Philadelphia Daily News from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 33

PHILADELPHIA DAILY HEWS THURSDA MARCH 23, JJ72 33 Godfather': Gangster Movie Supreme Bv JOE BALTAKE 1'' tography is most moody: Outdoor scenes are "bleached out," while the dimly-lit indoor sequences have a subtle sepia quality. The violence in the film is quite valid and very detailed. Coppola, luckily, is a filmmaker who knows when to quit, and never needlessly prolongs the gore. Beyond its violence, the most frightening aspect of "The Godfather" is its sentimental manner of presenting the Cerleones. They remain very likable people throughout even while slaughtering and destroying.

At the screening I attended, the audience mistook them for heroes, and applauded and AL PACINO and DIANE KEATON visions of Bogart and Sheridan MARLON BRANDO in complete control Corleone's loyal "adopted" son, Tom. You always believe in Duvall. The film's emotional level is equaled (and often exceeded) by its visual beauty. Coppola has giveii the production the "grand opera" treatment not unlike V'isconti. And Gordon Willis' cinema cheered their every victory.

It was jolting. "The Godfather" runs a full-bodied 175 minutes, but fear not, you'll be mesmerized for every one of those L0 16001 Market at 16m OPEN FROM 9:30 A.M. 10:00,1:05.4:10, 7:25,10:35 ZTSi II and the benefit and pleasure is all ours. Ably abetting Brando as two of his sons are Al Pacino and James Caan. Both turn in memory-filled performances: Pacino's quiet strength is reminiscent of Bogart, while Caan epitomizes Cagney with his cockiness and electric temper.

For further memories, there's leading lady Diane Keaton whose passive beauty generates visions of Ann Sheridan and Gladys George. Finally, Robert Duvall best remembered as the religious nut in "MASH" is particularly admirable as Don Every other recent film-even the superior ones seem pale alongside the towering achievement of "The Godfather," a gangster movie supreme. The R-rated production opened yesterday at the Fox. In bringing Mario Puzo's sprawling novel to the screen, director Francis Ford Coppola has miraculously avoided the obvious pitfalls concomitant with the filming of successful literary works. Sensationalism and gore although a vital part of the movie have been kept pretty much in tow.

Rather, Coppola stresses atmosphere, characterization, sentiment and emotion the stuff of which pure movie-movies are made. The Puzo novel has been wisely relegated to the background, providing an all-important foundation on which characters and situations are conceived and refined. What emerges is a broad-shouldered soap opera with the same gutsy atmosphere of yesteryear's popular gangster flick. To convey Puzo's fable of the all-powerful Corleone family, Coppola has assembled a peerless cast. As Don Corleone, the revered and feared family head, Marlon Brando delivers a thoroughly professional, well-thought-out portrayal one which is mercifully free of his usual twitchy mannerisms.

The great actor is in complete control of his creativity here, Concert Rescheduled The Philadelphia Orchestra concert of Feb. 19, which was cancelled because of inclement weather, has been rescheduled for 8:30 P. M. April 6, in the Academy of Music-Works by Mendelssohn and Bruckner will be performed, with pianist Rudolf Serkin as soloist. T(i Alt Mew MITE CLUB II illBi JlllStll Hwllli Illtlt! II 3 I GO-GO ontinuoiis Revue 1- 0TEL xSRSfi 1 I Sl! Hi ft tat bin I CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY II 3 UUl I I i-w-Smwo 1 1 I te'i i immbi I.I1L67 gywVSTl SiSMj fuMEpli Ifano Ptiafrariets Fard CoppoiH a ES3 Mon.

thru Entertainment Srif. 8 pn to 2 am Ava-Susie Cindy $ue-Kathy Joyce Donna and Londa Top-Less Entertainment at its best. Drills KEXDKSVOIS inciter irc hop lym (1 Mile 3f nHIRPtlRTt id lev Township. Delaware Co 2 1. From MCM, CHOICE SEATS TODAY 8 P.M.

TOMORROW AT 8.30 P.M. I ftZ 1 XW the comDanv that BOX OFFICE OPEN DAILY NOON TO 9 PM. I gM 00 COmPV at I 1 WW Kt HMUhl in Ml WIMMUMH. I 1.1 fdV gave you I I tT-ini falt I nam ut( i nit mum. cmr I JKl 1 iiw i hkstnut 4mm He hit the an KKtMKtttKKttHtKHKHKHHHitHtitiiisssssKf't ut for $3 million.

UMM Right where it hurts. Qf AC ADEkVIY AWARD 1 1 d.amonds. Try something stupid beside martinis on all three floors Home of the new FRENCH CONNECTION Cocktail DISCOTHEQUE RESTAURANT On Bank Street In Society Hill Tel: 922-9222 I mo i-ow. Fresh Fish Daily Open. Sundays Parking next door 1 620 Ludlow Street LO 7 4333 block South of Market Two Bars One for Oyjf ers g-J aIii 11 I fmfT 'te And baby, that scold.

I JOINER OF 6 1 ACADEMY 'iwwmm thiahi We're open again under new management for fine lunching and dining in. an atmosphere specially created for a nostalgic trip back in time to a land that once was. Dine in the famed jail cell, the carousel, the Rolls-Royce, the fire engine or at a table beside a gurgling waterfall. We are easy to find, pleasant to drive to, with plenty of parking for you when you arrive. LUNCHEON COCKTAILS -DINNER -SUPPER SUNDAY DINNER 1-10 P.M.

MAIN LOCK IN MANAYUNK 487-0196 THE WAR HO.