Some Masters work

Press, 17 April 1980, Page 14

Some Masters work

AT THE CINEMA

Hans Petrovic

Eighteen films from ten countries, including a couple of New Zealand productions, will be featured at this year’s Canterbury Film Festival, which begins tomorrow at the Avenue Cinema, Ric-. carton.

Starting with the somewhat controversial but very funny "Birds of a Feather” ("La Cage aux Folles”), about homosexuality, the festival includes a wide selection of the new and old; cartoon work, comedy, drama and documentary. Possibly one of the most interesting will be the first screening in New Zealand of a three-dimen-sion version of the 1954 monster movie, “The Creature from the Black Lagoon.” This was a pretty aweful film when it first came out, but now is considered almost a classic — particularly if the monster can jump out of the screen at you.

Among the other older footage is the return of Clouzot’s horror classic, •‘Diabolique (“The Fiends”); recently unearthed film about another monster, “Hitler, a Career;” and a walk down memory lane in “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” • a documentary about the development of pornography and jazz in the early cinema.

The two-week programme is: “Birds of a Feather,” Italy/France, Friday and Saturday r April 18 and 19, 8.5 p.m.: Starring Ugo Tognazzi, the comic plot concerns. the frantic manoeuvrings of two “married” homosexuals to appear “straight” when the son of one of telim announces his engagement to the daughter of a leading politician. Preceeded by the featurette:

“In Spring, One Plants Alone,” New Zealand: Painstakingly filmed over 18 months, this is a deeply moving documentary on the plight of ’an elderly Maori woman who has undertaken the task of tending her middle-aged son.

“Gulliver’s Travels,” England/Netherlands, Saturday, April 19, 2 p.m.: Richard Harris stars as Gulliver in this adaptation of the classic story of Jonathan Swift The film combines live human action with colour cartoon. “The Adventures of Asterix,” France, Saturday, April 19, 5.30 p.m.: This is an excellent feature colour cartoon dubbed in English. It should be enjoyed by children and bemused adults alike. “Diabolique,” . France, Sunday, April 20, 8.15 p.m.: An opportunity to see the original gruesome thriller from which all our modern movies of the same genre have evolved. Clouzot puts in such macabre touches of humour as the terrible punline: “You can lead a corpse to water, but you can’t make it sink.” Followed by: “Patrick,” Australia: Another of the increasingly interesting thrillers from Australia. The problem is

that Patrick makes emotional and sexual demands upon everyone he forms a close relationship with — and anyone who does not come up to Patrick’s standard ends up dead. “Hitler, a Career,” Germany, Monday, April 21, 8.15 p.m.; and Tuesday to Thursday, April 22 to 24, 9.15 a.m.: A documentary on the rise to power and gradual mental and emotional breakdown of this century’s most infamous dictator.

“The Disappearance,” Canada, Tuesday, April 22, 8.15 p.m.: A murder mystery that marks the fourth adult thriller featuring Donald Sutherland (“Don’t Look Now”). He plays a professional assassin who is contemplating retirement when his wife suddenly disappears. “Jonas, Who Will be 25 in the Year 2000,” Switzerland, Wednesday, April 23, 8.15 p.m.: An oddball, non-conformist comedy about a group which decides to relieve the monotony of their lives by rebelling against authority — which is particularly difficult in Switzerland. “The Mango Tree,” Australia, Thursday, April 24, 8.15 p.m.: A period drama about the tragic consequences for a small community when religious bigotry leads to the persecution and outcasting of a young woman who refuses to conform to a standard of rigid behaviour.

“The Creature from the Black Lagoon,” United States, Friday, April 25, 2 p.m., 5.30 p.m. and 8.15 p.m: For those who have never encountered 3-D movies before, this is a style of trick photography that enables the picture to take on a threedimensional depth and seem to come out of the “flat” screen. Special glasses will be provided by the theatre. “Tarka the Otter,” England, Saturday, April 26, 2 p.m: Screenplay by Gerald Durrell (whose books include “My Family and Other Animals”), based on the 1927 literary classic by Henry Williamson, narration by Peter Ustinov and superbly produced in Eastmancolour. “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”, United States, Saturday, April 26, 5.30 p.m: A. fascinating documentary on the Great American Depression, blending authentic newsreel, official Government documentary film and clips from the neo-realistic movies of the 19305. “The Picture Show Man,” Saturday, April 26, 8.15 p.nu A rollicking, charming comedy about the man who dragged limelight projectors around on horse-drawn wagons to bring movies to the isolated communities

in the Australian outback in the early days of cinema. “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” England, Sunday and Monday, April 27 and 28, 8.15 pun: This risque walk down memory lane was gleaned from some of the notorious underground classics that once played in stag clubs around the world. Some of the footage goes back to 1907, when, it appears, ladies’ bottoms were considered to be the “hot spot” for film-makers. “The Rubber Gun,” Canada, Tuesday, April 29, 8.15 p.m: In Canadian slang, “the rubber gun” means a police arrest for narcotics. This comedydrama relates a series .of incidents surrounding the detection and partial apprehension of a drug commune when a large cocaine heist goes awry. Preceded by the featurette: “Yiorgos Starts School,” New Zealand: Yiorgos is a five-year-old Greek boy who is taken to school. Unable to understand English, he finds the experience quite bewildering. “Sacco and Vanzetti,” Italy, Wednesday, and Thursday, April 30 and May 1, 8.15 p.m: Probably the most important film in this year’s festival, this is a powerful drama based upon the infamous trial and subsequent imprisonment of two Italian radicals in Boston in the 19205, when America was experiencing its first “Reds Under the Beds” scare.