Philadelphia Daily News from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 26

26 Oct. 9, 1975 Phila. Daily News Bigg Bay Afternoon': A Mowling Success world like a Ralph Bakshi I Parental Guide a3 1 By JOE BALTAKE To each his own Oktoberf est. My own personal idea of "ecstasy in October" is the Stagedoor Cinema Therms nothing to offend In "Dag Day Afternoon," unlou, of coune.vou're ea-Hv upwt by profanity (thoro's lots of it here) and the mention of transexualitv. No nudity or sex May.

Some violence. "Coonshin" cartoon Amateurs at the "game" and not very bright, to boot, Sonny and Sal improvise their way through the caper, as matters go from bad to worse: Sal goes partially berserk during the hold-up, becoming nearly catatonic; there's virtually no money in the vaults; the bank employees are feisty pests; within minutes, the bank is surrounded by police, FBI men and on-lookers. etc. NOT UNLIKE, Billy Wilder's "The Big Carnival," Sonny's R-rated tale turns into a great, big circus a freak show of sorts with Sonny at the center ol things. This is his brightest moment, his moment of glory, and he's enjoying it to the hilt Frank Pierson's original screenplay, Perhaps the performance of the year.

Certainly the performance of his life. Lumet's film is a super-charged, multi-leveled work which smoothly succeeds on each of its levels as slapstick comedy, tense drama, caper tale, biographical material and character study. IT'S ON the last-mentioned level where Pacino soars and shines like a gleaming beacon. He lights up "Dog -Day Afternoon" in true "movie star" fashion with an unmistakable neon glow, taking command of every scene but never to the detriment of script or fellow cast members. Pacino's three-dimensional performance takes us on a frenzied, emotional tour of a guy named Sonny, an insignificant, unbalanced hustler of conflicting emotions compassionate one minute, criminally ambitious and wnere the year best movie to date bar none is now safely ensconced.

I'm hoping for a long run (two months maybe?) for Sidney Lumet's "Dog Day Afternoon" so 1 can wallow in its assorted pleasures as often as my heart desires. potentially dangerous the next; alternately funny and frightening. This is Pacino's least theatrical and most entertaining performance to date a sensational portrayal which serves as an economic lesson in great screen acting. Every acting student should be required, for example, to witness the affecting moment in the film when Pacino dictates his will. It's beautiful.

Sonny's true-life tale is set on a hot August day in Brooklyn, about three years ago, when he teamed up to pull a bank heist with his buddy, Sal (a memorable John Cazale, looking for all the Cazale And its pleasures are indeed many. For one thing take a deep breath there's Al Pacino in a raw, high-voltage, uproariously funny performance. based officially on a 1972 Life Magazine piece (and inspired unofficially by the Wilder flick), uses the "traditional narrative" device to excellent effect. One fact follows another, logically and orderly, with each one unveiling new information. Kor example, it isn't until midway into the plot that we learn the reason for the robbery: Sonny wants to finance the planned sex-change operation of his male "wife," Leon (played superbly by Chris Sarandon), who's now in Bellvue after breaking down from the pressure of being "a woman trapped inside a man's body." (Sonny also has a female wife overweight and talkative Suzan Peretz and two kids.) DIRECTOR LUMET continuing his winning streak on the heels of "Serpico," "Lovin" Molly" and TrcmCOOR fori WNR BROS STKEMM ISthSt kt 1)40, 1:10.

MO. V2 Cktstnut MM Market itii AL PACINO "Murder on the Orient Express" is particularly successful here with his actors (everyone is good, especially "cashier" Penny Allen and "cop" Charles Durning) and at subtly turning his movie's gears from comedy to dead-serious drama. "Dog Day Afternoon" literally starts out as one movie and ends as another. Victor J. Kemper's you-are-there cinematography effectively conveys the heat and urbanity of a typical summer day in New York, while Dede Allen's razor-sharp editing contributes to the tension that mounts beneath the laughs.

Marathon Scheduled The Department of Recreation will sponsor a 24-hour Bike Marathon Saturday from noon to noon Sunday on the West River Drive. 5 Only bikes that pass inspection Saturday morning between 9:30 and 11:15 will be permitted to enter the marathon. The marathon will be divided into five different age brackets. Bikers must travel at least 100 miles to qualify foranaward. ADVERTISEMENT Adult Films SHOPPERS SPIC.

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