January 31,1977, Retriever, P aw·~. Critics Stars Make and Break 'Silver Streak,' A Star is Born' .

BY BEN MALINOWSKI Some may think I'm being overcritical We should all agree that in the American and too picky, but A Siar Is Born has bee~ cinema the emphasis is placed, not on the made by professionals and the p~bhc filmmaker, but on the actor or "star." By has a right to expect ( espectall) examining two films currently in out area, considering the prices we pay) A Star is Born and Silver Streak, we can professional results. A Star Is Born is a see how two opposing view points emerge. hollow, narcissistic venture; a clique film. First that the star of a film can overstep It will no doubt appeal to Ms. Strei~and's his o; her bounds and create a self-serving, legion of fans who would pay to see her no but artistically empty film, and second, matter what she was in. Unfortunately, the how an uneven film can be made en­ film is making a great deal of money and is tertaining by the presence of capable financially, if not critically, successful. All actors. this means that it leaves the door open for A terrible film like A Star is Born is any number of self-indulgences by Ms. made when the power of a star super­ Streisand or any other popular star and ceded that of a filmmaker, even in the that we, the discriminating viewers, are in planning stages. In addition to starring in for it? the film, Barbra Streisand is also the On the other side of the coin, we have executive producer. Jon Peters, her Silver Streak. In this film , the actors stick hairdresser-turned-lover, is the producer. to acting and wind up saving the film. The director of the film is Frank Pierson, who also co-wrote the screenplay. Sounds Silver Streak is a suspense comedy Jretty cozy, doesn't it'? about a publisher who becomes involved Essentially the film is about a singer with murderers while travelling on a with "self-sacrificing" written all over her luxury train. The acting, particularly by who, for some bizarre reason, falls in love '-· Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor, help the with a superstar who has "self­ Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor in Silver Streak film in spite of lackluster direction (Arthur destructive" written all over him. Heller) and an erratic screenplay (Colin Wilson). A Star is Born has been filmed twice at an award ceremony was moving. This characters are unconvincing Pierson also before: in 1937 by William Wellman, same sequence is attempted in this version has a strange, unexplainable obsession The film starts off slow, gathers speed, starring Janet Gaynor and Frederick and it isn't even interesting. Kristofferson, with colored stage lights (which may be goes at a spritely pace and is accelrated March, and a musical version in 1955 by in both the way the character is written used to distract you from the terrible by bursts of. power. Wilder and Pryor play George Cukor, starring Judy Garland and and in the way he enacts it, has all the songs.). well off each other and they are aided by a James Mason. The need to make a third dignity of a social diseas; The job of the usually excellent cast of pros like Ned Beatty, Clifton film version was minimal. The changing cinematographer Robert Surtees consists . James, Ray Walston, Stefan Grasch and or updating of the film simply doesn't The basis for a negative assesment of A Scatman Crothers. Lucille Benson has a Star Is Born is not merely in comparison of photography Ms. Striesand (usually 011 work. with the other film versions, it is a lousy her left side) and obscuring Mr. Kristof­ brief, but funny role as a farmer-aviator. For one thing, Kris Kristofferson plays Add to this a lush Henry Mancini score and film in its own right. Frank Pierson ferson (the only extreme close-up we get ~f Norman a rock star and not an actor as snappy editing by David Bretherton.. The direction is sloppy and, particularly in ~e him makes him look like he has hollowed- were March and Mason. What made the final scene, lazy. Scenes of dramahc eyesockets) The sound in the film is film becomes quite exciting toward the previous versions of A Star is. Born so lout confrontation are hastily resolved leaving totally ·· mixed up. In one scene, for end and the final scene is expertly done. touching was the depiction of Norman the spectator both robbed and confused. example, the sounds of footsteps on a floor Silver Streak is a rather shaky film Maine's battle between escape through There is no atmosJilere to speak of. The drownded out the dialogue. Much the same helped immeasurably by the skill of the alcohol and maintaining his status as a can be said for the lighting of some in­ actors involved. A Star is Born is a characters are unvonvincing =Pierson also promising film made inept by the degree dignified, respected man. The sequenc~ in has a strange, unexplainable obscession teriors. the '55 version where Mason begs for a JOb of control that an actress had on it. Leon Redbone-His Voice Is Np Mystery By Elias Lieberman recently he won over a fanatic following for our pleasure. Redbone's Double Time Gold's voice is yet another problem. with ari apperance on NBC's "Saturday brings together an assortment of tunes "Double Time" - Leon Redbone (Warner It's certainly pleasant, but limited in Night Live" and now we have "Double from the 1800's up to about the 1930's, range and coloration. It's not the stuff of Brothers) Time, Redbone's second outing. dance tunes and ragtim~, crooning ballads Search far and wide and it. is quite which super stars are made. His long Hiding behind the Groucho moustache, and stomps, and renders them all with a association ·with Ms. Ronstadt has slotted unlikely that you'll encounter anyone even large cigar and sunglasses lurks some sort funky authenticity. Red bone's smoky remotely like Leon Redbone. Last year he Gold into a style that is defined by of musical genius. Leon Redbone has voice works wonders with old fossils like his own songwriting abilities, Peter steped out of some turn-of-the-century fog latched onto a long-gone era and like a "Shine on Harvest Moon," "Mr. Jelly Roll with his first album On The Track: More Asher's production techniques and Gold's loving historian has dredged it all up again Baker" and "Sheik Of Araby." Producer now distinctive guitar fills . These com­ Joel Dorn has once again done a posite parts are simply not enough to lift magnificent job in providing an old quality him to the level of greatness. to the production with dixie land horns, b:;irbershop quartet harmonies and just the "Dirt, Silver and Gold" - Nitty Gritty Dirt right touch of humor. Band (United Artists) I am the first to admit that Leon Red­ The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band emerged bone is an acquired taste and fans of heavy from California in the mid-sixties and metal will no doubt be disappointed. But if through a number of changes in personnel you like a little mirth in your listening and and musical direction the group has made relish a few surprises then Leon is your it through to 1977. Dirt, Silver and Gold is a man. three record set, a meticulously produced collection of the Dirt Band's finer music, from past to present. The six sides reveal "What's Wrong With This Picture?" incredible growth and variety from a Andrew Gold (Asylum Records) group that never received more than The title of this album poses one question marginal publicity and attention from the and the songs themselves pose another, listening public. Included are the Dirt "What's wrong with this album'?" The Band's AM hits, the beautiful "Buy For Me answer'? It lacks that vital sense of The Rain" from 1967 and their version of coherence that separates great albums "Mr. Bojangles" from·a few years later. from mere pretenders. Even more important are the wealth of Andew Gold is the session-man ex­ other tunes tucked away inside this lavish traordinaire who has been instrumental package: a jug band tune penned by a (excuse the pun! ) in defining Li~da young Jackson Browne, the originct! Ronstadt's sound. He is also a songwnter recording of Kenny Loggin's "House Al of considerable worth, having contributed Pooh Corner" and selections from the Dirt songs to the likes of Ms. Ronsta~t a~d Band'!i ma~num opus of country Music more recently, Leo Sayer. On thiS, his "Will The Circle Be Unbroken'?" The second album, Gold has penned seven of group's versatility is displayed in a range eleven tunes. His strength clearly lies in of music, from a classical composition for ballads, as evidenced by "Passing Thing", solo banjo to the more contemporary, a haunting tune, the kind of song that reggae-influenced "Jamaica Lady." The Linda Ronstadt could turn into a killer of a group relies primarily on an acou~tic lovesong. Producer Peter Asher has ap­ frame work with country harmomes, plied his tried and true formula once again banjoes fiddles and mandolins for color. with a steady mix of ballads, rockers and This is the perfect introduction to a oldies. "Do Wah Diddy," that old Manfred gifted group, one which deserves con­ Mann tune from the early sixties, just siderably more attention. Three records dOesn't work in Gold's hands. "Angel reveal surprising musical growth and Woman" another Gold tune, is just too inventiveness and give one the feeling that fragile 'to support Asher's sentimental the Dirt Band will be mining good music arrangement. for a long time to come.