San Antonio Express from San Antonio, Texas • Page 11

Page 12-A SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS Monday, July 10, 1972 Two Films in One, Both Awful, Good By TOM NICKELL The saddest event of the film year has to be Sam Now at the North Star Cinema and McCreless Cinema Theaters, most recent film since was a long time coming. Reports of its having been shot, if not edited to completion, were heard at least a year ago; and now one sees in the finished product a plethora of reasons why got sidetracked on its path toward a public viewing. It may sound contradictory for a viewer to claim that is the best of the three current rodeo films others are Coop1' and then to turn around and pronounce it absolutely awful. Let it sound contradictory, I say, so long as the picture is, or tries to be. two movies in one.

Tine first is an odd technical success. It deals accurately and concernedly with the rodeo as a throwback form of entertainment. Peckinpah enjoys rodeos, we can assume from the film, for their humor, violence and high-stakes competition. He mor, violence and high-stakes competition. He has tried quite strenuously to make a comedy rodeos but a comedy which conveys the essence of a legitimate excitement and allure.

The rodeo-world presents athletes and animals in stark dramatic competition. It is throughtly masculine in this respect (too exclusively so for my comfort, the absence of the barrel racing event being a case in point.) Peckinpah of the very esteemed the High and Wild has always had a passion for exactness and maleness but his goes a step further. In this film, in his inevitable modern Western, sense of detail catches facets of rodeoing never captured in a High and Wild has al- commercial film. Bronc bull riders are seen stretching their leg muscles and testing their equipment. A beforehand parade is unfolded with all the mock vigor and happy irrelevance rodeo parades invariably contain.

Even the times of the events are right, in terms of visual and verbal agreement. In brief, rodeo footage is watchable work for what it honest rodeo film for a it all leads to a single fantastically good sequence, the highlight of the whole movie, which is the unloading and chuting of a bull called Perhaps that illustrates what I am talking about. In film from a script by Rosebrook the most fearsome bull on the circuit is named with just the right tone of irony. In any other contemporary or unremembered picture the same animal would be called something like, oh, or no big thing, obviously, but it is typical of linguistic craftsmanship. As a result anyone who likes rodeos sans musical performers can appreciate own or well-listened-to knouiedgeabli- lity.

And the closer watcher may notice, as wall, that humorously redundant Peckinpah's is an honest rodeo film for a change hut it is also one of the flimsier family dramas committal to film. shots of men being launched off into space to take a haixl fall have a sly reference to his more social, if lesser, character of Junior Bonner as a person. Indeed the second and semi-tragic makes far too much of need for perpetual motion. Junior Bonner (Steve McQueen not badly cast) passes through our line of sight astride one of the flimsier family dramas committed to film since Fall or, before that, wood and The characters are straight out of a very phony concept of lifestyles and conflicts. Junior Bonner, the poor unlucky heel, has come back to his hometown and must gaze into all the open wounds of his past.

He observes Ace, his wild-dreaming father, affectionately but stomach his younger brother, a real estate agent on my first And there is mother, a discarded hear Ace chauvinlstically tell woman. In this movie everyone has a distinct problem, but they are problems one finds it difficult to care about. The men seem to me hardly more than boys with hair on their chests while the women are so passive and reclining as look and act like portable mattresses. main guilt, I think, consists of his having liought a long worn-out and very cliche-heavy embodiment of Western reality in order to get at what genuinely interests him the rodeo scene. The great gaps in human story be covered up by Lucien Ballard often poetic photography or edited into unity and coherency by Peckinpah himself.

Or glossed over comically by a stock slow motion a -r brawl during which the cheerful little sexual over-achiever slips into a restroom behind a pretty girl fleeing the melee. Peckinpah is for once the kind of cinematic mind which degrades its material. His humor is rough, not to say abrasive, fitting in well with omnipresent foolish leer. I regret, still more, the wasting of Ida and Robert Preston as strangely estranged parents. But Bonner was made with just such a proud insensitivity as may be needed to justify its casting the least of them being Ben insertion into the role of Buck Roan, a throwaway character with a throwaway drugstore cowboy name.

Richard Burton Says Give Up Acting Lnfinisihed Sculptures At first sight, it appears that there are several stone-like bodies outside Ruth Taylor Theater at Trinity University. Actually, it's just several unfinished sculptures lying about. Staff Photo by Ron Jones. Minister Assails Fischer, Spassky Japan Premier Sees No Early Vote 0 (AP) Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka said Sunday he has no intention for the time being of dissolving the House of Representatives and calling an election. Dissension within ruling Liberal Democratic party over appointments to his Cabinet has led to speculation that Tanaka would call elections late this year to seek the backing.

By law, he has until December 1973 to stage elections for the House of Representatives, in which his party now has 297 of the 491 seats. Tanaka, who was chosen Wednesday to succeed Eisaku Sato, prime minister for the last eight years, told newsmen after a round of golf Sunday that he had no intention of calling elections now. The dissension arose between Tanaka and the large party faction headed by former Foreign Minister Fukuda, the loser in election for prime mini r. Fukuda had expected Tanaka to name at least four Fukuda faction members to the Cabinet. Tanaka named only two and both then re- fused to accept the appointments.

Fukuda complained that the Cabinet lineup was not one of party unity. REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) A newly ordained Lutheran minister, preaching his first sermon, assailed chess champions Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky on Sunday. Rev. 0 1 a Jens Sig- urdsson said in a religious broadcast that Fischer, the American challenger for the world championship here, was guilty of the of and Soviet titleholder Spassky the of Fischer was asleep in his quarters; Spassky was fishing for salmon. The two are scheduled to meet Tuesday in the first game of their match for the world chess championship.

The reference to alleged recalled the America threat to wreck the 24-game series unless the Icelanders gave him more money. anger was shown in the world a to walk out unless he got an apology from Fischer for delaying the match over money. The match is the talk of Iceland. The sentiment seemed to favor Spassky. i behavior appeared to have eroded his early position as the popular favorite in a place where the Russians very well liked.

In addition to resentment at demand for money, FREE SOFT DRINKS SERVED OUR HOSTESS ADULTS ONLY some Icelanders like the fact that he requires a police guard. goes around freely. not afraid. the matter with a chess-playing waitress comments. Spsssky has appeared regularly in public places and on Saturday drove two hours out of town to a deep-water pool called the Almannagja where Icelanders toss coins and make wishes.

Fischer remains hidden from public view. Barbra Streisand Ryan O'Neal in 'WHAT'S UP, 1:30, 3:05, 4 45 6:25, 8:05, 9 45 Sim ver' Set At Tl 1 Theater ROARING 20 Blanco Rd. 3 Miles N. loop 410 NOW OPEN MONDAYS as well as Fri. Sat.

Dine and Dante to the BIG BAND SOUND LONDON (AP) Richard Burton says he intends to quit acting in two years to become an instructor at Oxford University. Burton made the announcement after presenting a check Friday to actor Peter Ustinov for the United Nations International Emergency Fund. The check for $46,000 was equivalent to the amount spent by Burton and his wife Elizabeth Taylor on her 40th birthday celebration in Budapest. all goes well, I shall sit as a fellow of St. at Oxford University; if possible, I would like to become a Burton told reporters at the ceremony.

plan to give up acting In two years, if all goes well. Acting is tedious, more so after the initial excitement has worn FOX TWIN Part Blanco at loop 410 North JACK LEMMON IN "THE WAR BETWEEN MEN AND ENDS THURSDAY FRIDAY BURT REYNOLDS IN "FUZZ 234 BROADWAY PH 225-3450 Now Showing FOR THE BEST IN JV STRAIGHT FtOM SAN FRANCISCO AND NfW TORK 'Good! Glory Chateau TWO NtW WATUMS (VIIY WfONISOAV IN SWINGING UVING NOW AT 2 THEATRES! FOX TWIN 2 Central Park Blanco at Loop 420 North CINIUDY scl in MltlTAtt IN IS SOOIM 4M) 'til 2 PM 1.00 in 2 Big Features WNATH THI WRATH of GOD' 2:10, 5:40, 9:20 OF DARK SHADOWS' 12:30.4:05. 7:40 intpfloto'g i AMO IHQPP im C'TT df romoFs Complaint ATES the stage play based on Mark novel, will open at Trinity Theater One with 2:30 p.m. matinees Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. It will lie staged by the Ruth Taylor Theater Summer Repertory Company.

Tickets are $2 for adults and $1 for students. Reservations are made by calling 736-4141, extension 7318. BAN IDERA DRIVI I iN AT CD. rnrni cap ITA DRIVI IN NWY. W.

AT MTM VALLEY HI DRIVI IN "THE CULPEPPER CATTLE CO RATED PG STARTING TIME 9 00 P.M. GARY GRIMES, BILLY BUSH "WALK ABOUT" RATED PG STARTING TIME 10 57 JENNY AGUTTER, DAVID GUMPHILL 3 BLOOD CHILLING HORRORS-MONSTERS BEAST tN THE CELLAR Color BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW Color BLOOD ON DRACUIAS CASTLE Color "THE FRENCH CONNECTION" 9 00 GENE HACKMAN TONY LOBIANCO "THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN" II 00 ELIZABETH TAYLOR WARREN BEATTY PAUL BAKER PRODUCTIONS Trinity University (fgJj RUTH TAYLOR THEATER THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES by John Guare LIVELY BLEND OF COMEDY AND Drama OBIE Awards for best off-Broadway play, '71-'72 season Theater One, 8:15 p.m. July 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22 Tickets: SI .75, $2.50. $3.50 TOM SAWYER Theater One, 2:30 p.m. July 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18,20, 22 Tickets: Adults, $2., Children, $1.

THE HOLLOW CROWN The fall and foibles of England's crowned with music in a witty new format Attic Two, 8:15 p.m. July 26, 27, 28, 29, Aug. 2, 3, 4, 5 Reservations: 734-4141, ext. 318 MGM presents A FILM BY RALPH NELSON ROBERT MITCHUM I VARSITY (Open At 7.15-Start At Dusk) Color-Rauuel Welch in HANNiE CAULBER" R) In Color-Kirk Douglas in "A GUMFIGHY" MISSION T.SF I MISSION T. (Open At At Dusk) In Color-Paul Newman in "POCKET MONEY" (PG) In Color-Richard Harris in A MAN CALLED NORSE" (PG) ($2.00 Per Carload-Limit 5 To Car) (Open At At Dusk) In Color-Garv Grimes in The Culpepper Cattle In Color-Paul Newman in "NOMBRE" (PG) LACKLAND Hi 714 (Open At At Dusk) THE CAREY TREATMENT" (PG) Jn Colof-Peter Graves in "FIVE MAN ARMY" (PG) (Visit SWAP-O-RAMA each Sunday) -3 A DOWNTOWN INDOOR THIATRI 227-5281 MON THRU SAT.

TIL 2 PM $1.00 EACH THEATRE FRE1 PARKING AFTER 5:30 ACROSS STREET ALAMO BANK GARAGE WITH: Cher (ton Heston, Mimiem, Roosevelt Grier. Wsl- ter Mgson, (rein. Inks Uggomi le Ctler PG AT: 12:00 0:00 THE GRADUATE NOW YOU CAN SEE THE GRADUATE AGAIN OR FOR THE FIRST TIME AT: 12:00 2:00 4:00 6:00 1:00 10:00 P.G. ANNE BANCROFT DUSTIN HOFFMAN KATHARINE ROSS CALDER WILLINGHAM-BUCK HENRY PAUL SIMON SIMON-GARFUNKEL LAWRENCE TURMAN (PG) AAAAAINIAIIAAIIINNIIIiUNNIIIIIIIAAINNIINNIINIINNIAINNI AT: PARAMOUNT PICTURES IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE RETURN OF THE GREATEST FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT OF AU. TIME! A PARAMOUNT RE-RELEASE ENDS THURSDAY-FRIDAY OMAR SHARIF IN "IhE LARS" TODAY AT THEATRES CLMOS 4205 San Pedro Phone PE 3-7188 SUMMER SCHEDULE MATINEES DAILY! WEEKDAYS SUN.

PRICES SLASHED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER 12 1.50 ADULTS (EXCEPT SUNDAY) 1 P.M PERFORMANCE 2.00 ADULTS ALL OTHER PERFORMANCES 92.50 LAST WEEK! EXCLUSIVE PASS TICKETS SUSPENDED WINNER OF 3 ACADEMY AWARDS COLONIES NORTH I I.H. 10 at Wurzbach Exit 696-3921 WAIT DISNEY OOURlt FEATURE 35 (G) PLUS 2ND FEATURE LEAGUES UNDER THE (G) REGISTER FOR FREE DRAWING OF DISNEY CHARACTERS CENTURy IH I la SOUTH PlmW.WlA A 4-SCREEN INDOOR THEATRE CENTER Dl. 2:00 Godfather and Swiss family, ,00. POSITIVELY ENDS PASS LIST SUSPENDED STARRING MARLON BRANDO NOW EXCLUSIVE! III vtm WKZAI NO BARGAIN MATINEE WALT WALT DISNEY'S V. -HELD OVER 3RD WEEKI WALT DISNEY'S ctnroo mrunt BfflE mimatiiiiis (Gl 7 RICHARD BENJAMIN KAREN BLACK 7 1 5-Start At Dusk) (Raquel Welch in: "NANNIE CAULBER' Kirk Douglas in: "A GUNFIGHT" (Both In Color Rated The WRATH of -yjp- METROCOtOR PANAVISION 2nd Feature: only OF DARK SHADOWS" Shadows: 12:30 4 05, 7:40 Wrath: 2:10, 5:40, 9:20 'til 2 PM .51.00 III! II II II MAJESTIC 4 I HOUSTON DOWNTOWN 1 6mm Feature "HOLLYWOOD CONFIDENTIAL" 35mm feature ADULT ADULT THEA TRE TRE 16mm Feature 1 "RANCH HANDS smnma Feature 2 ROBERT MBTCHUM The WRATH of GOD 1 a 00 OUTDOOR SAN PCDCC cutdccc A 3-SCREEN OUTDOOR THEATRE CENTFP "CAREY JAMES COBURN JENNIFER 0 NEILL (R) "PRETTY MAIDS ALL IN A ROCK HUDSON ANGIE DICKINSON "HANNIE CAULDER' WELCH ROBERT CULP (R) SAN PEDRO SCUTDCCB3 San Pedro at Bitters Rd.

Phone OX 4 3426 NEW The modern ma! SEAN BURY MUSIC BY ELTON JOHN 10:45 (R) TRAIL 924-4446 EVEIYN TRAEGER INGA SIEEGER MARGRIT SIGEl (X) NANA 10:50 RK Emile Zola' (X)1H master piece. fCED. ROAD 734-7292 'HANNIE CAULDER' RAQUEL WELCH (R) PLUS 2ND FEATURE 10:45 (R) THE APTS. il How showing the Best in Entertainment at both theaters. HELD OVER FEATURE TIMFS TOWN TWIN Dietrich of While E.

Loop 4 10 661 BUCK AND THE I SIONiY POKIER HARRY IflAFONTI gjOjdjrtO (PG) HANNIE RAQUEL WELCH I ROBERT CULP (R) ANDERSON TAPES' SEAN CONNERY DYAN CANNON 11:00 (PG) SEAN BURY MUSIC BY ELTON JOHN 10:45 (R).