Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • 69

i Weekend! TRIBUNE, Oakland, California December 16, 1988 -7 mmvwm wrttriWtt wmwi MOVIE REVIEW Dorrit isnt little, but its prime Dickens Frederick. Eleanor Bron is the nasty but self-aware Mrs. Mer-dle, who scorns Little Dorrit and her sister. Among the leading performers, only Sarah Pickering is a weak link as Amy, the determined Little Dorrit, who simply may be too good to be portrayed effectively beyond the 19th 1 7 ble wealth, family pride and Cal-vinistic morality. Little Dorrit Is remarkably restrained, however, in dealing with its villains, whose moral complexities suggest Chekhov rather than Dickens.

In fact, Dickens first proposed calling the book Nobodys Fault, a title that survives to describe the first part of the film. The second is Little Dorrits Story. Among tbe other outstanding performers, Derek Jacobi is Arthur Clennam, whose search through his family's troubled past sets tbe story in motion. Joan Greenwood his cold- By Rebari Taylor ThoTHbmo The two three-hour tegmente of "Little Dorrit" will be shown deify on at leeet two ecreeoe et the Lumiere theeter, Cel-ifomie Beer Polk etreet, San Fnmcieca 8eperete edmieokm ie required lor eecb eegment For ehowing timee, telephone 885-3200. topper as he exits Marshatsea debtors' prison la Tittle Dorrit.

thing that can be learned overnight Throughout Dickens' story and Edzards film characters are confined and crushed by bureaucracy, poverty, unmanagea- The character! in Dickens are not so much caricatures as distortions of reality, explains Christine Edzard, the adapter and director of Little Dorrit I want to show life as it was at the time, and as' people perceived it then. It was a very dif-. ferent world. As a film producer and designer as well, Edzard has matched 1 her great expectations of reproducing Dickens' world and allowing us to sink into it for six Despite the built-in problems of a fading storyline and some confusion among the multitude of characters, the production is a remarkable, fascinating and often enthralling achievement It opens today at the Lumiere theater in San Francisco. "Little Dorrit is actually two three-hour films, examining some of die same events from different points of view.

It is a novel way to grapple with a Dickens story, especially one originally published in 70 episodes in the 1850s. Instead of trimming away details for a streamlined film that would run a couple of hours, in the manner -of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the 1930s, Edzard emphasizes the ragged edges. The plot mechanics are usual- i a a hearted and vengeful mother, thwarted his emotional who has development. Max Wall is her scowling servant Flintwinch, who matntsfna a carious authority over the household. Miriam Margolyes (who played Gertrude Stein in Berkeley a few years ago) is the chattering, middle-aged woman Arthur Clennam might have married, a character based on a former fiance of Dickens.

Cyril Cusack is Little Dorrits uncle lOf.ONIL OI' THEVERY liES'r MOVIIiS CMr 'I'HE VliAR." -iMolwAta- hAM IVIOSAVYIIY of thn wnrkl -wwhh iv si Yimn "Kim Kuinriw is aimIht TIT' in 'SuvnwA htr" lMiMtata--SAAM Ml HI I VS S' is ibi- x-rfcct comic foil for the sexy lirtsinjicr. hnn -I A IIMIA "Its by frtr the best preseni in I Mlywoods holiday bundle so delights you." Sm.M -IA IMS) SLUM My Stepmother IsAnAlfen W. wmsmaiiB ACCEPTED Todaat the Movies wr laiauiartn Su Ml asd ftMUCMNd ewta UDSHIKTN tom Wo SIMM PW8M 8 MUC MW BOOKSTORE MTGUIDEfli SIERRA CLUB BOOKSTORE The best environmental bookstore in the hay Area! -Kids books toys too. 6014 College Ave. Oakland Mon.

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Sun. jfi 1c Eddw Murphy JCONINO TO AMERICA ALBi jf NATION 1 1:15 5:20 9:203:35 7:35 iilW54l 7 fer .9 S) Hi 1 Of Mil Af 1 li; 1:35 5:25 9:103:35 7:25 rS" 0HIGH SPIRITS Hwii 1:25 5:20 9:15 3:30 7:25 TIDCIil Kir? THAN STBPET isiinn elm street It AlltH BtHE DREAM MASTEI .1:45 5:25 9:05 3:40 7:20 ti 1 if in another notable Dickens adaptation, David Leans Great Expectations.) Guinness performance is both spectacular and understated, a perfect -match for the tragicomic Dorrit His prison home, the Marshal-sea, is not all stones and bars, but a kind of warren of tiny rooms where prisoners make pathetic attempts to imitate the outside world. Dorrit has developed a snobbish attitude, but still with perfect manners begs for coins from visitors. The charm that Guinness so beautifully displays is the most heartbreaking aspect of Dorrits character especially after his release from prison, when his family has a taste of wealth. As his daughter, Amy, explains after the storys most anguished episode, freedom is not some sm mhhh ssNif.

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Even the least of them is so intriguing that once Little Dorrit has ended, you may want to see it again. Then you can catch up with the plot And the acting! This is no star vehicle or touring company, but an ensemble of some of the best performers in Britain. At the center, holding the six hours of film together, is Alec Guinness as Little. Dorrits father, William, who has spent more than 20 years in a debtors prison and assumed the role of the prisoners host and master. (Guinness made his film debut 41 years ago luan aww a iips HffDW'lf NORTHSIPE THEATRE miEadMAvMwRNaY III IHS VSKENT TIN Uta Oaatal I GaWr MSU MDSUWJOnl HEAT AMDS -ouvHicoMwvrSw OS-ISM-M Rarttatay MTS THE NAMED OUT TN PARKWAY MEMBERSHIP THEATRE MON-THURS SUS WRR MWWM HAS FWSHrtaWHNA MEMEERSHPS AVAAARLE AT THE DOOR! TOUGHER THAN LEATHER MOMS WONRAOUrtSI aT0RSJJUMTHEMSTSM3l THMOSCHANOrMS PIEDMONT ONEMAS lAtSM-SSS-mr nMlNl scRooeewmsee HDOWNSTAIKAUDITORRIMe TAM MAfT TASYAS RIALTO THEATfeE.

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1 OEUWCET MMArOW ef Miaa lata Sal A Sw IISIAM TRwsiAWTAyyT1TMOnB9flamMg U.A. HAYWARD CINEMAS NO PASSES -j. STCVF. MARTIN HILLTOP Dolby Hearing during Striking GRAND OPENING TODAY NEW FOUR itate-of-the-art, wide-Kreened cinemaa BIG Stereo Sound Systems in all four auditoriums Plentiful FREE parkins BOLD impaired listening systems Advance tkket purchases regular bos office hours for same day film presentations BEAUTIFUL post-modem interior design with elegant marble floors luxurious 'plush seating throughout, REAL BUTTER served on fresh hot popcorn To- Damr Rotten Scounixeu OBMpM ON TWO ICRICNB 1:. mEllAHHIGBII tariMtodNUBOHa ON TWO CNIiNt 1 A0.

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