Philadelphia Daily News from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 33

PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 13, 1911 33 Leonard Lyons Van Peebles outdoes Duke gets the drop on Joe Levine tcijoce j0l (lf folio' Wli.sW tha VvnAne craill UmoJ Ttnl-nlhu Dirlor nJ ttio -U VAWKUL includes the Exodus scene typed by Dorothy Parker, and the NEW YORK. Joe Levine was a guest at the Pistells' Melvin Van Peebles' "The Watermelon Man" was one of last year's most abrasively inhuman films, and one which would seem difficult to surpass for sheer tastelessness. But, lo and behold, Van Peebles has gone and done it. "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song" arrived yesterday at the Fox in all its glory, carrying an rating, a controversial title and 97 minutes of noise, monotony and offensiveness. Too bad because beneath all this nas-tiness lies a good, solid chase film.

As it stands, the movie is only good as a showcase for Van Peebles' virtuosity. The talented filmmaker produced, authored, directed, edited and scored the low-budget work. He's also the star. As was the case with "The Watermelon Man," Van Peebles has jam-packed his film with intelligence-insulting, evil stereotypes: All whites are depicted as self-centered and unfeeling, while the blacks are dim-witted and fun-loving. Every situation in the film is based on these two distinctively patent character types which should give you a clue as to the movie's contents.

"Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song" is bitter tasting and excessive simply for the sake of being bitter tasting and excessive. Joe Baltake. author's original title "Shape of a Man." AT FUNERAL SERVICES for J. Meyer Schine the story was told of the day he bought the famed Roney-Plaza Hotel in Miami Beach. He waited 10 minutes for the elevator.

When it arrived, he asked the operator where he'd been. The operator said: "Where could I go in an elevator either up or down." Schine replied: "There's a third direction out! You're fired." L. Arnold Weissberger's book of photos, "Famous Faces," will include all eight of the performers who've won two Academy Awards. Chester Erskine, the playwright-director, will direct a film for David Gill, who co-produced "Joe." Erskine was befriended here by Otto Kahn, soon after Erskine directed "The Last Mile." Kahn invited him to his home now the Sacred Heart Academy. He also invited Erskine to lunch at Kuhn Loeb, until the Wall Street crash.

He told Erskine about the crash: "I was worth $93 million, now only $3 million. To you that's still a lot of money, but remember, I brought $5 million when I came from dinner for the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Levine sat at the Duke's table. The Duke mentioned "Zulu," the film produced by Levine. The producer said that many who'd been in that real-life charge were in the film.

The Duke corrected him, saying it was impossible. Then they discussed name-dropping. Levine asked: "Sir, whose name did you drop?" The Duke replied: "The name of Joseph E. Levine." Marlene Dietrich will perform at the JFK Center in Washington, and at the Trivoli in Copenhagen. She'll also perform at Covent Garden, before the Queen Tom Selvin, who won an Emmy for directing the TV special on Stokowski, is in Havana showing the TV special he made on Alicia Alonso, the ballet star.

IN "COCO," KATHARINE HEPBURN uses a four-letter word. Buffie Chandler, as head of the Los Angeles Music Center where the musical is being performed, wrote to the star expressing official objection to the use of that word. Miss Hepburn replied: "I don't think anyone will mind a word spoken by a little old lady from Hartford." Harold Robbins is getting $1 million to write his novel in eight weeks Marti Stevens, daughter of the late president of Loew's, Nicholas Schenck, will play the Barbara Barrie role in the Los Angeles production of "Company" The "Green Pastures" manuscript to be auctioned at Parke-Bernet mi si mm ksbbsd A FRANCOIS TRUFFAUT FILM 'Superstar' at Temple "Jesus Christ, Superstar," the controversial rock-opera that interprets the last seven days of Christ's life, will be presented by the American Rock Opera Company in concert version July 18 and 20, at the Fourth Annual Temple University Music Festival. 11:05, 12:50, 2:30, 4:15, 7:40, 3:25, 11:05 COLOR Jgp; ADULTS ONLY NO ONE ADMITTED UNDER 18 1:30, 5:00. am IN COLOR 8:30 Winner of 7 Academy AT 8:00 P.M.

SEE 2 FEATURES AT 8:00 P.M. SEE 2 FEATURES! Awards SfST fICTURFI' LO 4-5868 I111JB, 1:11.1. STARTS TOMORROW WITH ALL DAY PREVIEW OPEN FROM 10:30 A.M. "2 HEADED TRANSPLANT" 12:35.3 50,7:10. 1131 "BROTHER JOHN" 11 AO, 2:05, 5 15,1:40 I RIMINHbVSf tOUAII I Ueanu LAST 2 DAYS "BROTHER JOHN' mmNHOusl Kwi "SNIAK" i P.

"hi a tou i a 3, 4, "CUMr KNH'-ll, 3, 4, t.1 oaum Pilnis TWO HEADS grafted to the body of a Derbv. GIANT! A fast ride for the big mone -it til fT 11 IT WUV Xr Mk ONE BRAIN wants Tn ONE BRAIN WANTS TO i sw rr- A wrM-wkm mn and woman play by tarn tufai. I ft -v rf lit ''f'f rid brfr Hand Cmirimi BetMsino wesenH A Ibty Setetr-Mfclut! Hamilburs Film Presentation 'DERBY' Charlie Otonnell Boiler Derby MikeSneU twwsiSitaik.hi'iEll,'Pr''11"rLS.riiii Producer Willum Hicfurt Director Robert Keylor COLOB EpTTTTTn 11:45,1:30,3:15, chTs.n't I 5:00, 8:45, :30, 10:18 From fuherama Releasing lit X. I.