Star Tribune from Minneapolis, Minnesota · Page 84

PAGE F10 STAR TRIBUNE SUNDAY,APRIL211996 OT MOVIES Jossi Fi V 'r J L lJGL J- Liz! Vod. thru Sun., Apr. 24-28 DAYTON'S HUDSON'S ,; on $13)0 reserved sat tickets with TREATSEAT3 csxws avafcbte at parttctpating , laroet, Mwyirt Caifwrta and Daytort stores. Courtesy ol Reserved Seats: All Shows $13.00 VIP Seating $17.00 General Admission: Adults and Children $7.00 Al prices include tax & facity fee. Wecresdaji April 24. 730 pm Thusdqi Aprl25110 am, 730 pm Fflday; Apri 26. .1 AO pm, 730 pm SatudAprt27 12 ran, 730pm Sunday; Apri 2a 130 pm, 530 pm Tickets now on sate at the Ziiirah Shrine Club (8714123), the Target Center box office and al Tidcetmaster outlets. Trie proceeds lor Kb cfcus are l toe tanel it the ZJnH Snrrt TKKITSiT TICKS Including Dayton's and MervyrVs California OUfiGf-BY-PKONE (612) 888-6151 Ma am Mnaf .au urti TkMa Mfeiwt to flanvantonM stag.. J7licrob llo Circus Like A Shrina Circus" IV' " H lUfJCO) Colt. lr.!)lL I .' - - - hi, in-run- iifiniiiT---- -mm, at ' t I . . 7 -f'l - ; J From 'Dennis? to 'Jane Eyre ByJeffStrickler Star Tribune Staff Writer British actress Joan Plow-right has starred for the theater world's most-respected institutions, including the Old Vic Company and the Royal National Theater. In films, her elegant demeanor has graced such high-brow productions as "Enchanted April" (for which she was nominated for an Oscar) and "Equus." She's won a Tony Award for "A Taste of Honey" on Broadway and was nominated for an Emmy for HBO's "Stalin." So, how is she most-often identified when she's recognized by fans? "They yell, 'Hey, Mrs. Wilson!' " she related with a chuckle. It was her appearance in 1993's "Dennis the Menace" that introduced the grande dame of the British stage to the American masses. Far from feeling insulted that she's best known for such a lightweight movie, Plowright takes great pleasure in it, especially when she's recognized as Mrs. Wilson while in the company of her grandchildren. "I was on a trip with them," she recalled during a telephone call from New York. "We went to a motel swimming pool, and all the little children came running up to me saying, 'Mrs. Wilson! Mrs. Wilson!' It's fun. In fact, I just finished doing Disney's live-action remake of ' 101 Dalmatians,' which is another one for my grandchildren." It's a testament to her dramatic range that she can go from playing Mrs. Wilson in "Dennis the Menace" to Mrs. Fairfax in "Jane Eyre," which expanded from a limited run Friday. It surprises her, with her old-school dramatic training, when younger actors marvel at her range. "In films these days, people just sort of play themselves, I guess," she said. "To me, range is just part of one's training as an English actor. If you are trained as a classical actor, you play a scullery maid one night and Lady Macbeth the next night You are stretching the whole time." Director Franco Zeffirelli approached her directly about appearing in his adaptation of the Charlotte Bronte novel. Plowright was thrilled by the offer to play Mrs. Fairfax, a kindly housekeeper who takes Jane under her loving and protective wing. "I have been fascinated by the Brontes since I read the book 'Jane Eyre' when I was 10," she said. "Emily and Charlotte clearly were touched by genius. In 'Jane Eyre' and 'Wuthering Heights,' they wrote two of the greatest romance novels ever, books that have never been out of print. When I was young, I made two pilgrimages to the boarding school where they lived." After marrying Laurence Olivier in 1961, Plowright, 66, worked only sporadically while raising their three children. Her husband's death in 1989 allowed her to begin a film career that took off with her Oscar nomination in 1992. "When my husband was running his theater, I saw films only very occasionally," she said. "Now Of course, he lives in Holly- : wood, where celebrity marriages ; aren't noted for their longevity. In fact, he thinks one reason his marriage has lasted so long is that his wife not only isn't involved in : show business, she has no interest in it. . "My wife and I were going out : to dinner a couple of weeks ago '. with Bob Altaian and his wife," Mazursky said of the director who made "MASH," "Nashville" and! "The Player." "As we're walking :' into the restaurant, she turns to me and says, 'What movies has he made?' " "Faithful" began as a play writ-'' men, f j k j ii Photo by CBveCoofe Joan Plowright, left, and Charlotte Galnsbourg in "Jane Eyre." Plowright thinks it's a bonus having film opportunities so late In her career. I'm quite madly in love with films. It has been like a bonus from heaven to have such opportunities so late on in one's career." . Any thoughts of retirement? "None," she said. "I'm having too much fun." Happily ever after An armchair psychiatrist might look at the fact that Paul Mazursky has directed so many movies about strained marriages from "Bob & Ted & Carol & and Alice" to "An Unmarried Woman" to the current "Faithful" and conclude that his own track record with marriage is not very good. But in this case, art does not reflect life. "My wife and I have been married for 40 years," he said. "We have a great relationship. But I've always been intrigued by the fact that most people can't handle it We don't know two other couples , who have been married more than 25 years." ten by and starring Chazz '. Palminteri. It is the first movie ', Mazursky has made from a script ; he didn't write himself. Asked why he decided to change his approach this time, he said, "It's not that I ' don't read scripts by other peo- pie. I read them all the time. I finally read one I liked." ; The dark comedy stars Pal- '. minted as a hit man sent to kill Cher. He's been told by her hus-band (Ryan O'Neal) that she's I; cheating on him. But Cher says it's.' O'Neal who's cheating, news that throws the hit man into a moral ; quandary. The whole story takes place one night in one house, but don't get the idea that ;' the limited locale makes it easier to film, Mazursky said. "It's much easier to make a movie with a car chase," he said. ! ; "That takes energy and time, but : ' it's not difficult. It's much harder ; ' to capture real people." Critic's choice 'Oliver' gets a dog's eye view, in a Twist on the classic story ii .in . , . i l n .in.ii.in.il qui in . Photo The Watt Disney Company A street-smart canine named Dodger (right) takes and stray kitten (Oliver) under his paw In "Oliver & Company," Disney's twist on "Oliver Twist" Youngsters will have so much fun watching "Oliver & Company" that adults may not want to tell them that it's not just a cute animated film. It's actually an adaptation of a classic noveL This upbeat musical adventure, originally released in 1988 and now back in theaters, is based on Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist." The title character (voice by Joey Lawrence) is a New York City kitten orphaned when a rainstorm washes away the cardboard box it calls home. The vulnerable kitten is saved from death in the dog-eat-cat world when it's taken in by a band of street mongrels led by Dodger (singer Billy Joel), "the coolest quadruped" in the city. The filmmakers borrowed a technique developed by the late Walt Disney for 1955's "Lady and the Tramp." Director George Scribner blocked out the scenes on real streets, then photographed them with cameras mounted 18 inches off the ground. The animators used the photos as templates to provide a real dog's-eye view of the action. JeffS trickier Openings Friday: "The Celluloid Closet" - V "Last Summer in the Hamptons' "Loaded" : "Sunset Park" : "The Truth About Cats & Dogs" '.; "White Balloon" : Movie review line ;: C'TjjT? The Star Tribune's Movie:' Review Line has reviews ;' available by phone 24 hours a day. To listen to a review, call 673-9055' from a touch-tone phone and en- ter the four-digit category of the I review you want to hear. New releases : "Celtic Pride" 5513" "The Last Supper" 5514 "Mrs.Winterbourne" 5516 "Mystery Science Theater 3000" 5520 "The Substitute" 5530 Long runs "All Dogs Go To Heaven 2" ... 5503 "Angels and Insects" 55021 "Anne Frank Remembered" .5507. "Antonia's Line" 5501; "The Birdcage" ; 5505: "Dead Man Walking" 5504-' "Diabolique" 5515.' "Ed" 5525! "Executive Decision" ..... 5528 "Faithful" 5508; "A Family Thing" 5506- "Fargo" 5510; "Fear" 551 1; "Flirting with Disaster" ......... 55241 "Grumpier Old Men" 551? "Homeward Bound II" 5512 "James and the Giant Peach" 5522; "Jane Eyre" 5526. "Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy" ;. 552?; "The Living Sea" 5531- "Once Upon a Time . . . When We Were Colored" 5532- "Primal Fear 5509: "Sgt Bilko" 5514 "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate" 5529-