Page Two THE MICHIGAN DAILY Thursday, June 27, 1969 Pag To HEMIHIGN ~iY husda, un 2, 96 cinema Dwarfs rescue princess APA to perform at'U' seventh Fall Festival' $227 MILLION: Seek surplus funds to feed poor neonle J I W r fLomoer)4e60011h BIG 3 "UNIT SHOW .., By RICHARD KELLER SIMON A little old lady with bulging eye balls, a wart on her nose, and a voice designed to make your teeth freeze, shoves an apple at Snow White. What does the foolish, inno- cent pasty-faced girl do? What would any girl with a fatal weakness for poison apples do, under the circumstances? She indulges herself, forget"- ting that you should never take anything from strangers, par- ticularily apples. Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, now at the Michigan, handles this mo- ment of original sin with all modesty due to the subject and the audience: We never see Snow White bite into the apple. Instead, we are treated to a close up of the bulging eye balls of the little old lady, while we listen to Snow White's pathetic gasps'and sighs. The moment passes, and we hear the gentle crunch of her bones as she takes her fall (onto the floor). No one has ever toppled from grace in a more ladylike man- ner., Not every moment in the film is as tense as this, but what- ever may be lacking on the screen Is supplied in full meas- ure by the audience. To relive your childhood with Snow White, the atmosphere has to be just right. Rarely has the Michigan Theatre, with all its Gopher Prairie architecture, been a finer place. Bands of kids race up and down the aisles, going nowhere. Other kids make loud pro- nouncements of the num- ber of bupny rabbits that trail after Snow White, Disney's an- swer to St. Francis of Assisi. And everyone laughs at Dopey and the turtle. Meanwhile, archtypal pat- terns of nearly everything flicker by on the screen. In spite of everything the Queen can think up to murder the Young Virgin, the powers of good overcome the powers of darkness. Thesgreen pesticide the Queen pours onto her apple is not much stronger than DDT; and she proves no match for Prince Charming, who appears right on cue, riding a white horse, and singing old operetta musi. Loe destroys Death (quite an accomplishment and. a sunset envelops everything. Even with the sunset, it never gets campy. The film, is far too good, and the audience is either far too young or far too sen- timental. Snow White is also far too* complex a person. Scampering into the enchanted forest, she hallucinates alligators charging her sweet little body, while monster mouths and fingers ap- pear from the trees, ready for the kill.' In the Dwarves' modest hut, she relates to objects as a fe- male version of Mr. Clean would look at life. But when it comes to the Dwarves, she has real problems. She kisses them all pretty frequently, but al- ways on top of their shiny bald heads. Dopey is the only one who tries to get a legitimate kiss, but she only laughs at the poor imbecile, and makes an- other lunge at his bald spot. Snow White feels herself too COR RECTION The Daily incorrectly re- ported Wednesday that the Re- gents at their last meeting agreed to Join the Association of American Universities (AAU) and that the AAU was a newly formed organization. The AAU was established in 1900 and the University is a long stand- ing member. The Regents have agreed to support the AAU's ef- forts in Washington with a contribution not to exceed X3,000. white for the Dwarves (social outcasts) and tries to mother a bunch of men, six times her age. The Dwarves, themselves, have only gotten a little sim- plistic with age (that's how it is with morality plays.) Sneezy is still terrific, but Hiappy looks like he has recently been lo- botomized. (That's how it is with dwarves.) Their singing voices are excellent. In fact, everyone sings quite nicely in the film. After a few stanzas of "Some- day my Prince Will Come," or "Whistle While You Work," your own childhood should really be clobbering you over the head. In order to escape with your childhood intact, don't see the movies playing along with Snow White. If you have a weakness for dancing pigs, per- haps you could see "The Three Little Pigs." But as for the other one, it is only typical of the type, of movie Walt Disney has made since he died, A look at ... 'The OddCouple". by Daniel Okrent THE WELCOME release provided by a visit to a theater to see a light-hearted, generally meaningless, nothing-to-it comedy is easy to appreciate. The mind doesn't bog down in parrying a director's philosophical thrusts, nor do streams of depression in- vade the viewer's state-of-being when a "tell it like it is" picture is seen. However, with most films of this species, the laughs can only be carried so far. With a remarkable lack of felicity, the situation comedy that starts from nowhere - ends nowhere. And so it is with the Fox Village's The Odd Couple, an other- wise very funny movie, gleaned from a very funny screenplay by. Neil Simon, played, by two very funny actors (Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon), and supervised by a very funny new director, Gene Saks. But when it's all over, it's not all over: you sit there as the credits prance across the screen, and wait for the plot,; sensible up to that point, to resolve itself. Instead, the story melts into the house lights. The question: Who cares? The Odd Couple was born on Broadway, with Matthau sharing a divorcee apartment with Art Carney. The premise then and now, for Simon's screenplay is an almost identical rerun of his stage script, is the companionship of the two men that even- tually turns into a pseudo-marriage, Matthau playing the role of the doesn't-call-home, messes-up-the-kitchen, belching and boozing husband, and Carney (now Lemmon) as the peripatetic wife. MATTHAU, AS EXPECTED, is brilliant; his floppy face and unparalleled insult-swallowing frame a characterization that is as distinctive - and, at times, as good - as Charlie Chaplin's Tramp. This man is The Slob. He even sweats with believability. Jack Lemmon, on the other hand, suffers most from the plot's final drowning. His generally high level portrayal crumbles when he finally grows up and becomes a man, after nagging and dusting and clearing his throat all the way to an almost con- vincing male Mother. His new-found assertive masculinity comes not by surprise, but entirely by accident, with no justification at all. ON THE WAY to this finale, though, The Odd Couple scores high. Yes, the comedy's closing is near tragedy. The intermingled virtue of the two opposing qualities of humor and disappointment is that there is no need to ask for more. I suppose it is perfectly fine that a string of jokes does not have to be tied up at the end to make each single laugh "meaningful" or "worthwhile." There is absolutely no reason whatsoever for asking so much of a situation comedy, and maybe the best way to grade this type of film is simply to count up the number and intensity of all the laughs, and apply a raw number scoring system. On this scale, The Odd Couple is a triumph. If you feel like burying yourself in literary sense and form, however, go else- where. But I don't think you want to do that, do you? The Association of Produc- ing Artists' Repertory Com- pany will be presented in Ann Arbor for its seventh Fall Fes- tival of three major productions from Sept. 17 through Oct. 27. The University of Michigan Professional Theatre Program will sponsor the fetival. Robert C. Schnitzer, Profes- sional Theatre Program execu- tive director, said the opening play of the APA season will be Moliere's satire "The Mis- anthrope" in a new version by the celebrated American poet Richard Wilbur, staged by Stephen Porter. The title role will be enacted by Richard Easton, whose lead portrayal of Berenger in "Exit the King" was a highlight of the 1967 season. Porter's creat- tive direction of the APA hits "Right You Are" and "The Show-Off" resulted in memo- rable Ann Arbor premieres in past years. A contemporary approach to Shakespeare's "Hamlet," con- ceived by APA artistic director Ellis Rabb, will be the second Fall Festival production. The title role will be por- trayed by Marco St. John, who achieved a critical triumph in Peter Ustinov's "The Unknown Soldier and His Wife" at New York's Lincoln Center last year. Noted composer Conrad Susa will create an original score for the APA's new production of the Shakespearean master- work. Sean O'Casey's richly comic poetic fantasy "Cock-a-Doodle Dandy" will climax the Fall Festival, with Donald Moffat in a key role. The play will be the first by O'Casey in the APA repertoire. "Cock-a-Doodle Dandy" will be staged by Jack O'Brien with special music by Bob James- the same pair who created the words and music for the APA production of "Pantagleize." O'Brien was also codirector of Sarte's "The Flies" for the 1966 Ann Arbor APA season. Both are U-M graduates who did notable work in campus theater before distinguishing themselves professionally. The APA Fall Festival will run for six weeks at Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre on the University of Michigan campus. Each play will be presented for two weeks. Most of the productions cre- ated in the: past six seasons by APA for the U-M Profes- sional Theatre Program have proceeded successfully to the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway under the banner of New York's Phoenix Theatre. 'Uconcert postponed The Summer Concert Series sponsored by the University Musi- cal Society will not begin today as originally scheduled. Alicia de Larrocha, the Span- ish pianist who was to appear, has had to cancel all of her sum- merkengagements because of a broken hand. Rudolph Firkusny, noted Czech pianist, will be the replacement on a later date, July 31. Tickets held for the original date will be honored for the Firkusny re- cital, in Rackham Lecture Hall at 8:30 p.m. The series of four pianists will begin with Vladimir Ashkenazy on July 10, followed by David Bar-Illan on July 16 and Jorge Bolet on July 22. Tickets are still available for all concerts at the office of the University Musical Society in Burton Tower, Ann Arbor. WASHINGTON (A') --The PoorI People's Campaign sought a fed-I eral court injunction yesterday to force the Agriculture depart- ment to spend $227 million im- mediately to feed hungry people. The campaign also called upon.1 four major presidential candidates to condemn Secretary of Agricul- ture Orville L. Freeman's "in- human" decision to return un- spent surplus commodities money' to the Treasury Department be- fore the fiscal year ends Sunday. Acting in they place of the Rev.1 Ralph D. Abernathy, who is pre- sently serving a 20-day jail term for leading an illegal Capitol Hill demonstration this weke, is te Rev. Andrew Young, executive secretary of the Southern Chris- tians Leadership Conference. Young told a, news conference Freeman has discretionary auth- ority to spend the $227 million. Freeman has maintained her lacks congressional authority to1 use the money except in emer- gencies. The Poor People's Campaign has argued an emergency exists be- cause millions of Americans are undernourished. Young challenged Vice Presi- dent Hubert H. Humphrey, for- mer Vice President Richard Nix- NATIONAL GENERAL CORPORATION FOX EASTERN THEATRES E8 FO.MVILLGE 375No. MAPLE RD.-769-1300 on, Sen. Eugene McCarthy and Gov. Nelson Rockefeller "to take a stand condemning the return of that $227 million to the treasury." The campaign contends over 600 U.S. counties lack food pro- grams for the poor, and that the Agriculture Department is not moving to correct the situation. Young said demonstrations will continue there. "But," he added, "much of the problem is in Con- gress and so we will °continue demonstrating at the Capital, too." The 36-year-old minister crit- ized the House Agriculture Com- mittee for killing a bill to ex- pand the food-stamp program, which' helps the poor buy food at low prices. He said demonstrators will picket the Wphington offices and homes of the 26 committee mem- bers who voted against the meas- ure, and also will. demonstrate in their congressional districts. Second class postage paid at Ann Arbor. Michigan, 420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48104. Daily except Monday during regular academic school year. Fa4l and winter subserption rat $4.50 per termi by carrier ($5 by mail) $8.00 for regular academic school year ($9 by mail). AND @WaIt Disney T5 0'IoO@ Productions AND... "3 LITTLE PIGS"- FRIDAY "The Thomas Crown Affair" i NOW SHOWING I. Lemmao and Walter Matthau are The Couple FEATURE TIMES 1:00 3:00 5.00 7:15 9:30 SAT. First Show at 3:15 Tie Mirisch Corporation Presents McQueen Faye Duinaway I n A Nrman Jewison Film AF New: Vi Forum Theatre "New Cinema Comes to Ann Arbor" *A. * ROGRAM OF UNDERGROUND FILMS ^' ; 1 UNDERGROUND COMEDY--CLASSICS NEWSREEL CALL 761 -9701 :: i m.say no more. NEW PROGRAM WEEKLY FRI. and SAT. EVENINGS 11 P.M. and 1 A.M. SAT. AFTERNOON 3 and 5 P.M. Opening Week-Every Performance A SPECTACULAR Light Show ~O4IMASS STA~e~,g co-starring Paul Burke JackWeston COLOR United Artists by DeLuxe5 "';""s uggesteFor atur Audiences FRIDAY of the MICHIGAN W m I e rI=CM I G -i11 'tM/* .1 U '~i r.. TO DAY ! CONTINUOUS from 1 :30 p.m. ..I IlinNIF 4 SHOWS DAILY! THE GREN 1BERETS Green when they began...like the color of their berets...but when the going got rough...they became the toughest fighting force on earth! STUDENTS NOT ENROLLED FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE SUMMER You are definitely in luck-because of the unrelenting demand to see "Bedazzled," it has been held over repeatedly-again and again-and you now have the unex- pected opportunity of seeing this fantastic film-if you act fast!!! 6th and FINAL SMASH WEEK.as "Ann Arbor's Favorite Movie I I I "be' z:.w!cd" "bedazzled" "bedazzled" IS "BEDAZZLED" REALLY, HABIT FORMING? Is it the outrageous, irrevent comedy of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, or Stanley Douen's devilish direction that keeps people coming to see it again and again? Or is it Raquel Welch as Lust that's keeping the office busy with repeaters? box- 'dOIIg3 Ij I AMID WAYNE JANSSEN WI", "BEDAZZLED" Mon. thru Sat--7-9:05; Sun.-3-5-7-9:05 , am 20th Century-Fox presents edazzled" AI I I IDO lATJW 044' 1 I I