The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • Page 149

(Drlanbdt Sentinel 5 Sunday, December 26, 1171 Movie's Motive: To Entertain i i a 1 i after hours ientinel goes to the movies (j, (i Mr A 4 "Tf ffi One of the better things that has happened to movies in recent years is playing at the Park West. It's the "The French Connection." Though many have overpraised this "escape" film, it is well worth seeing. THE REASON IS that it's entertaining. There is a message, but it does not overwhelm the movie, which is a gangster film about police efforts to recover a narcotics shipment in New York City. "Connection" tells a straight story, has some respect for its viewer's intelligence, and maintains dramatic situations that build with increasing tension from one scene to another.

It is a classic of its type. Director Bill Friedkin has portrayed a grim and sober New York City by shooting with available light. This grainy background adds to the believability of the story, which is based on a true incident. TEN YEARS AGO, two New York City narcotics detectives fumbled their way to recovering $32 million In heroin. It was the largest "bust" ever made.

Though this film does not resemble Robin Moore's book on the incident, it is probably a more interesting look at what might have happened. Gene Hackman is the only well-known actor in the film. He does a brilliant job of playing "Popeye" Doyle. Chances are he will at least-be nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of this hardened detective who is obsessed with catching narcotics dealers. Though the cops win in the end, the movie is not a pat on the back to good policemen everywhere.

Cops and narcotics pushers, for the most, are all amoral. THERE ARE NO GOOD guys and bad guys. Just antagonists, some of whom happen to be on "our side." This concept of police work in a big city is pretty Victorian England Featured In Area's Newest Film DOMINIC GUARD AS 'THE GO-BETWEEN For Alan Bates and Julie Christie (above), lovers in Semoran and Pine Hills Twin Theaters feature showing "The Crook," a French picture starring Jean-Louis Trintignant and. made by the same man who made "A Man and a Woman," Claude Lelouch. "Ginger" is playing at Semoran Twin Theater No, 1.

Also, "Dirty Harry" with Clint Eastwood at the Beacham and "The Gang That 1 dn't Shoot Straight" with Jerry Or-bach and Lionel Stander at the Seminole Cinema. ALSO CONTINUING throughout the week are the two Walt Disney Productions releases, "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" (Angela Lansbury) at Park East and "Lady and the Tramp," a cartoon feature, at the Plaza Rocking Chair. Theater in the Lounge is after hours the boy's world is shattered. The picture Is told in 1 a a by the boy grown into a withered, lonely old man (Redgrave). It was filmed entirely on location in rural Norfolk, much of it in a rambling Jacobean stately home, long the seat of the Earls of a i "The Go-Between" was taken from L.

P. Hartley's 1953 novel with its nostalgic evocation of a gentler era. THE OTHER eight new films announced last Sunday for Christmas weekend openings will continue through the New Year's weekend. They include "Straw Dogs," starring Dustin Hoffman, at the Pine Hills Twin Theater No. 1 as well as at the Colony in Winter Park; "Diamonds Are Forever," with Sean Connery as James Bond at the Parkwood Cinema; "The French Connection," starring Gene Hackman at the Park West.

Also, "Something Big" with Dean Martin and Brian Keith at Orange Blossom Twin Theater No. 1 and Northgate Triplex No. "Sometimes A Great Notion" with Paul Newman and Henry Fonda at Orange Blossom No. 2 and Northgate No. 2 and with Warren Beatty and Goldie Hawn at Northgate No.

3. i David Wilkening rTV Rt.l7-92fcLEERd. Winter Park. 644-6000 fhp njpstcfVIiigiqJ oic of ql! at the movies VMTDISNEYraooraotf Ijmsr VU By SUMNER RAND Sentinel Statf A highly praised British picture which evokes the elegance of Victorian England while relating a bittersweet love story has joined the parade of new films which opened for the, Christmas holidays. "The Go-Between," starring Julie Christie, Alan Bates, Margaret Leighton and Michael Redgrave, is now playing at the Semoran and Pine Hills Twin Theaters.

THE PICTURE is the newest screen collaboration between the duo who fashioned the highly acclaimed "Accident" and "The Servant," director Joseph Losey and screenwriter Harold Pinter. It's the story of the fall from innocence of a 13-year-old boy, played by Dominic Guard, who carries messages between Marian, an heiress, and Ted, her tenant farmer lover, roles played by Miss Christie and Bates. WHEN THE lovers are disco vered by Marian's mother (Miss Leighton), TECHNICOLOR" RNGELfl LRIISBURV AND- I- cartoon hlendsl 9:00 SORRY iKlift. no passb jv -ejaaial psa i (S0Wd0R) insane iris OPEN 1:45 much valid. It is also valuable, because it helps us to understand something about our system of law enforcement.

The story of how police work in this film is almost old-fashioned. It is straight-forwardly told, with few frills. Its advantage over older gangster films is that it has a faster pace than most of them, and it has some brilliantly exciting scenes. One of them is a wonderful action sequence where Doyle, driving a borrowed car, tries to catch up with a hired killer riding an elevated train. ACTUALLY FILMED IN New York City, at speeds of 70 to 80 miles an hour, this chase has already been called a classic.

Many compare it to the famous one in "Bullitt." Most of "Connection" is not as exciting as the chase, but it has suspense. And it refrains from messages, until the end, when viewers learn what happens to some of the narcotics pushers. They receive very light sentences. The biggest dealers escape. It is a very stark mesage, simply told, and it is an ironic contrast with the immense effort that went into apprehending the dealers.

"Connection" has an rating, probably due to Its language more than anything else. The language is realistic street talk, but there is little sex in the movie, and much less violence than in many other recent films. "CONNECTION" IS one of the best movies in a year that has not been notable for its good films. It is already being mentioned as an Academy Award contender. This seems particularly unusual when you consider that most Academy Award winners at least make a pretense of presenting a "social commentary." "Connection" has no such pretensions to relevance or anything else.

It is just good entertainment. raeuouT 3 rr. TO TV PoueE mt fw liliiililiiim iHi TODAY! DON'T MESS AROUND WITH A GREEN BERET'S MAMA! 7:00 12:00 THRILLER!" BIQGE3T PICTDBBS or THE TEARS 3 Time Magazine da AT 2:20 4:15 6:05 8:00 AND 9:55 ft ACADEMY AWARDS 'The No Liquor on Sundayl Showing at Claude Lelouch's COLOR 7:00 PAUL NEWMAN ROBERT REOFORD Zr nunnrnt Uflf BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID Jean-Louis Trintignant COLOR IN COLOR AT 2:35 ROBERT FULLER 'THE HARD RIDE' in color "nas, AT9.05 Xflft Tripl Theatre 299-7340 AT 10(10 COLOR 3 TT I Owngo Blossom Twin Theatret" (W UliWimiHIIKMIlrf Oronqe Blossom Center 859-0230 SORRY tee Edgewattr Dr. Orlando NO PASSES I I HO FIRST 0UTD00lt SHOWING 1 1 KPJ ORLANDO'S FINEST THEATRES PRESENT THE FINEST IN HOLIDAY ENTERTAINMENT 3 I aiHTIASTWOOP I III Vs ff COLOR 1 1 100 DONALD SUTHERLAND I "PUY MISTY TOR MI" AI rS ELLIOTT GOULD II fl TODAY 6 5:20 9:40 niftiest chase sequence since silent films." Paul 0. Zimmermen, Newsweek "I sat on the edge of my seat.

I don't know of a more exciting movie entertainment today!" -HoIn Alptrt, Seturdiy Review "Smashing entertainment. A supreme movie-movie!" -Judith Crist, New York Miguin taunt til GPj COLOR 7lOO AND 10:23 'mm BTrnm MM Lr-a CoodS COLOR 7100 10:25 DEAN MARTIN BRIAN KEITH TV? WESTERN I PETER "something big" SELLERS GOLDIE A CINCM CENTCR FILMS PREStNTATKW A NATIONAL MNEHALPCTUnfSntLFASF TTCMMCdOR" GP HAWN TODAY Whert your nightmares UJilMRD beglm. iiar RICK3S0 J3CXEI LlllCa UUJSOn CUFF POTTS OV AN CANNON IUCHARDCRLNNA mm DCTR5, UJIVE5 1 jjjjgy Ntwmm Fortran Pwtwt teHNICaOR-rNAVISION, 3s Jm 2a ClN'UdT-FOkt BUSSi TODAY 10:00 iiiuj RRRefl B6ATTV ni wanta is ib. omi uk)oil thim mt THB CMMVUM IN MKMNISt. NIMMS MIOM UCNT.

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