censorship of those available to children, I am not here taking a moral view of 'Brain Damage' or saying whether I wish to have it banned. My only point is that the granting of an certificate highlights the erratic way films are sometimes rated by our censors.

'Brain Damage', which opens at the Capitol, Swanston Street on Friday, was written and directed by Frank Henen-lotter. It combines the stories of Faust, Dracula and Frankenstein. A young New York man, Brian (Rick Herbst), makes a pact with a wisecracking, penis-shaped monster, Aylmer, that takes over his body. If Brian will keep Aylmer supplied with human brains (to be sucked from living victims), the monster will regularly "Juice" him with a liquid whose effects resemble those of heroin. Brian agrees, and as a result Aylmer gains control of his mental processes and sexual activities.

Rather against the odds, Henenlotter at first gives the film a comic verve and breed them tough in the lerriiory. ur so one gamers from 'God's Best Country', which has found its way to Mel bourne after starting life at the Festival of Perth. Take, for example, the character of Boy. An economist and one-time trade commissioner, he lives in Darwin and commutes 500 kilometres every weekend to be with his wife Twee tie on the once-rich but now rundown cattle property that she and her drink-sodden brother Horse have inherited. The first time we see Boy, he arrives gashed and bleeding, the victim of a crocodile attack.

However a dab of Dettol does the trick; and a few hours later he is out on a 10-kilometre jog in fie sweltering heat Later that night he sill has energy enough to slog it out with Horse in a fierce no-holds-barred fight' that threatens to leave both men unmanned. The author, Gordon Francis, says the four characters in his play are amalgams of real-life people that he has encountered in his travels around the Territory. Maybe so; but there is still more than a touch of the stereotype about them, particularly Horse, the rednecked fronrJerman who spends much of the play being abusive, swilling beer and firing off his shotgun wildly. Horse is a mad-dog character with a pathological hatred of the local blacks. In an extreme version he represents the voice of racial prejudice in the Top End.

Bagging a few blackfellers is his idea of sport Unfortunately, he is so caricatured as to be almost laughable. For my part, the one interesting character is Part, the half-caste Aboriginal activist though he too has something of the composite about him. Part, a bridge between the world of white and black, grew up on the Red Lily cattle station, and worked there as head stockman before leading a Gurindji-style walk-off by the blacks. Now, five years later with a university degree to his name and a position with the Aboriginal Development Commission, he is back to make a bid for Red Lily and for the land that his people pioneered 40,000 years ago. As far as I know, 'God's Own Country' is the first play specifically to debate Athol Compton as Part: A welcome note of ambiguity.

interpretative sense to vague federal legislation. The June guidelines are more precise than those they replaced, and a preamble to them gives greater emphasis to "a justifiable concern among many people" about the depiction of violence, especially in films available to children. Censorship classifications range from from General (G) suitable for all ages to Restricted (R) 18 years and over. Before it is is classified, a film must be viewed and commented on by at least two censors. Mr Dickie said four censors had seen 'Brain Damage'.

"The censors have to have leeway in interpreting the guidelines," he said. "There has to be a degree of interpretation and latitude within the terms of the genre to which a film belongs. Those who viewed 'Brain Damage' regarded it as a form of cult horror and science fiction. They might have taken a different attitude if the film was uncompromisingly realistic." Mr Dickie also said that the woman in the film had consented to take part in the sex act that led to her death. Television Connnsat NEIL JILLETT originality that take the edge off its nas-tiness.

But not for long. 'Brain Damage' becomes a splatter movie of the goriest, most violent kind. In one scene Aylmer, through his surrogate, Brian, engages in oral sex with a young woman who, not surprisingly, dies as her brains are being sucked out This scene is quite explicit The film has similar scenes that are not so graphically violent or so sexually explicit Mr Michael Walsh, a director of the Capitol, said yesterday that he had no embarrassment in showing 'Brain Damage'. "I'm opposed to censorship for consenting adults," he said, "and I'm obviously pleased this film has been allowed through. 'Brain Damage' is pretty obviously a work of fantasy.

There is no way it purports to be a depiction of the world as it is. This is an entertaining romp, good of its kind." The Film Censorship Board's guidelines say that a film should not be given a cinema or video release if it has "unduly detailed andor relished acts of extreme violence or cruelty" or "explicit or unjustifiable depictions of sexual violence against non-consenting The guidelines also of sexual violence are acceptable only to the extent that they are necessary to the narrative and not It could be argued that 'Brain Damage's oral sex scene, by being essential to the plot is not gratuitous. It could also be argued that the scene is gratuitous to the extent that what happens in it could have been implied rather than explicitly shown. Some films that do not qualify for an certificate can be released as X-rated videos (presently on sale only in the Northern Territory and the ACT). They may contain "material which includes explicit depictions of sexual acts between consenting adults and mild non-violent but "no depictions of sexual violence, coercion or non-consent of any kind is permitted in this Because of its sexual violence, 'Brain Damage' strikes me as being clearly unqualified, according to the censorship guidelines, for cinema or video release.

There is also the question of whether it TeleScdpe BARBARA HOOKS thing and delivering it to the rightful address, our hero is clobbered over the head for his pains and wakes to find he is pitted against his arch enemy, Count Von Schwabing (Gavin Richards), who is intent on upsetting Europe's balance of power in favor of Germany. With the help of the winsome and wilful daughter (Dominique Barnes), of the stuffy Lord Hasiemere (David Waller), Hannay risks life, limb and reputation to thwart the Count's plans. From the inventive opening credits, to the cheeky closing scene, 'Hannay' is a faithful, old-fashioned treat Written by Michael Robson, it captures time and place perfectly, especially in its born-to-rule dialogue which, be warned, is not fit for the ears of humorless feminists or caring, sharing socialists. Enjoying a drink with his old colonial chum at a new club, Reggie Armitage of British Intelligence (played so splendidly by Christopher Scouler. I wish we saw more of him) outlines the club rules: "No politics, no women i i we're interested in a forward age!" Later, when the wonderfully grumpy Scotland Yard superintendent takes charge of Hannay's wayward bow tie, he mtfttersj "You'll never, never be a club man, HanDey." David Ferris, who is credited with the production design, and director David Giles offer heaps of visual interest in the range of their production values, conveyances, interiors and locations, from the baking sands of Damaraland, to comfortable London clubrooms, to waterlogged cellars, to the wilds of Scotland, to richly-decorated embassies, to the odd ancestral seat.

Ours is not to reason why 'Hannay is being screened out of ratings. Let's just be grateful for such jolly, spiffing stuff during the Big Dry. or Nine Steps' 5 parts' Gillespie parades a feast of talent Jazz r. ADRIAN JACKSON Dizzy Gillespie's United Nation All Star Orcnestra (Concert Had, Sunday). Tns concert offered a feast, of musical highlights, as you would expect from a 15-piece band boasting a wealth of talent both young and experienced.

Inev-itably, some of the talent was. underutilised, with only a couple of solos for the night but each musician took full advantage of his turn in the spotlight Just as importantly, the orchestra excelled as a unit The rhythm section anchored by bassist John Lee and drummer Ignacio Berroa, and filled out by pianist Ronnie Mathews and guitarist Ed Cherry, with Giovanni Hidalgo and Airto Moreira on percussion was rock solid and invigorating, on all manner of rhythmic feels. And the horn sections Slide Hampton and Steve Turns on trombones, Sam Rivers, Jerry Dodgion and Mario Rivera on saxes, with Jon Faddis and Mike Mossman joining the leader on trumpets were equally impressive. When the whole came together, notably in the opening two numbers, 'Man- 6.00 USA Today. News.

7.00 Good Morning Australia. 9.00 Good Morning Melbourne. (PGR) 10.00 Mulligrubs. (G) 1040 News. 11.00 Another World.

US drama serial. (PGR) Afternoon 12.00 Santa Barbara. US drama series. (PGR) 1.00 The Bold And The Beautiful (PGR) 140 One Life To Live. New US drama 2.00 Hotel (PGR) 3.00 Charlie's Angels.

US adventure series. (PGR) (R) 4.00 Kids News. (C) 440 Steelriders. New children's 5.00 What's Happening Now. New children's series.

(G) 540 Perfect Match. Quiz game. Evening 6.00 News, Sport, Weather. 7.00 Neighbors. Australian drama serial.

Bronwyn is forced to move house yet again. (G)(S) 740 Crazy Like A Fox. US detectivecomedy series. A private eye involves his lawyer son in various dangerous escapades. With Jack Warden, John Rubinstein.

(PGR) 840 FILM. The Choice. 1 981 drama about a mother who finds that her daughter is caught in almost the same dilemma which she recently faced herself. Should her pregnant daughter have an abortion in order to maintain her relationship with her lover? Stars Susan Clark, Mitchell Ryan, Jennifer Warren. (AO) (S) 1040 MASH.

US comedy-drama series about the frustrations of a mobile army surgical unit in Korea, (PGR) (R) 1140 NFL Football American Grid Iron: San Francisco 49ers Washington Redskins. 2.30 Nightshirt. David White presents music videos, artist profiles and interviews. (AO) 5.00 New Three Stooges. (G) (R) 540 Brady Kids.

delightM Titf-TW, file strtvine over -a hotline rnMnta4 Jt rhythms, and lifted by shouting, scream-ing horn, riffs, the effect was music esfar exciting as anything you could DOSSlhJv i i wish-to hear. 'VT It inay well have-proved i the band to maintain that sort VL momentum all night but they did notV try. The format was broken up variety of features: Turre working tiers with a didgeridoo and a range -ot'i conch shells: Airto. working up a fierce rhythm by himself, with justa tainbou rine and whistle; and Flora Purim fronijvJs. ing the band to sing and scat a couple0 -lively Brazilian numbers.

i ivm' Naturally, the spotlight for the night was on Dizzy Gillespie, showed that there is still plenty of mutide? left in that trademark bent even at the age of 71. It would be unrealistic to claim tfajjtJi'Jr tl A iff nlovina ac nail etc Atiaw ft a tm Qtuuiuug TUIUIOU U7 U9CUUJ lVli. 7 Rut ha til agility over thti full range of the tn pet More impfjftant, his flair, taste aStf imagination were even more intact ttfjfe his lip. ft fcHM Even when he had a friendly joustUt with Faddis on a calypso number, Fai dis displayed phenomenal precision and power, bunt wasfilT Gillespie who pro, vided the light and shade, the playful; wit and complete originality that Faddish is yet to develop! It was interesting to compare this cert, the last of this with their first in Sydney lasftg The program, was different srt-brti. Melbourne missed out on Rivera's shojifr piece on 'ush', was treated to superb feature for' Rivers' tenor frfTM Midnight! but so were the routines.

For example, by the end of the tim'nl 'Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac' began witfciv a conga duet between Gillespie and HJ-o dalgo. More important most of the soteo' taken were noticeably different in shape: evidence that these musicians were keen to stretch out and not just rely on Summing up: great music, great entertainment quite possibly the best concert of the year. Correction In the interview with Leo McKern published on this page yesterday, it was said that it has been 32 years since he set foot on an Australian stage. In fact Leo McKern's previous stage appearance In this country was in Melbourne in the MTC's 1971-2 season in both Marcel Achard's 'Patate', and Ray Lawlers The Man Who Shot the Albatross'. New US soap is the livingeath Review BARBARA HOOKS FROM THE opening credits, featuring four long-legged, look-alike bimbos striding along arm In arm to a song and pictures about the miserable lot of a high-clas waitress, I sensed that 'It's a Living' (Channel Nine, 7.30 pm) wasn't going to be my cup of pina colada.

A Lorimar sitcom, it revolves around the staff of a topof-the-town style restaurant their relationships to one another and their trials and tribulations on the job. Central to the theme are the four waitresses Dot Jan, Cassie and Amy, who are just about indistinguishable from each other, as are the actresses who play them. In last night's debut episode, Amy was the victim of an anonymous admirer whose attentions, and rather novel ideas about what to do on a first date, turned to harassment But before her sisters in service were confronted with the problem, we were introduced to the rest of the gang: Nancy, the sort of sour and snooty manageress who tries to boost profits by offloading cheap and suspect fish on her customers; Howard, the feared, uncompromising chef; and Sonny, the smart-alec pianist who sings and plays at a volume fit for Carnegie Halt Naturally, the girls resolved Amy's difficulties, in spite of rather than because of help from their colleagues, especially Sonny, who is this show's irritant factor (please shoot the piano player). But in the process, they managed to bring the restaurant to a standstill as if they were trying to do stand-up at the Comedy Store. Corny, predictable and contrived, If a Living may have been one of the first shows produced by the team that went on to create 'Soap', 'Benson' and The Golden Girls'.

But the gags, the one-liners, set-ups and pay-offs must have been sitting around even longer than Nancy's fish. teca'and' rr(i Japan (SBS, 7.30pm) irk Hannay (2, 8.30pm) Bergerac (7, 9.30pm) Strike it Rich (2, 10.35pm) By BARBARA HOOKS TV stars as follows: worth considering irk excellent not to be missed should be disqualified by the guidelines' references to drugs. As well as being a comedy in somewhat poor taste, 'Brain Damage' can be interpreted as an allegory about drug abuse, with the monster Aylmer standing in for heroin and Brian as an addict The allegory is underlined by the use of the language of addiction in the film's dialogue. The allegory's message is that death is the only cure for heroin addiction. According to the censorship guidelines, a film cannot be given a cinema release if it contains "advocatory" depictions of drug abuse.

While 'Brain Damage' is not advocatory, its message is hardly helpful to the anti-drug campaign. The guidelines are drawn up by the 11 members of the full-time Film Censorship Board and the six members of the part-time Films Board of Review and are influenced by the current attitudes of federal and state attorneys-general. The guidelines, last revised in June this year, have no standing in law; they are merely an attempt to give some 1 7.00 Children's Programs. 10.00 Schools Programs. (R) Afternoon 12.00 Aussies.

(PGR) (R) 1.00 PGR. 1.10 Let Learn Japanese. (R) 1.40 For The Juniors. 2,00 Four Comers. (R) Animal Fair.

2.55 Thomas The Tank Engine And Friends. 3.00 Sesame Street 3.55 Thomas The Tank Engine. 4.00 Play School. (S) 4.30 Stop At This Station. 5.00 Inspector Gadget (R) 5.30 Dr Who: Remembrance Of The Daleks.

Evening 6.00 World At Six. 6.30 The Oz Game. (S) 7.00 News, Sport, Weather. 7.30 The 7.30 Report 8.00 In The Wild With Harry Butter: A Matter Of Course. (R) 8.28 News Update.

(Also at 9.28) 8.30 Hannay: The Fellowship Of The Black Stone. First of a delightful new six-part British adventure series in which Richard Hannay, the hero of John Buchan's The Thirty-Nine Steps, becomes involved in some new adventures. With Robert Powell, Gavin Richards Dominique Barnes. (PGR) (S) 9.30 The Last Resort ABC drama series about three sisters and their dilapidated Bondi hotel. Exeter is convinced his daughters have learnt nothing from their experience at the Isis.

Bitterly -disappointed, he disappears and Yutcte-fiads him sick and exhausted. WiflHCate Fitz-patrick, Kris McQuade, Nell 10.30 News. 10.35 Strike It Rich. First of a new eight-part BBC drama series about six people who are brought together when a search is made for the missing shareholders of a newspaper. With Tom Adams.

(PGR) (S) 11.25 Rock Arena. 12.40 Close. OH 7 0 6.00 TV Connection. Friends. CaWicott Eleven 12.00 True stars 2.00 3.00 (R) 3.30 4.00 The 5.00 Press 6.00 drama some problems.

6.30 7.00 affairs 7.30 series. world's electronic attempt for 8.30 largest advances can engine; the 9.30 series 10.30 Clive 11.30 Hills. 12.00 Today. The 1974 Windom. To Be Fame.

6.00 Eariy News. 6.30 Business Today. 7.00 Today. 9.00 Here's Humphrey. (R) 10.00 Diffrent Strokes.

(R) 10.30 General Hospital. (PGR) 11.30 Cricket Australia West Indies. Direct telecast of the First Test day five, from the Gabba, Brisbane. Afternoon 1.30 Ten Pin Bowling Classic. Coverage from Brisbane.

2.00 Cricket Australia West Indies. Direct telecast from the Gabba continues. Evening 6.00 News, Sport, Weather. 6.30 A Current Affair. Presented by Jana Wendt 7.00 Sale Of The Century.

(S) 7.28 Keno. 7.30 Head Of The Class. New episodes of the US comedy series. Sparks fly when Maria refuses to meet the demands of her 'academic Olympics' teammates. (G) 8.00 My Sister Sam.

New episodes of the US comedy series. Sam and Path go into business selling Sam's hand-painted sweatshirts at school. With Pam Dawber. (G) 8.30 All The Way. Australian drama series set during the 60s.

Ray, after lecturing Barry about not buying anything he can't afford, buys a taxi on hire-purchase. Joe asks Ray if he can marry Chrissie. With Rowena Wallace. (PGR) (S) 10.30 Graham Kennedy's News Show. (PGR) 1140 Carson's Classics, taken from Johnny Carson's Tonight 12.00 FILM.

The Illustrated Man. 1969 drama stars Rod Steiger, Claire Bloom. (AO) (R) 2.05 FILM. Covert Action. 1978 drama stars David Janssen, Arthur Kennedy.

(AO) (R) 3.55 FILM. Forbidden. 1932 drama stars Barbara Stanwyck. 540 The Young Doctors. (R) AM.

7.30 The Cartoon 9.30 Fat Cat And 10.00 Charters And (PGR) (R) 11.00 AM. Current affairs. Afternoon FILM. Frankenstein: The Story. Part 2.

1973 horror James Mason. (AO) (R) The Persuaders. (PGR) (R) The Beverly Hillbillies. (G) The Flying Nun. (G) (R) Now You See It (C) (R) 4.30 Mouse Factory.

(GC) (R) Wheel Of 5.30 Your Luck. Quiz show. Evening Home And Away. Australian serial. Pippa gives Frank advice.

Lance solves his (G) (S) News, Sport, Weather. Hinch at Seven, Current program. MacGyver. US adventure A double agent uses the most sophisticated equipment in an to silence MacGyver good. With Richard Dean Anderson.

(PGR) Beyond 2000. Science and technology series. The world's dairy farm; the way in nuclear technology go wrong; a Japanese fire how plastic helps ease pain for bum victims; reconstructive surgery. (G) (R) Bergerac BBC drama set in the Channel Islands-With John Nettles. (AO) Newsworid.

Presented by Robertson. Down And Out In Beverly US comedy series. (PGR) News Overnight includes 2.00 FILM. Murder In First Person Singular. suspense stars William (G) 3.15 Science International.

3.30 rfs Going Alright (PGR) (R) 4.00 (PGR) (R) 5X0 Newsworid. (R) in six BETWEEN practising at the bar, serving in Parliament writing a four-volume' history of the World War and biographies of Julius Caesar, Sir Walter Scott and Oliver Cromwell, the First Baron Tweedsmuir took leave to create a hero of popular fiction in a series of improbably plotted, but realistically set and immensely enjoyable books. As John Buchanhe invested his first thriller, The Thirty Nine Steps', with a leading character called Richard Han-nay, a rich and charming Scottish-born, South African colonialist and entrepreneur who returns to the Old Country for the first time in his 33 years, only to find himself embroiled in a dastardly conspiracy of international proportions. Generations of readers and film-goers have embraced Buchan's hero. The Thirty Nine Steps' has been the subject of three films, starting with the Robert Donat Alfred Hitchcock version in 1935, the same year its author was appointed Governor-General of Canada.

To digress-slightly, as luck would have it I recently found a 1985 edition of The Thirty Nine Steps' published by Chatto Windus in a slender, but beautiful volume brimming with deliciously old-fashioned pen and wash and color illustrations by Philip Hood. (I found mine at Jeffrey's Book Shop in Malvern at the ridiculously Edwardian price of $9.95, if you're interested). All the more delightful then, to preview Thames Television's 'Hannay' and discover that it is an evocation of Hood's perfect drawings, right down to Thames' choice of actor Robert Powell who apparently so impressed the executors of Buchan's estate as the star of the 1978 remake that they agreed to this new television series of six, self-contained stories. Tonight on his return to England (in The Fellowship of the Black Stone', ABC, 8.30), Hannay finds a mysterious parcel in his trunk. In doing the decent Afternoon I.

00 pm National Press Club Luncheon. Guest speaker John Phelan, chairman of the New York stock exchange. 2.00 Close. 3.00 TV Ed. 4.00 The Electric Company.

(R) 4.30 Kaleidoscope. 5.00 Dance With Me. Brazilian series. (R) 5.30 International Airport (R) Evening 6.00 The Noise. Rock show.

6.30 World News. 7.00 Sport Report 7J30 Japan. First of a new four-part British documentary series presents a western impression of Japan, an economic giant not only at the forefront of modern technology but also steeped in traditional culture. Tonight the religious and rural customs of factory workers. 8.30 Goya.

Third of a new six-part Spanish historical drama series recreating the life of one of the world's greatest painters. The Duchess of Alba seeks a reconciliation with Goya, by now a fashionable court painter. 9.30 Tonight With Paul Murphy. Current affairs program. 10.00 One Family's Life.

Yugoslavian drama series centering on a pre-war Zagreb family of Czech origin. (R) II. 20 National Press Club Luncheon. Repeat of this afternoon's program. 120 Close.

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