The Province from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 17

ENTERTAINMENT Saturday, October 13, 1973 -province 17 Number One Son lucky on TV gets 1 r''JS wk VK I Iff r. I 1 Vv By PENNY P. ANDERSON New York Timei HOLLYWOOD When Keye Luke approached to say "Hello," 1 was unprepared for the man I was meeting. I'd come to know him only as stoic Buddhist monk, Po, on ABC's Kung Fu series blind, dressed in robes, aged and ethereally wise. Here was a YOUNG man extending his hand young certainly by comparison to his TV counterpart.

His face was unlincd, his eyes alive with curiosity and character, his thick dark hair only barely tinged with silver. It was not until sometime later I was to discover that Keye Luke is nearly 70 and is as much an institution in Hollywood as he is in the monastic world of Kung Fu. He arrived in an adolescent film capital in 1927, and today, along with his wife, still lives within the city boundaries of Hollywood. "I was here before the bulldozers came," reflected the Canton-born, Seattle-educated actor. "We used to get up in the mornings to fresh, beautiful air and the fragrance of orange blossoms.

Times have changed," he said. He was a commercial artist in those early days, imported from Seattle to work for Grauman's Chinese Theater. "When Twentieth Century Fox opened the theatre," he said, "they thought it only proper a Chinese artist should draw the advertisements." Through his association with the opulent movie house, he came to know well most of the biggest and the smallest fish in the movie industry pond. One of the bigger ones at the time was producer Lou Bock who put together the musical team of Fred As-taire and Ginger Rogers for the smash hit, Flying Down to Rio. "Lou wanted to do another picture of that type Flying to Shanghai and needed a Chinese actor.

He asked me if I'd be in the movie and I thought he was crazy. I was an artist," recalled Luke. "He said he'd put me in some small roles in a couple of It was during that era when Life magazine chose to publish a color spread on all the MGM acting stable. "It took two full pages to get us all into a single picture," smiled Luke. "Jennifer Jones, June Allyson, Chill Willis, Irene Dunne, Spencer Tracy, Kate Hepburn they were all in it.

I remember 1 was sitting next to Desi Arnaz (Sr.) and he was wearing his Army uniform." Luke's place in the annals of motion picture history was carved from his role as "Number One Son" in numerous Charlie Chan films and as a young intern with Lionel Barrymore in the Dr. Kildare films. "I've been very lucky," he said. "The image of the Chinese was just changing from the dark, mysterious China Smith with Dan Duryea, and on scores of others as well. In 1958, Richard Rodgers took him to Broadway to play Father Wong in Flower Drum Song.

He remained with the play both in New York and on tour for three and a half years. But Rodgers refused to release him for the movie version. "He told me there was no one who could replace me. Everyone cried for me, but I told them, 'I'm happy any day I'm working for Rodgers and Hammerstein. I'm not complaining." He has seldom ever complained not even now when, at age 69, he's required to spend hours in make-up in preparation for his role as Po, or required to wear uncomfortable opaque contact lenses to give the effect of being blind.

Aides must remove the At QE other pictures first so I could get used to acting. It sounded like fun." Soon the handsome young Oriental was hooked on the silver screen, and ultimately became one of the industry's most active members but he was never seen in Flying to Shanghai. "The picture was never made," explained Luke. Lou got fired and someone else took over the Astaire-Rogers movies and got rich from them. That's show business," he said and shrugged.

During his years as a professional actor, and especially under contract at MGM, Luke came to know them all" the Garbos, the Gables, the Barry-mores. "We were pumping out pictures one after another," he reminisced. "Our real golden years were the war years." in this year's competition: La Mort d'un Bucheron and Les Corps Celeste. The selections came as a surprise to many and a shock to some of the nearly 200 press and movie industry representatives who gathered Friday night in Montreal's Chevalier Cinema. They were there at the invitation of the five-man international jury who earlier this week announced their intention to complete their work despite the refusal of 14 key members of the Quebec Film Directors Association to participate in the planned prize presentations.

The actual awards, dinner and ceremonies were cancelled Monday. Fri-direction and the Special Jury Prize. Canadian film awards surprising A FANTASTIC VOICE By RAY CHATELIN Watching Ivan Rebroff performing his international grab-bag of songs is a bit like seeing a giant brown bear showing off to an audience that knows exactly what is going to happen from the time the bear begins until he goes back into his cage. That's not meant as a backhand compliment. It's just that Rebroff and his wonderfully resonant bass voice reminds me of a Russian brown bear and I knew before I walked into the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Friday evening that Rebroff would probably sing what he did last year when he came for the first time to Vancouver.

His program is designed to show off his voice. And why not? He certainly has fantastic range and although he seems to have more difficulty in reaching the higher ranges than he did on some of his earlier recordings, he By MICHAEL WALSH MONTREAL Slipstream, an English-language feature based on an original screenplay by last year's Etrog-winning best director Bill Fruet, has been named best film of 1973 by the international jury of the Canadian Film Awards. David Acomba, Slip-stream's director was chosen best director. By contrast all of the feature film acting awards went to French-Canadians. Jacques Godin was named best actor for his work in the NFB-produc-.

ed OK Laliberte. Genevieve Bu-jold was the jury's choice as best actress for her performance in Claude Jutra's Kamouraska. Best supporting actor was Willie Lamothe, seen in Gilles Carle's La Mort d'un Bucheron. The best supporting actress honor went to Camille Bernard, who played Mile. Bujold's unflappable mother-in-law in Kamouraska.

The annual Special Jury Prize, "for all-round went to Kamouraska. Selected for the annual Wendy Michener Award, "for outstanding contributions to the Canadian Film Industry," was director Gilles Carle, the only filmmaker to have two films Applause for Rejeanne An unusual makeup job (at left) transforms actor Keye Luke into Master Po, blind teacher of Caine in television's Kung Fu series. In addition to the facial and head makeup (including skull cap) the Chinese actor wears opaque contact lenses to make him appear blind. At right, a younger Luke appears as Number One, Son to Charlie Chan, played by Warner Oland. Fu Manchu impression to one of living, breathing people.

I was here at the right time." When the film industry took a tumble shortly after the Second World War, Luke took to the road with a theatrical routine. "I was away from California continually from 1945 to '50. It was the only way to make a living. I did a comedy-mystery sketch as Number One Son and did impersonations of Chan and all the other characters. The audiences loved it.

"But then the little box known as TV came along and by 1950 many of the big theaters I'd played in '45 were boarded up." He took to television with the same vigor he'd taken to movies. He was a frequent guest on The Adventures of ing awards, the award for best art director and best sound editing awards, and Peter Pearson's Paperback Hero, collecting best sound re-recording, best editing and best cinematography. Carle's La Mort d'un Bucheron was named for two awards: best supporting actor and best music. Single award winners were OK Laliberte for best actor and Rejeanne Padovani for best screenplay. The only other multiple winner was a film entered in the T.V.

Drama category. The Sloane Affair, an NFB-produced special for the CBC, was named best T.V. drama and claimed awards in two non-feature length craft categories: best direction (to Doug Jackson) and best screenplay. The members of the international jury were Roch Carrier, Roger Cor-man, Alain Jessua, Ivan Passer and Les Wedman (see accompanying story). Over a five-day period they screened 46 films in six categories, including Feature Films Fiction, Feature Films Non-fiction, Documentary, Animation, Theatrical Short, and T.V.

Drama films. tions are a mere hairsbreadth away from being libelous. During the evening a number of complications arise. Padovani's ex-wife Rejeanne (Luce Guilbault) returns seeking a reconciliation. A reporter arrives sniffing for a scandal.

Word of a public protest arrives prompting some immediate extra-legal action. Arcand, who co-authored his screenplay, peels back the layers of decay one by one, exposing finally a hardcore of evil that is at once frightening and utterly fascinating. Rejeanne Padovani is a truly breathtaking film. The prolonged applause that followed it was completely deserved. promoting his latest book Divide and Con.

Since the writing of the book, when longtime NDPer Stewart made rude remarks about the one-issue campaign run by David Lewis, he has had his faith restored in his party. "The party has conducted itself very well in Parliament," he said, "unlike the Tories." I told him I liked the comparison between the David Lewis clan and the Kennedys of the U.S. and he told me of a different reaction from another reader, a woman from the U.S. Very haughtily she informed him that Amateur wins first prize lenses at hour and a half intervals and cleanse his eyes thoroughly to insure against eye damage. When "Kung Fu" producer Jerry Thorpe initially phoned to offer Luke the role in the move-for-TV pilot, Luke could not help but reflect that he'd known e's father, Richard Thorpe, one of MGM's most prominent directors during the Golden Era.

The younger Thorpe ultimately asked him to join the weekly cast of the adventure series, and Luke, fresh from the ill-fated Anna and the King series, was delighted. "After living in Hollywood all these years, I've learned to do a day's work and figure that's all it's worth no matter what the promises. Sometimes, though, you get lucky. I've been lucky with Kung Fu. That's show biz." theatre still can awe an audience into complete submission.

Of course the Russian born Rebroff concentrated mostly on Russian folk tunes. The Drunk Priest, The Legend of the Twelve Thieves were two. There were others. I still don't like Danny He sang it last time as well and it's like throwing a hunk of raw meat to hungry lions. It's just too, too obvious.

We have every Irishman in the city singing that song every St. Patrick's day. But in between the obvious and the cornball there's enough of Chaliapin-like tone in Rebroff's deep registers to make one forget the show biz stoppers 1 Rebroff throws at an audience. He was backed by four members of the Balalaika Ensemble of Paris who had their good moments. There were several solo parts for the members while Rebroff was taking "vodka" breaks.

But the boys hardly gave it a chance Friday night with their distinctly slipshod performance. By the way, it isn't the original Kingston Trio only Bob Shane, greying by now and seemingly bent on mutilating the remaining memories of the group, is left, joined by two youthful sidekicks plus a bass player and percussionist to fill out the sound whenever it actually gets going. When it does and it does occasionally the vocal blend and the warm acoustic textures of guitars and banjo almost manage to recapture the crisp, vital infectiousness of yore, the chestnut jokes and dry asides livening the spaces between songs with a modicum of success. But what started off as an understandably casual set degenerated into a silly disorganized melee that would have been laughable if it hadn't been so painful. When he got home, his wife, Dale Evans, looked at him and sang, "Pardon me, Roy, is that the cat that chews new shoes?" (It goes better with Glen Miller music, I admit, but I never claimed to be Himie Koshev-oy.) On the move again is veteran hotel-man Bill Bryant, known here for his stint as manager of the Hotel Georgia.

He has been transferred from the Continental Plaza in Chicago to the Century Plaza in Los Angeles, as general manager, while Peter Martin, who used to be at the Bayshore -Inn here, willbe switching places with him to be G.M. of the Continental. Parton Thought: A good morning to everyone, especially someone who wants to watch television, but hates sports. Kingston Trio's show major disappointment Stunning film of political corruption Films with three awards each were Slipstream, with the best film, best day night's press conference was call- ed for the sole purpose of publishing the jury's decisions. All of the Quebec winners refused to accept any awards in their Monday statement.

Of the artists so-honored, only Genevieve Bujold was in attendance. She was there, she said, because "I am a part of the Canadian film industry. But," she added, "I also support my brother cineastes in the province of 'Quebec." Asked if she would accept her award she said, "Non." The film with the number of awards was Kamouraska named for two act- Four $50 prizes have been awarded to Bill McLennan and Vickie D. Jensen of Vancouver, Dave Thayer of Richmond and Gaston Ugalde of Bur-naby. The competition drew 508 entries from 70 photographers.

of Costa-Gavras a style that emphasizes, stark, striking compositions and a minimum of camera movement he has produced a fictionalized study of political corruption in today's Quebec that is every bit the equal of the Greek director's both in its impact and contemporary relevance. The major action of the film takes place on a single evening. Paving contractor Vincent Padovani (Jean Lajeu-nesse) is giving a private dinner to celebrate the opening of a new superhighway. His guests include the provincial public works minister, the minister's secretary, the mayor of Montreal, his lawyer, their women and bodyguards. In every instance the characteriza distance.

They may not get started 'quickly' but in the overall run they are faster." My thanks to Mr. Affleck. While Messrs. Webster, Oxford and Fowler may not agree totally, it does help me understand the commentary a little better. Now if we can only decipher, "Now only does he have second effort, but he keeps Whenever the next federal election is counted, the NDP will get about 31 seats.

That is the sanguine prediction of author Walter Stewart, on a tour lorne A Vancouver amateur photographer, Oraf Cavar, has been awarded the $200 first prize in the B.C Photographers Exhibit competition. The exhibit is at the Simon Fraser Gallery until Oct. 26. Padovani ty crowd jammed the Chevalier to see Denis Arcand's thoroughly absorbing Rejeanne Padovani. Featured on the same program was Tom Shandel's NFB-produced short, We Call Them Killers.

Shot at Victoria's Sealand of The Pacific, Shandel's film focuses on the killer whales Haida and Chimo and Dr. Paul Spong's efforts to communicate with them. Communications of a more immediate kind were quickly established between director Arcand and his intense, young audience. An effective blend of The Godfather and Rejeanne Padovani was the unquestioned popular-hit of the week-long festival. Adopting the hard, astringent, style I thought it was a rhetorical question, but John G.

Affleck, whose busk ness card identifies him as "Promotion Co-ordinator, Assistant Basketball Coach" at SFU, offers an answer. The query, what did "color" guys on TV mean when they said a fellow not only had quickness, but speed also, eleicits this reply: "Quickness basically is reaction. How quick you can move right away. Some people are quick in that they react very fast but they cannot maintain the speed of that quick reaction. Willie Fleming.

was considered 'quick' because he could be going full speed by the time he had taken his first two steps, but he was not the fastest in a 100-yard race. "Speed means someone is fast for a By JEANI READ The Kingston Trio opened at the Viking Inn on Hastings Friday night, and if you are a faithful fan from away back, I'd suggest dusting off your old Trio records and listening to them again rather than spend your money on this ene. I mean for one or two bucks at the door, I could excuse the kind of sloppy shenanigans that were going on, even on the grounds that it must do weird things to your head playing to an empty dance floor edged with only a few dozen people but at a cover charge of $5 a head, it would be far better to buy a bottle and satisfy your nostalgia at home with your stereo. The Viking Inn is an old-timey sort of supper club, vaguely Nordic and decidedly chilly in flavor and pretty low on potential for companionable listening, which is what the Trio always needed for optimum enjoyment. the Kennedys were not "patrician," the word he used to describe both families.

"Cabots and Lodges are patrician, maybe Rockefellers, but the Kennedy money is too new," he deduced. Stewart looks like a younger Alex Macdonald, an observation that pleased him because he said he is usually compared to a Halifax right-winer who apparently is his dead-ringer. Wayne Cox drew groans from miles away with this one: Roy Rogers, wearing a brand new pair of boots, went for a ride on Trigger. Suddenly he was jumped by a cougar which chewed and ripped his new boots. Roy drew his sixgun and dispatched the mountain lion and rode him with the carcass slung over the back of the horse.

By MICHAEL WALSH Province Movie Critic MONTREAL A stunning movie about political corruption in Quebec brought waves of applause at the Chevalier Cinema here as the Canadian Film Awards festival stumbled to a close. The festival began on Monday with a boycott by the Quebec Film Directors Association, described as "a bomb." It forced cancellation of the awards night, which was to have been telecast live Friday night by the CBC. But the show itself that is, the screening of Canadian films went on. Thursday evening Vancouver was represented on the screen as a capaci Some days it doesn't pay to get out of bed, Critic Bob Allen had one of those days nights, really when he attempted to review three one-act plays at Simon Fraser University. First, as he described in his review in The Province Friday, he got lost in fog, then was denied admission.

He did see two of three plays and wrote a down review polite term for knock. One of the knockees, as it were, hit the ceiling when she read the review, and for good reason: she wasn't in the play he saw. The actress, Patricia Partington, was in an alternating role with Cathy Borg. It was Borg whom Allen saw in the play, and, he reports ruefully, "Ms. Partington is not amused." Aside from that, Mr.

Allen, how did you like the show? parton I SI.