The San Francisco Examiner from San Francisco, California • 57

The Arts May 20. 1981 4 S.F. EXAMINER E15 An awesome, frightening film on punk rock By Philip Elwood HM-MAKER Penelope Spheeris, acting as producer, director and occasional camera operator, aimed ber considerable talent at the Los Angeles Darby Crash, the Garms' laad singer, says in the film. 1 take anything. something to get me up, than He later died of a drug overdose punk-rock scene early in 1980 with the idea of creating a documentary about a unique social and musical phenomenon.

Michael X-Heed ia among the punk fane Interviewed in 'The Decline of Western Civilization' NBC drops gay i angle in new show LOS ANGELES (AP) NBC executives assured the network's affiliate stations during a closed session that the homosexual aspects of the title character in "Love Sidney will be eliminated from the new fall series. Two very subtle references alluding to the homosexuality of Sidney Shorr, the character played by Tony Randall in the two-hour movie pilot for the series, will disappear once the show becomes a regular half-hour situation comedy. The affiliates also reaffirmed their support for NBC President Fred Silverman during the private meeting yesterday, said Fred Paxton. chairman of the Board of Affiliates, at a news conference at the Century Plaza "I think the last two days have solidified the support the affiliates have for him," said Paxton. Brandon Tartikoff, president of NBC Entertainment, said there are two subtle references to homobexuality in the pilot, but he said they really have nothing to do with the story plot line.

"Out of this feature will come a series with 9 Platonic relationship between Randall and the young mother he takes into his home," he said. "The homosexuality will not be a story element. We feel it has been blown all out of proportion by the press." Paxton told a news conference he anticipates, no clearance problems from NBC's affiliate stations. The references to the reported homosexuality of the main character are a picture on the fireplace mantel, which he alludes to as a "time past," and a scene in which the young mother says she will spend the night with him but will keep the door closed and he replies," You don't have to worry about me." Alan Baker, an NBC vice president for public relations, said "NBC has never referred to the character as homosexual. In an interview, Tony Randall said the character was gay." Tartikoff when asked.

"Is he or isn't he?" said "That's not what our plans are about and it will not show up in the series," "The Decline of Western Civilization," a 100-minute film (mostly in color), was the result it opens today at the Cento Cedar Theater in San Francisco, and at the Rlalto in Berkeley. It is among the most powerful awesome, frightening, fascinating, astonishing films I have ever seen and ranks as an unsurpassed social and musical documentary. The documentary strength of "The also makes it frequently far from entertaining but never is the film lacking in fascination. The plot is punk. Punk is not just music, or hair style or clothes or slogans; it is also an attitude toward whatever "life" happens to mean to these young people who are "punks." "The shows plenty of bands playing lots of music in their natural habitats.

Fear plays at the Arena; Black Flag and Germs play at Cherrywood Studios; appears at Club 88; Alice Bag Band and Circle Jerks perform at the Fleetwood and Catholic Discipline is shown at the Hong Kong Cafe. Spheeris, an award winning old hand at making films dealing with music, gets into the guts of punk practically before "The Decline's" titles are through using a harsh gray-on-white photo image technique and asking questions from behind the camera (it's like a police lineup operation), she interviews various punk fan characters, asking what the hell all this is about. This flash-on, flash-off series of interviews threadneedles its way through the film, as do a number of other interviews and conversations. The soundtrack music is punk, the characters playing are punk, the atmosphere of the clubs, the bands' living quarters and the observations about what's wrong with the world are also all punk. The filming and sound in "The Decline are masterfully handled; for most of the sung lyrics Spheeris provides English subtitles after all.

can you understand the lyrics of punk? Above the throbbing, tensely monotonous, hugely over-amplified punk bass line there is the shouting of lyrics, the fierce crashing of bodies against the stage and onto the floor as the pogodancing is converted into a brawling mass of (mostlyi young male punks. REVIEW highlights "The Daelina of WMtern Civlllxallen," a Spheeris Films Inc. production. Produced and directed by Penelope Spheeris; executive producers, Jeffrey Prettymen and Qordon Brown; camera, Sieve Conant; additional photography, Bill Muerer and Penelope Spheeris; music recording and engineering, Alan Kulner and Gary Hirstiu. With Alice Bag Band, Black Flag.

Catholic Discipline. Circle Jerks. Fear. Germs and X. A brilliant, harsh, overwhelming documentary of the A.

punk rock scene in 1980 which shows the bands performing, the musicians off stsga. their fans, the clubs that can withstand punk music and punks. This is a gripping social document that will prove fascinating even to those who abhor rock music, punk or pop. Top ticket: $3 60. No MPAA rating.

(Plenty of profanity, some violent behavior, no "sex At the Cento Cedar in San Francisco and the Rialto in Berkeley. There are a few young women in "Decline," but (typical of the punk scene) there is no sign of sexual distinction or involvement There are occasional slurs at homosexuals and. Punks hate the "new wave" term "We're just playin' rock 'n' roll the way it was in the beginning," comments one musician; punks have no truck with commercialism, nothing but disdain for the "straight" world of music, of politics, of homelif families, etc. They sneer at the world "outside" as they drink, smoke, pop and tattoo one another or acquire bizarre haircuts and colors, and outrageously clashing makeup. While the fans brawl, shove, spit and shout below the stage, many a bandsman lurches about, shouting obscenities he is too stoned to enunciate with comprehension.

Darby Crash, who gets featured coverage in the film, was the Germs' stumbling singer. "I take anything," he comments In a kitchen scene as his pet tarantula wanders over his arm and onto the table. "Something to get me up," he continues, "then downers; I drink what I'm given etc. Crash made quite a show of getting himself battered on stage, rolling around in his own blood. He died of drug overdose last December.

inevitably, at Frisco," especially by the group Fear and their singer, Lee Ving. And, there are the reminders of fascism boots, a swastika or two, lots of military metal, and the general beerhall Nazi-punk look. "Decline of Western Civilization" is hardly a film to be seen as rollicking en tertainment. It is, however, entertaining in its own way. 2aai.

jibe, jl MACK THMTRt prmnli I HIMMtH PaOUK TIONk' SitfKtng 01 Cannes much quieter this year By Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times v4 ANNES, France This year's Cannes film festival has just gotten under way, and I'm asking myself if it really has started yet. Compared with previous years, the city seems half-deserted. The sidewalks are not crowded. You can get a seat in any restaurant in town. JAPAN CENTER THEATRE, 7:45 pm "A KNOCKOUT OF A PLAY.

JIM HAYNIE GIVES A BRAVURA PERFORMANCE OF SUSTAINED POWER A STAR IS BORN." Herb Caan, S.F. Chronic! TONIGHT AT 8:00 PM. A.C.T.S MARINES' MEMORIAL THEATRE (butter Maton Suul Charge by Phone (415) 673-6440 See Theatre Guide for Details A Nine Inning Comedy Gametime; Tonight at Reservations: 362.4430 LITTLE FOX THEATRE 533 Pacific San Francisco Sunday, Juna 7 Paul DuMarmis Songs with Anne Klingensmith Maggi Payne Electronic Stuart Dempster Didiendu and tape The Leo Smith Ensemble New Jail Terry Alien Solo Piano and Country Art Songs MUSIC 0 WORTH ft -tr A FINE EVENING!" Examiner I way'i Nm CaMiy HH WeMri Sit 1:00 1 CHI CHI THEATER 440 Broadway 392-1213 Monday, June 8 Tne Arch Ensemble performing works by Robert Enckson Robert Hughes Blue" Gene Tyranny Charles Amirkhanian also Junus taslman 10 Cello Ensemble HEARING 3 Oakland This has made the festival astonishingly pleasant for the people who are here. But the unspoken thoughts of the festival organizers concern the people who are not here. Last year, fed up with the high prices, kickbacks and alleged rudeness of the Riviera Tourist Industries, a group of independent American distributors vowed to hold its own "American Film Market" in Los Angeles in March, in direct competition with Cannes.

It was surprisingly successful. And, it is reliably rumored, the Americans made an unwritten agreement not to spend money on advertising and promotion at Cannes this year. The Hotel Carlton lobby's four main pillars traditionally are rented by major American independents for posters advertising their products. This year, all four have been rented by the Libyans to promote their oil-financed epic, "Battle of TagrifL" It is a little unsettling to read ads for a film produced by the "Moral Guidance Branch of the Libyan Administrative Committee for Revolutionary Information." Ironically, the American dissidents might never have pulled out if this year's prices had been in effect last year. The strength of the dollar and the weakness of the franc have combined to give Americans the best exchange rate in years: Last year's 2ftcent franc is selling this year for 18 U.S.

cents, and that translates, on the legendary Carlton Terrace, to a cup of coffee for a mere $1.80. If I talk about the value of the franc rather than the value of the films at Cannes this year, it is for two reasons: 1) this is, above all, a trade fair at which films are bought and sold like farm machinery, and 2) no single film has stirred up much controversy or enthusiasm. The American entries include the notorious "Heaven's Gate," which even the French are not looking forward to. Also here, but out of competition, are "The Postman Always Rings Twice," "This Is Elvis" and Willie Nelson in Symphony CALVIN SIMMONS MUSIC OIRfcCTOR TONIGHT AT 8:00 ZfcLLbRBAC-H AUDITORIUM Calvin Simmons Conductor Kaaren Herr Erickson Soprano Brenda Boozer MeiicvSoprano Leo Goeke, Tenor San Francisco Boys Chorus Oakland Symphony Chorus Joph LicWing, Director ScKutwrt RoamunJf: Imidi nul Mum, Britten Spring Symphony Is Back! Don't miss it this time. NOW THRU JUNE 28 GOOD SEATS AVAILABLE Tuesday, June 9 The League ol ''ut jm.itic Muse Composers Comput-jr Music Joe MePhee Solo Saxophone john A.Jjmb Joe Kutera performing a work tor soio piano Peier G.vand 2 Violins and Percussion Robert Ashley Performance Wednesday, June 10 Laune Spiegel Video and Acoustic Davey Williams LaDonna Smith Improvisation Jim Pomeroy Pertorm.ince Peter Gena 2 pianos Electric Bass The orrje Lewis Ensemble 4 Trombones Thursday, June 1 1 Paul Dresner Electronic Diananda Golds.

Extended Voc A Ned Sublette Cowboy Songs Nancy Karp Dancers Terry Riley Vocal Friday, June 12 Margaret Fisher Performance Conlon Nancarrow Player Piano Ustad All Akbar Khan "Honeysuckle Rose." The only U.S. entry with a chance at a l.l.ll 11.. I. prize is "Thief, retitled "Violent Streets for Europe. 1 Elsewhere in the competition, there are major directors with what seem to be minor films.

Four years ago, for example, the screening of Bernardo Bertolucci's "1900" in ABSOLUTELY NO SEATING DURING THE FIRST 10 MINUTES. Tm. Thur. at HitW. hi.

Sat Wnl Sil Man. Ii W. Sin. Mm. MS.

Ti'krlt Curran ThtatFr Bo Office, BASS Outltu (Sean, Record fcione, Bullock's and Liberty Houat SF), Tickemm geiKtea. CHARGE BY PHONE (415) 673 4400 spired riots among people trying to get in. But after the critical and boxoffice failures of both "1900" and his next. Luna," there's only mild interest in his latest, "Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man," starring Ugo Tognazzi and Anouk Aimee. Dusan Makavejev, the legendary bad boy of Yugoslavian cinema, is in the official competition mis year wun Tickeui to $10.00 at CAL Box Otfke anj i the door.

Montenegro," which he financed and filmed in Sweden and Saturday, June 13 Laurie Anderson Pertormance. Mixed-Media Lou Harrison Gamelan Ensemble which deals with a housewife's lost weekend among the immigrant population of Stockholm, The Anglo-Indian Workhop, Conferences, installations are director James Ivory is competing with "Quartet," starring Alan Bates and Maggie Smith in a story of an indestructible love affair. Claude Lelouch is represented with the three-hour "The One and the Others." Like all the directors, he was invited to describe his film in his own words for an official festival program and provided a totally senseless summary located throughout San Francisco: ort Point The xploratorium Pedestrian Tunnel at the Beach, Judah Street Palace ol Pine Arts Rotunda Ths Marina The San Francisco Museum ol Modern Art 80 Langton Street San Francisco International Airport Golden Gate Ferry Terminal University Art Museum. Berkeley Fort Mason giving no hint of what his film is about The two best films screened so far are "Three urotners, by the Italian Francesco Rosi, and "Looks and Smiles," by Marx Meadow, Golden Gate Park or up-to-date Inlormation on these and other special festival events call 663-7337 Britain Ken Loach. Rosi's film was chosen to open the festival, and it deals poetically and fatalistically with the phenomenon of political assassination in Italy.

Pope John Paul II was shot before it was screened, but absolutely no mention of the relevance of the film's theme was made from the stage of the festival; it was as if real assassinations and cinematic studies of assassination had no connection. For ticket Information call City Box Office, 392-4400. Aiso available at BASS, Tlcketron and other leading agencies CHARGE BY PHONE: 392-4400 Pftifebnittd bv the Now Music Alliance and the San tuemmer The Loach film Is another of his examinations of working-class life in a Britain crippled by unemployment His film is the black-and-white bittersweet portrait of a teenage romance that blooms and survives in the cheerless economic wasteland of Sheffield. It is as touching a film as ve seen in a long time. But It is a serious "small" film and not the sort that wins FHEVIEW TONIGHT AT 8:00 a TOM' AT 2:30 8:00 PREVIEWS: $1.00 off.

OPERIS FRIDAY AT 8:30 Tickets tX Golden Gate Theatre, BASS, Tlcketron agendea. CHAMdsE BY PIHIdDRIE: (4HB) 77S-88(D(D) the Grand Prix Which film will win this year! I posed this question to Gene Moskowitz, the Variety correspon-dent whose Job it is to travel to all the film festivals of Europe and set the odds. His prediction: The Grand Prize will go to John Boorman sword-and-sorcery nonsense, Although "Excalibur" is a box-office hit in the it was reportedly greeted with waves of laughter during the press yrjLfr "i screening in London. Wont the French find it silly, too? Moskowitz said I did not understand. The reasoning goes uxe this: The Americans have entered "Heaven's Gate" in the hope French critics will embrace it as a masterpiece and denounce the American critics and public as tasteless.

But the French, who love to confound expectations, instead wui embrace "Excalibur thus proving that both the American and the English critics are boors, but that the American public still knows a good movie when it sees one..