Austin American-Statesman from Austin, Texas • 18

"age 18 Austin, Texas The Austin Amrrican Staifsman Saturday, November 9, 1974 Movie Review and Tonto9: Exquisite Tradition Rules Chinese Opera Behind Scenes JUL airy Z3 Backstage traditions are heavy and inflexible in the world famous National Chinese Opera Theater which will be playing Austin's Municipal Auditorium for the first time Sunday, Dec. Zen-spouting, mild mannereif grandson is equally impressive. Add to this the fresh, superb performances of Geraldine Fitzgerald as Harry's first love, Ellen Burstyn as Harry's daughter, Larry Hagman as the younger son and Chief Dan George as a bead-swapping Indian medicine man. J. "Harry and Tonto" is funny, entertaining and thought-provoking.

It is the antitheseis to such sugar-coated" films like "Kotch" that have an older person as a crotchedly, loveable old man who borders on senility. "Harry and Tonto" is about an intelligent man who could be any age, but praise be, is a beautiful older person that all of, us can identify whith and cherish. By STEVE HOGNER Amusements Staff Where does a movie reviewer start to discuss an exquisite jewel like "Harry and The film is an immensely complex folk tale about modern America, old age and the freedom of the individual all wrapped up in a story of an old man and his cat out to see the country. Harry Coombes is an elderly man who does not want to see life pass him by and yet does not want to say farewell totally to the past. He is forced to, and in so doing, discovers a fresh, new individual inside himself.

Harry's constant companion is an 11-year-old cat named Tonto, which gives its undivided attention to Harry as he rambles on and on about his life. The cat becomes Harry's link with his own world, the perfect listener and perfect friend. But director Paul Mazursky is much more interested in change and freshness than in remembrances of things past as a person digs into his own life to find the funny little foibles that keep us all going. Because of this, the film stays far, far away from the sentimental schlock that usually pervades and ruins most films about anyone over the age of 65. This is why "Harry and Tonto" (rated at Village medicine man and a travelling salesman who has gone from selling cats to pushing Vitamin CandE.

But the one scene that underscores the theme of this picture is early in the film when Harry dances with an old flame who no longer remembers him. His dance is an end with the past, an opening for a new world ahead and a farewell to all that he had been. This is the point of his journey, a search for freedom, dignity and self. Art Camey as Harry emerges as an actor, of first class proportions. Camey has always been stereotyped as the Ed Norton character on the old "Jackie Gleason Show" and "The Honey mooners." He shows that his range is wide and full, that he can accomplish changes in mood from tragedy to comedy in one fell swoop.

This film marks Carney's debut, and it could not be more impressive. Camey is Harry; we believe him in all his cocky actions with bus drivers, clerks and other sundry people. Joshua Mostel as Harry's I NOW THEN pub Highland Mall TONIGHT HAPPY i BUNCH No Cover Charge Fri. 9-12: Sat. 9-1 1.

Returning to the United States for the second time in less than a year, the 80-member troupe of spectacular acrobats, dancers, singers, musicians and ritual sword fighters, plays Austin on its second lour along with 29 other cities who have only glimpsed the productions on TV news. The company brings with it its unique backstage traditions not unlike the American theater supersition of "break a leg." Backstage, the Chinese operatic theater is a small world by itself, with its own customs, taboos and superstitions including the fixed rule on make-up by which nobody is permitted to daub paints on his face until after the clowns have begun applying their makeup. Nobody may put on a headdress until after the facial makeup is completed including the wearing of beards and whiskers. To the layman, backstage is a kaleidoscope of bright colors and strange sights. Worshipped by everybody backstage is a dwarf-size, plain-looking god, called "Grand Master," a wooden statue occupying a small shrine.

Everyone in the troupe pays homage to this little god the moment the shrine is set up. Backstage is sacred ground for the Chinese and no outsiders are permitted to visit without permission from the troupe master. No jest is allowed backstage; only the comedians are allowed to make an occasional joke. Nor is hand-clapping permitted and performers are strictly prohibited from having any communication with the audience or peeping out from behind the curtain. No musical instruments of the band may be sounded until after the big Chinese gongs take the lead.

Before the gong is sounded, actresses who play women of dubious character are not permitted backstage. The gong player's seat is called the "Mouth of Nine Dragons" and nobody else may sit in the Dragon's Mouth. Further, the wardrobe man must take care not to place the king's crown and a bandit's cap side by side, lest there be disputes among troupe members. Attendants backstage are particularly sensitive to one seemingly slight matter; they cannot tolerate a performer looking over his shoulder as it is taken as a personal insult since looking back means dissatisfaction with the service being rendered. Backstage too.

a Chinese operatic theater not only has its traditions, it is a domain with its own jurisdiction over troupe Movie Review: Cinema Four) is not a film about old age. Harry is not an old man; a person only becomes old when he gives up completely, seeking the total safety of routine and blandness for what passes as a life style. Rather, the film is about a man in search of himself, constantly finding new and different aspects to his life and way of living that even he did not think possible. He is not one to linger on the past, though he does talk at length about his deceased wife and old friends who are dying around him. But he adheres to a piece of advice, "When you lose an old friend, make a new one." Now, at this point, "Harry and Tonto" sounds like cheap sentiment or one of those stories of the "live-live-live" zany school of "Auntie Mame." It is not thank goodness it is not.

The film is immensely funny, sometimes tragic and rather humorous, poking good-natured gentle jabs at current society. Mazursky has written and directed an episodic film that flows with authority, grace and gentleness that is in a class above past Mazursky works and collaborations as "Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice," "I Love You, Alice B. Toklas" and "Blume in Love." Mazurksky's Harry has human failings that are effectively compensated for in Tickets are $5 and doors will open at 7 p.m. DON'S LAKE BASTROP CLUB TONIGHT BUDDY AND THE STARDUSTERS FOR RESERVATIONS: AUSTIN 453-6971 BASTROP 321-9332 H1WAY 95 Between Bastrop and Elgin 38th I N. 1 35 (west side) No Cover HAPPY HOUR 4-7 PM Entertainment-9 pm J.

R. Go. y75' Hiballs 1 1 am-2 pm Parkins Rear HSEE It II CHINESE CLOWN APPLIES HIS MAKE-L'P This arl is a signal for otlirrs to begin members. Violators of the taboos and rules, no matter who they are or why they erred, are brought before a temporary court composed of representatives of all components of the troupe. The gong player is the judge, the representatives form the jury and the crook is the judge.

Why the court is composed this way is not known and the court deals with misdemeanors only; real crimes are still referred to the judicial court. The differences in oriental and occidental cultures, customs, music, dance and drama are spectacularly demonstrated during the on stage show by this magnificent troupe of extremely disciplined and beautifully costumed performers appearing in six contrasting highlights from several dynasties of Chinese history rooted in 5,000 years of heritage. Tickets for this single performance at 8 p.m., Dec. 1 are available by mail order from Rob Kennedy, Box 5309, Austin 78763 or by calling phone 454-3681. Mail orders should be accompanied by stamped, self-addressed envelope and should specify main floor or balcony.

Main floor tickets are $10, $9, SS. S7 and balcony prices are S3, $6, $5 and $4. Jennings Performance To Help Opry Finances jr.t new. "tonight ACE IN THE HOLE GREAT FOOD! Steoks, Seafood, Prime Rib, Sandwiches DINNER GUESTS ADMITTED FREE S33E0 Nov. 9 Bobby Brown Orchestra 9-1 TIE PIEASE Nov.

3 BOBBY BROWN ORCHESTRA SINGLES COUPLES Nov. 15 Country Western COUNTRY NU-NOTES 8-12 TICKETS NOW 0M SALE New Teat's Ev tick is mi talm Avaiiabl lot frivol PartiM BYOl 251-4421 OR 20 EACH 7- 5 4v fC-BAR-T? his willingness to change. Of course, when his home in New York is torn down just days after he has been mugged for the fourth time in a year, Harry is ready for change, ready to seek out a new world where he can be free. He moves in with one of his three children, a son who is one of those guilt-ridden people who fee!" that he has not given his parent enough time. Harry he is a burden, so he picks up roots and decides to visit his daughter in Chicago, four times married, four times divorced, no children and somewhat of a shrew.

Harry again leaves and heads for Los Angeles to visit his younger son who lives high on the hog but is a poor failure underneath. Harry finally hits the Pacific Coast, takes a job and settles down again, but changed in many ways. The changes occur along the way as he meets a 16-year-old runaway who meets up with his Zen Bhuddist grandson, a Jesus Freak, a hooker or rather high-priced call girl as she calls herself, a peyote chewing Indian CAMERON INN Presents TONIGHT THE COUNTRY EDITION Beer, Wine, Setups STAG LADIES FREE 20 Beer (Lone Star, Falstaff, (Pearl lax) B-9 pm on Dance Nights Dance Hall Only Res. 453-9843 $1 Cover 6206 Cameron Rd. SEATING 442-9243 441-0719 ilrll.

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-ogar The Texas Opry House, in financial straits as a result of back taxes and rent, will be host to country singer Waylon Jennings Sunday night to help raise money for the bills. Willie Nelson is expected to appear with Jennings, but the Opry could not make a firm committment on his appearance. Spokesman for the Opry, Wallace Sellman, said the House owes about $5,000 to the Internal Revenue Service and $8,000 in rent. Back by Popular 4 Demand MISS TINY BROOKS: 300 lbs. of Comedy i KEWER FUNKIER SHOWS I COMEDY RATED I I.

3403 Guadalupt I 453-9029 Parkins Rear I KENNETH THREADGILL Tomorrow Silver City Saddle Tramps HteWralfe 505 NECHES 472-0061 I 1 BLOCK WEST el Red River 1 Tonight APARRAL Sun. Nov. 10 Marceau is delightful to watch in his enactment of the deaf-mute puppeteer and the old scientist who gives him his unique powers, but Castle's direction is uninspired. His gimmick and he always has one of raising the dead to walk stiff-legged around the countryside grows old long before the movie's end. PATRICK TAGGART ED'S 281 CLUB Round Mountain, Tex.

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Castle combines the macabre with a kind of shuffling, low-key comedy, and in "Shanks," at the Riverside Twin, the comedy is as dead as his ghoulish characters. IJ8( I IVEY 1 If AND THE WAYMEN Ja from Bryan fiv ComfigWeMov.13 Iff BRONCO 1 i BROS. EVERY THURSDAY 29" CLUB 1 J36-9915 11306 ILIatnar Jess Demaine the COUNTRY MUSIC REVUE 8-12 s2.50 Cover 4749 E. Ben White Blvd. We don't know where Kermit Shafer got his material for "Pardon My Blooper," at the Texas, but the evidence points to his own imagination.

Out of dozens of the radio and television "boners" slips of the tongue by broadcasters and interviewees, most of them obscene in a pre-adolcscent, smoke-behind-the-garage sense only a few appear to be genuine. For the most part, these "unintended" mistakes give evidence of having the premeditation of the Beethoven Ninth Symphony. The bloopers of the interview subjects have obviously been dubbed by someone in a studio, covering up whatever might have been said by the subject himself, blooper or not. Granted, then, that some of Wanted: One CLEMSON. SC.

(AP) -What do you do to locate the girl of your dreams? Advertise. A classified ad in the student newspaper at Clemson University says: "Lost: One coed in the vicinity of Clemson Theater just after the Oct. 19 showing During the movie she was sit- Chess Match Adjourned MOSCOW (AP) Soviet grandmasters Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi adjourned the 20th game of their world challengers chess match Friday on the 45th move. The game will be resumed Saturday. AIR CONDITIONED 1200 tlUI Ml EilJLbUl A GREAT PLACE TO EAT FAMILY STYLE CATFISH CHICKEN IT LII SM VkIN CATFISH FRESH HOT HISII PLPP1LS.

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