The San Francisco Examiner from San Francisco, California • 55

-1 Television xaminet7 Oct. 7, 1983 section Friday October Z7 YE The fourth S.F. Video Festival is underway. A gallery exhibition is on view through Oct. 16 at the Museum of I A- I "tfibiriki" end 0 Let Levine'e "Einstein A Nuclear Comedy" premiere at 8:30 tonight at the Festival Galleries, inn and a "Video Bar" ODens at 10 p.m.

at 4. By John Stark Examiner movie critic 1250 17th St. Other weekend highlights include "The Sexual Image," a program of live oerformance and video, at 8 p.m. OODBYE, COLORLESS Roger Moore. After fa Ivy 13 years, Sean Connery is back as James Saturday, and a computer arts fair from 11 a.m.

to 8 p.m. Sunday (641-9207). The third Literary Lecture Series presented by Friends of the Library begins with a talk by Fran Lebowitz at 8 I Bond 007. Seeing the hunky, debonair, charismatic actor in the role he created 18 years p.m. in the HerDst i neater.

LeDowu also speaks at 8 p.m. Saturday in the ago is like tasting fresh ground coffee after years of drinking decaffeinated tea. At age College of Marin Olney Hall. A series of lectures, film, trips and demonstrations, "Stars In Your Eyes," begins with "Cosmic Evolution and the Film. '2001: A Space with Andrew Fraknoi.

at 7:30 p.m. in the Morrison Auditorium, California Acade my of Sciences. Fred Curchack's new solo perform' a nee work. "Stuff as Dreamt Are Made On," traces the breakdown of a Shakesoearean actor trying to play all the roles in "The Tempest" at 6:30 Sean Connery returns to action as Agent 007 tonight and Saturday at Intersection, 53, Connery puts 'em all to shame, including that guy on TVs "Magnum, P.I." "Never Say Never Again," which opens today at the Alexandria, is a richly photographed, classy affair, directed by Irving Kershner, who did "The Empire Strikes Back." Kershner has wisely downplayed the special effects (what's left to be seen?) and played up the macho-campy character of Ian Fleming's famous 6uperspy. The film moves swiftly, except for the last 20 minutes when the action becomes repetitious.

At 129 minutes it needs tightening. Badly. Kershner and scriptwriter Lorenzo Semple have enlivened this remake of "Thunderball" (the fourth Bond film) by making a big deal out of Bond's return to the British Secret Service. He's called into action to thwart an extortion plot involving stolen atomic bombs. Before undertaking his mission, Bond is sent to a health clinic to get into shape.

There, at night, he makes love to a young nurse, feeding her pate and champagne from the ice chest in his suitcase. Giving the one-dimensional film some resonance is the See Page E5, col. 3 756 Union St. Edo de Waart conducts the S.F. Symphony in Mozart's "Eine kleine Nachtmusik," Barlok's Violin Concerto No.

1 (Kyung-Wha, soloist) and Elgars Symphony No. 1 at 8:30 tonight in Davies Hall, and at 8 p.m. Saturday at Flint Center, Cupertino. REVIEW highlights "Never Say Nevar Again," from MQMUA; directed by Irving Kerscnner; starring Sean Connery as James Bond; with Klaus Maria Brandauer, Max von Sydow, Barbara Carrera, Kim Baainger, Bernie Casey, Alec McCowen and Edward Fox. A remake of Ian Fleming's "Thunderball." Connery returns as Agent 007 and, yes, he looks terrific.

He's trying to thwart a terrorist group's efforte to explode stolen nuclear weapons. The first half of the film has spark and atyle. However, at 129 minutes rt'a too long. Rated PQ. Top admission, $5.

At the Alexandria. 18th Avenue and Geary. Poo: The KRQR-Kevstone Family tin 7 'j a if iff I "Beat-Off Drum Competition" takes place tonight at the Stone, Saturday at Keystone Berkeley, Sunday at Keystone Palo Alto; and Wire Train rock the Kabuki; Richard Thompson and T-Bone Burnett rock Wolfgang's; Flora Purlm and Airto play Latin jazz at Great American Music Hall tonight and Romantic, yes; comedy, no Saturday October fo3 By John Stark Examiner movie critic You've seen this film before. It's a romantic comedy, set in New York City. Ah, New York, where the streets are never dirty and where everyone, no matter what his or her income, lives in a smart apartment that appears to have been decorated by Billy Gaylord.

Friendly folk, too. They leave their doors unlocked so friends can drop by. It's about forgive me if you already know a short, middle-aged, slightly alcoholic playwright (Dudley Moore) who has a nine-year, on-again, of f-again love affair with his pretty, easily flustered writing partner (Mary Steenbur-. The S.F. Opera offers the first of two low-priced matinee performances -rf.

for senior citizens, Verdi "La Travia- ta," at 1 p.m. in the Opera House. Tickets are $2 to $10. The Oakland Old Time Vaudeville See Page E13, col. 1 i REVIEW highlights "Romantic Comedy," from MGMUA.

Directed by Arthur Hitler. Screenplay by Bernard Slade, based on his play. Dudley Moore and Mary Steenburgen alar aa a Broadway writing team. They fall in love, though they don't know H. Ron Leibman ia Sleenburgen'a rigid husband.

Janet Eibler is Moore's WASPish wife. Frances Sternhagen playa an agent. An artificial, occasionally funny story set in Manhattan. Music by Marvin Hamlisch, of course. Rated PG.

At the Alhambra, Empire and Serramonle 6. 'Romantic' pair: Mary Steenburgen, Dudley Moore Rip Torn and Mary Steenburgen In 'Cross Creek' An Astroswamp drama 4 'i By John Stark Examiner movie critic club revives "Memories of Vaudeville" at 8 p.m. at the Scottish Rite Temple, 1547 Lakeside Oakland. The local chapter of the California Native Plant Society holds its 17th annual sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

at Merritt College in Oakland. The Stryb-Ing Arboretum Society runs a plant sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the arboretum's Russell Library Courtyard. Marriott's Great America holds a two-weekend Oktoberfest, Oct.

8-9, 15-16. Yodeling, hofbraus, Bavarian music and German beer are some of the attractions. The Owner Builder Center offers a "Basic Home Repair and Improvement" class beginning with a session from 9 a m. to 4 p.m. at Fort Mason Center (526-9222).

Actress-broadcaster-comedian Jane Dornacker performs at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center in Berkeley. Pianist Ruth Laredo plays music by Chopin, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff and Barber at 8 p.m. in Hertz Hall, DC Berkeley. The first West Coast Artists' Invitational Tennis Tournament, a benefit for the Oakland Museum, is held at the Claremont Resort Hotel and Tennis Club, Berkeley.

Finals and a celebrity exhibition begin at 4 p.m. Pop: Dream Syndicate and Wire Train are featured at the KUSF Rock Roll Sock 'n' Swap from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kabuki; Sukay plays music of the Andes at the Noe Valley Minstry; Melissa Manchester sings at Concord Pavilion; D.O.A. and Tales of Terror rock the On Broadway: Mutabaruka and the High Times Players and I-World play Wolfgang's; Translator and Uptones rock in concert at Berkeley Community Theater.

ARTIN RITT makes intimate, well-meaning films about decent, interesting people, such as "Hud," "Sounder," "Conrack" and "Norma about the Florida country folk. The British, through "Masterpiece shows, have a lovely, subtle knack for bringing authors to life. This film, in comparison, lacks poetry and a nostalgic glow. The dialogue, by Dalene Young, who wrote "Little Darlings," is unshaded and simplistic. "Don't you tell me what a woman can and cannot do," says Rawlings to See Page E5, col.

3 SI Rae." He appears to be in a slump, however. "Back Roads," from two years ago, with Sally Field, was lethargic and empty. So, too, is his latest drama, "Cross Creek," starring Mary Steenburgen as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, author of "The Yearling." There is hardly an honest moment in this banal, artificial, sterile-looking movie, set in a Florida swamp, where Rawlings went to live in the late 11920s. She went there, by herself, to iraise oranges, hoping that would support her writing career. It was on the advice of legendary editor Maxwell Perkins that she give up trying to pen ithird-rate Gothic romances to write REVIEW highlights "Croat Creek," directed by Marlin Rrtt.

Starring Mary Steenburgen as author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, who won a Pulitzer for "The Yearling." Hardly an honest moment in this artificial story baaed on her memoirs. Sleenburgen'a character is cold and unlikaWe. Rip Torn is a crusty gator-hunter; Dana Hill is the child that Rawlings based "The Yearling" on (the boy is now a girl, which shows you how misguided the picture is). Rated PQ. Top admission, $5.

At Regency Sutter at Van Ness. 0 1 Sunday October Columbus Day's new feature The Merrill Lvnch-SF. Svmnhnm By Michael Dougan Examiner television columnist Jon-Erik Hexum, who starred in the ill-fated ABC series "Voyagers" last season, dropped by the office a couple of days ago to talk about his second shot at a television role the lead in The Making of a Male Model (9 p.m. Sunday, Ch. 7).

In this new TV-movie, Hexum plays a cowpoke who is tapped by a modeling agency (headed by Joan Collins) to become the industry's next superstar. Along the way, he climbs in and out of a lot of beds. "Male Model" promises to be pretty steamy stuff. "There are too many bedroom scenes," Hexum complained. "And I take my shirt off too many times." Still, he swore that the movie which I havent seen would give an unvarnished look into the highly pressurized and competitive world of modeling.

The only other television event of note this weekend is September Gun (9 p.m. Saturday, Ch. 5), another tele-flick starring Robert Preston as a a retired gunslinger pressed into service by a nun (Patty Duke Astin), who runs an orphanage for Indian children. This show combines comedy and action and is enhanced by supporting actors Sally Kellerman, Christopher Lloyd and Geof ry Lewis (as the town drunk and sheriff). Also on the weekend dial: FRIDAY In the Heat of the Night (8 p.m., Ch.

2) is a compelling 1967 movie starring Rod Steiger as a racist southern lawman and Sidney Poitier as the big city cop who helps him clear up a murder. Both Steiger and Poitier are outstanding in this examination of race relations in a changing world and the script, by Marin resident Sterling Silliphant, is flawless. Vietnam: A Television History, one of the best documentaries ever mounted, begins its 13pisode run with a historical perspective on the region, where Vietnamese have been fighting foreigners for some 2,000 years. That first segment is repeated on Ch. 9 at 9 tonight; Part 2 is repeated at 10 p.m.

-See Page Ell, col. 1 Barbutti, the Jimmy Dorsey Big Band, Dick Contino, others), children's programs, fireworks, the Budweiser Clydesdales, photos and Hours are noon to 1130 p.m. each day. General admission is $6 at the gate. Testa! at the Square," a lOday See Page E6, col.

1 A new feature in San Francesco's festive Columbus Day celebration is the first "Festa Italiana" today through Monday at Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 45. The event includes more than 40 booths showcasing Italian cuisine, daily entertainment (Jerry Vale, Johnny Desmond, Christine Corelli, John Cordoni's Big Band, Pete Great Performers Series features Mstislav Rostropovich conducting the National Svmohonv (Vrhaetra in Daa thoyen's Symphony No. 3 and Shosta- Kovicn sympnony no. 5 at 8:30 p.m. in Davies Hall.

USF holds its fraa Fniinr Celebration from 11 a.m. to 3 o.m VjjfJ f0 rlfS'y Attractions include a performance by sinaer Val Diamond, tour basketball game and food and game booths. The fourth Baasnn ni San iomviouu Performances opens with the Orlord Strina Quartet in muni Ku "v'v its ug Bartok and Beethoven at 8 p.m. in the Herbst Theater. The S.F.

Bach Choir presents Its fall concert at 7 p.m. at St Paulus Lutheran Church, Eddy and Gough streets. Media Alliance presents a benefit premiere of "Under Fire," a political thriller starring Nick Nolle and Gene Hackman. it at ik d.i... Fine Arts.

1 The American HI frtrum nrAitAaU Oakland goes Centerstage iwiwiti vouitis ins second Menudo Cook-Off and Mexican Fiesta from 1ft a inAnM Alameda County Fairgrounds. Hundreds of cars looking their very best rop: me Dewey Redman Quartet, feeturtng pianist Randy Weston, plays iazz at 4:30 Dm at CUh Dynamite Society, Miramar; Country Oakland Centerstage '83, a celebration of the culture and art of Oakland, takes place through Sunday. The major musical events are "The 17th Street Festival" from 3 to 7:30 today; "Music at the Port" beginning at noon Saturday and Sunday at Jack London Square; the "Centerpiece Concert," at the Convention Center at 8 p.m. Saturday and "Inspirational Sing" at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Convention Center.

Featured performers include the Whispers (above), the Ballads, Johnny Otis, Etta James and Lowell Fulson. "V'Winio, ioe uiazer, Lenny Anderson and others sing labor songs at the Teamnlara HH fa ri.i..rf. ah tional Rod and Custom Car Show at the Cow Palace. Hours are 5 to 1 1 tonight and noon to 1 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

General admission is $6. Bob Cechinni's Radical Custom '57 Chevy is one of hundreds of gleaming custom cars, hot rods, vans, trucks and race cars on cjisplay at the 13th annual Interna- n. wniaiij nil Akbar Khan performs at Sleeping Lady VBie, rairiax..