Contra Costa Times from Walnut Creek, California • Page 20

Sloping Brow Pofl6B Centra Costa Tlirus Tuesday April 13 1971 AT THE MOVIES 'New Leaf1 Turns Up Tasty In Dull Film Fare Felffer is Studio south of Market and assistance is acknowledged in the credits auuiuwicuKcu ui Jules a cartoonist and bears the mark of his trade: grotesque bizarre absurd 0 a contrived stutter one waits to hear this rather than the words tripping over it There is the same pageantry with flags and trumpets as combatants meet on the field and there is no new approach to those epic bat tlescenes on the moor with both sides charging and slaughtering Richard Burton could have brought style to the role (and to such lines as the expression attributed to Cromwell your faith in God and keep your powder Harris just plods through the part like an uncouth clod When opened on the NY stage in 1967 a social satire on urban Kranoia it was too deadly to funny: snipers in the street a on the phone rampant crime a terrorized citizenry It has made a better film (both were directed by Alan Arkin) and its prophetic indictment has been confirmed Alfred (Elliott Gould) is an a man who fight orfeelrand he encounters Patsy (Marcia Rodd) when she plows in to rescue him from a street gang Ho walks sway unconcerned EASTER SEAL I Dr Floyd Marchus Roberta when the toughs transfer their attentions to her His general behavior is not what might be considered "acceptr By profession Is a pho-tographer of excrement Marcia although feminine Is an aggressive American woman and decides to make him into strong vital self-assured man that I can protect and take care So she brings the alienated Alfred back to this insane world where the rest of us live There is a shock ending as in The picture (R-ra(ed) may seem little out Of focus psychically but playwright HOW 1i0-430 SHOWING AyloolOO Look who's gona 1 BANANAS I 'Ella' Joins Area A SUPPORTER Sauer and Ella Fitzgerald Kennedy High Sdhool and wih receive' her high school Saduatkm diploma In June is a former pupil of Christina Cameron School for Orthopedically Hand I- capped Children in El Cerrito ana transferred from' Cameron School to Kennedy High School' three years ago Since childhood she has "ehjoyed the Easter Seal i summer resident camp in the Santa Crux Mountains and is looking forward to attending a camp session this summer Dr Marchuk county superintendent of schools Is serv- Ing the Contra Costa Easter Seal Society- as campaign chairman for the third year and has given valuable service to the Ways -and Means "'Committee for -the --past six years in special gift solicits- tlons Easter -Seal Drive By ANNE LOUISE Film Critic The most palatable of some ratty tasteless fare in films i I New the comedy with Walter Matthau and Elaine May' The title refers to a species of fern that botanist May discovers as well as the personality flip Matthau undergoes Henry has exhausted his inheritance and needs to marry money Henrietta the eccentric is a helpless and wealthy teacher who clumsily nd spills everything in hand leaves the price tags on her clothes and nas so little in Interest in financial affairs she allows herself to be bilked by her lawyer (Jack Weston) And Innocence triumphs -when she marries Henry He takes over her household and becomes an economiser as well as caretaker Where he had had murderous intentions of becoming her beneficiary he does a complete switch from the selfish hedonist and discovers rescuing can be a rewarding fulltime Job Henry should have been handled with a lighter touch Matthau -lumbers through it woodenly But then been playing Matthau now for a good many year? On the other -hana Elaine May underplays Henrietta and steals every scene hers is a fresh new screen talent She directed and scripted the picture as well There is a considerable une- venness to the progression due to editing and the result is mine a series of vignettes with occasional sparks of wit (Elaine May has removed her name as director and is suing Paramount for tinkering with her picture) G-rated (Robert Duvall) decides not to take his daily drug dose which inhibits the sex drive and makes a robot of everyone His roommate becomes preg- nant In an underground society where actions ary televised niiJ nftiwtiiifun-fom amv InIL and computer-hin any inti-' ntact mate contact with the opposite sex is considered a perversion THX is indicted for drug evasion and decides fo escape There is a refrigerated atmospheretothfs scl-fl (G-rated) and except foW thy chrome-faced fuzz in black done "entirely In white flesh is the only color on the screen was made in San Francisco at the' Zoctropc The plot of (G-rated) is incredible She's a CIA volunteer (a widow) and sent to retrieve some microfilm in Mexico City for the State Dept kldm mapped on the Job by Chinese Communists and whisked away on a small plane Darren McGavin (as Johnny Farrell another agent) materializes as a prisoner on the same plane For the rest of the picture Mrs optimist that she is attemps to escape while Farrell scoffs at her Bade at Foggy Bottom (of course) they are presented with and trench coats in -a touching scene With its eye-rolling brand of acting could ibly be possibly be the very worst movie ever made and a great Rosalind Russell fan How could her own husband as producer do this to her? (G-rated) is not just a lightweight bore a ponderous solid one There any subclimaxes in the plot or any real changes of rhythm lead ing to an effective ending nil hi! much like viewing a dull history book without a breath of humor In 1640 Oliver Cromwell is finally persuaded that England needs democracy in government not the tyranny of Charles and civil war begins As Cromwell Richard only expression is a scowl and his voice is the rasp of a strangling man This Puritan was a great leader and soldier though no Eolitician but the film shows im cantankerous and milky a lonely fanatic Alec Guineas plays diaries (whose crown and head Cromwell topples) with such Nursery School A OpGtl HOUSG I srative ling its first annual open house from 1 to 3 pm Wednesday April 14 The achool is located at the Hillside Covcnent Church 2060 Magnolia Way Walnut Creek Parents with children three and four years old are invited to attend with their children Participation activities will be available to the youngsters The Hillside Nursery School is hoL Key to Movie Ratinjpti Suggested for general audieneea (M or All agu admillcd araatal gnidaaca uEgenled Rrtirkled Pemona under 18 not admitted vn-lem accompanied by parent or adult guardian (X)-Tersons wader IB not admitted (Rated by Molina Fictnro Producer Attn) Miss Ella FHsgerald famed songstress gave ber support to the 1971 Easter Seal Campaign by meeting representatives of the Bay Area Easter Seal Societies for Crippled Children and Adults at a reception held 'during her singing engagement In San Francisco Representing Contra Costa County at the recent meeting were Dr Floyd Marchus chairman of the Easter Seal Campaign In Contra Costa County' ahd Roberta Sauer teenage theme girl -for the Easter Seal Society forlCrip-pled Children and Adults of nlra Costa County': Roberta tbe daughter- of Mr and Mrs George Sauer of Richmond la a senior at John SunVa UEtJ ROAt AUK Asia nATMum DAB BAREFOOT PH Sets Decorator Class CM I BBKKOW TIE CAB? -AGAMY AMD NOHIHEC Identified by a sloping brow and rounded tail fin a flat-bead catfish may weigh 100 pounds and measure five feet from tall to whiskers Ifleraol Cates Ops tdO-Shaw al 7M i inps touts 1 1 ai I mmiFMSssKiuur I I "KELLYS HEBOir STMTS TOMORROW trair 2oo ASahtetotRebel GEORGE SCOTT MUMMiaMfaSPMM KARLNALDEtT tinMM I SAN RAMONci IkianactiM Ml MS M-17M WAR MTWIEN TNI PkANCn" "SUFERAR60 A THE FACELESS OIAMTS" DUBUN DUBLIN CINEMA 7490 Dublin Ihd 128-4400 Wait OtMarte EXECUTIVE" "DAO CAN I BOX ROW THE CAR" "MICKEY MOUSE BIRTHDAY PARTY" RHEEM RHEEM Rheam Center 254-1300 All Wall Disney Protram "THE BAREFOOT EXECUTIVE" "SEARCH OF THE CASTAWAYS" ORINDA ORINDA 14 Way 254-2233 "MASH" "EUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE XIO" a wodlch-maurice lidptoauclion iedmicolo(from warner bros Mob Ihn Sat 941 LKL Swdw 34M4I pM CO-HIT THE BEATLES ri'Letitbe'ii I TECHMCOLOff UhiIeS Rrlislsl SSf Mae dxB Ttwrs 720 pia Sunday 14ll74lye N0MIN ACADEMY AWARDS haudmf BEST PICTURE BEST ACTOR Jock Nkhehen BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Karen Black XTMiSritM JACK NICHOLSON FIVE mm HARRS AUC euirms 0aithn7Slpm MSSaiMSpm Mtfving to a new home or Jngs in several Walnut Creek tired of looking at the old one? and Pleasant Hill locations A course on aeeorating styles and are self-supporting from color-schemes "floor -plans" stat funds arid-tuition window treatment and special- charge 1-- Kblema such as how to hide Other evening courses still wall furnace could help in open to interested adults this cresting a more pleasant spring include driver train-environment ing civil service training The course is one of several real estate investment prac-offered through the Pleasant tices gardening sewing and Hill Adult School which cur- teacher aide training rently enrolls 2250 students For information "call 937-Classea meet TJayrantfreven-- 1530 ni cm BEST SIMITIRB ACTOR 9 0 Taylor Morrells 667-6140 EXCLUSIVE COUNTY SHOWING ELLIOT GOULD HI ALAN ARKIN DONALD SUTHERLAND Alia PAUL NEWMAN-JOANNE WOODWARD "WUSA" MON SAT 7i00 11:05 9:05 2:00 6:05 10:10 "WUSA" 4:051:10 SUN a CINEMA I Taniflit at 7:00 iih! IM Paramount Pictures presents A HOWARD HILLARD ELKINS PRODUCTION StatteMaa Elaine Hoy 'ANeoleaT G) Cota by M0VIELA8 CINEMA II Tanighl al 7:10 and Barbra Gongs Strasasd-Segal The Owl and thsPassyiat rtMcffl Ptttlf: St (N SYUPY LunitV- Tn'jtcff TONIGHT AT AK RyuO'Neail 1 INOWUOS MMSKV-MTHURMUIRPiaducSenl MOMni ns 1 KINKY WISH CUMC KIT PCTMf KIT KTN KST SCnUiWMTHPrHIMKia 1 CO-HT SBUTG iCASSIDV AND THE SUNDi FRET RIDDIELAN FIRST SHOW woMom-ta andths Pussycat FREE RIDDIEUND FREE CAR HEATERS FIRST SHOW AT 7 PM COURidNte I ua-M mau nAJimei -SUKHAKOO fkfiess OMts MRWHUINISniCIINAK Ftf( KIDOWAND tREI CAS HIATSIS HSST SHOW AT 7 DUsnN HOFFMAN UTTIE BIG MAN nwmhiotFWchiScolof EXCLUSIVE CONTRA COSTA SHOWING msmm AMERICA'S BIGGEST 2 DAY RODEO rain Man Thru Prl Sat Sun 9:40 HORSE RACES SPECIAL EVENTS CLOWNS Oanaral Adm $200 April 12 Naan All Seats-Si 00 APRIL 17 18 writa ta St Rid Bluff 9MI0 Parking a car litchtdinf BEST nGTUHE BEST ACTOR GesrfiCScitt NThi ipc Amricar OMirf lht wm mm mi MnlMl m2e HCIMB VMM lutiawMIla full It ds Mon: mm rm Turn KARL MALDEN A Uaaia 04 Mky RCA APPROVED SHOW TOP COWBOYS Grandstand Reserve Seats I37S Special Friday Shaw Cawbays Playday RED BLUFF CAL for tickets 710 Rio Phone 527-1000 20ip CMtwy-Fm emai GEORGE SCOTT A 6WaHstArgt 0a Ll III an mergfcficf ybu' ca naJ v4 TbiSwhy fe)r toecoverofydUr telephone tyere here tojhelp vV 1 NWmfc Operator to gel holp for you police or doctor directly pency telephone numbers on the Pacific Telephone BUBTUNCASmrLEEIUBVni R08UT BYAIf-JACK MUIKE Tmb nop KSSIONJIIS CO-flATUKE Uw Ora Thai fJlee In 4 tel MCIEM pa LAST DAY twit font wtniruo Mr 7:15 TWP CFY MW- -el -eei-i a -Ts -v 1" m'ir --a' jj r- Pi --'V.