Film-Lifestyle

PAGE 6, RETRIEVER, APRIL 26,1919 Film-Lifestyle t Hitchcock's / ~ami/y Plot~ The Master In A Playful Mood the films occur when HItchcock is making William Devane plays the swave jewelry By Ben Malinowski fun of HIMSELF. The true fan will not store owner turned abductor. He does a several allusions to such films as Psycho, ~ood job, but nothing to equal Harris or When some directors achieve recogniton Frenzy, The Birds and North By North­ Dern. or vast acclaim, :they begin to take w~st spr.inkled throughout. If you think Karen Black is quite a different story. As themselves too seriously. This usually thIS self-mdulgent you are wrong, simply Devane's wife, her role is almost super­ leads to a critical downfall. Being artists, because the film is still enjoyable and fluose. Ms. Black's acting does nothing to they sometimes become so self-indulgent enteraining without the knowledge of the alter this opinion. It looks as though she that their careers no long~r appeal to the " in" jokes. - was tossed into this picture and Hitchcock discriminating viewers, but only to a EveI'! v/ith the comedy, Family Plot didn't know what to do with her. Perhaps select clique. This is something we will remains an extremely exciting, suspense­ Hitchcock's notorious indifference toward never encounter with Alfred Hitchcock. ~ul film. There is always something of actors is respondible for this. After all, we His fifty-third film, Family Plot, had the mterest happening. The suspense and still have him to blame for Tippi Hedren. I kind of suspense we have come to expect, humor are synthesised in such a way that might be wrong in my theory, but the but the tongue is placed firmly in cheek. one doesn't overpower the other and that cas ting of Karen Black is defingtely one of Family Plot has a unique narritive: it you may be experiancing both at the same the films weakest points. unfolds as two seperate stories which cross time. Although he is well known for creating in an ironic and surprising way. The first Barbara Harris plays the role of the inconsistaces and a lack of credability in story is of a phony seer and her actor­ cliarvoyant. She has been a most wasted his films, Hitchcock is not responsable for turned-cab driver boy friend who try to actress. After making a promising debut some of the implausable aspects of Family track down the missing heir to a vast as Sandy the social worker in Fred Coe's Plot. The film is based on Victor Canning's fortune; the second is about a husband­ film version of Herb Gardner's A novel The Rainbow Pattern and the and-wife team of kidnappers who trade ALFRED HITCHCOCK Thousand Clowns, she made a couple of screenplay is by Ernest Lehman. The their captive for valuable gems. 'Family Plot' is an exciting and tho­ bombs (Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why blame for the few incredable parts of the Like most Hitchcock films, it has an is He Saying All Those Bad Things A~out roughly engrossing film but it is a film can, I believe, be placed here. element of mystery that is solved mid-way Me? and The War Beiween Men and Aside from a small plot instability and through the film. He does this so that the very funny film as well. .. ' Women) and has only been used recently the miscasting of Karen Black, Family audience is fully informed and knows to her best potential in Robert Altman's Plot is a film I highly recommended to all exactly when to be fearful for the hero and­ screwball comedy, but had few Hitch­ Nashville. Her. performance in Family who enjoy well-made entertainment. or heroine. The only prolonged mystery cockian touches·. The Trouble With Plot is both engaging and believable. Those fans of Hitchcock who expected it to associated with Family Plot is why Karen Harry, however, was a fiendishly black Hopefully, there will be more roles of be another Psycho or Frenzy may be a bit Black got top billing. We're still trying to . comedy about a corpse that is buried and stature for Ms. Harris. dissappointed at the lack of bloodshed, but figure that one out! dug-up repeatedly. Hitchcock, himself, Her performance is matched beautifully even they must admit that it is reassuring Family Ploy is an exciting and thoughly has a very good comic delivery (as his TV by Bruce Dern as her boyfriend. Dern is to know that The Master of the suspense engrossing film, but is a very funny film as series proves) . The comedy in Family Plot another one of those fine character actors genre can retain a firm grip on all of his well. Hitchcock made two comedies before is more in keeping with the domestic who have previously been treated like craftsmanship and still be versatile, Family Plot: Mr. and Mrs. Smith (941), ~m~dy of the Smith film, but does wallpaper and has now come into some playful and have that nobelist of all gifts-­ and The Trouble with Harry (955). Mr. achieve touches of the macabre. recognition. Dern and Harris work well the ability to poke fun at himself and his and Mrs. Smith was an enjoyable Perhaps the most amusing portions of together and playoff each other nicely. place in art.

way ; they more than likely thought my mother had told me to, "Go play on the freeway, " and I had taken her seriously.) Concerts Confessions of a Bicyclist Nonetheless, except for a minor incident involving a Greyhound bus moving im­ patiently behind me (l wouldn't budge), In Precarious ~ he rest of the trip was without occurrance. A Tale of A Tired Peddler Once at the airport, which took me about an hour to get there, I settled my business Position By David Thomas and decided I deserved a "7-UP." While enjoying this liquid feast (l was rightly By Kevin Estes I love to ride my bicycle. More than that gone so far, I might as well go the whOle thirsty), an.airport security officer (ASO) In recent years, the . concert scene at though, I love to take it apart--and this route--after all, a similar reason kept us in , came up to me and said in a not so UMBC has been precarious and uncertain. unfortunately· does not afford me all the Vietnam, and I didn't see why it shouldn't congenial manner, "Son, are you taking Advance tickets sales have been poor, time I would like to have in which to ac­ work for me. that bike with you anywhere?" there have been security problems, and it tually ride it. By the time I reached the expressway, I felt like replying, "No dad (he wasn't is mostly outsiders who attend concerts There was, however, one day in par­ my temper and anger were turned on to my father), I'm going to leave it here and here. Save for the success of Nils Lofgren's ticular when I had just finished installing a maximum, especially now that it became walk -back," but, instead, I settled with appearance last semester, there have been new rear derailluer and was extremely necessary to cross the highway as the "No sir, I'm not. I just took care of some no money making shows at UMBC for anxious to test this . new piece of equip­ airport is on the left. My God! you business here." some years. ment: one, to see how well it worked, and would've thought that no one on the road "Well, I think you should get that bike The reason for this, is that no group has second, to find out if I had put it on had ever seen a bike! In time I managed to Jut of here if you aren't going anywhere," been able to draw a large student correctly. reach the other side, and for the most part, Je said in a rather demanding tone. response. Ideally, it would valuable to poll Since I had some personal business to the students to see what groups they would take care of at the airport, I saw no reason like to see. Unfortunately, this is not whyBWI ("Friendship" still tome) should possible. What happens is that outside not be a reasonable goal to ride to; and promoters put on the shows here. The besides testing my bike, I would also be administration or the students have J~etting something done for myself. nothing to do with selection. The day was clear. and the temperature Last Friday, UMBC had its first concert rather confortable--ideal for cycling I ' this semester, with Graham Central thought. But, as classes were not over until Station being featured. Several days late, I did not get started till 3:30 (a rather before the concert, SGA President Harry unfortunate time to leave to go anywhere I Johnson, and a local promoter, Gregory now think), however, I did leave then, and Scroggins, spoke about concerts at UMBC. proceeded to go on my route designed and "I want promoters to make money at plotted the night before. UMBC, or they won't bring shows here," Whatever put it in my head to take the says Johnson. "The talent thats been here Beltway, the BW Expressway, and then' has been shakey and not geared for that two lane highway to the airport, I'll college." Johnson feels that more never know: perhaps it was some suicidal­ "sophistocated" groups such as Chick maniac impulse, who knows? Corea or Weateher Report would do well I suppose now, dear reader, you are here. interested in knowing the purpose of this Johnson was excited at the prospect of story. Indeed! The explanation is simple, Graham Central Station coming to UMBC. and is meant as a bit of advice to the walked my bike through the uncut grass of Now, remembering the trouble it took "its the first time we've had a band here at cyclist who has no set destination, but, the friendly, uncrowded median strip. me to get to the place, and to hear him tell the height of their career. When Chicago "just w~nts to get out and ride the ole me to leave was more than I could was here in 1968, they were still on the way bike:" Forget the highways! I read in This cool grass did not, however, quelch tolerate. "Sir. I will leave when I finish up, and Guess Who was on the way out. . a book, heard it from a policeman, and, drinking my '7-UP'," I replied in a not-s