The Province from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 49

THE PROVINCE, Saturday, July 10, 1971 I INI Mil 771 EiaWGiB imiiiiit iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiini James Spears on films I Murky, muddy honesty ITi" f-J LbJ L-U AiUUJ UUULbiUXJ v-JSW ifj Traaaj imMilSimimAos lilllllllf 1 mmmmmmmmMff- wf 3 lit VV I The first scene in McCabe and Mrs. Miller, Robert Altman's made-in-Van-couver film, is trees and rain. No just ordinary trees and ordinary rain but the special variety that starts in January and ends in December with a few breathers in. between. It is naked rain without1 the benefit of concrete sidewalks and skyscrapers that hide the knee deep mud residents of Two minutes of his muddy tones say more about the place and the mood of the film than three hours of travelogue and two hours of weather reports.

And it means something. The sound is something else. The opening night version almost ruined it. I had seen an almost-finished version of McCabe earlier, and can promise that sound troubles are temporary. When the bugs are out, the soundtrack will still be foreign to moviegoer's ears.

It should instead be compared with the sounds of the real world. One cannot provide the reader with a story. There is a brothel and three of '1 this Pacific region would otherwise experience. I would there- I i fore urge you, on this rainy summer day, to pay good money to see the special winter rain of McCabe. Julie Christie and Warren Beatty (centre) discuss film with director Robert Altman.

the ugliest whores imaginable, there is a saloon that looks more like a cave, and there is the sorry mess of a camp town. And there are all the frontier faces: Altman's repertory cast of Rene Auber-jonois as Sheehan, Shelley Duvall as one of the town's few prosperous citizens, and a host of lesser-exposed faces the director found in the Vancouver area. There is the bawdy language, completely appropriate for the rough miners of the town. There is the absence of nudity, in keeping with the lack of central heating of the era. The effect of these images is not overwhelming.

It simply exists as one of the genuinely real experiences recorded on film. McCabe runs two hours and one minute, and I feel that I could have watched it in a four-hour version. Or maybe it is something else. Maybe it is the desire to be in the frontier town, to talk to the people and to be a part of a small, growing community. Only two elements of the film are not from the mind of Altman and designer Leon Ericksen, who created the town.

Leonard Cohen sings three songs directly off a disc recording: The Stranger's Song, Sisters of Mercy and Winter Land. Also, the town of Squamish figures as Beatty's only contact with civilization. He buys his women and opium there, he seeks protection from the non-existent law there, and he almost meets Mrs. Miller there. Remember the Presbyterian Church Wager? Although there were rumblings in the background about religious objections, the plot was changed.

There was no wager in the final version. The church, and its construction, plays an important part in the film, however. By the end of the film, it and other structures form a nice little com-, unity tucked away in the; North Shore mountains. McCabe and Mrs. Miller is a beautiful dream, and an important part of the dream of Vancouver.

Not only do I want to see it again, I want a print permanently displayed on my wall. Sound spoils opening night Although it is set at the turn of the century, and although it is set approximately in Washington State, it is a good way for British Columbians to observe centennial year. The film is brilliant history not of events but tactile history and emotional history. Warren Beatty and Julie Christie are two people in the fictional town of Presbyterian Church who die before they have any children, a common deficiency in the town of 150 persons. And the town itself would die as most mining towns do.

Before you see the film, a warning: You may think that McCabe and Mrs. Miller is a hopelessly inadequate film. It is recorded in the muddy regions of unsettled West Vancouver and sounds like it. The color looks washed out. And the plot, which puts Beatty in a frontier gambling Saloon and Miss Christie as the businesslike madame of the brothel upstairs, looks like Matt Dillon and Kitty with rain and snow thrown in.

Now that I've put my views on the defensive, let me continue. The film is likely to produce a genteel version of polarization. who hate it will be just as vehement as those who love it. Put me wholeheartedly on the side of those who love it. It is, in my' view, Alt-man's most controversial film and his best from an artistic standpoint.

problems. Piped through the sound system of Huston's Astrodome, its echoes reduced the movie to a shambles, according to reports at the time. Speaking in general, Beatty said that the hoopla of opening nights was unfair to the film and to the audience. Julie Christie, who didn't even want to talk about such things, let Beatty answer for her. "She's better-looking than I am, but she is frightened of her image on the screen.

She goes through a lot of suffering on opening nights." Also in attendance was co-star Michael Murphy, who plays the mild-mannered but dangerously fickle Mr. Sears, of the mining company Shaugh-ncssy and Harrison. Altman fans will remember him as Warren Beatty, who plays McCabe in the Robert Altman film now at the Capitol, had a few unkind words to say about premieres in general and the Vancouver premiere in particular at. a morning-after press conference. "There were very significant problems in the soundtrack opening night," he said.

"I attended the opening in New York and again in Washington, and when it is played at correct conditions it is perfect, "The sound here was an area of tremendous concern to me. I was very surprised." He mentioned three possibilities. They were (1) an over-capacity crowd at the Capitol, (2) a bad print that should be replaced immediately or (3) a bug in the cinema's The previous Altman film, Brewster McCloud, also had opening-night sound the sweater-loving detective in Brewster McCloud. Murphy, although he. works jn other, films, has been a part of Altman's ertory company for 10 years, beginning" on the TV series Combat.

In Cold Day in the Park, Altman'i first Vancouver film, he played a jiu's1 tier. In M.A.S.H., he played a similar role in a Tokyo establishment. In person and on the screen Murphy can't get away from a nice guy image. Even in such roles, his image contrasts with his role to such an extent he's al- most an Altman trademark. Murphy's early memories of Altman-' reveal that the director, even in his relatively lean TV years, made stories that bewildered his superiors.

"After M.A.S.H. he is still making personal films. Now more people listen to what he says." Canadian actress Jackie Cross-land plays role of a busty hooker. I miiiiiiiiiiiiii inn mi ill i ii i i imiiii iiiiiiiiii miii iiii ill II Mini ill muni tin nil i II iiiiiii in II i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 it I 1 1 w- In concert of charming confusion Latest Williams play called a small tragedy nters It's so easy to forget the Carpe United Press International some pretty weird stuff, very middle-" of-the-road ballads and sort of. sixties rock stylings, standards and "so on, and on record the arrangements, by Richard, are very neat, clever, and ap-" propriately infused with sentiment But on Friday it was like listening to( a grossly over-produced album.

So many things were going on, so rmuco" harmony embellishment and instrumental crash and clangor that the vitality of the original arrangements expired on the spot. And because of all this technical aver- -reaching, and the visual confusion, the personalities of the Carpenters got Ibsf" and never really found their way $ut of the woods. spectably, by the way) and is consequently hidden behind them for most of the night, and Richard plays piano and consequently sits down the whole night. The people who get most of the at- tention, because they are jumping around a lot, are the rest of the guys in the band, who play tambourines and guitars and clarinets and cowbells and saxophones and flutes, but somehow, mostly, tambourines. So the whole visual effect is disconcerting, except for the rare moments when Karen surrenders the drumming duties to new member Jim and takes up front and centre spot to simply sing.

For kids in their early twenties who look like sixteen, the Carpenters sing didn't do anything at all except earn them some money. Their professional image, clouded in mists of indecisiveness, didn't clear up much as a result of their appearance. They still don't have an identity. In the first place, the name the Carpenters up immediately the publicity-photo image of two very cute identi-smiling kids, Karen and Richard Carpenter, brother and sister, sunshine and lollipops. As the curtain opens however, we soon discover that the Carpenters are, indeed, a seven-man band and suddenly we remember all about it from reading someone's article.

Ah, yes. But at least Karen and Richard should be showcased in some interesting way, right? Wrong. Because Karen plays drums (very re By JEANI READ About four thousand people saw the Carpenters in two concerts at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Friday night. Most them will probably remember for at least a few days where they were and what they heard. Some will probably forget about the concert quite soon, and, unfortunately, that is the group with which I sympathize.

You see, the Carpenters are not a memorable group. In fact the only things about the Carpenters that stand out in sharp relief above a sea of vagary and charming, confusion are the things that should be forgotten. It Is difficult to assess whether the Carpenters' live performance did them any good, or any harm. I suspect it CHICAGO Chicago critics agree that Tennessee Williams' new play, Out Cry, lacks the impact and poignancy of his earlier work. The play, performed by Donald Madden and Eileen Herlie, made its stage, debut here Thursday night at the Ivan-hoe Theatre under the direction of George Keathley.

William Leonard of The Chicago Tribune and Glenna Syse of The Chicago Sun-Times both said the brilliant performances of the two characters that make up the entire cast failed to compensate for the artistic shortcomings in the play itself. Sydney J. Harris in The Chicago Daily News said that Williams seemed "to be suffering from an almost suffocating sense of identity with his two characters, their milieu, their plight and their ultimate destiny. "It is tragedy on a small scale, so despairing as to be almost incredible," Leonard said. It is "never for more than a moment or two at a time soaring with that thrilling Vitality that for many seasons was the Williams' trademark." The play focuses on a mentally tortured sister and brother who are on tour with a repertory theatre company that has deserted them.

They constantly fluctuate between acting a two-character play and acting out their own love-hate relationship, fears and attempts to break out of their self-imposed mental brisons. Puzzle by Royal Rodgers Cuckoo's Nest a foot-stamper -i Fierce impact at Arts Club ACROSS ITag. 6 Miss Crawford. 42 Daybook. 45 Seven.

46 Quietly. 47 Stick. 48 Male deer. 49 Host. 50 Ogle.

51 Camera's eyes. 52 Spanisk duke. 53 More. 54 Weighty volume. 56 French island.

57 Knight's title. 59 Rubber tree. DOWN 1 Openwork. 2 Latin 3 Tarry. 4 Dutch commune.

5 Dictionary. 6 Varnish. 7 Good Earth character. 8 Point 9 Sleep. 10 Inane.

11 Bard. 12 Holy Roman emperor. 13 Soviet news agency. 19 Joyous. 22 Unit of length.

24 Dies 25 Encrusts. 26 Swedish monies. 27 Waterwheel. 28 Colder. 29 Rhythm.

30 Navaho lodge. 31 Women's scarf. 32 Bored expression. 33 Got up. 35 Document.

38 Matched two. 39 Lampreys. 41 Political paper. 10 Card mark. 14 Ammonia compound.

48 Frankish. 51 Den. 52 Suitable. 55 Written expositions. 58 Big to take no tricks.

60 So be it. 61 Linen fuzz. 62 Photograph book. 63 Spiral: comb, form. 64 Gaelic.

65 Let. 15 Et (others). whenever they felt like it, wouldn't they?" Randle P. McMurphy is the anti-phony, the individual in a society of cliche people. He is a realist, and a pragma-tist.

"How do I know I Can't do anything until I try?" He is also a manipulator, a desperate life force, a powerful, urgent, simple and direct person. In a few words, he catches on pretty quick, he understands the essentials of a situation he leaves himself wide open to a form of attack that he doesn't, or isn't willing to, understand. He gets himself out of jail by pre- 16 Tiny amount. 17 Manuscript annals. 18 Unbound Flowers to Italy ivith love MEDFORD, Ore (AP) W.

Douglas Smith walked into a florist's shop and ordered $1,000 worth of flowers for his wife. No special occasion, Smith told the florist. He just loves his wife. The flowers were to be sent to Italy where his wife is on vacation. Siveat shirt jest strikes ivrong note DETROIT (UPI) Some employees of Michigan Bell Telephone Co.

were sent home from work for wearing sweat shirts reading: "Ma Bell is a cheap mother." "For some strange reason, management took offense at our sweat shirts," said Dick Ogeden, president of Communication Workers of America, local 405. Bell employees are engaged in wildcat strikes in several suburbs. oublica lions. 20 Prior to. 21 Once Persia.

23 Choir voices. tending to be a psychopath, into a state mental hospital. But all the lower levels, of society that he has been able to cope with have not prepared him for the highly sophisticated bureaucratic techniques he runs into behind the barred windows. Treatment is a weapon, policy is a weapon, "your own Mr. McMurphy," is a weapon.

But he won't quit, he won't let them win, until finally they perform a Jobot-omy, cut away part of his brain to turn him into a vegetable. "They" are not the professiohals they are the manipulators of the professionals, the egos and the closed minds protecting themselves against any change by the manipulation of the rules, the "policy." John Linton's McMurphy is strong; as powerful and noisy as Ellen Matte's Nurse Ratched is quiet, evil and Nurse Ratched is the head nurse, the administration, the final word, the top cheat, the Justice Hoffman. McMurphy dies, but his truth goes marching on. Actually it climbs out of the window, but the point is that, dead though he may be, somebody else's tomorrow may be different. It is powerful, and fierce frighten- ing.

Go and stamp your feet. i By JAMES BARBER One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Is a pretty sweaty piece of theatre. And it isn't just a hot summer night in the Arts Club Theatre there's a lot of adrenalin charging around by the time the lights fade down on the body of the dead revolutionary, and a lot of people were sufficiently involved to stamp their feet, and cheer, which doesn't happen too often in the Arts Club Theatre. It's a pretty emotional evening, with the play sucking in everybody who hasn't read the book, letting them think for a few minutes that it's going to be a lightweight laugh at the loonies, and slowly, carefully tangling them in a very clever intellectual process, just disguised as emotion. The book was a preview of martyrdom in the U.S., written before the Chicago Seven were making the front pages.

it says, "is anything that Isn't against policy." They keep the toothpaste locked up until 6.45 a.m., because it's policy. "What do you think would happen if we didn't, Mr. McMurphy? People would be just brushing their teeth 24 Image. 25 Ape. 27 Mighty hunter.

30 Dwell on. 31 Government authority. 34 Unlimited quantity. 35 Jail. Hello Dolly moves indoors Theatre In the ParkwlU present tonight's performance of Hello Dolly In the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Instead of Malkin Bowl because of the inclement weather.

The theatre has also announced that 1 special matinee of the production will be given at the QET at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Unless there is a drastic improvement in the weather, Monday's performance will also be held at the QET. 36 Comparative endind. 37 Prescribed Ii la Is I Is I I 1 7 I I10 I11 12 18 20 Ti 22 23 1 jT" 2, 29 57 2t 2 30 31 32 SS 37 31 3 45 it 41 Ul 1 50 SI 53 5 57 form.

38 Summons by name. 39 Reverberate. 40 Comparative ending. 41 Mulberry barks. 42 Some cab drivers.

Cool, hostile reception for new Hoffman film 43 Exist. 44 French notliina. 45 Bulk. 46 Grilse. 47 Name of 12 popes.

7IO71 Field Enterprises, Inc. 1971 Solution to Yesterday's Pnazle Quackers Hhd country club just ducky NORFOLK, Va. (AP) A mother and her eight off-! spring have been arriving at the Norfolk Yacht and Coun- try Club pool at about 11 a.m. every day for the last two. weeks.

But they never bothered to fill out an application for a family membership too much red tape for a family of ducks. i The mother and hef ducklings seem to prefer a dip in the club pool to the Lufnyetto River, flowing by the olub. And they like the company so much, they spend the afternoon basking in the sun with fellow bathers. Dues-paying members don't seem to mind the Intrusion. As a matter of fact they think it's ducky.

i to cope with the problems of success and bent on self-destruction. It is billed as a comedy. "A lot of people are puzzled and confused by the picture," Hoffman ob served cooly. "Some are even downright hostile. "But a lot of others dig It.

So, we'll wait and see." Hoffman was born In Los Angeles snd lived here through his college years. But he has been a New Yorker since 1058 and now feels little attach ment to his onetime home. There Is irony In the fact that Hoff-. man has become the epitome of the new-style star: oblivious of glamor trappings, free from studio control. His father was once a studio worker, but Hoffman has acted Inside a Hollywood studio on only portions ot two of his films.

By BOB THOMAS Associated Press HOLLYWOOD (AP) With faded blue denira bell-bottoms, dark blue polo shirt and basketball-type sneakers, he looked like your friendly neighborhood boys' club leader. Then what was he doing in a splendiferous suite of the Beverly Hills Hotel? No YMCA coach was this. He was Dustln Hoffman, superstar, visiting his onetime home city In connection with the release of his fifth starring film, Who Is Harry Kellerman, and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? The film seems unlikely to match the huge success of Hoffman's The Graduate and Mid-night Cowboy or even the more modest success of Little Big in. Hoffman plays songwriter unable cToTlTd ill EjT A ID sIeTeIri CRYPTOGRAM By Norton Rhoadct ETXDOMMOX BAREDOM AT "I NYSNELLY" ATXANYLATR BATYTNAYS MEN NO MM. JIJIl Ycsterdny'i cryptogram: TVs suave agent savvied dodging strange dogs, guards and guns.

DLST1N HOFFMAN i i.