The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, July 28, 1982, Page 5, Image 5
.entertainment
its ihi _.
me vvoi
Movie shallow
By Dean Foster
T.S. Garp - writer, homemaker, human
being. The T.S. stands for Technical
Sergeant but, according to Garp himself, it
can stand for "Terribly Sexy" or "Terribly
Sad," depending on his disposition.
Hollywood is notorious for creating poor
films from beloved novels. "The World
According to Garp," directed by Oscarwinning
filmmaker George Roy Hill, is no
different and adds "terribly shallow" to the
collection of Garp-associsted phrases.
But one can hardly compare a twodimensional
film with John Irving's in
tinueiy aeianea novel, me rum aoes,
however, deliver a "believable" Garp who
comes to cinematic life with the spirit Irving
intended Garp to have. The reason for this
continuation between novel and film is a
normal-voiced, wide-eyed dramatic performance
from the other side of Robin
Williams.
T.S. Garp (Williams), bastard son of
Jenny Fields (Glenn Close), is conceived
through a non-intimate coitus between
nurse Fields and a mortally wounded WWII
tail gunner, Technical Sergeant Garp.
Jenny wanted a child badly and resorted to
sex only as the means to conceive. Lust, she
would later insist, had nothing to do with it.
GROWING UP in awe of his unknown
aviator father, Garp spends his early years
at Steering Prep School where his mother is
the campus nurse. There he finds a love for
writing, wrestling and the wrestling coach's
daughter, Helen Holm (Mary Beth Hurt).
From this strange beginning a viewer not
having read the smashing best seller is
thrown into a world of assassination, love,
mutilation, friendship, agony and heartbreak
without the least hint of reason.
Reasons can be found only in the lines of
Irving's superb narrative.
The film retains Garp's undying spirit of
simultaneous love and fear of life. Williams
displays a wide dramatic range, the product
Fleetwood Ms
By Bernard K. Addison
The album cover of "Mirage" says it all a
MAP thpsp riavs
On the front are Christine McVie, Lindsi
and Stevie Nicks?the reason for the band'
stardom; on the back are Mick Fleetwood an
the reason for Fleetw ood Mac's existence.
The cover says it all about the music
showcasing the talents of Ms. McVie, Buckin;
and leaving Fleetwood and Mr. McVie as rest
The music and production of the album are
IT'S THE GROUP'S first studio album
produced by the same team that created the
artistic achievement, "Tusk."
"Mirage" could recall the commercial si
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enjoyea wun "tfieeiwooa Mac anu numui
is not as way-out as "Tusk," but bears no
"Rumours." It's more of a missing link betwi
"Mirage" reintroduces Buckingh;
streamlined pop, McVie's hypnotic, al
ballads, and Nicks' crafty, bewitching expre
THE BEST OF the three is Nicks, whose
contributions stand out against the rest
tmaterial. The three tunes, "That's Alright
"Straight Back." are the best tunes frc
"Rhiannon" and "Gold Dust Woman."
Nicks' vocal delivery is strong and effei
phrasing retains the unique quality that m
today's most identifiable singers.
Lindsey Buckingham's stripped-down, fur
melodies were the highlight of "Tusk."
"Mirage" is a dull glow.
BUCKINGHAM'S SONGS, though amusing
of their spontaneity and fun on the album.
Songs like "Can't Go Back" and "Eye
initially seem pretty and cute but ev(
monotonous.
However, some of Buckingham's songs ar
the first listening.
"Book of Love" is a terrific sing-abackground
vocal arrangements. "Empir
York City tribute, shuffles along with a dela
rid Accor
but believable atte
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Robin Williams plays T.S. Garp, the "Terribh
World According to Garp."
of his three years of classical training at The
Juilliard School.
He supports the reality of Garp by controlling
his acting in emotional scenes.
Nowhere is the Williams of "Mork and
Mindy" fame working at an energy level
somewhere between frantic and berserk;
instead, subtler reactions are conveyed
ir's 'Miraofl' c
moving keyboards that relay
ibout Fleetwood the Big Apple.
ey Buckingham
s rise to super- CHRISTINE MCVIE protx
dJohnMcVie? other woman" in the band.
tribution, she's always in N
on "Mirage, shadowed here but has been
gham and Nicks accept comparisons with he
rained backup. found the role of heartfelt bal!
generally good.
in three years,
band's greatest
nccess the band
ars." The album
resemblance to
een the two.
jm's strange
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s of the World" I Carowinds coi
;ntually become The Doobie Brothers w
group will disband at thi
Playing at the Paladiui
e enjoyable after
J Also performing at Car
8; Sheena Easton, Aug.
long with great TickBt! ,or B" six shov
e State," a New plus the regular park ad
yed beat and fast
rlinn tn
impt to convey s|
1 Sexy," "Tarribly Sad" human being in "The
through the careful acting guidance
director Hill.
HILL, WHOSE other films include "T1
Sting," "Butch Cassidy and the Sundan<
Kid," and "Slaughterhouse Five
collaborated on "Garp" with another Osc;
winner: Steven Tesich, screenwriter
ommercially
the confused madness of life in The two
"Only Ove
showcase
ably always will be called "the Ar.K
Despite her talents and con- "MIRAGE
ticks' shadow. She's still over- ones> r
venture.
me a settled musician, able to
r female counterpart. She lias It could
ladeer. and Nicks;
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mml < IB
MHBMMnHBHK -wi ??ww.w
icerts
ill perform at Carowinds Paladium at 8 p.m. .
s end of the summer.
n Aug. 1 will be James Taylor. Taylor will pe
owinds this summer will be Toto with Fraukii
28; and .38 Special, Aug. 29.
ws will be sold the day of the show on a first
mission, $10.95.
fiarn'
""" r
lirit of Irving novel
"Breaking Away."
Tesich added a few scenes not included in
the novel, and Hill took on one as his personal
project.
A scene called for a monoplane to crash
into Garp's upstairs bedroom. Hill, a former
Marine pilot and veteran stunt flyer, worked
out the technical details of the stunt, and on
a cold, foggy February morning he
careened into the side of a balsa wood prop
at 50 mph and landed safely into a net,
unscratched.
Garp proclaimed that the house had
already met disaster and told his wife,
''Wp'11 Kocafohprp "
THERE WERE several other noteworthy
scenes:
Garp's literary work is surpassed by his
mother's first and only publication, "Sexual
Suspect," an autobiography that incites a
feminist revolution. "Did you know," Garp
later asks his wife, "they've even translated
her book into Apache?"
Irving makes an appearance in the film,
in a small cameo role as a referee at Garp s
wrestling match. Irving, a former wrestling
coach, helped train Williams, an undefeated
high school wrestler in San Francisco,
before the filming.
Roberta Muldoon (John Lithgow), a
transsexual follower of Jenny s crusade
against lust, helps console the Garp family
during its crises. A former tight end with the
Philarielnhia Raelps Mnldoon strn00lps
with her new femininity while helping Garp
realize more about himself.
One of the most hilarious scenes depicts
Garp and Muldoon being chased over the
>f lawns of Garp's neighborhood by a speeding
truck.
"The World According to Garp" is a
e sincere attempt at making the translation
e from novel to screen, and thereby risks
" fragmentation. Thankfully, Garp's piercing
ir message is reproduced in the film ? "you
rf must live a life before you die!"
rtofn iiAntiira
9QIC VCIIIUI C
songs that serve as proof of her discovery are
You" and "Wish You Were Here." The pieces
[cVie's keyboard talent and hypnotic singing.
" contains some good tunes and a few mediocre
o surprises. In short, it's a commercially safe
>e the group's last venture. McVie, Buckingham
ire working on solo albums.
tm JSBb* J|BB? jlj'
uly 31 as part of their farewell tour. The
form one show at 5 p.m.
and the Knock Outs, Aug. 7; Rich Little, Aug.
come, first-serve basis. Admission will be $3