Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Entertainr Pk cont 'Blacksmith'/' By David Baker FHm Critk: The burgeoning Australian cinema is a cinema of excitement. Movies like "My Brilliant Career" and "The Chant of Jim mie Blacksmith" are putting their American counterparts to shame by virtue of their depth and honesty, while Australian directors are being lured to Hollywood in record numbers. Peter Weir, who directed the thrillers "Picnic at hanging Rock" and "The Last Wave," has been courted by practically every major studio and Fred Schepisi, the director of "Jimmie Blacksmith," is currently in Texas filming "Barbarosa," a Western starring Willie Nelson and Gary Busey which will be released this summer. IT'S EASY to understand why Schepisi was recruited for "Barbarosa," for his "Jimmie Blacksmith," currently enjoying a limited run at Nickelodeon, is a fine film, admirable even in those ultra-violent stretches where it can't truly be called enjoyable. It's the story of a half-caste Aborigine^ played by Tommy Lewis, who, in 1900, leaves the mission where he was raised in hopes of finding a good job, a good home and a good wife. Opportunities for blacks, however, aren't in abundance. u? /-!?>;f>c- fmm mm moninl inh tn annthpr "t UJ llio Hum "..V, ?IVt..U. , is cheated by each of his employers, marries a white girl who subsequently gives birth to a child that isn't his, and is made to feel like an animal by the farmer who provides him and his family with food and shelter in return for work. THE FAKMEK eventually pushes Jimmie too far and he retalliates by brutally BS%93sl HQ' John Stan field Billboard's toj 1. "Double Fantasy" John Lennon ; ((Jeffen) 2. "('rimes of Passion Fat Benatar (Chry i I'i'ji ^itiaor" N<?il Diamond (Can . 11 IV.- UUIjli MM ?f-}V, * * , - t 4. "Hi Infidelity" HEO Speedwagon (Epi 5. "Zenyatta Mondatta" The Police (A&fl 6. "Paradise Theater" Styx (A&M) 7. "Greatest Hits" Kenny Rogers (Liberl 8. "Autoamerican" Blondie (Crysalis) 9. "Back in Black" AC-DC (Atlantic) 10. "Hotter Than July" Stevie Wonder (1 rast in Cabo Blanco Australian countryside. murdering the man's entire household. He then embarks on a killing spree across the The movie is based on the novel by Thomas Keneally, which is based on the real-life story of Jimmie Governor, who went on a rampage in 1900, killing seven whites and terrorizing hundreds more. Schepisi's direction of this tale of horror is poetic in its economy and grace and no performance from the largely inexperienced cast is less than effective. In the title role, Lewis is perfection. IN THAT many of their themes are not dissimiliar, "The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith" can best be described as the Australian equivalent of our "The Birth of a Nation," and it will no doubt be remembered as a classic of its kind. J. Ivee Thompson's "Cabo Blanco" features a setting (the Peruvian coast) even more unfamiliar than the ones in "Jimmie r?i 1 :il ?? 1 T..f 1 tu? Dicti:K.biiiiiu. uniui luiictitriy, uic cauul locale and the lush score by Jerry ("The Omen") Goldsmith are all the movie has going for it. The story concerns a sunken treasure and the key to its location, I kid you not, is locked inside the mind of a parrot. Charles Bronson, Dominique Sanda, Jason Robards and Fernando Rey are among the avid aviarists who want to be there to hear Polly spill the beans. Or should I say crackers'.' WHATEVER THE phrase, executive producer Martin V. Smith had to have been crackers to put up the money to film the convoluted and contradictory storv provided by scenarists Mort Fine anc Milton Gelman, both of whom could stand tc take a course in rudimentarv logic. mm ^ rjf >?pur / it i i 11 ni'iircnmp I h(> M Mil1 h V ( Stanlield began his first gPPpj people Although he prove* r twelve-strings, he drew mo ^||m' 1/ than with his music: "1 \s ; gi Golden Spur, because 1 the l|||| 5* bar. Well, obviously 1 didn fS 3i ' anyway: maybe you'll hate _ STAN'FIKI.I) \l;S() tire |f81 hours old. I wrote it with or firej|| wasn't very good, so it cii llji / For a while it seemed S ^ a musical set; he kept up ; ttimlpH'* throughout the night. As ti Bppj * he presented the music ; Am a te ^ * uy i on y *-. i um<* l great a large enthusiastic crowt y^l students packed into Iff doors to witness the nigl performances. ind Yoko Ono I he participants 1 sajjs) polished their acts ; nervously awaited HOI) j chance to excite ^ audience,who were sooth their thirst with beer ; ) eagerly awaiting the open y act. ,amja) TIIK CONTEST consis mainly of performers mill oiy > ' ***1 ' Tommy Lewis (r) is a farmhand who becor Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith. " The parrot is the only one that knows whs Blanco. " crowd inai ?l ttomatowski miliar I Lint's v. ere esj ,t,v,'M" B\ the .stvorui sc! its twelve-string uinUir talents id toe audience, ruit udieuce Tuesday night at the listening. Sianheld i ohna-based pertormer could not lew tunes, and thee! I most of the crowd ,et in tront oi approximately ten STANKIKI.D'S I himsell' a fine technician of his despite the lack of ai e of a response with his quick wit during the extendi1 r- _ .j . . J rote this song especially for the lingers prouuceusoi jght it was some kind of cowboy major faults were a t need to write it. but I'll play it forgettable. Also, at it as much as I do." in the power of his and potentially inte v applause and laughter with a convincing, and th lilctrs " a lake oti on "l>ueling. strumenta! ability o roie tiie tune \s hen lie was "throe In Iront o; a iar^ L' ol the nurses {lie hospital She performance could me out sounding different than I he was at a disat seemed able to i anfield may ha\c had more sue abilities. Stronger aight comedy routine rather than proach migh: have steady stream of jokes and tjinps warm. friendly staj. lore listeners filtered in however, larger crowd next ti little more seriously. The slide 'Ill inyiiLuiaw Greg Smith, David Gihons. petition to prepai Jim Tucker, and John for a future in Bartus who delighted the tertainment. B a audience as they sang and sophomore, sa as played the guitar Songs competing lor ?' ranged from Bluegrass to stage experience h(> rock n' roll. One performer plan to hit the I s chose to arouse the audience professional, with a fine magic act competed four times. John, say ad Participants entered the my last time coi nd contest for a number of the Amateur Nigh he reasons. Jim Tucker, a he freshman said, "I'm com THK STAGK ng peting for the fun of it all, certainly seemed nd and of course the case of for John Bartus ng MoldenAle." time around prov best time arc Others such as John audience applau ted Bartus, Monday nights when John cap! ike winner, entered the com- feelings as he 1 ' "i1?" jmpw - yl:f-'iY1'iftf -' . --.<--.:^v-^w....w.. :.?,v^^?.^.rt.. ^ 1 nes a vengeful murdurer in "The I A"' ga-1, ,-\ - -4-T-:.--, ^ t >re the sunken treasure is in "C^ho ttenti ve I>eciali> intc! e.-! if;j_ there ui'if appro.\!i:Kt!t i\ t>? peunb- :i. iewer than hall o! '! *?:. ;mt*c ti\ ii\ encd tilings up :;\ piayi'.^ !m lie mi lange ol pace was a ?-1! ? c\ < i. U.KVI on guitar was ?jin'c evident iidience support His best moim-iits c.nne 'd instrumental breaks. his nimble lie fine melodic runs over his chords His weak voice and lyrics U'.ii u-io mstantiv tunes he appeared to na e no real belief songs Nearly all the tunes \k "<> original resting, t>nt the deliv?-r> a as not always c vocals never measure*. op to the ti disnla> t'i moiv eiiihusiasi ? v' [.ten * : -' u ".? .> hanlago because lew r, a; ; ppreeiaU- !he subtleiu o* i:;,ir lyrics ant! a slight In m-rt . ?nse ; overcome !In- problem.- i> r-, 'a "... ; [c presence, and as a gin'.a. -st ,.e men!:- a inie he visit- lii^ (loKien Spa:s crowd re himselt played his guitar it \\as live en- appar(Mit that Kartus would actus, a win alter Hetty .lames ?mi id "I'm Steve Boston, two members important ol the audience, decided t:> because 1 join him on stage cimroad as a plementmg Ins act with Having dance and comedy routines previous This combination turned 0111 s. "this is to l>e a real pleaser for the mpeting in beer-consuming crowd, t contest." .ludcms bv the audience's n o ?' experience response, Amateur Night to pay off which is sponsored by as his last Contemporary Sounds , The ed to be his Golden Spur and Molsen >und. The Golden Ale, is a real success, ded loudly And for John Bartus, he lured their proved himself to be good his sang and fifth and final time around.