Daily News from New York, New York • 242

CI .4 drive-in theater at n'ght. TJIITATION may be con MOVIES By ANN GUARINO DRIVBMN 3 I A sidered the sincerest form of flattery, but that's giving the makers of "Drive-In" a lot of credit. Obviously, they're out to cash in on the success of "American Graffiti." with a sideline pin on the disaster-film cycle. "Drive-In" focuses a a MOTHER, JUGS 4 SPEED Rattd PG. At fh Matlonal.

pltu and etttar Uttatart. Rattd PO Al Coivmtxj II nd thr nowca inunn. group of teenagers in a small Texas town, from skating rink in the afternoon to on players, Larry Hagmen is especially good as a driver hung up on sex. But the man who walks away with the film is Allen Garfield, playing the crass owner of the ambulance company. "Mother, Jugs Speed" may have a full load of character typ" setups (including a vie or from the inevitable runaway cot), but it does entertain.

Ann Guarino I i 'Frankenstein' with curves EMBRYO Rafad PO. At ShnilM TbMltn. 5 fro a dog movies By JERRY OSTER WOUt TOW TOW. THE DX3 WHO SAVED HOLLYWOOD Raraa) PG. At tximml, Saltan and atkar tnaatar.

HE LAST SHOT of "Won Ton Ton. the Dosr Who Saved Holly-wood" show the san rising in the west. I suppose any picture that has 67 (eount 'em) guest stars in eameo rotes (some of them shards of eameo roles! has enough to do without being accurate. The trouble is that, at an average of one guest star every minute ami 20 seconds, the- picture is about nothing else. It should have been called "These Were Entertainers." The theaters trtat show "Won Ton Ton" will sizzle with whispers as audiences recognize the likes of (in alphabetical order) Edgar Bergen, Milton Berle, Broder-iek Crawford, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Dorothy Lamour, Walter Kdgeon, Johnny WeissmuIIer and many, many more.

David Picker, one of the producers, is fingered in the production notes as having had the idea to stud the pie-tare with stars. love Hollywood nostalgia and I think audiences enjoy seeing" famous stars on the screen, Picker is quoted as saying. "These are the people who made this business great. There's not much love or tribute in these little bits, though, for what is most aware of is how much these stars have aged. In its interstellar interstices, "Won Ton Ton" is about a German Shepherd who becomes a movie star, then falls on hard times.

The script, by Arnold Schnlman I f.1 happen mmmam wdy trl rt oats wait nt I T-j. MJVZ? 1 30" i fn. MAYZS 1-3Q 73C I Sat 23 I53Q 300 800 -cmiiim jrm wkj miu i WUDSUIJMlLMLtnUU Augnstus Von Schumacher (supported, and applaoded. by Brace Dent and Art Carney): sinking into stardom's cement at Crauman's Chinese. and Cy Howard, is singular among comedies in that it has not one fonnv line.

The direction, by Michael Winner (Michael Winner, he of such cynical movies as "The Mechanic" and "Death Wish, directing a comedy?) has a confuted, questing quality to it. The acting1 by Bruce Dern. as the dog's director, Madeline Kahn. as the dog's best friend. Art Carney, as a producer, and Eon Leibman, as a Valentinoesque actor is extravagantly bad, as if grimaces and gesticulations would conceal the script's inadequacies.

Won Ton Ton is played by a dog named Augustus Von Schumacher (pets should be protected from their owner's muses), who is quite appealing and who, when he covers his ears as some dynamite is about to explode, chalks up the movie's only laugh. If only it weren't for all those people. Caff f212 594-4900, IP During this particular Friday: one girl changes boyfriends, an engagement is broken, a snoopy kid-brother gets involved with robbers, a teenage-gang confrontation is' zapped by a holdup-gone- awry Upstaging all this hyperactivity, however, is the movia on the big drive-in screen. The picture proper is liberally peppered with disaster-movia cliches a man sets off a bomb on a plane, the plane crashes into a tall building which becomes a towering inferno, a dam bursts, a flood 1 puts out a forest fire, a ship is overturned by a tidal wave, the pilot of the crippled plane has to outwit a shark and they're more amusing than the movie they're stack in. Otherwise, Bob Peete's lackluster script is plodded along by director Rod Ama-teau, and the film is filled with fresh young faces harboring "American Graffiti" hopes of their own.

Unfortunately, one can hardly keep from driving out of "Drive-In." Ladd as his suspicious sister-in-law bring credibility to their characters under Ralph Nelson's competent direction. But the absurd story will not add luster to anyone, least of all to Hudson, who should have kept his pants on and not bothered. A. G. LUDWIG The first meeting of the newly-formed Beethoven Society will occur June 6 at 3 at the Liilie Dev-ereaux Blake School, 45 81st St.

Commentator Karl Haas and the renowned Guarnieri Quartet will do the honors, as well as discussing the objectives of the society. Admission is free. SOPVSS TOSICHT at A 41 Jt OMETHING-S AFOOT A Matkal whadaatt Tar -St Malm. H't A Sat t. Tickt al Tkkalraa: 11111 S4l-naa Rrtrrrr Tvkrtm if Jtll Vrr4.

rnt-jMf Jft LYCEUM latw.ai (Eattat B1.a sn-Sr EXTRA HOC MAT. MON-. MAY 11 at I Ji', Wtrklm: Sal HW -THE BEST PLAY OF THE BROAOWA1 SEASON Ni4r, Vmrwi, Jt'LIE HARRIS in THE BELLE OF AMHERST A flaw ahtml Fmum Ikrkmao" L0N6ACRE, St. wst at I'm, lU-SST Tan. -Sal.

a Man. Wat A Sat. 1. Saa. 1 Tickart fey aaaa: Taiacfcarta 11 tU i aw.i THE MAGIC SHOW "A BraatMakMHJ Matkai." 'BTT CONT THE AT a Ia W.

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HOK MAT MOV MAY SI at THE BIGGEST COMEDY HIT EVER RICHARD PAl'LA IK)I BENJAMIN' PRENTISS MURRAY 1 a CA ia eomsd 1 HE XORMAX CONQUESTS E. at I. Mats. tat. MOROSCO Ill W.

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HOT. MAT. MOV MAY 31 alt "OELIGHTFULI A GENUINE JOY!" Very cooD-ElSBfE 'vr' A Mnatenl Vomrily Ta.4at. Bvav al Mat. Wad.

A Sat. al Saa. 1 BOOTH THEATRE Si SI. W. St B-war MHW QroHV Salrtr S4 1 -7T9Q "PRESM IMAGINATIVE AND BEAUTIFULLY dewhurSt CAZZARA Win EDWARD ALBES nMANPAWFT Tan.

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1 aytf; mat. tr ante (212' Sf-7I7T OrompSaln Sit-IOCB music box tn w. as n.y. ia-4s "T1TOTHER, JUGS ilX Speed," a farcical blend of fun and pathos about ambulance drivers at a shoestring operation in Los Angeles, succeeds in being a little too free-wheeling for its own good. Uncertainty as to what to expect laughter one minute, sadness the next proves ultimately quite confusing.

In its best stride, the film is a lively comedy about coping: how these characters meet the grim reality of their jobs. They meet it cued, no doubt, by the crew with oddball antics and tomfoolery. An excellent cast is headed by Bill Cosby, Raquel Welch and Harvey Keitel in the title roles. Cosby is likable as the star-driver, a good-humored den mother with a penchant for buiiing nuns in his ambulance. Welch handles her role exceptionally well as a sexy switchboard operator with hopes of getting behind the wheel herself.

Keitel plays low-key as a suspended cop accused of selling cocaine. Tom Mankiewicz, who wrote the script from a story he co-authored with Stephen Manes, has created some hairy, humorous situations. And the pace is as fast as you would expect from the director of "Bullitt" (Peter Yates). Among the supporting pi PRtzr: for ihii in WINNER OP TONV AWARDS ESPECIALLY ASEST MUSICAL 17 CHOP. IS LINE SMUSERT 115 W.

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un Wad, a Sat, at 1 SHOWS Yf SVSn.4 AT 2M 7 UH A LAVISH. LOVING. VIVACIOUS. VIBRANT SHOW STUNNINGLY CHOREOGRAPHED. A SUPERLATIVE CASTr- K.

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aB W. SI. 7J7 714 TV more than A-p most people, get to play God in their life-and- death decisions a privilege considerably extended in "Embryo," a so-called "science-fa thriller." Dr. Rock Hudson obtains a three-month fetus from a woman who has committed suicide and, by administering a growth hormone, develops a full-grown, beautiful and intelligent woman in a matter of days. He teaches her to speak and promptly falls in love with her, a love that turns to hate when she must commit murder to survive.

Lovely Barbara Carrera as Hudson's subject and Diane "SHOULD RUN AS LONG AS THERE'S JUSTICE. AND A THIRST FOR BE-WITCHMENT. IN THE WORLD "Arr. 7W fair Lady WOttUrS CKCATrT MtfrCAL' ST. JAMES.

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wm. i aara. Far On. Sain e-lir rail IZ1? TWUPTa WINNER BEST MUSICAL Pint N. Y.

DRAMA CRITICS' AWARO ACIFIC OVERTURES A NEW MUSICAL W.ntar Carta Taaatra. 114 Bay MS-MTt Graae Salat: (Till JM-im. Tkaatraa: S4I-77HJ Ra. aa all crMi cam: HS-a5 Sfitr Errm S4l at 1. W1SXER OF TO.vr AWARDS BROADWAY BIGOEST HIT MUSICAL COMEDY "ONE OP THE BEST MUSICAL STAGINGS TO BE SEEM ON BROADWAY IN YEARS" Lin Barn, S.

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A acMaa nit aarma a.i. List aiiaraaia Oraaa Saia TH-W I Tkaatraa S4I-M IMPERIAL W. im it. CO S-M' Tnsir.HT AT MEW YORK APPLAUDS RICHARD RODOERS NEW MIT MUSICAL 'REX' BASED ON THE COLORFUL LIFE AND LOVES OP HENRY VIIU "aEX' IS A GLORIOUS MUSICAL." Arta jlft'TV "A EAUT1PUI SHOW I THE WHOLE FAMILY WILL LOVE IT." -HiiMk Maun Nil WIT 1 Vin: THE NEW fcltHAKD ROUOtRST JCVSICAt EX PEXSY IXER Ruarv Nckats By aaana rH) Maiar craax card: SAt-MSS Craaa tMl: XM-l TICKETRONr S41-7IW LUNT-FONTANNB THEA. M.WU- St-S5SS Eaa.i att P.M.I Maw, wa.

a Sat. at "THE FUNNIEST COMEDY ABOUT LOVE ADULTERY TO COME BROADWAYS WAY IN YEARS-. K. J. Ttmn TED SAME mt YTAR al Mat.

WW. a Sat. al X. ICS UROl'rSAL K.S OXL CA I. L- ITS-SOB BROOKS ATKINSON 15 W.

7tk St. HS-14J Si'tG. HOU MAT. max. MAYUtt 1973 TOST A WARPH Brt Actor a Munml-JoH (TT LIU Jhena.

tarring JOHN CULLUX Am i imn Knrrmm Aerrmtrd Far- Crvm Slm rl iSISt 7SOT4 ALVIN a Jlae SI. 7J7M4 Eva, al P-M- Mat. Wad. A Sat. at P.M.

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Vl i murium limt. PRICES; 5.S0, 6JS0, 7JSO, 8.S0 the tm Cmtfvt Card to order by phone AMERICAN EXPRESS BANKAM1HCARO MASTED CHARGE. For in format ion call (212) 564-440O. Tickets at Garden Boa Orhc and awer 150 Tic hetron outlets. For location neatest you.

call (2 12) 541-7Z9Q. imiiiiiijl GHHH i UNO LOVCUACSQTA "5ZAIrjo5Ci rTr7 Tat lill IHTHM IbrBITrIMI. TMntsTTllTRaTaan.