Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 21

Ann Landers, 6-B Movies, 8-B Comics, 11-B Television, 7-B ST. PETERSBURG TIMES i L-iJ LjV '--iiy 5b JULY 3. 1982 ninnies BEnooui Winter forecast 'Gandhi' is well worth the wait Da Vinci models at work in museum The Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, becomes in part a gallery of primitive civil, industrial and military engineering when the inventions of Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) go on view Sunday. These 24 models, constructed from Da Vinci's technical drawings and part of the IBM Corporation collection, are fun summertime viewing for any age.

They have toured the country since 1951; some were last shown here at the Science Center in 1979 and earlier at the art museum. Some pieces actually "work" with moving gears and levers. Alongside tools and measuring implements are practical machines like a paddle boat, military apparati like a gun carriage and tank and the Renaissance genius' doubtful answers to man's desire to fly (a screw-topped helicopter and flapping-wing ornithopter) and come down safely (a parachute). ON FILM Gandhi can basically be described as the life story of Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian who led his country to independence in 1948. It's also one of the most ambitious statements about the human condition we're likely to see next season TOIil SflDULIS NEW YORK The American movie industry is enjoying its healthiest summer Big money-making hits are turning up 'all over in impressive numbers, led by E.T., Star Trek It and Rocky III.

Yet no matter how successful these summer 'months prove to be, it's not too early to speak optimistically of Hollywood's "other" season, Christmas. While the winter list of films is incomplete, and clear favorites have not yet emerged, film critics here recently screened 'what should become one of the major hits of 1982-83. The movie is Gandhi and it's a total triumph in film-making. "TEN YEARS in the making," and "a cast of thousands" are ancient cliches in the film business, but they are nonetheless appropriate to this film. Gandhi is the decade-old project of Sir Richard Atten- borough, who directed, produced and co- wrote the three-hour, 15-minute movie.

Attenborough, 58, was inspired to make the film after reading a biography of Gandhi; it changed his life, he said. Although the film is a British import (of Columbia Pictures), Gandhi is in the tradition of the sprawl ing, Cecil B. De Mille Hollywood epic. It is a staggering visual experience filmed with a venerable cast, globe-trotting expansive-', ness, and breathtaking people scenes featuring thousands upon thousands of extras. Gandhi can basically be described as the life story of Mahatma Gandhi, the In-l dian attorney-turned-messiah who led his country to independence in 1948.

It's also one of the most ambitious statements I about the human condition we're likely to see next season; it's scheduled for release in late November or early December. It will reach St. Petersburg sometime after Jan. 1. Because of its length and historic subject matter, Gandhi is likely to be com-; pared to last year's Reds, Warren Beatty's marathon treatment of the American com- munist movement and its leader, John Reed.

But Attenborough's film stands to win any such comparison. Gandhi is a considerably more ennobling film. Where Reds dealt with violent revolution; Gandhi focuses on a peaceful revolution led by a slight man who managed to change the Anglo-Indian political world without lifting a hand in anger or force. Set in Africa and Asia, Gandhi is a film of high moral purpose that would do well to be shown throughout the third world today. Educational? Yes.

Uplifting? Undoubtedly. But what actually makes Gandhi a king-sized entertainment is the splendid pacing and its ability to keep an audience interested and seat-bound throughout its long duration. It starts slowly those who don't know their history will have to pay close attention but the cumulative effect is a substantial one, and it's felt well before the intermission. The film has no sex and no bloody violence, despite a lengthy and horrifying massacre scene. It doesn't need any.

Gandhi's cast is a formidable excerpt from the Who's Who of modern British acting. Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, John Mills and Trevor Howard all appear in supporting roles, as does Ian Charleson, who played the Scottish track star in last year's Chariots of Fire. Edward Fox and Michael Hordern, two established but lesser-known English players, are also cast, along with Americans Candice Bergen and St. Patsrftburg Timas is another nose-upturned authoritarian role. Playing a high-ranking Imperial English government snob, he closely resembles the equally prudish college provost he portrayed in Chariots of Fire.

For the most part, Gandhi is historically accurate, yet discreet. It depicts Gandhi's manipulative power over the press, if not his more cynical manipulation of religious differences on the Indian subcontinent. Still, the movie is a consummate cinematic achievement and one equal to the task of bringing us back to Earth, feet first, after this summer's sensational escapist fare. Gandhi should be Martin Sheen. ROYAL SHAKESPEARE Company member Ben Kingsley stars in the title role, and it's a tour de force performance.

Kingsley is on screen for virtually the entire length of this heavily worded, superbly acted movie. While Kingsley clearly dominates, Attenborough draws several smaller acting gems from the supporting cast. In fact, one wonders how Attenborough got many of these theatrical heavy-hitters to accept their smaller roles. Gielgud for example, has no more than a handful of scenes, yet he leaves an indelible mark on each, whether it be merely with a furrowed brow or quizzical glance. For Sir John, this Leonardo da Vinci envisioned a helicopter that would "screw" itself up into the sky.

Air Animal makes every flight a pet project By MARTHA BISSET St. Ptrlburg Tim Staff Writer i Who are the top 100 crafts artisans in the United States? Where are they, and what are they doing to bring American crafts to new artistic levels? The Smithsonian Institution would like to know, it says in a press release. The Smithsonian, however, has not chosen the best way to find the answers. The Smithsonian's "Washington Craft Show" is open to all individuals 1) who are creating fine art in ceramics, glass, metal, fibers, wood, paper, textiles, leather or jewelry, or any combination of these, 2) who submit $10 and five color slides representative of their work with an application before Oct. 15, and 3) who can afford the costs to spend May 5 through 8, 1983, with their exhibit in the nation's capital.

Obviously, such a juried show will identify only the top 100 artisans (no groups or "studios" need apply) who can cope with all these requirements and choose to enter. So for applicants, the "Washington Craft Show," despite its pretensions and sponsor, is simply another gamble for good sales and routine awards one $1,000, two $500 and four $250 prizes and the possible purchase of a piece for the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery, the national crafts museum. The jury of selection is Lloyd Herman, Renwick Gallery director; Lee Hall, president, Rhode Island School of sign; and potter John Glick, Farmington, Mich. Information and entry forms are available from Smithsonian Associates Women's Committee, Room 3101, Arts and Industries Building, Washington, D.C. 20560.

Had the Smithsonian asked for nominations, say, in preparation for an invitational competitive exhibition of more reasonable duration, the candidates from Florida surely would have included: Ceramists John Eckert and Susan Livingston of St. Petersburg; goldsmith Gareth Whitehurst and batik artist James Nordmeyer, both of Clearwater; potters Marilyn Foreman of Sarasota and Barbara Joiner, Bradenton Beach; silversmith Pamela Allman, Bradenton; Gail and Howard Silverblatt, cloisonne artists of Key West; jewelers Patricia and David Stinson, Winter Park, woodworker Ray Ferguson, Melrose, and Clearwater paper maker Michele Tuegel, who was in the Smithsonian's 1978 touring exhibition "Paper as Medium." Except that sculptures even of fabric and clay are excluded, other Floridians would have qualified. limited source of funds and didn't care what it cost," Millie said. If the gronnlandshund adventure seems a bit eccentric, consider this: The Woolfs have also shipped earthworms, snakes, tropical birds, a kangaroo, a marmoset, and a family of chimpanzees. Not to mention five performing bears.

The bear act proved the most expensive, since customized shipping cages had to be built. Total transport co9t, which included eight golden retrievers, three adult persons and an infant, all destined for Japan, was $29,000. "I don't ever want to do bears again!" Miflie declares. "No more bears," Woolf agrees. Yet the two are still accommodating.

After all, they've gone to the trouble of shipping a dying dog whose owners wanted it buried near their home. Probably the most tedious part of the Woolfs' task is the paperwork, especially for overseas transport. Millie calls it "frustrating and challenging" in the same breath, and it's no wonder. There's a thick file to consider before sending two jaguars, a cheetah and a kangaroo to Japan. When sending an animal overseas, a number of things must be taken into consideration: Is the animal an endangered species? Is its destination a country with imposed animal quarantine? Does its health certificate meet the country's requirements? Are its vaccinations current? If a performing animal, is it properly registered in the state of origin? THE WOOLFS can list many quarantine countries from memory: England requires six months; Hawaii, Guam and Norway, four months; Japan, 14 days.

New Zealand and Australia, neither of which have quarantine facilities, require one year in England. The Woolfs will also be glad to explain the rationale behind the quarantine, best exemplified by that of England, which suffered an outbreak of rabies and distemper neither of which are naturally occurring diseases in that island country after World War II. The quarantine is designed to keep those diseases out, and is lengthy because rabies has a varying latency period; it may not manifest itself in an exposed animal for up to 11 months. "Their system works, and you can't argue with them," Woolf says. "To send an animal to England, you have to obtain the proper import papers," Millie explains.

"To do that, you have to first apply for space in a quarantine facility. And to do that, you have to send a hefty deposit the equivalent of $250 in pounds sterling, for the first month's rent." For owners concerned about the well-being of their pet during its quarantine period, Millie says not to worry. "I've seen some of the quarantine facilities in England, and they are deluxe and lovely, and I wouldn't mind staying there for six months," she assures. PEOPLE WILL GO to strange lengths to make their pets happy, as the Woolfs' experiences prove. "An animal is an interesting commodity," the doctor says, and then goes on to tell the tale of the "Caribbean Couple," as he and his wife call them.

Apparently the couple had agreed to manage a resort hotel on a Caribbean island and had been told they could bring their dog and two cats with them. But when they arrived, government officials at the airport told the couple the animals either had to spend six months of quarantine in England or be destroyed (they said, with syringe in hand). "The woman threw herself over the cages and said, 'Me you'll destroy before these Millie says. The woman then contacted Air Animal, flew with the pets back through Miami to Tampa, and Woolf met her at the airport. Once she was sure her darlings were in safe hands, she flew back to the island, leaving Walter and Millie to board the pets for three weeks while they processed the paperwork required for quarantine in England.

Five months later, the animals long since in England, Millie got a message over the Telex at Air Animal saying that the couple were coming back to the United States and "could you get our animals out of quarantine, please." More paperwork had to be done, more flight arrangements made. The animals flew from Heathrow to Chicago, arriving a day or two after their loving and generous owners. From start to finish, the cost was $4,300. "Then there was the Royal Marine who befriended a stray dog and spent $3,000 to send it to England. And the retired teacher in Ocala who goes on vacation every year," Woolf says.

"She takes a train. The dog flies." The teacher is afraid to fly. "Once you get into these things, you can't apply values." THE WOOLFS OWN an active, growing company. They are now discussing the feasibility of establishing a horse export facility alongside Air Animal Atlanta at Hartsfield International Airport. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines approached the Woolfs with a proposal for such a facility earlier this year.

Horses can currently be exported on the East Coast only through Miami and New York, and Atlanta would be a logical middle ground. Establishing the facility, which would transport horses to Amsterdam for destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, involves coordination between the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Customs, the Georgia Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency "to figure out what to do with the horse manure," Woolf chuckled.

Experienced veterans at sending unusual animals from Tampa to Tokyo, the Woolfs don't want customers to get the wrong idea. "We like the usual!" Millie insists. "We are still interested in sending somebody's cat in Largo on a plane to Chicago," Woolf says. They made front page national news in Norway this past January. They have shipped armadillos to India and the Soviet Union for the World Health Organization.

And they operate out of Tampa. They are Dr. Walter and Millie Woolf of Air Animal. Along with daughter Andrea in Gainesville and son Eric with Air Animal Atlanta, they have been transporting an-l imals of all shapes and sizes throughout the world since establishing Air Animal in January 1977. Woolf is a I practicing veterinarian of 21 years.

He and Millie run Air Animal out of their 13-year-old animal hospital a mile from Tampa International Airport. Air Animal ships an average of 20 animals per week, but is not an airline, Dr. Woolf emphasizes. "We are a service agency for animals who fly the scheduled airlines," he says, although the public often thinks the agency has its own planes. "One day we got 150 calls from pilots looking for jobs." I ONE OF SOME 28 similar animal travel agencies lo-; cated in major cities throughout the United States, Air Animal does a majority of its business with customers in the seven-county area surrounding Tampa (from Pasco down to Sarasota), offering a variety of coordinated services to people who want their creatures to travel in comfort, but don't have the time or inclination for making the arrange- ments themselves.

"We are problem solvers," Woolf says, primarily for the military man or corporate businessman whose company includes pet relocation in family moving expenses. Appointed by airlines serving Tampa as the agent for live an-. imal shipments, Air Animal is equipped to: 1) handle all reservations and paperwork for animals departing or arriving at Tampa International; 2) provide a pre-flight physical and the proper health certification, as most states require a certificate issued within 10 days of flight time; 3) give any vaccinations required (parvo, rabies, distemper); 4) pick up and deliver animals to and from the airport and 5) board animals for owners who arrive after their pets. The agency also offers bathing and grooming services, and has shipping kennels for sale in a variety of sizes. Most of their business may go through Tampa Inter- national, but the Woolfs are equally practiced at travels from points quite distant.

"I arranged for animals to go from Phoenix, Ariz, to Atlanta, and I never saw those animals," Millie says. And though their reknown may be greatest to pet owners based in central Florida, the Woolfs have a growing number of global contacts in the world of animal shipping and sales. Willy Solberg in Norway is one. The Woolfs' son, Eric, made contact with Solberg after a six-month search for a gronnlandshund, a direct descendant of the arctic wolf and a rare breed of spitz. A man in Atlanta who wanted one for his 6-year-old daughter had asked Eric if Air Animal Atlanta could locate one.

Eric's search took six months of phone calls and wires to contacts in the United States, Canada and England, after which he finally got in touch with Solberg, who just hap-; pened to have a new litter of gronnlandshunds. Eric had to wait until the dog was old enough to travel (according to International Air Transportation Association standards), as well as process endless paperwork before the animal was to arrive, safe and sound, in Atlanta. The event made national news in Norway, because the dog was the first of its breed to be exported out of the country. THE TOTAL COST of the job was the dog itself, $700. "This was a man who obviously had an un The Andrew W.

Mellon Foundation has awarded a $100,000 grant to the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Foundation the fund-raising auxiliary of the state-owned museum complex in Sarasota. The Mellon money is to be used for research and editorial expenses in preparing catalogues and scholarly books, particularly any related to the Ringling's vast collections. Mary Lou Carroll, executive director of the Ringling Foundation, says the award also signifies recognition of the Ringling as one of the country's important museums and the first in Florida to meet the Mellon's high standards. Robert Fuldauer, St. Petersburg, and Doris Liverman, Oldsmar, are two of the 23 members of the Miniature Art Society of Florida (MASF) whose tiny works were chosen for a touringexhibition in Montana.

The 21 other MASF members are residents of the Mid-West and Rocky Mountain states, which suggests the reach and reputation of the Florida society based in Clearwater. Actually, some local members are members or accepted exhibitors at the Royal Miniature Society, London, whose president Suzanne Lucas will come here in January to judge the ASF's annual international show. For membership information, contact R. Meyers, Treasurer, Box 118, 15777 Bolesta Road Clearwater, Fla. 33520.

St. Patariburg Timu Air Animal handles the paperwork, physical examinations, ticketing, transfers and accommodations needed to fly an animal from one city to another..