Cinema Report From London
By HERBERT G. LUFT
(Copyright 1971, JTA, Inc.)
LONDON—Sam Spiegel's produc-
tion of "Nicholas and Alexandra."
often announced throughout the
past two years with a three-time
change of directors, finally went
before the cameras in Madrid in
December with Franklin G. Schatf-
ner (of "Patton" fame) guiding
the venture and Columbia Studios
releasing world-wide. Based on
Robert K. Massie's best-seller, the
film covers the period from the
birth of the hemophiliac son of
Czar Nicholas II to the bloody end
of the Romanoff dynasty and the
installation of the Bolshevik re-
gime, events reverberating through
the history of our times.
The epic of "Nicholas and
Alexandra" teems with such per-
sonalities as Rasputin, Leni n,
Trotsky, Kerensky, and Prince
Yusupoff—the latter the killer of
the enigmatic monk Rasputin and
himself a survivor of the revolu-
tion.
Spiegel has cast two of the
brightest thespians from Britain's
Royal Shakespeare Company,
Michael Jayston and Janet Suz-
man, for the title roles in "Nicho-
las and Alexandra." For the part
of Rasputin, Israeli actor Haim
Topol (currently before the cam-
eras as Tevye in "Fiddler on the
Roof") has been considered. Full
details will be announced shortly
when Spiegel has completed cast-
ing.
Scenes to be photographed in
Spain range from the splendors
of the Winter Palais in Petrograd
to the hovels of the peasants.
The film recreates tragic events
such as "Bloody Sunday," when
Cossack units slaughtered col-
umns of workers in front of the
imperial palace.
Spiegel, whose name is a byword
for screen classics, has produced
such epics as "The Stranger" (a
strongly phrased anti-Nazi film of
1945 in which Orson Welles por-
trayed an escaped war criminal
ppposite Edward G. Robinson's
FBI investigator); "The African
Queen," "On the Waterfront,"
"Bridge on the River Kwai,"
"Suddenly, Last Summer," "Law-
rence of Arabia" and "The Night
of the Generals."
* • •
ELLIOTT GOULD, in spite of
his large size of 6 feet 3 inches,
feels in a humiliating position as
an actor. Currently starring in
"Getting Straight" and "Move,"
he has two other successful films
under his belt, "Bob & Carol &
Ted & Alice" and "M*A*ScH."
Yet he is uneasy in his job and is
moving into producing and even-
tually directing.
"An actor needs so much," El-
liott Gould maintains. "First
comes the script, then the pro-
ducer, then the director, but the
actor has to be the end result.
He's the catalyst. And since many
properties are launched with little
taste—merely for profit motives—
the screen performer often winds
up being mediocre in a mediocre
property."
"I'm not interested in production
of quantity," he continues. "Most
producers today have several
things on the boards at once.
They're playing percentages, hop-
ing that one of them turns out to
make money—and there's an awful
lot of money to be made in the
entertainment business. But the
satisfaction, the real payoff, comes
When one has done something that
is provocative, something that is
different enough to be part of what
is really happening today."
Born in Brooklyn, Gould once
pounded a punch-bag between
acting chores, for $11 a day at
Bloomingd-ale's in New York, He
made his Broadway debut in a
Short-lived musical called
"Rumple," and followed that
with roles in "Say, Darling" and
"Irma La Douce."
He first gained recognition in
"I Can Get It For You Whole-
sale," in which a little girl by the
name of Barbra Streisand made
her debut in a small role (to be-
come his wife for an encore). He
came to London for the West End
production of "On The Town" and
toured the U.S. with Liza Minelli
in the musical "The Fantasticks."
Most recently, he appeared on
Broadway in Jules Feiffer's "Lit-
tle - Murders." Though the play
closed after one week, Gould has
now decided to make it into a
movie, his first as a producer-
actor.
* *
RAY STARK, the agent-turned-
producer, son-in-law of the late
Fanny Brice, producer of the suc-
cessful "Funny Girl" with Barbra
Streisand and now making nothing
but money with St reis a.n d's
first non-musical film, "The Owl
and the Pussycat," has turned to
something a bit more high-brow
and intellectual: filmi7ation of
Gian Carlo Menotti's new, one-act
opera, "Help, Help; the Globo-
links," thereby initiating operatic
films by a major American com-
pany, Columbia Studios.
Menotti, who stirred the con-
science of the post-war world with
his unique work "The Consul,"
has had "The Medium" on the
screen in Italy and "Amahl and
the Night Visitors" annually on
national television. His current
opuS, "Globolinks," subtitled "For
Children or People Who Like Chil-
dren" and currently in the reper-
toire of the New York City Opera,
is a musical parable about the
mechanization of our times in
which the composer expresses his
contempt for electronic music.
Stark says negotiations are un-
der way for a prominent screen-
writer to develop the opera into
filmic terms. He also is planning
to engage a top director for the
project.
Concord Offering Budget
Package Deals for Winter
KIAMESHA LAKE, N.Y. —
Robert Parker, general manager
of the Concord Hotel, reports that
the budget-conscious can find
their best value in a price-fixed
package vacation at an American
Plan resort which offers a multi-
tude of facilities, activities and
programs along with the bonus
package.
More than a dozen resorts in
one, the Concord offers such win-
ter-season packages as - the mid-
week singles "sports" package,
Jan. 31-Feb. 5; Lincoln's Birthday
Sale package, Feb. 11-15; and
Concord's special family "give
away" weekend, March 12-14.
THE DETROIT JEWISH HEWS
Center Theater to Stage 'Odd Couple'
Center Theater of the Jewish
Center is offering its second pro-
duction of the season, "The Odd
Couple" by Neil Simon, starting
Feb. 13.
"The Odd Couple," which be-
gan on Broadway, then was made
into both a movie and a television
series, centers around two recently
divorced bachelors who set up
housekeeping and then discover
that one is a "neatness nut" and
the other a "slob".
Frank A. Picard, II, director,
has been associated with the per-
forming arts for 20 years. He be-
gan his early training at the Uni-
Sea Gull Hotel Completes versity of Michigan and the Ameri-
can Academy of Dramatic Arts
Its Annual Refurbishing in
New York, as an actor, director
MIAMI BEACH—Murray Berko-
and
producer.
witz, president of the Berkowitz
Family Hotel chain, announced
that the annual refurbishing of the
Sea Gull Hotel on the ocean has
Fine Itallan-Amerkan Cuisine
just been completed.
Deliciously Prepared for the
The only kosher hotel open all
Discerning Taste
year, the Sea Gull Hotel has its
• BANQUET FACILITIES
own synagogue and mashgiakh.
Now: Open Sunday 12 Noon
LARCO'S
7523 W. McNichols Rd.
Chilean Aliya Assisted
By DAVID SCHWARTZ
(Copyright 1971, JTA, Inc.)
Shimon Peres, the Israeli Min-
ister of Transportation. A fellow,
he said, wrote so many love let-
ters to his girl she married the
postman.
Too many—even of love letters
—is no good.
Speaking about Shimon Peres,
we note that he also is faced by a
problem of too much. The air
transportation to Israel is growing
at a very fast pace. More than a
UN 24455
Seats are limited, with special
rates to theater parties and stu-
dents. For reservations, call the
Center, DI 1-4200.
Other performance dates are
Feb. 14, 18, 17, .18, 20, 21, 23
and 25.
Analysis kills spontaneity. The
grain once ground into flour springs
and germinates no more.
Frederic Amid.
N
NOW APPEARING
- FRI. & SAT. EVES.
KENNY DUO STONE
DJ'S INN
17321 W. McNichols
273-0727
ENJOY
NEW YEAR'S
EVE HERE!
3 Blks. E. of
Southfield
Henry K. Martin and Gene Rosenberg Presents
A General Entertainment Corp. Production
SANTIAGO, Chile (ZINS) — In
view of the greatly expanded aliya
from Latin American — especially
from Chile — the executive of the
Latin American Confederation of
General Zionists has proposed a
special department in Israel to
assist the newcomers and to facil-
itate their social and economic
absorption.
The new Israel department is
to be headed by Mordecai Dayen,
representative of the World Union
of General Zionists in Latin Amer-
ica.
"BALD
A Musical Satirical Comedy Revue
Music and Lyrics by Mort Zieve & Rudy Simcms
"Well written, well acted and extremely clever..
—Danny Raskin, The Jewish News — . "Zingy satire,
the ruling sign at The Zodiak..—Chuck Thurston,
Detroit Free Press.
Performance Times: Wed. and Thurs., 8:30; Fri. and
Sat., 1:30 & 10:30.
THE
ZODIAC
THEATRE'
12 Mile at Northwestern
358-0226
Reservations and
Ticket Information
2 BIG SHOWS NEW YEAR'S EVE
8:30 & 10:30
Shalom to the New Year 1971!
Shalom, 1971! Glad to see you.
Have a seat. Make yourself at
home. You will be around for a
whole year, you know.
What shall I tell you? You know
what I was thinking, 1971. In five
years it will be 1976 and the coun-
try will be celebrating its bi-
centennial. There will be some
doings then, eh?
You know, as we approach 1976,
it seems to me, we are getting to
resemble 1776 more and more. The
men of 1776 wore long hair, wigs
and short pants and they even
wore ribbons in their hair some-
times. Maybe by 1976, the men
will be showing their legs in short
knee breeches. We will all be
looking -like Ben Franklin, Wash-
ington and Patrick Henry.
I'll tell you something, 1971.
Looking back at 1970, I hope you
will show a little improvement. It
seemed to me, 1970 had just a
little too much. Everybody was
protesting and complaining. The
Indians complained that the whites
had taken the country from them,
the blacks complained that _the
whites took everything from them,
the Libs complained that the men
had taken the country from the
women, the college students com-
plained that they were supposed
to study at college, the young com-
plained against the old. They said
the old had too much gap or some-
thing — the Puerto Ricans com-
plained. I wanted to complain toe
but I had no picket sign.
No wonder S. J. Perelman
picked himself up and moved to
London. Maybe if Patrick Henry
were alive today, he wouldn't say
"Give me liberty" but "Give me
London."
I am not saying, 1971, that
there is not - justice in some of
these complaints, but I think,
there was just a bit too much.
I keep thinking of a story by
Friday, January 1, 1971-33
SEE "BAG IT" AT THE PONTCHARTRAIN HOTEL
million people used the Lod air-
port last year and Israel, he says,
must now build an additional air-
port at Jerusalem.
A generation back no one would
have thought it likely, but Israel
BERKLEY 12 Mile-Coolidge, LI 2-0330
DOWNTOWN
has an attraction today for a peo-
STARTS XMAS DAY
ple who are very hard to please. FOX
Barbara Streisand, Walter Matthew
2211 Woodward—WO 14494
A Zionist, it used to be said, was
Held Over 2nd Big Week
"HELLO DOLLY"
years most terrifying Monster
NEW YEAR'S EVE 7:15, 9:50
one who gave money for others This
NEW YEAR'S DAY & SUN., Jan. 3,
to go to the Jewish homeland. shock show -
1:40, 4:15, 6:50, 9:20. SAT. & Week
"HORROR Of FRANKENSTEIW"
It's not so any longer. Even Zion-
Nights. 7:00 & 9:30.
SAT. Children's Matinee. Open 1:00.
Plus
ists today go to Israel. Jews come
Starts 1:20, over 3:511.
to Tel Aviv and Haifa today and
"SCARS OF DRACULA"
"DOCTOR DOOUTTLE"
say, "Why it's like Kansas City
Every WEDNESDAY Ladies' Day
FRIDAY and SATURDAY
or Chicago. Only it has not as Late Show
W. Warre;si lat Miller Road
For Schedule Information
CAMELOT
many synagogues as Kansas City."
Call WO 1 17917
Walt Disney presents
And some people complain that
"THE ARISTOCRATS"
blks. 5..15 Mi.
the Israelis talk a foreign lan- BLOOMFIELDw 'ward
FRI., SAT, SUN. 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 6:10,
MI. 44 2006
guage, -called Hebrew, which they
8:10, 10:00.
Exclusive Engagement
MON., TUES., THURS. El*, 8:00, 10:00.
don't understand. They want to
David Lean's
WED. Matinee 1:00 p.m. Eve. 6:00, 8:00,
know why the Israelis don't speak
10:00.
"RYAN'S DAUGHTER"
NEW YEAR'S EVE ONLY
the language all Jews speak —
Robert Mitchum, Sara Miles,
1st Run. David "liven In
English,
Christopher Jones
MOVIE GUIDE
Besides the natural attraction
for the Jew, Israel has another
attraction. The U.S. Census re-
ports recently published show
that the sunshine states have
had the largest gains in popula-
tion. The two states showing the
greatest increase in population
are California and Arizona.
Schedule of Performances
FRIDAY, NEW YEAR DAY, 2 pm.;
Eve. S p.m.; SAT. Matinee 2 p.m,
p.m.; SUN. Matinee 3 p.m., Eve. a p.m.
SUN., MON., TUES. Eve. 0 p.m. only.
WED. Matinee 2 p.m. Eve. 5 p.m.
Tickets for "Ryan's Daughter' may be
purchase in advance.
A., =ward at Maple
Bi rming ham ,S
"THE STATUE"
Shown at 9:30 &
MAI KAI
Tickets on sale nowt
Plymouth Rd.
at Farmington Rd.
KE 44400
'TORA, TORA, TORA"
THURS., NEW YEAR'S EVE, 12:30, 3:00,
5:30, 11:00. FRI, NEW YEAR'S
DAY, 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30. SAT., SUN.,
12:00, 2:30. 5:00, 7:40, 10:15. Week Nights
7:00 & 9:30.
My physician-nephew once told
M'mm, M'mm Good I
me that his practice fell off by
Peter Sellers, °oldie Hawn in
MAIN, ROYAL OAK huiii aLiisaiwie
50 per cent during the summer
All Walt Disney Show
"THERE'S
A GIRL IN MY SOUP"
months. By going to Israel, one
"ARISTOCRATS"
NEW YEAR EVE 11:04. FRI. THRU
can save on doctor and fuel bills. SUN.
2:50, 5:10, 7:10, 9:20. MON. THRU Plus "Orphan Elephant. & other shorts
NEW YEAR'S EVE ONLY
You don't neel to buy an overcoat THURS. 7:25, 9:30.
MIDNIGHT
SHOW
and you can see Ben Gurion at the
Also featurette
David Nevin in
same time.
"RODEO"
"THE STATUE"
There is, however, one little blot
NEW YEAR EVE. 10:40
in the story of Israel's current FRI., SAT., SUN. 2:30, 4:40, 6:50, 9:00. REDFORD 14aPg/ at Grand Parking
progress. A Catholic priest is MON. THRU THURS. 7:05, 9:10.
One of this years top pictures
quoted in an Israeli newspaper
"JOE" (R)
I •NEIG-HBORHOOD
that while he was generally im-
THURS., NEW YEAR'S EVE 5:05, 7:00,
9:05, 11:05. FRI. & SAT., 1:45, 3:50, 6:00,
pressed by the country, he could
8:05,
10:15.
sUN.
1:25, 3:20, 5:20, 7:30,
not find the Jewish delicatessens AMERICANA 9 4,4,611.6or"nfigag.33410 9:35. MON., TUES.,
WED. EVE. 7:25,
which were available in New York
9:30.
"SONG OF NORWAY"
City.
Reserved Seat Engagement!
W.
We sincerely trust that if only Matinee performances WED. & SAT. ROYAL OAK 3" LI Fourth'
1-2012
John Wayne In
2:00, SUN. at 1:30. Evening per-
for ecumenical reasons, this will at
formances MON. thru WED. II:15 &
"RIO
LOBO"
(G)
be remedied in the near future, SUN. at 5:00 & 8:15.
NEW YEAR'S EVE 4:00, 6:00,
so that every visiting priest may FRI., New Year Day & SAT. Eve. 6:15, THURS.,
8:00, 10:05. FRI. & SAT. 1:40,- 3:50, 5:55,
not only get his fill of the holy 9:15.
8:00, 10:05. SUN. 1:05, 3:05. 5:10, 7:15,
9:20. Week Nights 7:20, 9:30.
places but also of pastrami.
On Plymouth Rd., VE 5-0630
ATLAS
* PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE
* YOUR HEA:“ IS IN AYERICA
*
*
3 blks. W. of Greenfield
Barbara Streisand & Omar Sherif
"FUNNY GIRL" (G)
Shown 8:30 only, daily New Year's Eve.
9:00 only.
Ellx. Taylor, Warren Beatty In
"THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN"
Daily shown 6:45, 11:00. New Year's Eve.
at 7:00 A 11:39. Metro S. Entertainment
coupons accepted.
Royal Oak, Mich.
LI 1-0082
Highest rating. A rare rewarding
screen experience. Gig Young, S. Ann
Jackson in
WASHINGTON
"LOVERS A OTHER STRANGERS" (R)
ALSO selected short subiects.
NEW YEAR'S EVE open 6:30. Shown
7:00. 9:15, 11:00.
JAN. 1, 2, 3 open 1:30, shown 2:011, 5:115,
6:15, 1:30, 10:25.
Week Nights open 6:45, shown 7:25, MS.