Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 18

rc-y, il THE FRENCH DETECTIVE Maple Theatres Veriest Lino Ventura Letevre Dewaere Lardatte Lanoux A Quartet Films Inc. release produced bv Georges Dancioers and Les Films Arlane, directed by Pierre Granier-Deferre; screenplay bv Francis Veber; photographed by Jean Collomb. In French with subtitles. Color. Rated PG.

I 0 rA.v i A touch of whimsy is shining through By CHRIS STOEHR Free Pres Staff Writer French filmmakers' adoration of the American TV cop and the American TV cop story is the primary operating theme in "The French Detective." So, even though it's about political violence, and police incompetence, there's a love around the edges and whimsy sprinkled in the center. You can feel it as surely as you hear the guns exploding and tires screaming. THE HERO and center of much of director Pierre Gran-ier-Deferre's adoration is Chief Inspector Verjeat, played with control by Lino Ventura. When he and two of his assistants check out a death at a brothel in Rouen, they are Informed that they must be the only members of the police department who aren't on the take from the madam. The spirit of play begins here when one of the detec- tlves turns on a switch near a bed and the dead man begins to shake on the vibrating mattress.

One demonstration Is not enough though, and the vibrator is turned on again. Clearly, childlike innocence is on the case. Things get stickler when Verjeat's team also finds a political partisan clubbed to death by supporters of a leading candidate, Lardatte. One of Verjeat's men is killed, and two seemingly unrelated incidents become tied together. jr A -I a The Rouen public "super- cop" finds his hands tied, his Inspector Verjeat (Lino Ventura), right, and his assistant Lefevre (Patrick Dewaere).

superiors doubting his talents, his men doubting him, and ''i ft' iHini came back to the precinct, fall guy for the department, Is where to get off And, It sets after all and not quite bleak downright clever much up a satisfactory closing se- enough for the second. We better than anything Baretta quence. never believe there's a con- would think of and It The film runs just an hour spiracy of cops, thugs, ma- makes a point about political and a half, uses no grimy dams and politicians to bump lackeys. It also gives Patrick urban backdrops this is Verjeat off. Dewaere, as Verjeat's friend, sort of trouble in the suburbs.

That's forgiveable. The a showcase for his acting If you liked "Police Story," plot Verjeat cooks up to get range and Verjeat the oppor- you'll like the French transla- his man, without being the tunity to tell his superiors tion. himself doubting his life. AT THIS POINT, "The French Detective" doesn't know which God to bow before: the TV cop show or the American private eye movie. It's a little too downbeat for the first Baretta always MM Martin (John Amplas) goes to work on a victim's arm.

Bloodsucking killer draws the sympathy MARTIN Arts Institute Martin John Amplas Tatl Lincoln Maazel Christina Christine Forrest A Libra Films release, directed bv George A. Romero, produced by Richard Rubenstein, screenplay by Romero, photography by Michael Gornlck, music by Donald RubenstelnMartln" will be shown at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday at the Detroit Institute of Arts auditorium. Tickets are $2 and art available at the DIA box office. By MICHAEL McWILLIAMS Free Press Special Writer Director George Romero has followed up his cult classic "Night of the Living Dead" with an equally fine horror film entitled "Martin," which will have Its Detroit premiere Friday night at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

"Martin" Is a vampire movie without any real vampires. Effectively portrayed by John Amplas, Martin Is an eerie, young man who likes to administer hypodermic sedatives to beautiful, young women, rape them while they sleep and suck the blood from their veins. The triumph of "Martin" turns on a delicate switch of blood-lust. Bombarded by innocuous radio shows, insolent townsfolk, and belligerent street punks, Martin sinks deeper into himself. He lashes out at the most envied citizens of his culture: the wealthy, the beautiful, the sophisticated.

Awkwardly virginal, he longs to "do the sexy stuff without the blood." But when he finally does, and his soul Is saved, he is killed in retribution for a murder he never committed. "Martin" is a youth paranoia picture for the '70s. It shows a demented but pure soul againt a corrupt world in a specifically modern environment. Whereas the youth paranoia films of the '60s, such as "Medium Cool" or "Easy Rider," were political and collectivism, "Martin" is spiritual and individualistic. One can only wonder what Romero has planned for the 80s.

Martin's demonic possession. He vows to "destroy" Martin "without salvation" if he does not end his evil ways. But as the film progresses, horror mounting upon horror, we begin to see Martin as a psychological victim of his grandfather's fanaticism. By the end of the film, Martin becomes a physical victim as well. Romero vividly establishes an emotionally sterile environment for Martin's mpathies.

At the beginning the film, we are presented ith Martin committing a 'flmnlre-Uke murder. We are ffihen introduced to Martin's sternly Catholic grandfather Njbvho claims he has proof of What do you do when everything between the two of you seems wrong? A yTf i 1 fall In bye 4 't jJLJf I DERfECT 1 a a-V ACADEMYAWARD NOMINATIONS BEST PICTURE DIRECTOR ACTOR SCREENPLAY SUPPORTING ACTOR SUPPORTING ACTRESS CINEMATOGRAPHY FILM EDITING ROBERT DE NIRO A MICHAEL CIMINO FILM liiwi i -in urn iiiltM iiiHiii ij UNIVERSAL PICTURES ma EMI FILMS pfesem "THE DEER HUNTER" Co JOHN CAZALE JOHN SAVAGE MERYL STREEP CHRISTOPHER WALKEN by DERIC WASHBURN story MICHAEL CIMINO i DERIC WASHBURN i LOUIS GARFINKLE QUINN K. REDEKER pmm commm JOANN CARELLI Associate Pioducin MARION ROSENBERG mo JOANN CARELLI Myoy STANLEY MYERS routed BARRY SPIKINGS, MICHAEL DEELEY, MICHAEL CIMINO JOHN PEVERALL Oirtetor ol Photography VILMOS ZSIGMOND, asc oteoby MICHAEL CIMINO PANAVIStON OBOOLmSrWO" No0 JCMta ftUNIVEIISAl RELEASE uniMiMuieiTvittAiat me aumOMiiMUMit WARNING- OuttoniMolttMtitin.tnhr iaM Kcawnvfig PwntorfcUKkjartm Olwvitfl'MlftKlailmnMtofMtMlcy) I NOW EXCLUSIVELY at these THEATRES! Twentieth Century-Fox Presents A LION'S GATE Film A PERFECT COUPLE' Starnns PAUL DOOLEY1 MARTA HEFLIN Produced and Directed by ROBERT -ALTMAN Written by ROBERT ALTMAN and ALLAN NICHOLLS SUN. 1:30, 5:00 8:30 PM ADVANCE TICKETS FOR THESE PERFORMANCES AT BOX-OFFICE OR BY MAIU rrw rn I ivr PGm ama mtm $79 Twtntittri Ctntury-Foi oy ueujAc 1:00 8:00 PM SAT. SUN.

1:00, 4:30 8:00 PM DAILY MATINEES 1:00 $3.00 EVENINGS ALL OTHER PERFORMANCES $4.00 2:00 8:00 PM SUN. 2:00, 5:30 9:00 PM TICKETS FOR THESE PERFORMANCES AT BOX-OFFICE ONLY ii muni ill ilia rinrrM-'-m iff' rmi 11 nm Ai iiir'irW i ''T' ftATITWAV Sterlin9 DAILY MATINEES 1:30 2:00 MOVIES Twelve Oaki Mall-Novl unikiin Heights MAPLE W.HplorW.W.of TelgMpliISS-OM DEARBORN Michigan A Telegraph LO.t-344t 4 I EVENINGS ALL OTHER PERFORMANCES $4.50 Van Dyke al 14'4 Mil M. 264-0210 a itt iSMi.