fiThursday, October 7, ° 1976"--.-
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
Page Fil e
Thursday, October 7, 1976 "- THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Five
...- ".".".". FILM ENDS TODAY AT STATE:
Leadbelly
sings again
EVA Byu MICHWAEL BUI.
AFTER bouncing around the
country for about six
months, Leadbelly, the film de-
picting the life of black singer
Huddie Ledbetter, has finally
opened in Ann Arbor at the
State Theater.
S
I
.M... ....You had better hurry if you
G want to catch Leadbelly, how-
ev erfor people haven't been
Guarneri exactly knocking the doors
down at the State to get in, and
the film closes tonight to make
way for that perennial slow-
season filler movie, Fantasia.
This is truly unfortunate, for
By, SUSAN BARRY Leadbelly is a remarkable
By~ USAN BRRYfilm, and deserves a better
THE GUARNERI String fate. Beautifully filmed and ex-
Quartet opens its first in quisitely photographed, Lead-
a series of eight concerts this belly is probably the best bio-
Saturday night at Rackham. graphical film to hit the thea-
Although Saturday night's con- ters in a long, long time
cert was sold out long ago, due
to the unprecedented demand?. Leadbelly, shown almost en-
for tickets the concert will be tirely in flashbacks, begins
repeated Sunday afternoon at with Leadbelly (Roger E. Mos-
2:30. ley) working on a chain gang
The concerts this weekend for the f accidental murder of
of the Library of Congress,
wishing to record Leadbelly's
songs for posterity, visit the
prison. Leadbelly recounts the
story of his life while perform-
iig the songs which fill the
soundtrack throughout the en-
tire film. (The songs are sung
by HiTide Harris).
DIRECTOR Gordon Parks
(The Learning Tree) and set
designer John Kori do a superb
job of re-creating the atmos-
phere of the black district of,
New Orleans of the early 1900's,
where Leadbelly worked as a
guitar player in a whorehouse.
His madam - patron (Madge
Sincleair) sums up Leadbelly's
character the best, telling him
that he was "born for trouble."
"Born for Trouble", would, in
fact, make an excellent sub-
title for this film, for Lead-
belly is continually getting in
fights, two of which land him
in prison.
from it, Leadbelly has many
beautiful tranquil scenes, en-
hanced by Bruce Surtees' mag-
nificent photography. Surtees'
use of gauze filters during the
sequences of Leadbelly's trav-
els through the South with fel-
low musician, "Blind Lemon,"
lend a hazy, dream-like quality
to the scenes, while Leadbelly'
and "Blind Lemon" get high
on their own music and friend-
ship.
THE FILM is full of beautiful
set pieces. One that is particu-
larly memorable is a scene in
which Leadbelly is performing
for the governor. At the top of
the frame, we see the elegant
setting of the governor's es-
tate. with his family all dressed'
in white and listening to Lead-
belly, while Leadbelly's fellow'
prisoners are toiling in the
fields at the bottom of thea
frame. This beautifully demon-
strates the rich family's domi-
nance over the lowly prisoners.
Leadbelly has much to re-l
commend itself. Unfortunately,
Paramount Studios, the distrib-
utor of the film, has complete-
ly fouled up the distribution of
the film, advertising it more
as a black exploitation film in
the Shaft vein than as what it
really is-a warm, uplifting,
sensitive story of a legendary,
figure. Handled right, it could
have been a success, perhaps a
mild one, but a success, none-
theless. Now, however, Lead-
belly is doomed to at best, the
college circuit and a quick tele-4
vision playoff. This is unfor-
tunate, not just for producer
David Frost and director Gor-
don Parks, but for the Ameri-
can public as well.
WOMAN ART
The new art gallery at A Wo-
man's Bookstore has just open-
ed its second show, a collec-
tion of macrame.sculptures and
wallhangings by Reva Rek. The
gallery is located at 225 E.
Liberty, upstairs. The Bookstore
is interested in reviewing wo-
men's artworks for possible
future shows, too, so if you're,
interested drop by or call 995-
3400.
EDITOR'S NOTE
A Reminder: Daily arts re-
views reflect the opinions of
their authors and are not neces-
Isarily also the opinions of their
editor. Constructive praise and
criticism are employed in as
fair a combination as possible
in the reviews. If you have a'
general or specific complaint or
comment about articles print-
ed on the page, please contact
Arts Editor, C'o Michigan
Daily.
-Lois Josimovich
NOON LUNCHEON-Friday, Oct. 8
Home-mode soup and sandwiches 50c
"TAPESTRY: A FEMINIST
COUNSELLING COLLECTIVE"
A presentation by: JUNE GOTTLIEB
L I N LELL B I N DER SUSAN WE I NER
PAT EDSELL JAN BENDOR
At GUILD HOUSE
802 MONROE (Corner of Oakland)
* The COC#AI.L
PLAYHOUSE
At The, ann arbor Inn
FRIDAYS - SATURDAYS AT 8:15
THE MUSICAL HIT
w Admssofia W $3 50 (tudents)6
" Cocktil .ISetvce AV aie Before ,Show
u d During intermission
" in-The-Round Seating Assgn'ea n the
Odeor of Phone iee'at~ons reved
Book & lyrics By TOM JONES
Music By HARVEY SCHMIDT
STARRING
MEG GILBERT
AND
ROBERT JAMES
Ann Arbor Inn
Huron at 4th
RESERVATION-79-9500
LA-
II
KU U U U U U U U - U U U U U U U U U U U -
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But the film is not just a ser-
ies of violent quarrels. Far
are the first in what will event- a
ually be the complete Beethov-
en String Quartet cycle. This
cycle will be presented in five
concerts throughout' the year
with three repeat performances.
This series is highly unusual
in that the entire Beethoven
cycle has only been performed
in Ann Arbor once before in
1965. Moreover, although the
Guarneri has performed three
times in this city - in 1971,
1972, and 1975 - in their eleven
years of existence, each ap-
pearance by this international-'
ly - acclaimed ensemble has
proven a rare treat indeed.
P R 0 C L A I M E D by!
Time Magazine as the "World's
Masters of Chamber Music,"
the Guarneri was formed at
the 1965 Marlboro Music Festi-;
val in Vermont, borrowing its
name from the 18th century vio-
lin maker. Since then the high-
ly gifted performers, including
cellist David Soyer, violist
Michael Tree, first violinist Ar-
nold Steinhardt, and violinist
John Dalley - an Ann Arbor
native - have traveled through
the U. S., Canada, Australia,
New Zealand, and throughout
Europe. They average over 100
recitals yearly and manage to
schedule 18 days of recording
in New York and teaching at!
Philadelphia's Curtis Institute
of Music.
The Guarneri has recorded
over 40 albums, including all
16 of the Beethoven quartets.
This weekend's performances
will include Op. 127 in E-flat,.
Op. 18, No. 3, and Op. 99, No. 2.
friend. Two representatives
MARTIAL ART OF SELF DEFENSE
DEMONSTRATION BY
TAKASH I KUSH IDA, 7th dan
CHIEF INSTRUCTOR, NORTH AMERICA
FRIDAY, October 8-6:00 p.m.
I.M. BUILDING WRESTLING ROOM
Call Tom O'Bryon, 994-5533 for information
WHAT IS AIKIDO?
The word Aikido comes from a combination of the three
Japanese words meaning "Harmony.- "Mind," and "Way." It
is then, a way of harmony of the mnd and as this explanation
would indicate it is a study which is as deep as the student'
has time or patience to pursue. because it involves a study of
the mind and the working of the human body with all its
weakness, and yet with all its strength.
THE STRENGTH?
The first thing which the student is taught is the fact that
in understanding an opponent, and in fact subduing him, no
force or brute strength is necessary. The strength" used, if
any, is the strength of the opponent-not your own, and his
body is led by the way of the lines of least resistance to a
point of no return-a point where he loses hts balance and of
his own accord is rendered helpless or harmless.
THE ATTITUDE:
The martial arts begin with gratitude and end with gratitude.
If there is an error at the important starting point, the martial
arts can become dangerous to others and merely brutal fight-
ing arts.
Civilization then becomes a murderous weapon with which
one nation threatens another. AIKIDO strives truly to under-
stand Nature, to be grateful for her wonderful gifts to us, to
make her heart its heart, and to become one with her. This
striving for understanding and the practical application of
the laws of Nature. are expressed in the word "Ai" and "Ki,"
f,,)m the fundamental concept of the art of AIKIDO.
S IP U-M AIKIDO CLUB:
T..raining, the student is taught a series of movements and
forms which are to enable him to learn to control his own
balance and thence the control of his own body. When this
has been practiced a little, he then advances and with a
partner practices these forms-throws and holds, pressure
points and techniques with the aid of his fellow students.
These forms and techniques are, in addition, extrermely good
exercises and as such are most conductive to good health and
a feeling of well-being.
IMPORTANT GRADUATION
INFORMATION
Seniors and Grad Students graduating this Decembr April or next
December MUST MAKE appointments now to have yearbook gradua-
tion portraits done. These pictures are absolutely FREE this year. Make
your appointment on the D I A G between 10-4 daily, or call the
MICHIGANENSIAN YEARBOOK office at 764-0561, between 6-8
p.m., Monday thru Thursday.
FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED
LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE
IF YOU MAILED A POSTCARD
TO EACH OF THE MICHIGAN DAILY'S
READERS*
Telling them of your business,
or your next sale,
or your group's latest project,
IT WOULD COST YOU
$3,150.00
FOR POSTAGE ALONE
YOU CAN REACH THE SAME READERS
WITH AN AD THIS LARGE FOR JUST
$55.86
And we'll deliver it in something
they won't throw
in the wastebasket-.}.
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