Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 55

St. Pftenburg Tlmtf, Monday, October 4, 1971 3-D MOVIE REVIEWS ti 7 Sweetback' Overtly Violent A A est chases in movie history as Sweetback evades the law enforcers. BV T1IK KM) of the chase you are hoping for his escape, if for no other reason than his indomitable will to survive. You forget that he has annihilated several of the California police department. Regrettably for the film, you almost forget that he was at the outset of this chase an innocent man.

It is a confusing film, filled with moments of meaningless passages of fantasy far too personal to be fully understood by anyone. VAX PEEBLES makes his point with a clobber over the head. The film's violence Is hurtful to watch, no matter who or what the object of violence might be. Close views of skinned dogs floating in a river or festering sores, inhuman tortures and loveless sexual extravaganzas tell us nothing new about the inhuman- OLIVKIi I'KKSCOTT Tim Onmt Crilit "Sweet Svvcetback playing at the State Theatre, Is dedicated "to all those brothers and sisters who have had enough of the Man." Singlchandcdly it almost evens the score for all those movies in which blacks were displayed as subhuman menials, or worse. At least its purpose seems to be to combine all the forces of film to voice a reaction to prejudice In film and In reality.

With bizarre Images and dizzying visual effects, the film draws our attention to one man who is innocent until driven to a passionate defense of one of his race being brutally beaten by two policemen. The rest of the movie concentrates on perhaps one of the long O'Toole Returns As Irish Lawrence Ity of man to man. The words flashed over the final scene make Van Peebles' Intention clear: An eye for an eye. "Sweet Sweetback makes an important reminder even with its faults that cinema can be an artistic expression of one's self. It may not be pretty, nor void of its own prejudices, but like a ricrtolt Drecht phy or a George Grosz drawing, it lets you know where it's at as far as the creator is concerned.

As an expression of Van Peeble's attitudes it is a stunning, albeit shattering experience. Staff Theatre, ttf Centra) Avenue, "Sweet Sweetback Melvlit Van Peebles Mm starring Melvin Van Peebles and The Slack Community. Rated X. OTHER VIEWS OF 'SWEET Uy IIOLLIE I. NEST Washington Pott Service WASHINGTON What stirs the wrath of the black community more than whites shaping unflattering stereotypes of blacks? Answer: Blacks adopting and furthering such stereotypes.

This social reality is brought home hard by the hue and cry in the black community about the black-made movie, "Sweet Swectback's Baadasssss Song." The story of a black supcrstud who copulates in every other scene, kills two white policemen and escapes to Mexico, has provoked bitter controversy. Opponents say it degrades blacks, especially women in the no-holds-barred sex scenes. Proponents hail it as beginning a new era in black film-making. Black film critics generally praised it. is By VINCENT CANBV New York Times Service (c) The story of Sweet Sweetback's flight, a journey made eventually intolerable not only by the hardships and the duplicity of even white counter-culturalists like the Hells Angels, but by the simplistic sensationalism of the treatment and the eye-disorienting visual style that substitutes, film school technical complexities for dramatic content.

There may be some irony intended, but it does seem to me a white that a film about black militancy dcscrvesH sterner discipline if it wants to avoid charges of exploitation. Mini-Review (zff g5y The symbols used above indicate there Is profanity, violence, sex and nudity In "Sweet Sweetback They are all there in abundance. in a lengthy, but exciting sequence which is the most thrilling moment of the film. The take off is amazing; the flying is Incredible. It is an experience which you will enjoy with vicarious delight as O'Toole (stuntman) brings the plane under a zig-zag kind of control.

Next in line for citations is the German submarine whose mere presence on the screen Is far more forbidding than any of the Germans on board. And one gold star must surely go to the old barge that finally puts an end to everything and nearly everybody. The direction of the film is sound and inventive. Without being hokey, Peter Yates gets some nice angle shots of the Mini-Review plane and the sub as well as O'Toole. There are lapses of logic but that is due to the screenplay, and you needn't bother about that since you can't really understand half of it anyway.

If you like philosophy with your Hollywood fare, you might concentrate on whether or not Murphy is a good or bad guy no matter how charming he might be. It is his kind that keep wars going when every one else wants them to stop. And if you prefer no moralizing, you'll still enjoy this rather effective Hollywood war picture which is entertaining in a mindless way. J. OLIVER PRESCOTT Loew's, 3150 Fifth Avtnu "Murphy's War," scrtenplay by Sterling Sit-liphant, baud on the novel by Max Catto, directed by Peter Yates.

The cast: Peter O'Toole. Philippe Noiret, Sian Phillips, Horst, Janson and others. Rated CP. ANOTHER VIEW OF 'MURPHY'S WAR' By ROGER GREENSPUN New York Times Service (c) How long has it been since you've seen a new movie, not some television rerun, that Grinning, shivering, mumbling, teeth-clenching O'Toole returns to the screen in "Murphy's War," now playing at Loew's, St. Petersburg.

Peter O'Toole proved himself an excellent actor in "Lawrence of Arabia." His tense, Intelligent, slightly depraved Lawrence was so good, in fact, that O'Toole's been playing him ever since. "Murphy's War" Is no exception. This time O'Toole plays an unruly Irishman whose fiery purpose is to bring vengeance to the Germans even after the war Is officially over. With 4hat innocently horrified look left over from Lawrence and with heavy Gaelic brogue, he rapidly discusses his various plans with Philippe Noiret. Noiret portrays a rather sad-eyed man with a heavy French accent.

If you can understand every word they say, you should apply to the U.N. for a job as interpreter. The real stars of "Murphy's War" are the machines. And the real hero of the movie is the stuntman who flies an old relic of a World War II plane takes you Inside a U-boat when the fatal depth charge strikes? The bursting tanks, the frantic crew, the guttcral cries of throats straining against the roar of the water higher and higher there is perhaps no form of man's inhumanity to man quite so emotionally satisfying to the death lust of the normal moviegoer than the instant preparation of a watery grave for the predators to whom, until that second, submersion had meant safety. Some of the emotional satisfaction (though not exactly the situation) carries over into parts of Peter Yates's "Murphy's War," which has Peter O'Toole as Murphy, the sole survivor of a World War II torpedo attack, using whatever means at his disposal to wreak single-handed vengeance on the German U-boat that sank his ship and then methodically gunned down the helpless crew.

"Murphy's War" Is blessed with a very fine cast that is quite simply never allowed the time or the involvement with one another to make an ensemble performance. Melvin Van Peebles The symbol used above indicates there is profanity in "Murphy's War." SPECIAL OFFER FOR OCTOBER No Bra Unfitting For Fit Diamond TJ AmAim tin rf 1 Center LEGAL PADS ff Exquisite designs all executed to your BUY 2 DOZ. AT 3.80 dor. GET ANOTHER DOZEN FREE! Ann Landers PARTY MAGIC With MONKEY POD BOWLS The perfect highlight to on dinner part or get-together is monkey pod mixing and serving bowls from the world's largest gift shop. Imported from the Philippines, these beautiful bowls improve with age and usage.

Ideal for salads, nuts, dip or hon d'oeurves, $4.50 $10.98. SUNKEN GARDENS GIFT SHOP, 1825 4th STREET NORTH, ST. PETERSBURG as low as $25 'iVr -i I'legat'i'Viififr '-ff i Alt i al Kia ii Aw gAViiaSie iiliV' 1 1 BankAmericard. "our reputation is your guarantee" GILBERT JEWELERS 364-1st AVE, NO. P.K..

Smith and James M. Smith Serving our area since 1925 326 Central St. Petersburg: 896-8121 123 So. Garden Clearwater; 4460578 woman is not thinking clearly. In my opinion the best solution would be to put the furniture in storage.

She is young, I gather from your letter, and hopefully she will yet have a baby of her own. says I am better educated, will be a better hostess, a better helpmate and a better mother for his children. He also says I will undoubtedly be a more faithful wife to him. I have told him several times that I think we should break up and that he should marry her. He says, "No my mind is made up." I love him very much and everything is fine until we run into his ex someplace and then I see that look in his eyes and in hers, too.

What do you think, Ann? Should I marry him? The Large Q. DEAR Not unless you are willing to live a lifetime knowing you are second choice. What Is French kissing? Is It wrong? Who should set the necking limits the boy or the girl? Can shotgun wedding succeed? Read Ann Landers' booklet, "Teen-Age Sex Ten Ways To Cool It." Send 50 cents In coin and a long, sell-addressed, stamped envelope to The St. Petersburg Times. DEAR ANN LANDERS: I am a young married woman (under 30), no square and certainly not a prude.

I'm writing about something that has been bugging me for a long time. I realize you can't do anything about it but I must get this off my chest. What's with these slobs who think it's sexy and "with it" to go without a bra. I can't tell you how many times, while walking on the street with a casual friend, or my dad, or my husband, and I see, coming toward us, a cowlike female, her breasts flopping around. It is embarrassing and disgusting.

A person doesn't know where to look or what to say. And this is only part of it. I work three days a week in a dress shop. You wouldn't believe the women who come in here to try on expensive dresses with no bras, and sometimes no underwear. I refuse to wait on these pigs and my boss has backed me up.

Flease publish this letter so it can be tacked up in every fitting room in the country. Then, instead of having to say something, the salesperson need only point to your column on the wall. Much obliged. Hollywood. DEAR MUCH: Here's the expecting her first baby In a few months.

The family got together and furnished her nursery, complete with organdy curtains. A great deal of thought and imagination went into that project, aside from the money. A few days ago Lila gave birth to a premature baby. He lived only a few hours. Lila is heartsick and, in my opinion, not thinking clearly.

She instructed me to phone her sister-in-law and ask her to send her husband with the semi and take everything out of the nursery. The relatives are very upset. They say they did not buy this furniture for Lila's sister-in-law. I believe they have a point. What's the best solution to this knotty problem Hedda In Erie DEAR HEDDA: I agree with you that the young 4.

Second Has Choice DEAR ANN LANDERS: I am in love with the man I plan to marry in a few months. He is in love with his ex-girlfriend. If you think I am crazy, let me assure you I am not. Fred and I have discussed this in detail and I know the facts. He agrees that I have them straight.

His reasoning is simple. He says I would make a much better wife for him than his former sweetheart. He states quite openly that she is more beautiful, more sexually appealing and more exciting, but he 7 4. mm locolife for complete coverage el clue, social, culturol end enlerteinment V. activities.

1(11 Will i i. 'fit- 1 hi r- i. c. lA Evrninf Independent ozrfiticA A 4 ysyi i i i i i i column and I hope it helps. But prepare yourself for a shock.

Some of those sloppy broads can't read. Gift Causes Rifr DEAR ANN LANDERS: A personal family problem: Can you shed a little light on an already overheated argument? My young cousin was 1 I Custom mm LAB03 iMfiunm 7 72H KIUTED LINED FABRICS tl Q1 fR IN ANTIQUE SATIN DAC8CH MINOM It AY SHEER FLOCKS WOHAiR PRINTS I CUSTOM DRAPERIES SLIPCOVERS UPHOlSTEftr SAVE 10 to 20 For Penonalized Senke CALL KEII (Tonr Bti'te't Drm'utnr) DAY OR EVENING APPTS. (PHONE 347-3262) BATISTE SHEETS AND MANY OTHERS SMIL FINDINGS CHARCE SPECIALIZE IN FESTOCNS, SWAGJ, AUSTRIAN AND JABOTS FOR FREE SHOP AT HOME SERVICE DIAL 527-5821 or 527-5322 We Carry On of the largest Stock of Drapery Fabric in the South iCir r-icf dark, S2cUlM.fev, Cerrrtva-ter; J)MtK(JJ 'JSspori K9 i CORTS REDI-MADE DRAPERIES INC. SHADES lEDIMEADS UPH01STERT SLIPCOVERS 2S10 34th ST. NO.

(ST. PETE PLAZA) Serving St. Petersburg Arts for 1 1 i.