1‘185i('hristophe lamhert. Isabelle Adiarii. Michel (ialahr'u 102 mins. A smooth. stylish thrillerlikened to l)i\ a hut \\ ith a Ill'l\L'. energy and c\1111c1';111cc til its 1m 11. ( ilasgtm; (il’l
0 Sweet Dreams< 151 t KIIIL'I Rciv. I'S.1‘185i.lcssicalattgc.l‘tIllat'l'is. .-\1m\Vcdgetwrth. 1151mm. l’he story oi country and \\L'\lc'l'l‘l star l’a'sy (line concentrating on the seesaw of tensions l‘ct\\cc11 her career aspirations and a 1111 hulent marriage In the heel gin/line (‘harlic l)1ck lltehlt ptatsetl. ()\L';ll'-litillllllalL‘tl. unsctiittiicntal I‘lt‘PIL’ \\ 1111 c\ceIIcnt \\til \ from the No Icatls and a special \aittlc to 1.;111t1c\ seamless i111111111g. ( ilasgtm; (ill
0 Swing Shillll’( ii Iltil'alllall l)enmic. l 'S. 1‘18! 1 ( itiItIlL' l Ia\\11. Ktll‘l Rtissell.('111‘1sti11el ahlt. 100 mins. (ioItlie the dutiful l:ttIe \\ itc becomes ( ioldie the RH etet' \\ hen her husbandetilistsantl \I1c signson at a llilllillltill\ Iactory tltirme \\o1|tl \Varll.1:1nploymenthrmesneu friends. lili;lc'L‘Il\1tilllCt1I'L‘\|‘til1\llillll} and a guilt-edged ailatt \\ 11h 41 1a// trumpeter Russell.
.\}_'lt‘c;ll‘lc‘. \\ ttl‘lll-Iit‘al'lc‘tl romanticdrama peistiasitclt acted and surprisiner sophisticated 111 ll\ hittcrsuect emotional 111;:ke-ttp. l-'\e11ptishtti§_' 411. lIa\\ Ii \IIII protects a “all like innocence and appealing
VON STROHEIM’S OUE
As a prelude to one of the highlights of this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival, the screening of Kevin Brownlow's reconstruction of Erich Von Stroheim’s Greed, the Edinburgh Filmhouse are presenting two other films involving the German madman/genius (delete which is not applicable). Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard (thurs 17) has Von Stroheim as a demented silent directorwho eventually films Nora Desmond (Gloria Swanson) in her ‘comeback' picture. However, the situation is not all that far removed from reality, for in 1928 Von Stroheim, one of the tlamboyantly despotic Europeans often favoured by 203' Hollywood, did direct Swanson in Queen Kelly, one of the lost masterworks of the silent screen which will be presented at Filmhouse (thurs 10) in a new restored version. Swanson and Joseph Kennedy, lather of JFK no less, hired Von Stroheim to write and direct a film in which the former would sat. He came up with Queen Kelly, the bizarred tale of an ordinary convent girl in a Iin-de-siecle Ruritanian principality who attractsthe attention of a playboy Prince before being despatched to an aunt’s bordello in East Africa and married to a depraved plantation owner. This takes up the first third of the script, but it was as far as Von Stroheim got, for he was tired while shooting in Africa, alter
. having spent three months and 800,000 1
1 dollars of his producer's money on the project. On-set frissons with
i paymaster/star Swanson, long working
hours, and apparently unnecessary
a perfectlonism were doubtless i
24 'l‘he list 27 June — 10 July
FILM LIST
I gaueheness that enhance a notahl}
“ell-roundedperformance.
é lidinhurgh;l-‘ilmhousc
0 Turtle Diary t l’( i i (John In 111. l'lx'. 19851(iiL'litIdldL‘kMHl. Ben
Kingsley . Michael ( iamhon. ‘16 mins. Jackson is the \\ ritten-out authoroi‘ehildren's stories. Kingsley a bookshop employee. I ogethcr
' they share an ohsession with
til‘\c‘l'\ llif.‘ lllc' \L‘a-lttl‘llc‘\ at 1.11lltltil1 [no and embark on a scheme in return them to the ocean. lheit mutual act til liberation has repercussions on then 1m 11 “ell-heme and alltmx tun lonely people .1 more ltillilltng |1Ic Rar'tlietl.(10.11111111egactetlantl crisply photographed drama .«\ hit precious. (iI;l\;_'ti\\ ; ( ill 0 Water( 15) (Dick Clement. UK. 1984) Michael Caine. Billy Connolly. Leonard Rossiter. 97 mins. Caine retains his dignity while all around throw caution to the wind in this wild farrago ofslapstick and would-be satire set in a British island dependency. Strathclyde; ()deon (Hamilton) 0 White Nights ( PU) (Taylor Hackford. US. 1985) Michail Baryshnikov. Gregory Hines. Helen Mirren. 134 mins. A Soviet defector stranded in Siberia and an anti-Vietnam Yank in dire straits team up to fight the system and fly the flag for Uncle Sam.
contributary factors. it was the last in a succession of disappointments in Von Stroheim's brilliant but compromised career, the most famous of which was MGM’s cutting of Greed from over 7 hours to under 2, and he was never to direct another maiorlilm.
In 1931 Swanson and Kennedy released a 74 minute cut of the Fluritanian scens, but for the new version now in distribution the African lootage, deemed too morally dubious ; at the time, has been added, along with f stills and titles to give the viewer some idea of the scope of Von Stroheim’s ambitions. The notorious orgy sequences, allegedly leaturlng real prostitutes from the German's favourite brothel, have not come to light, but they do offer some insight into the '4 obsessive realism of the man, his
EN LIVE
SON
[—
and concentrate on the chance to see the dancing dynamos in full flight. Edinburgh; Odeon. Glasgow; ABC (Ciarkston Road) 0 Witness l 151 I Peter" \\ cit'.l 8. l‘ih5illa1‘rison lord. Kelly .\Ic(iillis. l 12mins. .-\young:\1111~h hot1s.:\\it11esstomurder. lite 1m csttgation leads a cop llllti a hrush \\ 1111 another culture. a little romance to the soundot San1( ‘ook and the L‘\PL‘L‘ICII (Millet ctil‘l'llpllttli. :\Illlti\PIiCl'ic. impeccath acted and heautilully constructed. ()nc oi liic I‘L‘\l llIlli\t11 lIlL'l igllllcx (ilasgmy ; ( ii" I o The Woman in Red ( 15) (Gene Wilder. US. 1984) Gene Wilder. Kelly Le Brock. Gilda Radner. 87 mins. Happily married Wilder goes middle-aged crazy over the delectable LeBrock in this genial remake of Pardon Mon Affaire. Affable romantic comedy and undoubtedly Wilder‘s strongest directorial effort. Lothian; ABC 0 Zelig (PG) (Woody Allen. US. 1983) Woody Allen. Mia Farrow. 79 mins. A pseudo-documentary on the exploits of the fictional character Leonard chig. chameleon man of i the Roaring Twenties. who adapted his physical characteristics to match those closest to him in a bid for anonymity. Clever. witty comic cameo. Glasgow; Grosvenor 2
rather unusual working methods, and his fascination with all manner of sexual peccadilioes.
Indeed, even in the censorious climate oi the day, the film still retains an aura of playfully perverse eroticism: Swanson manages to lose her undergarments which are seized and sniffed by the rallish Prince; later she iw to be jorse-whipped out of the royal palace by a crazed Queen wrapped only in a white eat. It is elements like these, indicating Von Stroheim's unique g vision of the human condition, which I make Queen Kelly fascinating viewing even today. Although still far from complete it provides a glimpse of an impossible cinema which will now never be broughtto its fullest reality. More’s the pity, again. (Trevor , Johnston)
Forget the Cold War rhubarbing I I
LISTINGS?
This section gives details of programmes showing at cinemas in central Scotland over the next fortnight. Readers are advised that many cinemas in the Stralhclyde and Lothian regions are unable to provide The List with details of their programming for both weeks covered by each issue, as these may not be available at the time of going to press. These listings therefore provide an accurate guide to programmes for one week only, unless further dates are specified. Readers are advised that programmes may be subject to late change at anytime.
Cinemas operating a family discount scheme allow an adult accompanying a child to ‘U’ and ‘PG' certificate programmes to gain admission lorthe same price as the child up to 6pm.
All programme times are pm unless otherwise stated.
EDINBURGH
0 ABC Lothian Road. 22‘) 3030. Bar: Ham—2.30pm. 5—10pm (Mon—Thurs). l lam—l 1pm (Fri/Sat). 5—10pm (Sun). [1)] cinemas 2 6r 3 prior notification advisable. £2.70. £2.30 (‘hild £1.40. £1.30()Al’£l (before 6pm). Family discount scheme operates.
1. E.T. (U) 2.05. 5.05. 8.05. Sin 5.05. 8.05.
2. 91/2Week3(18)2. 10. 5.10. 8. 10. Sun
510.810.
3. King Solomon's Mines ( PG) 2.20. 5.20.8.20. Sun 5.20. 8.20.
From 4 July: Police Academy 3: Back in Trltaining (PG).
0 THE CINEMA Nicolson Street 667 1839. [D] Cinema closed Sunday. £2. OAP£1.
From Fri 27 June: Adventures of a Taxi Driver(l8) 12.40. 3.50. (1.55. Adventures of a Plumber's Mate ( l8) 2. 10. 5.20. 8.30. I From Fri 4 July: Sexuality by the Sea (18) 1.10. 4. 10. 7. 10. Blue Emmanuelle ( 18) 2.45. 5.45. 8.45. See also Lates section.
0 DOMINION Newbattle Terrace. 447 2660. Rest 10am—2pm 6'; 6—11pm (Mon-Fri). 10am—l 1pm (Sat). Bar 12—2.30pm. 6—l0pm (Mon—Sat). Cinema closed Sun. £2.50. £2.20. Child£l.20()/\P£1L’B40‘Students £1.20. (all perfs except evng perfs in cinema 3).
1.Jagged Edge ( 18) 2. 10. 5. 10. 8. 10. 2. 0utofAfrica(P(}) 2.20. 7.20.
3. ARoom withaViethU) 2. 5. 8.
O FILMHOUSE Lothian Road. 22. 2688. Bar ( Mon—Sat. noon~l 1pm. Sun 630—] lpm) Rest (Mon—Sat. noon—9pm). Matinees £1.20. (cones 50p). Early evgs £1.80 (cones £1.20). Main evenings & Double Bills £2.20. No concessions on Sats. CINEMA ONE Fri 27: The Assam Garden (L') 2.30. No Surrender( 15) (1, 8.30. Sat 28: Flash Gordon (PG) 2. No ) Surrender( 15) 6. 8.30. ' Sun 29: No Surrender( 1516.830.
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