Boxoffice-September.10.1979

18
a
BOXOFFICE/SEPTEMBER 10, 1979
THE TREE OF WOODEN CLOGS
Every so often a film comes along ihal
seems lo be a celebration of life. Such a film is
Ermannu Olmi's "The Tree of the Wooden
Clogs " It represents a total experience
Olrni has created a masterpiece on him In
his leisurely directorial style, he takes us back
lo 1896 and chronicles peasant life in
Northern Italy during a nine-month period
Observation soon becomes participation in a
culture of almost 100 years ago.
As is usually his custom, he uses nonprofes
sional actors. I he roles are played bj peasants
and other people from the Bergamo countryside
The people are real and he captures
the rhythm of their lives
It's an episodic story that focuses on several
families and is exciting without being over
dramatic. The peasants, share-croppers, are
oppressed people, but they make the best of n
I'hcir life is austere and the landlord is strict
Miiiek (Omar Brignoli), the son of peasants,
arrives home from school »nli a broken clog in
"The Tree of Wooden Clogs."
and awesome Their livestock and
implements belong to the landlord—so does
the land and most of the harvest.
The story begins in autumn, with a widow
who must raise six children. She is a washer
woman. Her older children all work and help
out. Life is simple: there is a harvest; a pig is
slaughtered; families quarrel, children play in
the countryside; a religious least of the
Madonna of Si Augustine is planned
A baby is born, and the lather says, "one
more mouth lo feed " This lather later notices
THE BROOD
Writer-director David Cronenberg has concocted
a bizarre horror film that some viewers
will consider overly violent or in poor taste.
The picture will evoke screams from the audience,
and many will shut their eyes; it's a
weird story.
Oliver Reed is a kind of psychological
medical quack who operates the Somafree In
stitute. His methods are bizarre and he keeps
everything a dark secret. Part of his approach
is a variation of the primal therapy technique,
and some strange results occur. Some patients
come out with sores on their bodies or bulging
tumors. One man has a grotesque lymphosar
coma of the neck.
Samantha Eggar, who entered the institute
for psychological therapy, is kept in isolated
custody. It turns out thai she is breeding some
grotesque dwarf children who are deformed
and commit murder. The children kill both of
Eggar's parents and later kidnap her daughter.
Her husband. Art Hindle, finally saves the
day, but he must do it with the assistance of
perpetrator Reed.
The cast is quite good. Cronenberg was for
tunate to be able to assemble such a profes
sional cast. Eggar, who received an Oscar
nomination for the "Collector" in 1965, is par
ticularly effective.
that one of Ins sons goes barefooted, so late at
night he goes out and chops down a poplar
tree to make clogs for him. When the landlord
learns about this, the man and his family are
evicted.
In another sequence, a young couple are
married. For their honeymoon, they travel to
Milan to visit an aunt, a Mother Superior at a
A New Yorker films release, mi MPAA rating.
Italian Historical Drama w iih English subtitles, 1 85
mill., rum in release*
CAST
Baiivi
Luigi Ornaghi
Baiisiina
Francesca Moriggi
Miiiek
Omar Brignoh
Tuni
Antonio Ferrari
CREDITS
Production Company G.P.C. Gruppo
Produzione Cinema (Milan)
Franny (Trini Alvarado) are amused by a pet bird in his
divorced father's apartment in "Rich Kids."
RICH KIDS
Likewise, the script calls for Maxwell to yell
obscenities at even the mention of her first
BOXOFFICE RATING: EXCELLENT Unpretentious pictures that turn out exactly
the way they are supposed to are a rarity. Such
directed effort. There's no need to beat the
is the case with the George and Michael
convent. She welcomes them with joy and
point to death.
Hausman production of "Rich Kids." There is
fixes them a bedroom in the infirmary, tying
The plot of "Rich Kids" is a relatively simple
a warm and genuine feeling here of being able
together two single beds to make a double bed.
one. Jamie's parents are already divorced
to examine people very closely, as through a
The next morning she gives them a year-old
and his new friend Franny is well aware that
peephole. The relationships examined are
orphan to adopt and take home.
things are not peachy-keen at her house. She
presented in depth and with the proper mix
This is a personal film for Olmi. He was
knows that her father sleeps somewhere else at
lure of truth and tale. The audience knows
born in Bergamo and his parents were
night, but finds it easier to go along with the
that it's only a story, but the situations and the
peasants who later came to live in Milan. Olmi
acting are at limes so real that it's hard to
started working in films in 1953. His most
believe someone made all of this up.
famous were "II Posto" ("The Sound of
The
Trumpets"! 96 title, though adequate, does not do A United Artists release of a Lion's Gate film, rated
1 1 1 1 and "The Fiances" (1963).
justice to the story line involved. What PC Corned
really
-Drama, 97 min., now in release.
He also made "A Man Named John" in 1964.
Release #79186.
matters in "Rich Kids" is how the kids interact
The running time of 3 hours. 5 minutes and
with their parents and how they cope with the
Olmi's leisurely direction may distract some
CAST
shocking situation, namely divorce, that is
viewers. It will certainly take a patient and
Franny Philips
Trim Alvarado
thrust on them. The film somewhat resembles
intelligent viewer to fully appreciate the beauty
Jamie Harris
Jeremy Levy
George Roy Hill's "A Little Romance" in that
and the texture of this film. Olmi uses the
Madeline Philips
Kathryn Walker
it focuses on unusually bright children and
music of Bach lor a background score, and this
Paul Philips
John Lithgow
their view of the world. Yet "Romance" looks
fits in perfectly.
Ralph Harris
Terry Kiser
almost sickeningly sweet in comparison. "A
This film won the Grand Prize (Golden
SleveSloan
David Selby
Little Romance" was a great picture, but the
Palml at the 1978 Cannes Film Festival. CREDITS
It
kids were almost too good lo be true.
should win the Academy Award for Best
Executive Producer
Robert Altman
As intended, the stars of "Rich Kids" are
Foreign Film, as it is one of the finest foreign
Producers
George Hausman.
the kids: Trim Alvarado as Franny and
films to arrive in this country in recent years.
Michael Hausman
Jeremy Levy as Jamie. Alvarado really shines,
It's a film lo study and see again, and as such,
Director
Robert M. Young
especially when she is dealing with her
it will become popular in university film series
Screenplay
Judith Rose
sophisticated and sometimes silly parents. In
and courses. James K. Loutzenhiwr.
BOXOFFICE RATING: EXCELLENT
these situations, Frannie's parents, played by
Kathryn Walker and John Lithgow. also are
at their best, demonstrating all of the normal
fears, frustrations and anxieties that two married,
charade because Daddy is there every morning
Cronenberg made another film in Canada a
soon to be-divorced people could expect
few years ago called "They Came From to have.
Within," which was a bizarre story about body Walker, as Frannie's perplexed but very accept the ups and downs of divorce, but not
snatching.
together mother, comes as close lo portraying completely. The children's continual alternation
Perhaps Cronenberg is making a statement reality as one could expect lo see in a picture.
between romantic games and harsh reality
on test tube babies. This phenomenon has Similarly. Lithgow properly alternates keeps them both going and growing. In the
between being uptight and warm in confronting
end, the two remain worldly wise, but manage
his less than adequate marriage and in lo retain their innocence.
A New World release, rated R. Horror Drama, 91
min.. now
demonstrating his tremendous love for his In addition to the mam actors,
in release. Aspect
"Rich Kids"
ratio, 1.85. Release
#191.
daughter.
features some fine performances by David
CAST
The notion thai two people as intelligent as Selby, as Frannie's mother's new beau; Irene
Frannie's parents would think that iheir Worth, as the up-to-date grandmother; and
Dr. Raglan
Oliver Reed daughter could be tricked into believing that Paul Dooley, as Jamie's mother's second hus
Nolo Can'eth
Samantha Eggar everything is okay may be hard to accept, bill band. Again, with the exception of Jamie's
Frank Carveth
Art Hindle
parents, none of the characters become
ii seems real. Frannie's reaction to the news ol
Juliana
Nuala Fitzgerald divorce, in which she invites her parents to a caricatures. Each is real, believable and richly
Candice Carveth
Cindy Hinds least-favorite dining spol ol hear the alarming defined as a vnal participant in ihe goings-on.
Barton Kelly
Henry Beckman news, is the charmer of the picture. Why can't The audiences for "Rich Kids" will probably
even kid be sii smart
be similar to those of "A Little Romance."
CREDITS
Jeremy levy .
as Frannie's friend Jamie, and Patrons in search of a good, clean and
his divorced parents. Terry Kiser and Roberta intelligent "little picture" will get their
Executive Producers
Pierre David.
Maxwell, are passably realisiic as a group, but money's worth in "Rich Kids." It is hoped that
Victor Solnicki
seem only mediocre when compared with the audiences for "Kids" will be broader than this.
Producer
Claude Heroux
performances of the other family.
however, because "Rich Kids" is so much
Director, Screenplay David Cronenberg
levy is a fine actor, but overshadowed in more than good and clean. It's a thoroughly
BOXOFFICE RATING: FAIR
this case by Alvarado Kisei ami Maxwell are engrossing film that not only shines with what
another subject entirely. Kiser. as Jamie's oil it is trying to say. but is full of impressive
aroused a great deal of controversy and heal, belated hippie playboy father, performs acting and crisp production techniques as well.
apprehension in many circles.
with so little zest that the role becomes "Rich Kids" is also a bright light for Robert
This film is not for the squeamish. It will nothing more than a hippie caricature. And Altman. who after some questionable efforts
require
audiences.—
exploitation to attract Kiser's apartment looks like a bad dream out
Director-Screenplay'-Cinematographer
Editor
Ermanno Olmi
Music , . . . Johann Sebastian Bach
of Penthouse, exaggerated to the hilt.
husband's name. These two stereotypes really
stick out in an otherwise superbly acted and
to greet her.
Together with Jamie, Frannie learns to
lately, can take pride in serving as executive
producer of this pleasant film.—S/u Goldstein.