30 Friday, August 6, 1976 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Charming 'Jewish Gauchos' Hurt by Reviews BY LOUISE Gauchos" departed be- fore most people knew it had arrived. To a large extent, the critics, with their snide, sarcastic reviews, sent it (Copyright 1976, JTA, Inc.) A charming, whimsical, colorful movie premiered in New York recently. But, sadly, "The Jewish COME IN AND COOL OFF SUMMER DESSERT SPECIALS 9 p.m. TO CLOSING 7 NIGHTS A WEEK • SODAS • SUNDAES • BANANA SPLITS • PIES • STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE • WATERMELON • ETC. MAMA ZELDA'S 29269 SOUTHFIELD, N. OF 12 MILE IN THE FARRELL SHOPPING PLAZA • Rog. Hours Mon.-Fri., 11 Gm. ? Sat. & Sun, 4 p.m. 'til ? w•••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • No Carry Outs 559-8717 - ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• COMPLETE DINNERS i • 7 NIGHTS A WEEK • N.Y. STRIP STEAK $ • PRIME RIB per pers. NO • • • BAR-B-Q RIBS COUPONS • INCLUDES: SALAD BAR, POTATOES AND BREAD • • • BASKET (Garlic or Regular) 50 • • OPEN 5 to 4 a.m. • WED. 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Referring to it as "pablum on the pam- pas," one said: "And one must believe that all it takes to make an epic, is as many characters as possible — doing as much as possible — for as little time as possible — so that more can be done by more characters." Thus, at the mere whim of a crotchety critic, the movie "bit the dust" and never had a real chance of survival. The same chap raved about "Hester Street." Why? It showed one Jewish husband in an un- favorable light, depicting him as immoral and adul- terous ; sending for his family and then asking for a divorce to marry a woman he had consorted with, while his wife was still in the Old Country. But in the case of "The Jewish Gauchos" there is warmth, and tenderness and love. It's a beautiful experience to be shared by everyone who has ever been an immigrant, or a descendent of one (which puts us all in the same category). When a group of Jewish immigrants arrive at their new Argentine homeland, after an exhausting, long trip from Russia, they are temporarily sheltered in enormous barracks. Fam- ily heirlooms, brit-brae, and sentimental objects are placed in makeshift living quarters. Cramped and living in close proximity, they soon settle on allotted land, to raise crops and cattle. It's a haven from the oppression of Czarist Russia in the 1890s; for each family still bears the scars of tyranny and per- secution. The land is enormous, and the problems of til- ling the soil, building homes and adapting to their new, strange envi- ronment is a challenge. Having meager village skills, they must learn to adjust to bewildering surroundings. And ad- just they do! The town's new doctor is fawned over by over- zealous widows and old maids. But he seems to enjoy being made the center of attraction. He's an excellent physician, however, and when a young woman with a heart condition tells him she has been warned not to go through with her pregnancy, he instills such courage and deter- mination in her that even her husband is amazed at her constant cheerful- ness. Pride and honor are ever-pre8ent in the movie. Especially poignant is the situation of a father who witnesses a knife-fight be- tween his young, inexperi- enced son, and a repug- nant, devious fellow who tries to discredit the boy. The son flinches as his op- ponent slashes out at him. The father, believing his son is acting coward- ly, steps into the fight, and without any warn- ing, plunges a knife into his own progeny. The im- pact of his action is shat- tering. However, there is a touch of romance and gaiety, as a beautiful girl is matched up with the ponderous, unattractive son of a wealthy family. She has no desire to marry him, and when her true love shows up at the wedding, she flees the wedding party and rides away, side-saddle with the man of her choice. A bewildered, brooding bridegroom is convinced, "it's better that way" and he accedes to the wishes of the rabbi to grant his vanished bride a divorce. Meanwhile, the young mother gives birth to a bouncing, healthy boy, the first-born in the new col- ony. The extraordinary performance of the expec- tant mother (singer Ginamaria Hidalgo) is one of the highlights of the film. Her voice is lyrical and crystal clear and it is understandable why she has won virtually every award and commendation for artistic performances in Argentina including three "Martin Fierro's" — Argentina's equivalent of a combined Oscar and Emmv Award. At the conclusion of the movie the new immig- rants have been accepted by their neighbors, to live in peace and harmony, and 'enjoy being Jewish Gauchos . . . (The dream of the great philan- thropist Baron Hirsch, who had purchased huge tracts of land in Argen- tina to resettle whole, groups of his persecuted brethren had become a tangible, joyful reality.) "The Jewish Gauchos" is rich in tradition, and haunting in spiritual and moral values. It embodies an aura of contentment and conviviality, sot against a background of beauty immeasurable in breadth and scope. How anyone could fail to be charmed by its color and choreography, its lilt- ing songs and dances, is a complete mystery. Yet, for all its magical values, "The Jewish Gauchos" was doomed to oblivion by the crudity and "chutzpah" of certain cri- tics. Nevertheless, ac- colades are due to Julio Tanjeloff Productions, for a job well clone in br- inging the film to us. Given a little more time — and a lot more publicity — there may still be a chance for success for "The Jewish Gauchos." Every Sabbath has its luck. (So says the poor man who receives his Sabbath needs from the Almighty.) —Folk Proverb McINNERNEY'S 2950 NORTHWESTERN BET. 12 & 13 EL 6-9222 ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT SPECIALS MONDAYS THRU SATURDAYS-4 a.m. to 8 p.m. FEATURING • FISH • CHICKEN • SHRIMP • VEAL • SPAGHETTI SALAD BAR EVERY NITE EXCEPT FRI. CALL FOR ALSO RIBS-CHOPS-HALIBUT-WHITE FISH COMPLETE INFO I * * CARRY OUT. OR DINE HERE * ■ • ■ You'll Enjoy Eating at CAM DUKES MONDAY • TUESDAY WEDNESDAY SPECIAL DINNERS rishfri Chips REG.s2.10 INCLUDES COLE SLAW AND TARTAR $ SAUCE 15 OPEN MON THRU SAT. 2 PM-9 • CALL 547-4595 YOUR ORDER WILL BE READY WHEN YOU ARRIVE 1745 Coolidge•Corner 11 Mile Near A&P WHERE'S HENRY YEE? TRY FORBIDDEN CITY NORTH ORCHARD - 14 SHOPPING PLAZA (Just South of Wing Hong) STARTING TUESDAY, AUG• 10 FORBIDDEN CITY NORTH WILL PRESENT DANCING AND ENTERTAINMENT FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK (Tuesday thru Saturday) featuring The Versatile LENNY DRAKE . -4 During the Chin Dynasty, the Forbidden City in Peking, China,was a special castle or palace for the Royal Family HENRY YEE AND SCOTT SCHERRER WILL TREAT YOU ROYALLY 1 04 - • THE FINEST IN FOODS, SERVICE AND ENTERTAINMENT • FACILITIES FOR BANQUETS AND LARGE PARTIES • CALL 851-7978 FOR RESERVATIONS • LUNCHEONS AND AMERICAN DINNERS DAILY OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK MON. - THUR. 11 A.M. - 12:30 A.M. FRI. & SAT. 11 A.M. - 1 :30 A.M: SUNDAYS 12 NOON - 10 P.M. THE CANTONESE CUISINE AT FORBIDDEN CFR NORTH FEATURES MANY SPECIAL SZECHWAN DISHES FROM A PROVINCE IN CENT- RAL CHINA. 4 -4 REMEMBER TUESDAY, AUGUST 10th MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT PLUS FINE CANTONESE CUISINE AND EXOTIC COCKTAILS FOR RESERVATIONS CALL 851-7978 HENRY YEE'S Fet) R(31 DAN clary W NORTH ORCHARD LAKE - 14 SHOPPING PLAZA (Just South of Wing Hong) FARMINGTON HILLS 4 4