New Pittsburgh Courier from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 6

PAGE 6 TTE CO I' II I Kit JULY 13. 1971 I) "TTIIiif TTIlne Mairofl Way" AveFsage Sun ByGregMims Well, the way it was, was, that Allied Artists' crack creative production staff, like most film studio's creative production staffs, was searching for a new idea to beat Warner Brothers to the bank. As film followers will note, Warner's has been bedeviling this year's competition with a little number called "The and killing the country's movie audiences with a dandy string of murders called "Magnum Included in this Allied Artist (AA) "think tank" session was Jay D. Lew, a Black, Brooklyn Bridge salesman, from the "Yo' Black Butt" agency. Now Allied didn't know if they were goingBlack on the next film, but the studio's Affirmative Action pact with the Hollywood NAACP stipulated that a minority group member had to be included in all think tank sessions.

Previous attending minority group representatives included, a Republican janitor, and Kiku, the Brazilian midget pimp. And although the studio executives had requested a bearded lady for this particular session, the agency was all out of them, and sent Jay D. Lew instead. It a good thing he was there too; if not for his presence, AA's next project would have been "The Adventures of Sit Down Can't Cry Oh Lord I'm Gonna Die A deaf, dumb and blind blues singer, lookin' for a crack at the bigtime. Jay D.

Lew quickly killed that along with the studio exec that suggested it. Soooo, after three or four hours of hasslin around, they came to a decision. On the Black hand side, this time around, is Allied Artists current offering, "Three The Hard Way" starring Jim Brown, Fred Williamson, and Jim Kelly, three of the film industry's hottest Black male box office' attractions. And it's all a very slick commercial package. It's got a good beat, and you can eat popcorn to it as sters Brown.

Williamson, and Kelly save tne country's Black population from chemical genocide at the hands of a neo Nazi power group. And on paper, I suppose the idea looks mighty Xestillff interesting. On screen however, the results are merely lukewarm. Lukewarm to the extent that 'Three The Hard Way" is barely indistinguishable from a dozen other grade Black oriented or mass audience oriented action thrillers. 4 VA If Out the new men's deodorant spray "Kickass" are Fred Williamson, Jim Kelly, and Jim Brown.

As you can see, our heroes have just sprayed their respective armpits and are hanging out to dry. See if the odor stays away from their latest film "Three The Hard Way" at the Stanley Theatre. PBFF: New Summer Sunday Hit By Gregg Mims A middle sized Black and white crowd of film enthusiasts and curiosity seekers turned out last Sunday, for the first offering in the Sears sponsored Pittsburgh Black Film Festival (PBFF). Held at David Lawrence Hall in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh's Black Studies Department, the festival will be housed at the Oakland spot every Sunday for the next five weeks. The film series is composed of decidely noncommercial works by both old and new Black filmmakers, who offer a slant on Black experience and history not covered in current Black exploitative cinema.

The first evening's program consisted of two early silent films, "Spying the Spy" and "Scar Of "Spying the was a six minute 1917 satire made by the Ebony Film Corporation of Chicago, which poked fun at World War I espionage. A thoroughly funny slapstick work, the film had additional humor when brushed against the political consciousness of 1974's audiencc.The opening scene, which featured the movie's main character kissing the American flag arid spouting "My country needs me," evoked the loudest laughter from those Black audience members with a sense of history. From a critical standpoint, the film contained a large amount Of motion, which is surprising when one considers the bulky, not easily moved film cameras of the period, i "Scar Of Shame" a 1927 four reeler has been rated as "the prime achievement of the silent film era's" Black films. The well plotted melodrama was made by the Philadelphia based Colored Film Players Corporation; it was directed by Frank Peregini. The film's strong story line concerning a young Black concert pianist who marries a lower class Black woman out of pity, was aided and abetted by the excellent, often romantic camera work of David Starkman.

Historically, "Scar Of Shame" is an important film in that it reveals, and explores several Black culturalism prevalent during the 1920s, as well as in 1974. The film's theme of upward mobility and its relationship to "high yellow" Blacks and darker skinned Black people, is especially relevant in terms of our community exploring its own self negativisim. That the elements of "caste" still exist within our own racial boundaries, despite the unification efforts throughout the history of the movement, makes "Scar Of Shame" an especially potent film. On the lighter side of things, it's interesting to note the "contemporary" look of both movie's costumes. Certainly, the 1920's have come and gone, but as evidenced by 1974's fashion wear, "What goes around, comes around." Appearing in 1974 dress was Paul Garabedian, whose live piano accompaniment shaded and colored the films' actions, adding even more to the evening's delightful experience.

1 Next Week: The Early Talkies The great Blues singer Bessie Smith in a 1929, 25 minute film co authored by W.C. Handy, called "St. Louise Blues" Also, a 102 minute 1929 classic entitled A film which caused much controversy in its day. Inn W) nJt a CJA xrjl cf eatsa tff ILi cn Certainly, it mav be arpupH that th film'. nVOi average quality is a step forward when judged agairui me previous mms or Brown, Williamson, and is.eny.

irum De Known, "Three The Hard Way" is considerably better than Brown's "Slaughter" series; Williamson's "Nigger Charley" epics and Kelly's solo outing, "Black Belt However, let's not be about the business of standing on our heads for mediocrity, even jf the film is perhaps the ieasi expiuiiauve oiacK action thriller in quite some time. The talents cinematographer Lucien Ballard IITU IFL. I T. Km imcc me nara way nigniy attractive sharp color punctuation. This is aided and abetted by me turn wim wnicn director Gordon Parks Jr Fly" plus "Thomisine and maps out the film's action sequences.

Parks handles the action with Dromisinc stvle and flair However, both Ballard and Parks, despite their niasienui skws, cannot overcome the script's comic book aspects and the actor's genuine lack of acting laiem. Ana merein ues ine Mm mediocrity. As plotted by scenarists Jerry Ludwig and Eric Bercovici, this adventure epic is short on character development to the extent that tho merely go around grunting cool phrases to each uuier. ui course, snouid De noted that this non numanuy is a standard convention in action flicks, white or Black oriented. James Bond is not human; he's a killing machine.

Clint Eastwood's stone face cnaracterizauons as well are devoid of "for real" aspects.) Thus Super Nigger is alive and well, well, well. With the exception of the head villain's role, which is cunningly underplayed by Jay Robinson, the other performers offer a set of shallow dialogue readings. Only Williamson, among the three male leads, manages to strike a human spark as an identifiable person. His acting improves with each outing, and despite his own tremendous personal ego, he's a sure bet for big things in the future. Brown remains Brown, cool, hard and lacking any of the sensitivity which would qualify him for his film role as a record producer, despite what the script says.

Jim Kelly, as Mister Keyes, owner of a karate school chain, keeps his mouth shut mostly, and for that, having seen his previous performances, I thank him. Talent Search Begins Throughout The City 1 fell vrA SSsi ifr" i a fi ff i ') iy swiss a i A 'M i Steel City Talent Is turning out in large numbers for the Super Talent Search currently underway throughout the Pittsburgh area. Pictured above are three local singers at last week's Hill House audition session. (Galveston Burrell, Beverly Johnson, and Charles Johnson). "Well, it's about music! Any category, any style.

And all ages are welcome to participate. Can you gran'ma do you number? Bring her on in here." That, coming from Bill Powell, the ol' master himself, is not only one helluva jarty invitation, it's the topside view of the musical talent search, that is currently underway in the tri state area. Sponsored by Super cigarettes (check your shirt) the search is' a part of that company's promotion campaign in and about various Pittsburgh locations. Bill Powell of radio station WAMO is acting as talent coordinator for the summer long project, which will end with an admission free 'boogie down" hYe show at the Stanley Theatre in early September. Auditions have already started at various local theatre sites, including Hill House.

Each weekly winner will be sponsored by Super M. to record a single on the Soulvation label. "It's a two fold project," said Powell during the first talent try outs at the Hill House Auditorium, "In addition to providing good entertainment it will provide an outlet for local talent. A showcasing that can perhaps take them somewhere. Eight acts are needed for each bill.

Simple arithmetic, y'all six weeks equals 48 acts, which provides an opportunity for many of Pittsburgh's budding creative musical artists. Powell recalled the names of several local area greats who began their careers in similar manners by way of earlier talent searches. "Billy Eckstine, Chuck Jackson, Errol Garner, and Adam Wade worked their ways up through vehicles of this sort. And it's no secret that there are a lot of gifted people in our community and they must be motivated and developed. This could be the break they need." The street corner? Well that's a fine place for singing.

But Bill Powell and Super kinda think a stage is much nicer. Lookin' for a crack at the bigtime? Take a chance in the Super Talent Search..