The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 28, 1984, Page Page 7, Image 7
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THE GAMECOCK E ntertainment September 28, 1984 ? Page 7
Hit of the seaso
M MM I BM. mm ?
I he Bear keeps fc
By David Hill
One might expect the movie about the legendary college
football coach Paul "Hear" Bryant, to be like so many other
film biographies in trying to present the hero as much more
than a coach, general, president or whatever. But "The Bear"
is football through and through. If you can't stand the sight of
pigskin, you'd better stay away.
A scene late in the film sums up the film's mood. The Bear's
daughter is set for a date with one of his players. Mrs. Bryant,
played by Cynthia Leake, reminds her daughter how the coach
feels about his players dating his daughter. The younger
woman replies the season has ended. "It never ends." her
mother answers.
That's the image most people probably have of a college
football coach. And that's exactly the image Bussey gives of
Bryant. Watching Bussev in action, one gets the impression
that, yes, Bryant was more than a football eoarch and other
things mattered to him, but football was his life.
BlSSi:VS PERFORMANCE, wiihoul question the best
aspect of the film, centers on this impression.
Most viewers can only guess as to what Bryant was like, but
Busscy's portrayal fits perfectly the image one might have of
the coach. One wants to say "Yeah, I never knew him, but I
know wh u he must have been like."
missey does it with a gravel voice that borders on a
caricature, a just-t ight Arkansas drawl and an uncanny ability
to shift his weight from leg to leg when telling his team they
will not be quitters but will be winners and men.(The Texas
A M Aggies' training camp scene is hard to forget. Bryant, the
young, first-year coach stands on a early prototype of the
legendary practice-field tower he'd later use at Alabama. He is
warm iinrt rlrv nc hp hit Ipnm ivhn ic rlrillit-io in o ninKiinm
rainstorm, how proud he is of them.)
Bussey's flaw, however, is his pacing. He's like a football
team who played so hard in the first quarter that they have
nothing left in the fourth. Bussey can hardly be blamed. The
whole film borders on running away from itself with all that
happens during Bryant's long career.
IT HAS to cover how he got his name (which, ironically,
has nothing to do with footba!!). the obligatory explanation of
how he began his family, his start in coaching, and why he left
the University of Kentucky.
Avante garde films featurec
in Southern Circuit show
By Sherri Maksin
A well-known experimental filmmaker will present seven
films in Belk Auditorium of the Business Administration
Building tonight starting at 8 p.m.
Dan Curry, one of the many filmmakers and video proHnrprc
tnnrino cniifhprn k cnnnQr?rr?H hv tho
Southern Circuit film series.
His films, two of which will be in black-and-white print,
are not longer than 18 minutes long each.
"My presentation will include films that explore and experiment
with conventional audience responses to film
space and sound, the unanchored meaning of film images
and text on screen, and narrative relationships that may be
implied by text on screen and voice-over," Curry said.
The show is sponsored by the USC's Departments of
Media Arts and English, along with the Arts Commission,
i The.national sponsor is the National Endowment for the
Arts.
Of the five films shot in color, "Waiting" explores a
[ kaleidescope of abstract light on wet pavement. Imagine
observing a crowded Chicago intersection on a rainy night.
Curry captures time turning "the movement of lit bodies,
vehicles, like cars, into fluid flows that pulsate."
Other films include "Picture Box," "Saturday Morning,"
"Zones," "Dancing Grain," "Family Reunion,"
and "Primer/Rebus "
Curry explains he "makes films that call attention to
their construction and make the exploration of the unique
properties of the medium their subject."
The 27-year-old filmmaker is an Assistant I'rotessor of
Communications at Grand Valley State College in
Michigan. Originally from Chicago, he was educated at
Northwestern University where he received his Ml A in
1978. He chose to stay in the educational system unlike
i Steven Spielberg and George I.ucas who also were taught
the avant-garde technique of filmmaking.
Curry is a structuralist filmmaker. He has won manyawards
for his work. For the last four years he has exhibited
and lectured to the public and relishes the opportunity/
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I way.
He is not the typical avant-garde cinematographer.
Those interested in viewing these films should enjoy
Curry's original ideas and productions. He will be available
to talk with the audience after each film is presented.
Fnr mnr<> in format inn on thic frpf* nnhlir screeninc call
the media arts department at 777-6812.
This is a unigue film series which should not be missed.
n
irmer Alabama coach'!
r
The Leqend
Legendary football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant (L) is portrayed by
Academy Award nominee Gary Busey (R) in "The Bear," opening tonight
at many Columbia theatres.
Then there's his career at Alabama, raiding a dorm room
for nlavers. the trouble with Joe Namath. whv he's coached so
many great quarterbacks and the ugly incident in which The
Saturday Evening Post accused him of rigging the 1962
Georgia game. It's a lot for a film that's not two hours long.
But the film doesn't zip from incident to incident like the
past spring's Hotel New Hampshire. Rather, it's like a history
flnninwnlarv nnc mioht in hioh Qrhnnl It In want in
be sure to include everything, but it doesn't take much time
for any one part.
Autumnfest begins toni
By Marisa Porto dominate two stage
Despite the weather and the still the Robert Mills
ereen leaves. Autumnfest '84. mav be Hampton-Preston f
Columbia's largest celebration this over 20,000 peo
season. celebration which t
The festival, sponsored by the Col- ding Street at Pick,
umbia Action Council, will be a
musical spectacle like city dwellers There will be no
have never seen. sion. Beer, soft dri
It will include something for also be on hand,
everyone's musical tastes, ranging Beginning at 11 a
from beach and bluegrass to rock 'n' until early evenin
roll and the classics. popular local groi
energetic tempo to
Tonight will begin the festivities
with dancing in the streets, when two The brand-new (
well-known groups entertain in female vocalist San
"Autumn under the stars." beach music. Free
top 40 and country
Endless Summer, a South Carolina will be followed t
Beach group, and Bill Haney and the play 50s rock and
New Zassoffs, a country and western follow with a variei
band, will set the mood for the The well known i
weekend festivities. will focus again o
A mixture of entertainment will C'W fans will en
'Woman in Red' good n
By Robert O'Connor
wiui a reiresning musical score irom sievie wonucr, ana
an encrgctic exhibition of comedy from Gene Wilder and
Gilda Radner, shouldn't "The Woman in Red" click successfully
It does ? sort of.
Wilder's proven genius for comedy raged in such classics as
"Young Frankenstein" and "Silver Streak," though his flair
has diminished in recent years. "The Woman in Red," which
he directed and adapted to the screen, marks a more triumphant
return to the screen but not a perfect one.
Wilder's character is a boring family man with a 9-5 job.
His life is severely altered upon witnessing the mysterious
woman in rod nbived bv Kellv I c Brock. I e Brock's seductive
beauty lends credibility to Wolder's fanciful desires, which
lead him to place little emphasis on his comfortable lifestyle.
"The Woman in Red" maintains this storyline and develops
it through a series of basically funny situations. Especially
noteworthy is Gilda Radner's role as the office shrew.
Radner's talents have been wasted in past theatrical efforts,
and it seems unfair to have the actress pushed into the
5 winning record
Then again, it is also a sort of propaganda. It can make the
sight of blood inspirational, which it does at the end during a
not-too-hokey representation of the 1982 Liberty Bowl. The
sequence has some good scenes and dialogue of the gray old
coach leading his mediocre team to one last victory on a bitterly
cold night in the winter of his life. It's somewhat touching
but the tackling, running and blocking drag it out far too long
and add very little except something to keep football addicts
happy.
ANYTHING THAT has to do with football and the South
in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s will no doubt have a lot to do with
how important traditional values are. "The Bear" does, and it
is also full of hero worship, of course. This may be hard to
swallow for many modern film fans.
By some, "The Bear" will be despised; for others, particularly
hero-worshippers, football super fans and University
of Alabama alumni, it will be loved. It's not unlike Bear
Bryant himself.
ght with street dance
s on the grounds of Step Ahead.
House and the On another stage, spectators can enVlansion.
Last year, joy the performance by the Cotton
pie attended the Blossom Cloggers, Southern Strutt,
akes place on Blan- and the Jackson Squares square
ens from 6-11 p.m. dancers. The Follies Beau-cere will add
a Parisian flair to the day. while the
charge lor admis- Redeemer Gospel Choir celebrates that
inks and food will old-time religion. The South Carolina
Symphony will present a pops concert
.m. and continuing at 4 p.m.
ig, a number of
jps will bring an Along with the music, Autumnfest
the festivities. participants can enjoy a variety of ac(ivites
and displays, including arts and
rross Current, with crafts, antiques and collectibles, facedy
Smoak, will sing painting for children and historic
Ride will perform tours.
music, l ms group
>y Oasis, who will An international feast will greet
roll. Tricycles will visitors including barbeque and
ty of popular tunes. shrimp.
jroup, Main Street Displays on health and safety, crime
n top 40 hits while prevention, and voter registration will
joy the group One also be at the festival.
iAi?io halt onmofflii folic
lUVICf UUl bUBIIGU y I Ullw
background of yet another film.
Annoying are the friends of Wilder\s characters ? a group
of seemingly sexist men who nearly push Wilder into adultery.
Sub-plots are introduced but never developed. Joseph
Bologna's marital problems and Charles Grodin's implied
homosexuality are interesting enough, but the viewer is left ;
hanging.
What pulls the films weak points together is Gone Wilder's
direction and action. His character is normal in e\ery sense of
the word. Therefore, the audience can easily relate to his temporary
loss of realism as the woman in red controls his illusions.
Temptation is a devious but common thing.
Adding to the superiority expressed by Wilder and Radner
is the soundtrack from Stevic Wonder. Songs such as the
romantic "I Just Called To Sav I I.ove You" and the sensuous
title track liven the film. Dionne Warwick also appears on
several tunes.
44The Woman in Red" is really quite a good film. However,
some mediocre attempts at humor, acting and nlot nrevent it
from being a great film.