Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 17

POST-GAZETTFi WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1972- 1IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIII ItllllllllllllllllllfllfllllllVIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIllfllllltllftltlllllllllMIKIIItlllllltlllllllltllllllllllllllllllttlllllllllltltlltllllllllllll safe POSITIVELY THE MOST HORRIFYING FILM EVER MADE By GEORGE ANDERSON Clockwork Orange9 al Chatham Cinema in. I TlMftri ftrttt ft Vv ft I the first film rated for violence This Picture Not Rated by The LADIES' DAY TODAY 1 Motion Picture Assn. of America UNTIL 3 P.M. a iu i fefS Iffil p.m. IOUAY Al A '0 B)5, 100(1 He is released as a scientifically reformed specimen.

But, the movie, which is insistently sardonic in tone throughout, mocks the liberal idea of reform and the Christian idea of moral rebirth from which it stems. Alex, conditioned to become helplessly nauseated by sex and violence, is a pitiful shell of a human being. He meets and is vengefully punished by all the victims of his former terror, a coincidence that is not annoying because Kubrick has so consistently staged his story in a mythical, futuristic manner. The film seems to argue, somewhat ambiguously, on behalf of free will even a will to evil over a will-less or soulless existence. "A CLOCKWORK Orange" is not flawless.

Neither is "Citizen Kane," the greatest American film. The post-prison scenes move too slowly (the film's pace intentionally runs down like a clock); it is heartless, ugly and cold. Even a sympathetic viewer would be well advised not to settle for his first reaction. This movie is not an experience to be grasped wholly in one simple response, like chocolate ice cream or a roller coaster ride. Clint Eoitwood Harry Guardino, Rem Santonl "DIRTY 7mm TODAY AT 1,30, 3 30, 1,30.

7:30, 9 30 HARRY'cLil lor AN EYE peers out at you in giant clnsrup, leering through clown-like false lashes. The soundtrack plays Purcell's "Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary," wafting oddly through a synthesizer. Visually and aurally, we are confronted instantly with insinuatingly warped sights and sounds that lock our attention to the screen with that unique awareness that we are in the presence of something deeply special in the way of movies. Once again, Stanley Kubrick has dared more than any of his contemporaries. Once again, he has succeeded in a way that will be talked about for a long time.

The occasion is "A Clockwork Orange" opening today at the Chatham Cinema. His first film since "2001: A Space Odyssey" continues the director's reputation for audacity and for artistry. Somehow, despite Kubrick's almost blatant disregard of mass audience tastes, he has made a film which will transcend its own demands to become a commercial as well as critical success. Along the way, many people will see it who shouldn't, and consequently they will dislike it. It is not a movie for the fragile heart or small mind.

It almost recklessly presupposes an unusual degree of intelligence, a considerable amount of tolerance and a deep commitment to the film as art. It is that rarity a film which gains in stature by its opposition. To dispute "A Clockwork Orange" on any but an intellectual level is to be cincmatically illiterate. KUBRICK IS toweringly the master of his medium that wonderfully serendipitous art form that blends the best of the performing and plastic arts. His mixing of photography, acting, music, set design, narrative value and philosophical content is awesome.

To fail to see this whether one agrees or disagrees with his film, whether one "likes" or dislikes it is to be as artistically blind as the hero-villain of the movie is morally deprived. THE FILM'S principal character, Alex, is a personification of evil the likes of which we have never encountered on screen. He heads a quartet of adolescent thugs called "droogs" (Kubrick mercifully decreases the use of Nadsat, the teen-age slang novelist Anthony Burgess invented for his prophetic 19R2 book from which the film was adapted.) They idle away evenings in erotically decorated milk bars, drinking drugged liquid, and then indulge their insatiable appetite for the old ultra-violence. A detailing of the plot incidents, including the heavy but stylized use of violence and sex, is as pointless and inaccurate a gauge of the film's quality as a casualty list would be representative of "Hamlet" or "Macbeth." Kubrick is up to more serious matters here. He is projecting a future in which the unholy trio of sex, violence and drugs are rampant and a besieged government must invent new methods of coping with its internal disorder.

When Alex is jailed for murder, he voluntarily submits to an experimental treatment called the Ludovico technique, a brainwashing which turns him permanently against sex and violence. Paul Newman Lee Marvin, Strother Martin "POCKET Sign of Summer The largest number ever, nearly 200 dancers, tried out for the dance ensemble of the Civic IJght Opera yesterday at Heinz Hall. Jane McLaughlin of Millbrook, N. choreographer for the Civic Light Opera, and Dottie Bethel of Bennett College in Millbrook, were on the scene. Prospective singers also auditioned.

Results will be announced next week. THEATER CLOCK Gpi MONEY" olor Extto Added At HOLLYWOOD Only Richard Harris "MAN CALLED HORSE'' Color GP PER ON STAGE FULTON MINI "The School Girls" ot 1, 2:45, 4.30, 6:15, 8 ond 9:50. GATEWAY Olivor Reed ond Jill St. John in Sitting Toroet" at 12, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. wm lAmrm ginkina fnntnr.

BEN GROSS "bweeT Rt. 30. Don Rrockert't Tonlgfit rt 9:30. "Tht Decomeron" at 7:50 GUILD and 9:40. "-j5 cut tin a the BUHL PLANETARIUM "Spinoff from Sooce" at 2: 15 and 8.15.

PITTSBURGH PLAYHOUSE "Cadul Hlower." lonighf at TWIN COACHES Rt 51. "Mom." TonioM at 1Kb jZ --THOR HEYERDAHL There isn't space enough to discuss, catalogue or commend everything in this movie deserving of mention. Special credit is emphatically due to Malcolm McDowell for a stunning performance as Alex, one of the most demanding roles ever written for a film actor. It is just one ingredient in this very bitter, very brilliant film. ON SCREEN fur mux KINGS COURT Timothy Rottonw and Jerf Bndoes hi "The Last Plctor Show" ot 6, 8.

ond 10. MANOR "Fiddler on the Roof lotiav at 2 and 8:30. SHADYSIDE Gene Hackman In "Tht f-rench Connection at 6, 8 ond 10. SQUIRREL HILL Liza Mimielll ond M.chaei York in "Cabaret" at 1, 3:10, 7:30 and 9:40. STANLEY Mark of the OevM" Ot 12, 2, 4, 6, 8 ond 10.

VVIwner Marlon Rrondo ond Jarne Coon in "The Godfather" at 9, 12, 3, ond 9. CHATHAM CINEMA Malcolm McDowell and Patrick Moqcp to "Clockwork Oranae" at 12:20, 2:40, 5, 7:30 nnd 10. ENCORE Jane Fonda ond Oono'd Sutherland In "Klute" ot 4, 8, ond 10. FIESTA Barbra Streisand ond Rvon O'Neal In 'Whafj Uo Doc?" ot 2. 4.

6, 8 ond 10. llllllllllllMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIllltllllllllllllllltllllltlllllllllMIIIIMIIIIIIIlllllllflllllllllllllllMlflllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll keep advertising and jockey I It Happened FORUM Jone Fonda ond Donald Sutherland In "Klute" ot 6. 8 and 10. FULTON Geora Scott and Diana Rioo in "The HoiOitoT ot 12, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. PITTSBURGH'S BEST ADULT ACTION MOVIES NEW SHOW EVERY FRIDAY Last Night rmsoN ing for Oscar awards dignified.

JIMMY DURANTE, 79. years old doesn't seem possible is working harder ADULT THEATRE if A i aidhjaiMl twtimjmn 10 AM Is MM I Theater in Philadelphia, the than anybody. Finishing at the only place available. "Sing Las Vegas Frontier March 22, NEW YORK An anonymous tipster phoned: "A well known restaurant has done a (X, tULOK Daily: 6. 7:50.

9:40 Sun. 2:05. 4:05. 6:05, 8 05. 1005 something, anything," they he takes a week off, then goes tvVwwPW" flW I'lU into the Las Vegas Sands Red Skelton's getting a lot of money to go back to the Vegas International for 3 weeks in April.

(He needs money like Rockefeller) Durante will be celebrating his 55th year in Show Business Henny Youngman keeps saying, "Curb Your Wife!" Shouldn't told her, and she sang "The Star Spangled Banner." PARAMOUNT'S president Frank a 1 a is making plans for a 100th birthday party in '73 for company founder Adolph Zukor The Motion Picture Academy board of governors has asked film companies, stars, etc. to You must see RA! An astounding true -life adventure for the whole familyl NOW SHOWING! ONE WEEK ONLY! terrible thing put in an electric eye camera to sec if the barten-d e.r are a a 1 i (Watch your language, '1 1 get Mickey) David Stein Hillard Elkins is collecting sketches for the next edition of "Oh! Calcutta!" which he says will be less nude, more erotic Alan King got a plush new suite of dressing rooms for his Caesars Palace opening Al Pacino, a smash hit in "Godfather," will next do an off-B'-way show, "The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel." Gordon MacRae greeted Pat Nixon at the National Republican Club luncheon with "Ning Ha?" (Chinese for "Hello, how are Mrs. Nixon, surprised, said "Where did you learn that?" MacRae said, "at the Chinese Embassy," and Mrs. Nixon said, "You did your homework well." Martha Mitchell, who was there, told MacRae, "Outside of my DENIS Ht. Lebanon say those things, Henny! EASTLAND Eastland Plaza ySv IT'S TIME TO fW EASTER tBUNNIESl AND GET Y0UR- i Hii Mr.

Wilson IZOih Century-fox PENN HILLS Penn Hills Mcknight cinema McKnight Road :45 F. M. TIMfC- Weekdays: 5:45 7:45 1:00 3:00 5:00 7:30 P.M. I IIMLfcl. Sot.

ft Sun (R''2S IN THE GREAT TfiAOITIOfJ. OF AMERICAN THRILIERS! I COLOR 9Y STARTS TODAy' HELD OVER! and MOVED OVER! voice, yours is my favorite." walnut sintaT lwwBWlMWliw mm DOLORES HALL, one of the Show Stoppers in "Inner City" which just closed, went right into "The Selling of the President." She auditioned in the men's room of the Shubert berg's people notified police about that woman who phoned a threat because he used Nixon material We watched Nixon the other night and his face did not resemble a foot to us Nathan Cum-mings the millionaire head of Consolidated Foods, was di-ciLssing the I.T.T story in St. Louis. "But what do I know about it?" he said. "I peddle cakes!" The U.S.

Chamber of Commerce's new Prez is William S. Lowe, chairman of the board of A. P. Green Refraitories, Mexico, home town of Mary Margaret McBride. ROBERT CUMMINGS gobbled a handful of his ever-present vitamin pills before having dinner at Joe's Pier 52 Melvin Franklin of The Temptations, studying to be a minister, holds a prayer session with the rest of the group before each Copa show.

WHt WHERE THE HOT ADULT ACTION IS PASSIONS IN HOLLYWOOD ALSO "FANDANGO" i nrl UiTl ifit JiMi1ftMLMMifi1Wg 4 7 1. itvit 'V( 'tt 1 A woman is his ii Uo cap can hold his lust for revenge. yffry 9L okn laflej Ricbard hie hn Warip Pmzds 7The Bde tMifnicfro 1 hi u-- r.n,,., i 1 1 jsoTnArATpTi BARBRA STREISAND RYAN O'NEAL in WHAT'S UP DOC 'A Peter Bogdanovich Production Co-Starring KENNETH MAftS MGM Presents "SITTING TARGET" tRJ OLIVER REED JILL ST. JOHN IAN McSHANE AUSTIN PENDLETON SORRELL BOOKE MICHAEL MURPHY And Introducing MADELINE KAHN Screenplay by Buck Henry and David Newman Robert Benton Story by Peler Bogdanovich Directed and Produced by Peter Bogdanovich DUE TO THE TREMENDOUS ADVANCE RESPONSE THE FOLLOWING FEATURE TIMES ARE SCHEDULED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE 9:00 A.M. 1 2:00, 3:00, 6:00, 9:00 P.M.

TECHNICOLOR From Warner Bros A Warner Communications Company 'ft ALL AGES ADMITTID Gprif ril Autl'mioi -j LADIES' DAY TODAY! L. pram TANLEY 1 1 fill I .9 I a I Ull I il I lilJIl I ivfi Mttq STARTS TODAY LADIES' DAY TODAY 3 Hn. Ft Parking Evm. Sim. I.

luildlnf i I I a I I I 1 a STARTS TODAY! I Hourt FrM Tarkint I Sun. A 14 Sletd ftorogn Oewrtom AT 9:00 A.M. I IXJWNTOWM.