The San Francisco Examiner from San Francisco, California • 25

The Arts Frl 18. 1977 S.F. EXAMINER Pg 2S 4 Clever private eye film with a wink at the 40s i I i X' 7. i 4 if i By Elrbtlbsura Robert Bc-ntoni film. The Late Show hu opens today it lhf Regency 2.

is Impmsively and brsciru'ty oiiRirul, yet It's meant to homage to the vi -v aetmjve thrulm of the fortiM. i Tomlin and be are brought together by the murder of Carney's partner (Howard Duff who funeral Tomlin attends In order to pntreat the detective to Investigate the kidnaping of her cat, Winston. The peculiar request is followed by an offer of only fJ3 for a fee. It's toon hilariously apparent that TomKn will walk iway with the film, providing exceptional comic riches through her wonderful characterization of a compulsive, garrulous eccentric bo came to Los Angeles to be an actress, but not being able "to play the Hollywood game," has drifted Into dealing grass and transporting stolen goods. Though she really wants to open a dress shop, her overwhelmingly madcap, self designed clothes hold out little chance of attaining her goal, and her catch asatchan deatings with a petty hood are the cause of her trouble.

The hood. It seems, stole her cat because of her negligence with his money, and Carney takes the case, which turns out to be related to his partner's death. The story twists and turns with tricky momentum that often leaves us far behind. But as the corpses pile up, the challenge becomes exhilarating to Carney and Tomlin. and they make it all fall together In a tidy resolution.

Benton's direction is strong and superbly taut, and like Robert Altman, who served as producer for the film, he elicits remarkably fresh, distinctive performances from hi cast, even suggesting that a good deal of their work is spontaneous. It courts DashM'U Hammcu's dark tide of danger nt lUymond Chandler's cynical outlook and emulates both writer' ardor for duiylngly eomple plou. But unterdirrctor Benton. ho coauthored the acript of "Bonnie and Clyde" and made hit directing debut tth "Bad Company," has endowed The Late Show," ha second feature, ith a refreshing Imprint of his own. The film it a contemporary comedy thriller that doennl so much spoof the old genre at reexamine It tharp, witty and fond regard.

However, the main difference Benton'i odd choice of Art Carney and Lily Tomlin to play a matched pair of tleutht In the cracked mold of Nick and Nora Charlet. Carney is an over the hill private eye a contemporary of Sam Spade and fuilip Marlowe, who'a gone to seed but hasn't stopped working, despite hearing aid. bum leg mil carry ing around tome perforated ulcer and reduced circumstances that deprive him of owning a car. He's old. paunchy and In the tingular predicament of having to get around Los Angeles by public transportation.

Art Carney and Lily Tomlin flirt with danger while. Investigating a murder In "Th Lata Show." Tomltn. In particular, brings to much of her own Idiosyncratic brand of humor to her role that she appears to have contributed significantly to it for example, in nervous chattering and highly indignant reaction to being called a kwik and ding a ling. When that happens, she shuts people off and, In one Instance, goes Into a humming meditative trance. But when she comes back, her one liners are gems, is In her rebuke to a bully ing thug, "You're gonna pay for this in your next life." Even more than In her stunning screen debut In Altman's "Nashville," Tomlin rivets our attention with her dynamic energy and plain yet strong and appealing features.

She's a remarkably compelling actress and brinn some of Shirley MacLaine'a winning quality to her splendidly funny portrayal of a seventies' kook. Carney also does quite well with his curious role of the detective at senior citken. though Benton goes a bit overboard to make his point about the character's advanced age. There are other vivid performances by Bill Macy as a slippery bartender friend of Tomlin's; Eugene Roc he as a sinister and amusingly smooth talking fence-, and Joanna Cassldy as Roches philandering wife. John Conmdnie Is Roche's bruher of a bodyguard, whose comedy scene of being held at gunpoint In a swimming pool is also overdone.

But the few faltering moments can easily dismissed, since the film has extraordinary merit and is one of the brighter and better athievemenu around. Go sec it, by all means. Graham Central plays thanks to students South San Francisco, at Drake and Tamalpais In Marin County. Woodrow Wilson and Lincoln In SF. and Castlemont, McClymonds and Skyline high schools in Oakland.

Larry Graham and the Graham Central Station soul rock group will be playing a series of hlch school assemblies In the next couple of weeks to "say thanks to the kids who have helped us along the way." The shows, about 30 minutes each, are being presented Is regular assembly entertainment To avoid non school audiences, Graham has asked that sjK'cific locations and dates not be publicly announced. The series of school appearances will begin at Hayward High next week and follow with shows in Thp fininfrarri -V IIIU IJILllllllIlll P'ese A A Miisl. nl rlm A I Wm II Still I 1M4)C Uv. nl l.linnia rr Hill TONITI AT lt30 Previews Mar 30.31 Apr 1,2 Grand Opening April 5 MONTGOMERY PUVHOUSE 622 6)aaay. ii i i i 14 rl f- -1 musical rviuunjnes gi nil i -m I rJTTA Jeanefts McDonald LJ cjV Nelson Eddyv THki fiMUWCAfie; 4JQ MAAOrNJ.

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mi tAS VEGAS 0 I II OOMINO ins ii 676-3095 11 9 San Francisco loves the 'LAST 5 PFRFS 'Tonight at T0NITE at 8:30 TOMORROW 10 45 pm From tin Produc' Dirncloi ot "On fit CJr ThtCucliuo'trWn" comedy hit of the year. i iri he 6o, row C.tr ss -r. a wr I i ii (Vim, "AT. LOW PRICE PREVIEWS MARCH 19 thru APRIL 5 UfT ST 7 1 fItJft AND WINNING, AGATH AT CHRISTIE ALL SEATS $5 00 OPENS APRIL 6 'FUNNY! IMAGINATIVELY OIRECTEO AND HUMOROUSLY ACTED THE SHOW TAKES FEIFFER CAR-TOONS ANO PUTS THEM IN LIVING. VIVID.

TALKING. OFTEN BREATHING THREE-DIMENSIONAL STAGE FORM. THE MAGICALLY PECULIAR ANDECULIARLY K. ivx14'. BEST MUSICAL 5.

JA 1 ini MAGICAL WuHLD Ur rtllrtn! Croup call IS iQZI jule feifffcr Tht lnoul myiwry ttif illat now in in ytar on lh Ldnrlon itaqi. "A hit! A full b.iq pf diliihtf ul tricks carefully and knowiiH)lv in every 8Hect. Go lee it, aoo couot on an evening of lun!" -HwvBtliv. KCBS "Hilarioul A hit that will appeal to all aij," Sim H.il.ii'' iiB'ulpnl Jomnjl "Freih! Clever! Suspenieful itaging! Good fun!" CiluAilo Tcmnj "It's all there, mystery fans! In clastic Aqatha Chnttie ityle cluei, red hernnqi and cryptic itatementi are thrown at the audience. It's real entertainment!" ban Jnw MfuuryNewf The rJcv Alcazar Theatre 650 Geary Street San Francisco 775-7100 hhickj yint ol tti i'M" Gi'iny ill ini) nl 1 hriMB (J'v-iiunlt.

funnii il" 7 ltM rtUo at M.k v' HASS 1 v'fKf tnt mitu ftMn ITickatl iilbl Oonlon CnUr BO. tfld Macy't ALL MAJOR CHFDIT CARDS DIAL CHARGE 1415) 824 24 E-CURRAN THEATER 673-4400 1 ifiSr Third Smash Year Uvi 1 vt Jon Hendricks Dro.Ktwjy txxjcxJ mtvisH hi! Americ.Tn music jl 1 Tickan Utt avtiCabia at Twktt'wi Qmnum Cnt Soi 0fic tS MJdinf i)trKii GROUP SLSCU 395 20 LITTLE FOX THEATRE hj tan. Sin 31S JW The Symphony San Francisco Symphony Orchestra HUH On Broadwiiy Thc.itro 435 Browlway. SE ACADEMY AWARD mi liWIsllliMI BCST ORIGINAL SONG "Evetgrean" XOREGOS Pt Kf ORM1NG COMPANV'S HNAL SPRING PI.HFOMMANCES CU'Un SlU.Und Pi M.llim A t3sVw Trs Conductor Edo de Waart All-Orchestral program Exciting Opera House concerts Tonight tomorrow night at 8:30 pm Mozart Symphony No. 38 (Prague) BrucknerSymphony No.

5 Next Week: Conductor Klaus Tennstedt Pianist Philippe Entremont J- e' 8 1t Op' Mnj (, by 6 A) Asv -at C' Ml Kamy u-n (ti e. 4 2tA I) HA iN. No tvT- Ju9' i '1 i 1 C'l- wit r.j lot An trwt lfJ ni 41 a ft- In ynu, ahd jsm TONIGHT. SATURDAY and SUNDAY it 8 30 PM TMBK PHIMIIMI piut RprlofT WOflit AIIIC IhMtX 70 Union ttlf'r mi. 1 emu Mcrl B3 n4 in Itior Of Rfvltnn QUA 7 1 kk CONStKWORY THEATRE Now In Repertory Seats Available KNOCK KNOCK Lat Perlorrrancei Mar.

21 THE BOURGEOIS GENTLEMAN VALENTIN AND VALENTINA 8tH WI5IK! I tLJl J.I Sfl. MIVK TONIUHT a J8 2NO HILARIOUS YEAR TONIGHT AT 8:30, ttOt)tTHHaa)t tut ruswitti itvt fcw tmst "1 L.ti.idiu linm I 1 line dollar on 7-day Private Party Merchandise Ads Dial 7777777 AT IAV Pt NIMULA flf RKIt Clfm MM i UN Aft M.lltxM Tnlr nORTHPOim THeWRC HIPPOOHOW 989 6060 SNEAK PRFVIEW TONIGHT AT 8:00 A STAH IS BORN SHOWS AT 5 30 R. 10 00' GEARY THEATRE BOX OFFICE 673-6440 I Mr ATMfr WALNUT CPIIH M4tl lAfl At NrtHMiff RESERVATIONS 413 682-2343.