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"Cat By DOUG BELL film Critic Some fine talents have united and ignited in Cat * People, the new refashioning of the old 1943 thriller of the same title. Happily, they nave IIUI OCU1CU 1U1 ct llieiciy exploitative update of the original, but have effectively broadened the mystery. Unhappily, they have needlessly resorted to the excessive gore that has become obligatory in recent horror films. Now let me introduce "they." Screenwriter Alan Ormsby wrote the script (based on the DeWitt Bodeen story) under the supervision of producer Charles Fries. Then Paul Schrader, one of the industry's promi ne n t screenwriters Raging Bull and directors Hardcore and American Gigolo, was called in to direct. Schrader brought along his visual consultant Ferdinando Scarfiotti and cinematographer John Bailey. The story concerns the homecoming of a long estranged young woman, Irena (Nastassia Kinski). She returns to New Orleans and into the altogether too eager arms 01 ner orotner Paul (Malcolm McDowell). Their parents are unexplainably absent; the house F L r ACOUSTIC MUSI IRELAND AND A APRIL 22 AN ! BACK PAT j 5 p.m. 7 }>. mmmmmmmsMmmmm 1 People is run by a mysterious knowall-see-all housekeeper (Ruby Dee). The plot unfolds: we learn that McDowell turns into a ferocious black leopard in Jekyll/Hyde-like alterati ons. But McDowell's curse is genetic, not chemical. He and his sleek sister are descendants of a tribe of Balkan cat worshippers who bear such deep affinity to the creatures that they eventually turn into cats themselves. McDowell relishes his curse and revels in the destruction he brings. Little sister is a cat of a different color ?- at first. Confused, Kinski is torn between guarding her virginal innocence and giving in to the feline feelings that emerge within her. In a series of beautifully ^ 1 1 utit-u ctnu paceu scenes, sne resists her brother's incestuous advances and takes refuge in the more benevolent arms of a moody zoologist and zookeeper (John Heard). Destiny, however, is inescapable ? that is the implicit thrust of Cat People. And the manner in which that realization is allowed to creep up on you is the most chilling thing about the film. Sure, the gross, elasticstretching, taffy-pulling transformations and the sound of snapping sinews as limbs are being ripped from REE CONCEF V "a ferrm I IC FROM merica cosponsl D 23 visual IO con tempo! m. made possible by Acti\ i i ihuhbiihuiii Feature 'Term Enraged at being c; bodies are shocking. But such scenes provoke shocks of so high a voltage as to deaden your responsiveness. You sit there and writhe during the insulting spurts of juice and then find yourself too dazed to appreciate the more subtlv friehtpninc V CP o scenes (such as Annette O'Toole in the swimming pool). That is why I prefer the . original version. Producer Val Lewton and director Jacque Tourneau knew in ?nted' group ... rolling spoon )red by ARTS I tY sounds r^f~nf /ities Fee I mm! houac 5 ia?MEiiJsaKSfi^^ j < ?fpF * '3^i3iBFBWI m 11 ?? *ged, the black leopard hi 1943 that a menacing purr in the darkness is more deeply chilling than any number of blatant growls. But it is unfair to compare the two films too stiffly. The new film is more complex, what with the intriguing incest angle, and has more interesting characters. (Heard's zoologist is as Theult Now, re-re ft "?vm 1 ' FX 1r* * ' / r i:::; r :: > ; ? : -v.-.; EXCLUSIVE!!! DO r Sore ^ ^ 1 I"~ ~;|^R ': /;? :'': -- ^ '1 is a deadly secret. fascinating at the ml npnnio w I 1 themselves.) McDowell is perfectly cast and Nastassia Kinski, in addition to being pictorially perfect, has a repressed vibrancy about her that is extraordinary. The remake, with its sleek visual style, stealthy pace and David Bowie theme song, is forceful, intelligent entertainment. imatejn sight and < corded in new dip XITX^I NT l/~Y)l j; " ||fllji BMSWM8 9LBY STEREO Airhands Analyzed By FLETCHER JOHNSON Acting Editor-in-Chtet Airbands - (aorbandz) n.pl. 1) groups of people who go through the motions of performing musically using visible actions and lipsynchronization techniques and a soundtrack recording. 2) a night of great fun occuring periodically at USC's Golden Spur. I have concluded that it takes a special kind of performer to bare all on a stage in an airband. On stage. No real instruments. M? l ? t ? i\u reai micropnones. unly clothes and other stuff, liketennis rackets, cardboard guitars and drums, paper saxophones ? totally invisible instruments, and a few other strange and exotic items. It's tough keeping a cardboard guitar in tune, but it can be done. This was evidenced by Roy and the Rockabilly Rebtels in the Spur on Tuesday night. Roy and the Rebels swept the competition with several driving rockabilly tunes, and their technique was flawless. Taking second place was the Human League, and capturing third was the Vectors. sound, talstereof ? j. C,v/. . v.. . i ' .yy.. .....:. .-ft**.... y. II y\t ! % :'t I : - - - : . f\ :: t ~ iRk y.:! : : : :'"'' : . xj; :x HBMHHHHHHHHMNnHHMnf