Boxoffice-August.27.1979

'
human
we
BOXOFFICE/AUGUST 27, 1979 15
Bittersweet threesome is company
In her first
fiction feature. French director
writer Coline Serreau clearly favors the
unusual menage a trois around which her bit
tersweet story revolves The trio is frequently
WHY NOT!
(PORQUOI PAS!)
A New Line Cinema release, no MPAA rating.
Krench Comeds Drama with Fnglish subtitles, 93
nun., now in release. Aspect ratio. 1.85.
CAST
Fernand
Sami Frey
Louis Mario Gonzalez
Alexa Christine Munllo
Sylvie Nicole Jamet
The Inspector
Michel Aumont
Sytvie's mother
Mathe Souverbie
CREDITS
Producer
Michele Dimitri
Director. Screenplay Coline Serreau
Cinematographer Jean Francois Robin
DIGEST RATING: FAIR
shown in warm embraces that convey a rare
serenity and security. But in the interests of
the moral questions involved—not to mention
dramatic thrust— she includes plenty of incidents
of internal squabbling and external
adversity.
All three have problems in the outside
world. Sami Frey's ex wife won't let him see
his children because of his bisexuality. Mario
Gonzalez is plagued by insane parents. Every
time Christine Munllo confronts her conser
vative. simpering ex husband, he strikes her
because she ignores his pleas to come home.
The domestic crises go beyond homcmaker
Frey's complaints about his two "spouses'"
sloppiness. He brings conventional Nicole
Jamet home to live without explaining the uni
que living arrangement to her. She eventually
discovers what's going on and. emotionally
shattered, packs her bags. Serreau gives the
audience plenty of time to wonder whether
the surprised newcomer will stay or leave.
This film, due in no small part to its title,
defies the viewer to think of a reason why
these three people should not be joined
together. And given the upbeat ending in
which Jamet joins the trio in uncomplicated,
communal love, the disapproving reasons may
not arise. "Why Not!" is a fine prospect for art
houses.
One nude scene is set not in the bedroom
but in the bathroom, where Frey and Murillo
playfully spray water and shaving cream on
one another. Jim Kobbins.
Outer space adventure is high camp
This New World release is a direct spinoff
of "Star Wars." It is further evidence that a
superior film will spawn many inferior imita
lions. This one may be considered campy
enough to be labeled fun. It's like watching a
comic strip on the screen. It is just as good and
just as corny as "Buck Rogers in the 25th Cen
tury."
The names of the characters are strictly
pulp: Stella Star, Count Zarth Arn. Akton.
There are plenty of mechanical robots and
special effects and the screenplay is loaded
with cliches.
Count Zarth Arn wants to destroy the good
Emperor of the universe. Many imperial bat
tlesnips have been lost trying to destroy the
Count's haunted planet. The Emperor must
use Stella Star, the best pilot in the galaxy, and
her navigator. Akton. A special robot. Elle.
assists them.
They have many harrowing adventures and
escapes. Stella is kidnapped by prehistoric
cavemen. Akton. using his mysterious powers
and a sizzling laser sword, uncovers the
Count's secret weapon. He duels the Count's
robots to the death and suffers a mortal
wound himself. His bravery has paved the
way for the escape of the Emperor just before
his planet explodes.
STAR CRASH
A New World release, rated PG. Science Fiction
Adtenture, 92 min„ now in release. Aspect ratio.
1.65. 35mm Dolb> Stereo with Surround. Metro-
Color. Release #192.
CAST
Akton
Marjoe Gortner
Stella Star
Caroline Munro
The Emperor Christopher Plummer
Simon
David Hasselhoff
Thor Robert Tessier
Count Zarth Arn
Joe Spinell
CREDITS
Producer
Nat Wachsberger.
Patrick Wachsberger
Director Lewis Coates
Screenplay Lewis Coates
DIGEST RATING: POOR
The cast is capably led by Marjoe Gortner,
Caroline Munro and Christopher Plummer.
Lewis Coates Iformerly Luigi Cozzil directed
the action in concise fashion. The background
music is in the capable hands of John Barry,
renowned for the James Bond films —James
K. Loutzenhiser.
Gregory Powell (James Woods) holds plainclothes police officer Ian Campbell ( I cd Danson)
at gunpoint ,,n ir having assaulted the officer and his partner in "The Onion Field."
A Waumbaugh original, untouched
Two years ago. cop turned author Joseph "The Onion Field" is based on a true story.
Wambaugh was embarrassed to find his best but it is neither a "just the facts, ma'm" tale, a
selling "The Choirboys" turned into an in la Jack Webb, nor a shoot em up actioner. If
stantly forgettable (except to himl cinematic comparisons must be made, this one could be
farce. likened to "In Cold Blood." Both feature
Reportedly determined not to make the similarly fine performances that unwind like
same mistake twice. Wambaugh raised the coiled springs,
money for and put together his own produc _,._ f-njir^KJ] CICI n
Hon team to film another of his police ' sagas. ~ UrMIUIN rltLU
"The Onion Field."
A Avco tmb^y re|ease, rated R. Crime Drama,
"At least." Wambaugh has been quoted as 126 min„ September release. Release #7913.
saying, "the success or failure of this one falls
squarely on my shoulders."
CAST
..-t-l ^> [-• u" r < Karl Hettinger John Savage
The Onion Field is a stunner of a film, an
G ^jj James Woods
expertly crafted movie with one of the
Jimmv Smith. .
.. Franklyn Seales
strongest stones of the year.
jan Campbell
Ted Danson
This is the retelling of the 1963 kidnapping Pierce Brooks Ronny Cox
of two young cops and the subsequent murder District Attorney
of one of them that resulted in the longest Phil Hatpin David Huffman
f RF'DITS
criminal case in California history. „ ... ,- ...
,. Producer Walter Coblenz
Happily. Wambaugh has exorcised large
Director Harold Becker
chunks of flashbacks from his novel which
Screenplay
Joseph Wambaugh
meant to establish the psychological character Based on the book by Joseph Wambaugh
of each of the participants. Without the
flashbacks, the movie avoids getting bogged DIGEST RATING: EXCELLENT
down as often as did the book. And the film
Qn , he surface -, hjs fe , ne s(ory of Powe||
moves along with energy.
and njs ^^ Jjmmy Smjth (Frank]yn
Although credit las the film's star) is given Seales) and their shooting of bagpipe playing
to John Savage, fresh from his role as the new policeman Ian Campbell iTed Dansonl in an
ly married soldier in "The Deer Hunter," "The onlon ne id. But more importantly, it is the
Onion Field" draws its intensity from a story f Campbell's partner Karl Hettinger
riveting portrayal by relative newcomer James (Savage) who is forced to give up his gun to the
Woods ("Holocaust." "The Choirboys"). As pa „ and musl | ive w j, n t hat guilt for six sue-
Greg Powell. Woods plays the more deeply ceeding years of trials and inquests,
disturbed of the two killers and he plays him
with a vengeance. A psycho with an itchy trig
Rated R (for some frontal nudity, language
and possibly a rough suicide sequence). "The
ger finger, Powell is a frightening, hatchet Onion Field" is pit-ofthe-stomach drama, a
faced man who is able to praise the virtues of twisted tangle of legal and psychological
being a family man and then squeeze bullets frustration that is both gut wrenching and
into the face of a helpless cop. depressing at the same time— Paul Hyman.
Greek philosopher's journey toward truth slow, engrossing
MEETINGS WITH DIGEST RATING: FAIR > b >' Yugoslav actor Dragan Maksimovicl to quest.
mi_i_ iiiuv) ww i i i i
undertake a long, arduous journey through
REMARKABLE MEN Central Asia in search of the meaning of life. Maksimovic's mystical sleuthing, inter
George lvanovich Gurdjieff (1877-1949) rupted by natural hazards, ends at a mountain
A Libra Films release, no MPAA rating.
was a Greek Armenian philosopher whose Although the reasons for his trip and the monastery which is kept hidden so well that he
P C
"^
AsDe" rat io I^TecnnTcoioT' " """*' things contributed to many of today's mystical philosophies set forth in the is |ed there blindfolded by a reticent guide.
'
awareness movements. "Meetings screenplay by Brook and Gurdjeiff confidante Stamp, whose own trek placed him on the
CAST with Remarkable Men," a deliberative but en- Jeanne de Salzmann may escape many brink of death, guides Maksimovic through
Gurdjieff. Dragan Maksimovic thralling film by British director Peter Brook,
filmgoers. his travels through the magnificent the solemn monastery.
Young Gurdjieff. Mikica Dimitrijevic
dramatizes Gurdjieffs early life. The result
terrain of Afghanistan turn out to be surpris-
Prince Lubovedsky Terence Stamp
, '
|| j raw a passlonate coterie of
n 8 |v absorbing. Maksimovic converses with more wise men
Gurdjieffs father ^Warren Mitchell
m^^ |p |afge urban and un|veRity
and studies the sacred dances and rythmic ex-
CREDITS
ercses that
centers. Along the way. Maksimovic
become integral to Gurdjieffs self
encounters
Director
pZuJer Stuart Ly^ns
Terrence Stamp, who portrays one of the
*"«» teachings, the teachings he shared
Screenplav Jeanne de Salzman. A brush with death and certain other events
afler hls return ,0 tne Western world. Jim
"remarkable men" who share their knowledge
Peter Brook during his boyhood in the Caucasus provoke
Kobbins.
with the young seeker, and also provide clues
Director ofphotography Gilbert Taylor Gurdjieff Iportrayed with charismatic intensi and directions to the object of Maksimovic's (continued on page 17)