Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 63

o) 3-D ekbusfer movies 'THE TOWERING INFERNO' 'THE GODFATHER, PART II' Sf. Ptfbufg Tirno, Fridoy, Ooombof 30, 1974 smiljanich III MY on film chitect, manages to look iust a trifle too unconcerned during some of the more terrifying sequences. As if perhaps he recognized that he were not the star and that he, as well as everyone else in the cast (which includes Steve McQueen, Faye Dunaway and William Holden) was being hopelessly upstaged by the movie's true star: its spectacular special effects. It is after all a whole host of stuntmen who give the most gripping performances and those are usually executed at a great distance while enveloped in flame. THERE ARE THOSE who love disaster movies; those who love to sit precariously on the edge of their theatre seat ana watch in disbelief and terror as catastrophe after catastrophe is visited upon their fellow men, who either triumph and survive (saying something supposedly about man's indomitable nature) or are destroyed and killed (saying something about man's inconsequential Well whatever else, "Towering Inferno" proves that although Steve McQueen is smaller than disaster-king Charlton Heston he's every bit as tough and teamed up with Paul Newman, he can be as successful.

Newman's son, Scott, who has a small role as a scared fireman in the movie, visited the area recently on a promotional tour. He said that "The Towering Inferno" was the disaster movie to end all disaster movies. Let's hope so. By DOROTHY SMILJANICH St. P4rtavrf Tlmat Oram CrllK Rarely does it happen that a sequel surpasses the original, but it has happened with "The Godfather: Part II." The movie is a complex, incredibly rich story so much so in fact that it is in danger, at a number of points, of losing its integral unity and collapsing beneath the weight of its own complexity.

Francis Ford Coppola, the radical young director who claims to be more at home in single-minded, tight movies like "The Conversation," reportedly resisted the idea of doing a sequel to his original smash "The Godfather." But apparently Paramount made him an offer he couldn't refuse and so, without Brando, he went to work in league with author Mario Puzo to come up with "Part II." THE RESULT is a three-hour, 20-minute-long epic that moves nimbly back and forth in time, tracing the arrival of the young boy who later grew up to be Vito "The Godfather" Corleone from Italy at the turn of the century to son Michael's troubles as the new Don. The young Vito is played by Robert De Niro, and Brando's performance in the original is preserved in this sequel by De Niro, who must have felt compelled to imitate as the young Vito the slurred and garbled speech pattern created by Brando as the elder Vito. At least half of this film chronicles the rise of the young Vito out of the Italian ghetto in New York City via crime. The audience witnesses his first murder, a particularly brutal act in which Vito, having already shot his victim, coolly places the barrel of the gun in his victim's mouth and pulls the trigger. IN SPITE of De Niro's masterful performance, the motivation for Vito's entry into a life of crime is never made clear.

The film as a whole is threatened by the tension which exists when the movie's protagonists are also its villains. Try as Coppola may in the last reel of this film to make Michael seem evil, he has spent far too much time making us understand him, and it is almost impossible to judge harshly that which we truly understand. Unfortunately, the effect of these two movies is to make heroes of the Corleone Dons and, to the extent that the audience leaves honoring them, Coppola fails he has been unable to explore that netherworld without idealizing it. Pacino turns in a performance of great depth and power as Michael, but Coppola cuts so short the scenes between Michael and his wife Kay (played by Diane Keaton, who is never so good By DOROTHY SMILJANICH It Pitor ifcwf TMmt Drama CfttK With "The Towering Inferno," disaster movies have come of age. It is big.

It is immensely engaging. And above everything else, it is terrifying. It is not, however, subtle. Nor careful in its development of character. Nor is the outcome much of a surprise.

It seems the development of the disaster movie as a genre has generated its own limitations. Nearly everyone who goes to see "Towering Inferno" already knows what it's about They go not to see a movie unwind before them, carrying them along with its tale; but instead they go knowing full well what to expect and the excitement lies only in seeing how well the spectacular disaster is executed. IN THIS JU-MILLION Warner Century Fox joint venture, the disaster is executed very well indeed. Nearly three hours in length, the film spends a relatively short time establishing locale or interpersonal relationships. People are defined for the audience very quickly so that the filmmakers can get on.

with the true reason the audience has assembled: to ogle spectacular, stunning, terrifying disaster. To generate even additional excitement and anticipation, the audience is made aware that the fire has begun some time before it becomes apparent to the characters in the movie. Thus the irony of the celebration at the opening of the world's tallest skyscraper is heightened by our knowledge of impending disaster. THE MOVIE IS considerably more sophisticated than any of its predecessors, including the highly touted "Poseidon Adventure." The characters are a bit more convincing (but still insufficiently so) and the acting is a great deal better than it was in "Poseidon," although Paul Newman, who plays a basically honest ar The mother of Vito Corleone, in a flashback to Sicily, holds a knife to the throat of an enemy to save her son in 'The Godfather: fart as she is when with Woody Allen) that motivation for her departure also is difficult to fathom. THE FILM'S greatest problem, however, is that it is too sweeping; as if Coppola wanted to be done for once and forever with the Corleone family and threw in everything he knew about them.

How much easier it would have been to have made two films from this sequel: one about the young Vito Corleone and the other about Michael. But that is not what the artist decided to do and there is little to be gained by trying to double-think the movie's creator. Instead acknowledgement should be given the film for its sweep and scope and a style so distinctive that Coppola must be credited with creating something entirely fresh and inimitable the hallmarks of a first-rate artist. Mini-review Mini-review ittd PC. The Ttwtclnfl Interna" It pUylne tt Cattway Mall Clnama and fha Tyrana Swara Six Thaatra in SI.

Patart-bwj. It contains pralanlty and vwlcnca. Raltd "Tha Cadlathar: Part II" it thawing at rha Firth Avtntw Clnama. It canlalnt viol.net and pratanlty. Mickey Rooney's public laughs hide private hurt SUCOASH (IS ma nan coe sappears You have to talk with his partner and friend Jack Kreeg and the rest of the cast to understand why, and even forgive those fibs he told during the quick autographing.

Question: Aren't your sons here with you? Mickey says "No" but that's not true Back stage now are Mickey Rooney Jr. and brother Tim Rooney eager to get back to talking with their old man. And question: What is Mickey Rooney doing on his Christmas Day in St. Petersburg when the theatre is dark? shoots back, "flying to my home in Fort Lauderdale" said with something that sounds like hurt, or hope because that's not true either He's already asked the cast to come over to his rented suite here and he'll cook the dinner. AND THE REST of the story, according to his friends: "Mickey is broken right in half.

That last divorce notice came right out of left field a couple months ago. Stunned, that's the He's young Puck, growing bald but still going strong. He's Mickey Himself Rooney, the original, an explosion of perpetual energy that propels him across stages, even this little stage, swaggering and waddling and mugging, giving them all the "baggy pants" comedian tricks in the books. When the play's over, he comes out for a straight-on greeting to this Country Dinner Playhouse crowd, telling them the laugh's the thing, that's the only purpose here because people need a laugh and if they didn't like the show don't tell their friends, let them come and get ripped off too. THEN FASTER THAN you think an autographing session is possible, he races a pen across those extended books Memories," $1, hawked gently and apologetically earlier by the cocktail waitresses along the tables) then he's gone.

There are no interviews, no mixing in the lobby as with the others in the cast The Rooney dynamo stops smiling and di- word. Mick thought everything was okay, that this marriage was it Sure, Mick is not an easy man to live with But he's a family man, he wants to be married He falls in love easy and he will do it again. But right now, it's a trying time for him. Work, the theatre, that's his life He's the same on stage and off, a caged lion offstage but he gets out there and plays golf. He'll be at a place called Sunset here.

Mickey is so talented. fabulous, the man can do anything But he hates night club life with a passion. He doesn't drink any more and that night club life is the worst kind of life. Broadway has tried to get him for a one man show and there's not enough money. He's just finished a movie in Israel, "Ra-chael's Man" behind schedule when he came but ahead of schedule when Mick left.

All that money he made that's a big myth. When he was making millions for MGM, his contract said $200,000 a year for any number of films and sometimes that would be 14 pictures a year. Mickey, they'd say, "get back up there and work" he was a machine for them He did work from the time he was 2, with his dad Joe Yule right on through these years and now he's 54 and more people in the world recognize Mickey than any other actor In Italy they call him Macoroni His money didn't go to alimony but to the managers. When a talent makes money there's always smart guys around to help him "manage it" it's called the great rip off. MICKEY HAS ASKED the cast over for Christmas dinner; he'll do the cooking No, there's no chance to get back with his wife but they're just letting the legalities go for the holidays.

"What'll we do in Mick's to him tell that man can sit at a piano and en tertain you!" (See SUNCOASTING, 14-D) Mild tranquilizers can be fatal, too ANN LANDERS 10 OFF SALE STOREWIDE BOTH STORES CttSKEtfMBttBaCEttEttfitt 1 being heavy. I've been a large person from the day I was born. I have no thyroid problem, but I just can't get my weight down. I've tried every gimmick and diet under the sun. In some parts of the world I'd be considered sexy, but this NEEDLEPOINT! 8 2 irewei, Kug nooning SPECIALTY: 8 2 Your Originals I 8 crazy American idea that 8 I or Ours.

THREAONEEDLI ST. fJ "skinny is beautiful" has glorified the emaciated and underfed woman. I'm living in the 8 DEAR ANN LANDERS: Is it possible to take a fatal overdose of tranquilizers? I mean something mild, like Miltown? Yesterday I had a date to go shopping with a friend. When I went by to pick Margaret up she was sound asleep. Her sister let me in the house.

It took me a good half hour to shake her awake. She couldn't remember how many Miltowns she had taken, but she swore they were harmless. Although Margaret claims it's the only thing that relaxes her, she moves like a zombie most of the time and I'm worried sick about her. Please tell me she is right that these pills are harmless. I'll sleep a lot better tonight.

Con I07W CuH lovl.rard Trtoturt lilond. wrong century. Miss Placed 3325 Tyrone BWtLfty 8 PH0NE 8 4669 Cull 81 'd Dolphm V.lloqt Si P.i.alw.q Brock 160 0338 FlonJo 33706 M010J5 "A Sale So Great" that only Pacer could do it! And only Jim Willis would dare do it before Christmas! 8 347J8S8 DEAR MISS: You are also living in the wrong century. Go Htttcac Ear tags sat ta ess sa2 through any art museum and look at the paintings by Rubens Exclusively ouri and the sculptures of the Greek goddesses. They are fleshy, hippy and plenty zoftig.

II fit If you simply can't make a diet work you ought to get into HOLIDAY GOWN SALE therapy and find out why. You might also stop feeling sorry for A beautifully knit gown created for a very Special Few. $212 yourself and blaming the world for your unhappiness. DEAR ANN LANDERS: My husband is being transferred to Texas in a few of better Men's and Women's ready-to-wear Men's Wear Sport coats leisure suits Fonts Volar shoes Dress shirts Ties Sport Shirts Belts Socks Women's Wear Long Dresses Pant suits Handbags Blouses Shirts Vests Jackets Blazers Pants Shirts Gifts cerned In Raleigh DEAR CONCERNED: No drug is "harmless" if taken indiscriminately. A person who "can't remember" how many tranquilizers she took and has to be "shaken awake" for half an hour is a candidate for a fatal overdose.

Margaret should see a doctor at once, learn her limits, and stick to them. DEAR ANN LANDERS: Usually your column is informative and often it is funny. 20 AND UP SHOP MOM. THRU SAT. to ft fill STORESIDE PARKINS PROM DRESSES REASONABLY PRICED We Honor All Major Credit Cards months.

We have two sons in their early teens. I am very concerned about something. I've heard that topless bathing is legal in Texas in all the public pools. If this is so it could have quite an impact on our young boys. I'm pretty square, Ann, and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

Is this the law down there or not? If it is, should I go along with it? Old Fashioned 'if! BRIDAL GOWNS GOOD SELECTION James H. "Jim" Willis Jr. On of Florida' loading Mr-chanditort mon' and worn ft' roody-to-woar, invito you to vitif fei fohiontok: iter bringing you mt loft in foih-ton (or tho modern man orvd woman. $30 AND UP Today it upset me. I refer to the woman who complained about "the 200-pound hulk" who "plops herself on a new sofa and flattens the pillows." Too bad she can't walk around in that "hulk's" body for a few days.

Can you imagine what it's like to eat an apple for supper and then have someone make a crack about your size? I know the heartbreak of A 7109 Gulf Blvd. St. Petersburg Beach The Corner, Naples, Florida PACER Men's and Women's Wear 2000 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg DEAR O.F.: So far as I know, topless bathing is not permitted in the public pools of Texas. If the law changes (and it might) we'll all have to go along with it.

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