The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, December 01, 1978, Page Page 13, Image 13
Williar
save*fr
By Lehman Stlta
Oamtcock staff Writ*
Nothing has been through quite
for better or worse than televisic
age of TV seems to have its gooc
G lea son and Phil Silvers, I Love L
Island, Archie Bunker and Laveri
But recently comedy has turn)
trend ? making the current fads
lines. The 50s craze gave birth to
now Happy Days and the recent
have given birth to Mork and Mil
THIS IS a show that all the cril
pounce upon, the kind of show one
the trite elements were there: sp
Earth, acts strangely, gets compa
My Favorite Martian all over age
one element of the show the critic*
to deal with: Robin Williams, crea
weird Orkian who fell to Earth
Williams woiked up the character
and ABC's mistake was trying to t
act into a full-blown (well, m
television show.
There is no doubt about Williai
abundantly clear that his portrays
not come from a writer's pen. His f
an off-the-wall, ad-lib flavor that <
abandonment to the character. It's
to which you say, "boy, that's stup
you're laughing.
FOR SOMEONE of Williams' <
the character of Mork is a natural
alien, Mork doesn't have to explair
sedate behavioral sensibilities, s
appropriately unlimited.
He descends the attic stairs fro
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Contemporary h<
kU
ris' acting
fork and A
b ming the Close E
r points his powerful
so many changes "return to Mothe
m comedy. Every retreat into the ce
I and bad: Jackie Some of the sh
n?? oriT< Illl? - ? ' * *
?vj ouu uiiugHO l cuniusion 8DOUI Jttil
tie DeFazio. phone rings and Mc
ed to yet another he moans, ''I've kll
fuel for its story passionate affair w
? Happy Days and his experience at i
Star Wars mania liked the part whei
tidy. and does a little
version of the Nat
tics were ready to
i lnvoo fa knf? All m??ww w * *? * "*
' ?w?vo w uaic. nil vf lliLil/ilTIS ALO*
?ceman comes to traditional stan<
nions in trouble ? personations are b
dn. But there was them into the sho\
s were unprepared been monitoring tc
tor of the insanely movie reactions to
i in a giant egg. physical humor trc
in a nightclub act, reminiscent of St
itretch a nightclub vulsions.
taybe half-blown) But even the be
diluting, and Mork
its' abilities; it is of as Mork versos 1
J of the alien does Williams fighting ti
performances have of Hollywood comi
renters in nis total network executive
i the kind of humor for TV comedy, so,
id" ? all the while forced into a squa
The show falls fli
obvious ingenuity, on the screen; the
. Because he is an you literally pity tt
i his actions to our Mindy, carefully p
o his actions are gosh-golly compas
frustration at her
m his room hum
iycuu u (iilc rvpui iv
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itrstyiing jor y n
men & women ||
frREDKEN" 11
can't
tfindy9
ncounterc theme. He turns and
finger at the stain, commanding,
r Ship!" The stairs obligingly
iling.
ow's best mnmpnhi bm Mwir'?
irth customs and technology. The
>rk picks it up; it stops ringing and
led it!" He conducts a limited but
ith a mannequin. And he describes
a basketball game: "I especially
-e I got to dance." Then he stands
disco step, singing a jazzed-up
ional Anthem.
0 displays a mastery of the more
ibys of comedians. His imoth
accurate and funny. He works
v by assuming that Orkians have
ilevision from Earth; Mork's oldsituations
are hysterical. And his
inscends mere slapstick in a style
eve Martin's "happy feet" const
wine can stand only so much
and Mindy might best be thought
Cindy, the hilarious aboormalcy of
> escape the long-dead conventions
gdy. It is almost as though some
thought that Williams is too good
round peg that he is, he had to be
re hole.
it on its face when Williams is not
other characters are so bad that
te actors. Pam Dawber, who plays
aces her two basic expressions, a
ision for Mork and a gosh-golly
father.
See MORK, page 15
f IV/I II (
ffers luxurious
rtments
n
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Call 782-6626
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COL III
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Teleph
Express From page l
book. His adaptation is too grim
and downbeat. There are several
joyous . momenta in the book, and
their happiness makes the
harrowing moments all the more
shocking. Stone's script merely
gives up hell, but with no bits of
heaven to compare it to.
The other important components
, UIJ..lwLi *5
vi miuuigni Cixpress are
practically flawless. Parker's
direction keeps the film moving at
an almost breakneck pace. John
Stanier's cinematography is exceedingly
handsome,, and Giorgio
Moroder's electronic music
maximizes the effect of every
scene.
As Billy Hayes, newcomer Brad
Davis turns in an admirable,
though far from outstanding
performance. Had the script given
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him more to do than just be a
victim of the Turks, he could have j
really been smashing.
Supporting performances from
John Hurt as the addicted Englishman,
Irene Miracle as the !
American girlfriend and Norbert
Weisser as the sexy Swede are all
first rate. Also on target is Mike |
Kellin's portrayal of Hayes' father.
GOING BACK to when I first saw
it, I have to say that Midnight
Express is one of this year's
better offerings. It is moving i
throughout, and it contains so
many unforgettable scenes that I
cannot count them. The movie |
deserves to be seen by everyone,
but take my advice and see it only
once . . . you'll remember it better
that way.
j
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