Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 16

PITTSBURGH POST-CAZETTEt MONDAY. DECEMBER 30. 1968 -16 bwiwiito TODAY AT 2:00 8:30 P.M. Iitra lU Tomorrow Al 1 1:30 P.M. T.m.rr.w at 1:00, 1:10 ft 11:10 P.M.

The New MEms awrmnrmitti'inri irtiirii irarai am minimi i nun imii irw ri i 11 un Oliver! at the Kings Courts; Fulton Gets 'Chitty Chitty Hang Hans' "The Lion in Winter' At the very top of the kind of thing we hope to fret from movies and so rarely you owe it to yourself to see it P'-Judith Crist 's'l "The Lion in Winter is a major triumph! Katharine Hepburn gives perhaps the finest characterization of her entire Career!" Arthur KniM. Saturday We Russell Baker'i "Observer' column a popular feature with people who like satire today on the mugazine page. MUSIC HALL NEXT 11PW 'ill! 1 liffift lUHlHQUI fJQP II II 'XHILIp WA. one I I WEEX 7j only CHILI rIM PEPPER CHILI All'J PEPPERvW i IMK i tl 4F i im 1 1 I 1 1 1 ill iji ittitiiii 1:11 1 it 1.11 Dick Van Dyke tries a new kind of role as the character of Caractacus Potts, a crackpot widowor-inventor who salvages a junkyard Brooksland racing car to p'ease his children (H a Ripley and Adrian Hall) only to find out it is a very special kind of car. It's a part that doesn't demand much acting just lots of song and dance.

(Personally, I think Mr. Van Dyke should stick to television.) Sally Ann Howes sings well and looks beautiful as "Truly Scrumptious," the only daughter of a candy manufacturer millionaire. She docs the best she can with the musical score by Richard M. and Robert Sherman. The composers also collaborated on the musical "Mary I'oppins," but don't do nearly as well for this one.

With the exception of the theme song "Chitty, etc." and a lovely lyrical lullaby called "Hush-a-Bye Mountain," the score is rather prosaic. The color film, produced by Albert R. Broccoli and directed by Ken Hughes, also features Gert Frobe as Baron Eomburst of Vulgaria, who co 'ets and tries to steal the car; Anna Quayle as his baroness; Lionel Jeffri'es as Grandpa Potts a character as eccentric as his inventor-son, and Jamos Roberston Justice as Truly's Daddy. Mr. Van Dyke is the sole American in an all-British cast.

What's the title all about? "Chitty, Chitty Bang Bang" is the special car's special "voice." This is a good one to take the kiddies to before the holidays end. Mom and Pop will find it tolerable and that's all. If josfPHeieviNe ANAVCOf MBASSYFILM P6T6R OTOOL6 .1 Hwy II. King el fcftgUn. TH6 LION ItMnltV KAJHARINc HePBURN (l.u.'A,'ln..li.Wile 7 MARTIN Pdt IN WINT6R JANEMERROWw-l" JOHN' CASTLE TIMOTHY DAl.TON'SiSw Mtkap ANTHONY HOrKINSliVrj' NIGEL STOCKC" NIGEL TERRY-!" JAMES GOLDMAN JOSEHl E.I.EVINE JAJIES GOLDMAN' MARTIN POLL U.fteu4i to AVCO CMBASSV RiM.

ANTHONY HARVEY BARRY wnavision. fi By DEBORAH LITTLE "Oliver" Is delightful for Its color, music, faces, words and actions, a better-than-ade-quate entertainment for the young, or whimsical, or romantic at heart. The film at the King's Court, with few reservations, is remarkably good. Charles Dickens' miil-19th century story about a little boy brought up in a workhouse for orphans, sold to an undertaker, who finally falls in with thieves, is somewhat changed in this version by Vernon Harris, but the alterations, considering the flexible state of mind required for the enjoyment of musical films, are to the good, especially the tempering of the character Fagin, by Ron Moody, who ends up, after a few scft shoes and ballads, quite a likable sort who's had a few rough breaks and is trying to shield himself against more. He's hardly the wicked monomnniacal money-grabber stereotype that has bad Dickens on the ropes for many years.

As always with this type of film, everything is a little too big or too long or too bright. As Jack Wild, a rather immobile Artful Dodger, introduces Oliver played by a very tiny 9-year-old Mark Lester to the thieves' London, singing "Consider Yourself At the audience gets the first inclination (and the worst) of director Carol Reed's tendency to follow in the footsteps of the extravaganza business. The scene goes on forever. In fact, there's nothing very delicate about the film except 1 NEW YEAR'S EVE. 1 LATE SHOW TOMORROW AT 11:30 P.M.

DAZZLING! Once vou see 'Romeo Juliet' quite the way MHtWUINT PICTURES Mcnui TW it Schedule of Performances Prices All Mpl'mj ot 2:30 P.M. Wed. $2.50 Sat. $2.75 Sun, tvtningt at 8:30 P.M. (Sun.

8 P.M. Mon. thru Thun. $2.75 Sun. t.HpliddVJ $3.00 S.

HUROK prcicnd valuta DAILY MATINEES NOW THRU JAN. 1st rhttk entdH. ekk, mU Upm; Nmm'i, Mm')mmi el HnW N.lM 0Mm( Iw IhH iumi NMtad 14 Mam, mr, Mntoe Waw ItHM or Theotr. Forty i Group Kara Information call Ktaina MurH-(412) S2U1090 RESERVED SEATS AT BOX OFFICE OR BY MAIL SOIJIIIKEL HILL THEATRE FORWARD at MURRAY, PITTSBURGH, 1 321 7 PHONE 421-709 the character of Oliver whose tender, wistful "Where is Love?" and most of his other action Is rather subordinated to much bigger people and routines. Most of Oliver's life with Fagin and "our gang" Is so appealing, or would be to a child, that it's hard to understand his attraction to the upper middle class life offered him by, it is gloriously revealed, his real family.

Bill Sykes, played by Oliver Reed, is the super thief in the pack. He's Fagin's principal money-earner and, at the same time, he's the most vulgar of the bunch. This gross personality remains somewhat intact in this version and when Shani Wallis (as Nancy, his mistress) shrilly sings "As Long as He iNeeds Me" with chest-heaving and strange facial expressions, it's as unbelievable as some of the most awkward musical situations in cultural history. And there are a 1 other shortcomings in "Oliver," which you could notice if the over-all effects weren't so thoroughly enjoyable that they delightfully dull the critical senses. Even Dickens' social conscience, which was very significant in his time, is subordinate in this film not all due to the fact that we've got different social problems now.

"Oliver" has a quality of Imagination filtered through sadness which is extremely appealing. You feel Oliver's emotional transition from being a "Boy for Sale" to sleeping In sheets and asking "Who Will Buy this Wonderful you'll never again picture? you did beforef -LIFE nm wwi US mm rjwoj CALL THEATRE FOR GROUP SALES SEATS SH.LINO RAPIDLY: US 30, X4.40. f.V.IO ft JOR BEST SEATS call or Also Kaufmann'l, Pitt Union Bldir, ind Olmbcls. Mail Ordera: International Theatre. P(h.

P. Coming: MUSIC HALL Sat. Jan. 25 The deal JOSE GRECO His World's largest Co. ol Spanish Dancers, Singers and Musicians mm prcea and THE PLAYHOUSE NOW PUYINAI 8voAtey UK CorrwoV encratioirh iyWifflimGoooYwt I Creeled by Tom Thome NEW YEAR'S EYE RESERVATIONS NOW ALL SIATS SI.6S Crockitt Barbara Upstairs 'tniiiietl raviaw 1:30 12:15 Qantratlon Broadway hit comedy, Curtiin 1:30 "Thi Gold Rush" Ch.rli Chaplin Clauie 7:30 9:30 'Restaurant Loungi Vtuiie Noiumakeri (for memben) Curl.lr, 1:30, Sunday 7:30 Prlceu Sal.

,.14.40 Su. NUTCRACKER BALLET NOW PUYINO Sun. 2:30 All Seed tft for RrvatloM or Information! PIMib.rgh Playho.ie Cnlt PIMstvik. Pi. 1521) Call 621-4445 JAN.

6 8:30 ticket information- mm Franco Zeffireiu Romeo Morning and Put It In Box for Me?" It's a film to make you smile and hum. 'Chitty Chilly d-t or, arv Fulton By JUDY LUDLUM Children should review children's movies. An adult hesitates to pass judgment on a movie Intended to be seen through the eyes of i. child. For somewhere along the way you lose that special magic that makes flying cars, fairy princesses and castles in the clouds not only delightful but utterly believable as well.

"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" Is a movie full of such fairyland magic. There's a "mad" inventor, a beautiful maiden, two charming children (a team which reminds one of the enchanting pair on television's "Family a vil lain, a beautiful castle In a far-off land, a hero and a storybook ending. The film centers around a wonderful magical car that flies, floats and has an automatic pilot all at tho appropriate times. It's hard to believe that the late novelist, Ian Fleming, of James Bond fame, could have created something so totally removed from "007" as the series of children's stories on which this movie was based. (But then, perhaps the two ideas require the same brand of imagination.) Theater Clock On Stage BEVERLY HILLS PLAYHOUSE -Bnb cock "The Odd Couple." Tonight ot 8 30.

BUHL PLANETARIUM -The Chrlslmoi Star," ol I. 2:15, 3:15 and 1:15. NEW CASINO Burlesaue showi at 2.30, 1:30 and. 10:30. AIM moviM.

On Screen ART CINEMA "The Way of Fluh," at 11, 1.45, 4:10, :40 and 9:05. "ipac Thing," ot 12:25, 3, 4.23, 7.55 and 10:15. CHATHAM CINEMA Steve McQueen and Robert Vauohn In at 1, 4. 6, I ond 10. ENCORE Alan Bates and Dirk Bogorde In "The Fixer" at 2:15, 4:45, 7M5 and 10.

FIESTA Barbro Streisand and Omor Sharif In "Funny Today ot and 8 '30. FORUM Alan Bates ond Dirk Booarde In "The Fixer" ot 2:15, 4:4, ana iu. FULTON Dick Van Dvke and Sally Ann Howes in "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang." Today at 2 and 8:30. GATEWAY Jason Robards a-d Brltt Eklond In "The Night They Raided Minsky's" at 12, 2, 4, I and 10. GUILD "Therese and Isabolle." Today at 4, 6, 10.

KING'S COURT Ron Moody ond Oliver Reed In "Oliver." Today at 2 and 8:30. MANOR Julie Andrews ond Richard Crcnna In "Star." 'today at 2 and NIXON Fred Astalre ond Petulo Clark In "Flnlan'i Rainbow." Today nt 2 and B'30. PENTHOUSE Underground film at II, 12:45, 2:20, 4, 5:30 7, 1:30 and "Beoverama," at 12:15, 2, 1:30, 5. 6:30, 8 and 10. PITTSBURGH PLAYHOUSH 'Oliver Twist" at 7:30 ond 9:30.

SHAO YSIDE Olivia Hussev and Leonard Whiting In "Romeo and Juliet," at 2-10, 4:40, 7:10 and 9:40, SQUIRREL HILL Peter O'Toole and Katharine Hepbum In "Lion in Winter." Today at 2:30 and 8:30. STANLEY Ewa Aulln In "Candy," ot 12:50, 3:15, 5:30, 8 and 10:20. WARNER Rock Hudson and Brnest Boranine In "Ice Station Zebra. Today at 2 and 8:30. NOW! 2nd EXCITING WEEK! "INVITATION fORVoU? IT! i i 1 1.1 JELLY SAVALAS For MMURC Audience III III 1 1 1 PREVIEW 1 I i ilTliilMf 7 AWl, i i JULIET MewLiTMiir mi mmvm mi nan sibkb CONTINUOUS PERFORMANCES from 2 P.

M. 3:10,4:40,7:10,9:40 GOT i ii ii ii i LLO Doctors recommend NEW YEAR'S EVE 1. Get plenty of rest. 2. Drink plenty ol liquids.

(Orange Juice from Florida is a delicious liquid.) COME TO THE SPECIAL SMASH JkL of OAMCnV HIT OF Willi. i WEEKS 3 THIS AREA! KVBBBSSSSBBX IS I 1 1 I BEFORE IT WILL BE uu SHOWN IN IT tap a. IK rillfillifrillli '4 i 4 I i kll J'li JX tjii I MEIVIN FR4NK FHM 3 3 NEW YEAR'S EVE TAKE SOMEONE VOU LOVE TO A NICE, WARM, FUNNY PICTURE ABOUT A NICE, WARM, UNWED MOTHER iVV: I I 1 tj itfiriiiii-fc mi 'iitm iiiii SHELLEY WINTERS PHIL GINA LOLLOBRiGIDA SILVERS -PETER LAWFORD 'BUONA SERA, MRS. CAMPBELL" IfROYr.XsmLa MirNNi! TECHNICOLOR LnllBU AptlStSF Suggested Orange Juice from Florida comes fresh-frozen (that little can makes a big pitcherful), in casy-to-serve bottles or cartons, or in easy-to-store cans. TUESDAY NEW YEAR'S EVE ONLY! AT: P.M.

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