The San Francisco Examiner from San Francisco, California • 68

ev -'v 'v THE ARTS Page May 22, 1 974 A i www0? Loony, but wildly entertaining THE JACKSON FIVE (or Six) from left, Jackie, Randy, Michael (top), Tito, Marlon (top), and Jermaine. A 1 fun-loving family gang off stage but dedicated pros in the spotlight. Examiner Photo ii ii iiiiim 'I'm i mini iiiiM'iiniiiiiiimiiiijiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiii iii iiniiuumiimiiiLiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiwim 1 i i i in 1 lilitiiiP ifjk i ft A 3 Goldie Hawn and William Atherton make off with a highway patrolman By Stanley Eichelbaum A hellbent married couple kidnap a Texas highway patrolman in "Trie Sugarland Express," opening today at the Cinema 21 and Empire. The rest is sheer lunacy and as vigorously entertaining as any film we've had this year. Exploding with vitality and screwball humor, it whirls along like a top and marks the impressive debut of 28 year old director Steven Spielberg, who came up through television.

He. attracted special notice with a TV movie, "Duel." Spielberg has now made marvelous cinematic use of a wryly hip treatment (co-authored by Hal Barwood and Matthew Robbins) of an actual incident that occurred in Texas in 1969. The married pair, Lou Jean and Clovis, are played by Goldie Hawn and William Atherton. They're petty thieves recklessly trying to recover their 2-year-old son, taken from them while they were in jail. Lou Jean is fiendish in her determination to get the boy back.

Having served her time, she visits Clovis in a prison farm and bullies him into escaping. Neither is too bright, but Clovis is more rational and fretful of the consequences of kidnaping the policeman, played by Michael Sacks. He is seized at gunpoint (his own gun) and forced to drive the couple to Sugar-land (the town where their son is living with foster par- vention that distinguished Jacques Tati's Spielberg's film deals with its subject in lighter, more frivolous terms than it probably should and goes a bit soft before winding down to a tragic denouement. There is, furthermore, too much gravity attached to kidnaping to warrant the appealing portrayals we get from Miss Hawn and Atherton. All the same, Miss Hawn gives her best, freshest, most ingratiating screen performance as the dizzy, willful Lou Jean.

Atherton a fine, natural actor from the New York stage is also superb as her apprehensive husband. Sacks, however, tops them with his attractive, low-keyed portrayal of the rookie cop who eventually begins to enjoy his and his captors' celebrity. laughed Tito) and they work out their own routines, both musical and choreographi-cal. Like all groups, they want to eventually write most of their own material although it's been a long time coming for them) and have more time to do stuff around the house like basketball, model airplane flying, etc. They get their biggest kicks, it seems, when they don't have to answer questions but just fool around.

They had more fun playing with my kids than talking about their careers but again, showing a remarkable tendency to treat their artistry seriously, they were at their best recalling early days. They remembered "Cotton Fields Back Home" the first song their morher sang around the house that they The police captain leading the pursuit is well portrayed by Ben Johnson, though the role doesn't offer much and rings false when the captain turns with near-crazed arr ger to smash the weapons of a redneck vigilante group who join the chase. Spielberg hasn't brought" great deal of dimension to his story and characters. Yet his bursts of some of which stem from regional idiosyncrasies and rural Texas accents, are howlingly effective, like the ethnic touches in John Schlesinger's "Midnight Cowboy." The gifted Vilmos Zsig1- mond photographed "Tfye Sugarland Express," finding beauty where it doesn't ex1-ist, as in a shimmering line of carsvmoving down an ast phalt highway against the flat Texas terrain. iV i1 ii "Good News" For Everybody! A feast of singing, dancing fun NOW AT THE CURRAN THEATRE ALICE FAYE JOIIill PAYRIE and a brilliant young singing-dancing company IN GG8D MS ALSO STARRING STUBBY ((AYE Musical Numbers Staged by DONALD SADDLER Adapted and Directed by The Ut work jplay Philip Elwood The Jackson Five are eaching consciously frying to relate their music to an older crowd.

Riding high currently with fjlfe nation's top single, Dancing Machine," the world's most popular singing group is opening a yeek-long engagement a the Sahara Tahoe on Monday night and spent an infor-fiiifl, often hilarious, few gqurs with us in The City. "Their new show, which' had a weekend exposure at the Sahara recently and later a gala debut at the MGM Srand Hotel in Las Vegas, is 5 mixture of the J5's hits, old and new, and, as 20-year-old Tito told me, "We have some old stuff, too, Uiat you'd recognize numbers like "Bei Mir Bist Du fchoen" (which he pro-flounced, "My Dear Mr. and the Four Fjeshmen's "It's a Blue and a Mills Brothers factually Cy Oliver's) "Opus Drre." he Jackson brothers, who Jto. number six on stage with the permanent addition of 11-year-old Randy, are a fascinating bunch of They are, at once, just as-rowdy, noisy, and joke-3bving as any other sextet of Jioys on the other, they 'take their music seriouslv, uwd they take it for granted. 71 Jackie, the oldest, slated ij 'best the other afternoon.

vWhen we're on the road, vejre there to work, and we Jpllknow it. We work about rfour nights of concerts, then Stafce two days off. When we $33y club dates we're on a Ipugh schedule." Michael, at 14 the undoubted star of the Jackson Five, corroborated his big Wther. "If it's during the ribB6ol semester we have a fetor (Miss Roe Kind) while we're on the road, and wlien we're home (in Enci-ifci) we go to school and do recordings in the late afternoons and evenings." The Jacksons accept their JJmsical role and are proud it. "Lots of groups have followed us since we opened the door for them," said Jackie.

"The Osmonds are the most successful, but JJere are plenty of The teenybopper press has worked hard to generate a 'ifeud" between the white Osmonds (from Salt Lake (Sty) and the' black Jack-sons, originally from Gary, tjdiana. "We've run into the Osmonds in London, and Canada, and Las Vegas," said Michael -who was interrupted by Tito, correcting lVis younger brother by saying, "No, they ran into us." But except that the Jacksons seemed to admire the Os- DANCE ana 7" JfJTiiL. 1 J- where else having had experience only otherwise in Gary, that's reasonable. During a series of mock-interviews conducted by Marlon with our tape recorder, Jermaine admitted he liked the looks of "Frisco" from 15 floors up, but he hadn't had the chance to "raid the shops yet." His wife, Hazel Gordy Jackson, was anxious to do some shopping before they left. With the good fellowship and horseplay that the Jackson Five goes through (considering their potential for being show biz spoiled brats) I'd like to go on record as saying that these young people are genuine, they're talented, and they're proud of their accomplishments.

And they're good guys. 5th Smash Year! Z3 Tonight at 8:30 pra The Little Fox Theatre. 533 Pacific, San Francisco B.O. Phone 434-4738 Also Ticketron, Macy's leading agencies Croup Rait Call 776-7614 GORDON CROWE PRESENTS IN CONCERT! 'The Most Hie Great Star Explosive Force of Stage in Jazz" and TV STUDENT 1UISHJ1 DISCOUNT Fri. May PM Paramount Theatre Oakland Tickets: $7.50, S6.50, $5.50, S4.50 TICKETS: Paramount Thsatr.

8.0 -M-B B.O. Neil Thrami San Josej B.O.; Peninsula B.O.; ASUC B.O.; Macy'i; Lockheed LERA. Mail Order! Paramount Theatre B.O.. 2025 Broadwav. Oakland ywu.

information 466-6400. MAR IN CONCERT POSTPONED Tickets will be refunded at all Marin Ticket outlets or exchanqed at the Oakland Paramount Theatre tor the May 24th concert. STARRING IN PERSON Tit i BE BURROWS ents) in his patrol car. Clovis never intends to harm the nervous, young cop. Lou Jean gets to like him.

Kidnapers and captive strike up a strange friendship no stranger, though, than the crowds who cheer them en route and offer Lou Jean sympathy for being such a good mother. Still funnier than the carnival spirit which their media-publicized caper elicits is the caravan of police cars that cautiously pursues them all the way to Sugar-land. No road picture has been more brimful of visual comedy. And the sequences cars madly piling into one another as the pursuers lose patience, or lose track of the kidnap car come off splendidly, on the same level of hilarious in- Enjoy again; "The Best Things in Life Are Free," "You're The Cream in My Coffee," "Good News," "Button Up Your Overcoat," "Sunny Side Up," "Lucky in Love and others. FIEREE S550.t a -n ir AT-i ii I If r.

Evenings at 8:30, Mon. thru $3.75 to $10.75 Fri. and Sat: $4.50 to $11.75 For Reservations Call 445 Geary St. 673-4400 worked out on mother likes country-and-western music," noted Jackie) and when Michael and Marlon started a conversation about the Chicago booze-clubs they used to play as the Jackson Five was just getting started (maybe eight years ago) the entire interview, such as it was, broke up into the kind of good fun that a kid's birthday party represents. They -would all rather live in the L.A.

area than any ONE NIGHT ONLY ALVIN TOFFLER'S FUTURE SHOCK (a film) Narrated by ORSON WELLS with discussion on POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES PLACE: HOLIDAY INN Fisherman's Wharf 1300 Columbus S.F. DATE: MAY 22 TIME: 8:00 P.M. ADMISSION: $2.00 Sponsored by THE ARTESIA GROUP A Non-Prof it Organization monds for flying their own airplane to gigs but they almost hit a big plane, once," said Randy) there seems to be no professional hostility. The Jacksons have found that their "new" audiences, in big clubs, know their music. "And we like the lack of screaming in the crowd and that we don't have to stop the show and ask that things quiet down," noted Jackie.

The group is leaving for their second tour of England -after the Sahara Tahoe engagement. In the wake of "Darning Machine," the Jackson Five sextet it the Jackson Five-and-a-Half," said Jackie) is working on another LP, to be preceded by what they hope will be another gold single. I couldn't pry out of them what it might be but there is the strong suggestion that Stevie Wonder may have written a couple of numbers for them. The J5 doing a new Wonder tune ought to work out very, very well. Working the bis clubs has required some changes in routine for the J5.

"We've had some tap dance lessons," admitted Jermaine, 19, and the group has gotten usedio having a full orchestral backing over 30 instruments to augment their own guitar, bass, and drums and organ, the latter played by cousins Ronnie and Johnny. But the Jacksons never do things on stage that they have 't recorded those old tilings you know," TONIGHT ot 8:30 6th SMASH MONTH! LAST 13 PERFORMANCES! "Dynamic performances!" Bladen, San Mateo imes. TheTrial of Jarr ON BROADWAY Theater 435 Broadway 398-O800 Student Rush! 20th Anniversary Celebration Great Food- Great Prices delirestaurant 474 Geary at Taylor 771-1600 TONIGHT MAYNARD FERGUSON TOMORROW FREE NEW JAZZ ART LANOE 9 11:30 MORGANA KING ADVANCE TICKETS Al MACTs, TiCKETRQN 859 O'FARRELL 885-0750 CONCERT AMnO 5 the PMMUO Sounds HI. San'f ranrisco Ctric light Opera ifI4 WEEKS ONLY! at" PHIL LEEDS in tlcil Simons Broadway comedv hit ff fSfbAN FRANCISCO Low-Priced Preview Tonight! TICKETS NOW ON SALE! JOSE FERRER CONDUCTOR MUSIC DIRECTOR SCHOENBERG'S GURRE-LIEDER MARITA NAPIER, Soprano JAMES McCRACKEN, Tenor LILI CHOOKASIAN, Contralto GEORGE LONDON, Narrator DANIEL PARKERSON, Tenor ROBERT KLANG, Baritone SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY CHORUS STANFORD UNIVERSITY CHORUS AT 8:30 P.M. AT THE OPERA HOUSE STUART CANIN, VIOLIN CAGESUITE FOR TOY PIANO MOZARTVIOLIN CONCERTO NO.

5 DVORAKSYMPHONY NO. 9 THURS.MAY 23 2 P.M. AT THE OPERA HOUSE Box Offices: Sherman Clay. 141 Keamy ptaw 397-0717: Op HousNorth Lobby, phon 626-8345': Tfirams-Oakland: Macy's: Peninsula and San Jos Box Offices, and all major ticket agencies. BankAmericard end Master Charge BOX OFFICE PHONE: 673-6440 CROUP Woods, (415) 771-3880 A.C.T.

Geary TheatreGeary Mason Sts, Gala Holiday9 9 9 9 9 9 9 1. -mf i AMIIMi- at KIMO PRODUCTIONS presents I Xjr WITH GENTLE BEN, THE DAKTARI CHIMPS, PAMELA'S MOD DOGS, TONY, THE WONDER HORSE AND EHARLES LIMITED ENGAGFMFNTi wi.Ti,u GEMSBGEXSGBG iPetti MM Bluvk presents 4L.U. IS IK SP OOSddO S7tO MAY 24. 25 and 26 SATURDAY. MAY 25.

AT 2 P.M. 8 P.M. Zellerbach Auditorium. U.C. Berkeley-8 pm Mat: Gen.

$2.00, 2.50, 3.00 Stu. $1.00, 1.50, 2.00 Eve: Gen. $2.50, 3.00, 3.50 Stu. $1.50, 2.00, 2.50 5 ATTIC Bands DM I I LL of S) 0 WW VMM Sf TICKET CENTER 40'Farrell St. DOWNTOWN CEMTER325Mason St Fri.

and Sat. at 8:30 P.M.: S7.50, 6.50, 5.50. Sun. al 7:30 P.M.: $6.50. 5.50, -1 Sun.

at 3:00 P.M.: $5.60, 4.50, 3.50. Circle Star Theatre KrSLSi 1717 Industrial Road Far inlarmitien, cell (415) 3M-Z550 w) 9 San CarlOS, Ca. 94070 or San Fnmclsco 982-6550 at Latin, Soul, Funk, Rock Roll and Sixties FRIDAY, MAY 24, 8 p.m.-2 a.m. LONGSHOREMEN'S HALL Doors Open 7:30 Baoch Mason Sis. $3.00 OO Door Ticketron phono 788-2828 eeee "cncou(uLJuatlUlHDlKst all MACYSor phone 4S1-389! A OA I ICink CAL Ticket Office, 101 Zellerbach, 642-2561 all Macy'i stores, and major ticket agencies.

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