Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 54

Tempo 10 Section 2 Chicago Tribune, Monday. April 1, 1974 The movies Tower FT Ticker By Aaron Gold i Put the blame on 'Mame boys TRIEUNE MINIREVIEW Shame Directed by Gen Siki, screenpliy by Paul ZiMel, photogriphed by Pnilip Llthrop, music by Jerry Herrua ana Fred Werner, choreoeraphy by Oonj While, production design by Robert F. Boyle, produced by Rouen Fryer and James Cresum, Warner Bros, releas at neighborhood theaters. Rated PG. Los dngelej CREATIVE GENIUS JIM GUERICO is hoping to book Chicago's Soldier Field for a July or August date for a concert starring Elton John and the rock group Chicago.

unimpeachable source tells the Hollywood Reporter's Hank Grant that England's Princess Ann is expecting a baby and that she is feeling fine after the recent kidnaping attempt. She and her husband, Capt. Mark Phillips, had wanted to keep the pregnancy a surprise for her mother, Queen Elizabeth. Official announcement of the pregnancy is expected soon. ONE OF THE LAST THINGS Impresario Sol Hurok did before he died was to sign papers setting up a tour for "Bill Turner's Ziegfeld Follies." The $3 million production will open in Indianapolis Sept.

11. Florenz Ziegfeld always opened his shows there and then play arenas across the country with its 100 singers, dancers, specialty acts, and unbelievable lush sets and costumes I've had a sneak preview which tentatively includes the Chicago Amphitheater May 14 thru 25, 1975. 1 think it is going to be worth the wait. THE DRAMA CRITICS praised George Keathley's production of "The Dark at The Top of the Stairs" starring Betsy Palmer which opened Thursday at the Ivanhoe. and Jo WTVS Radio Bellairs hosted an Irish high tea yesterday to christen their new station WXRD in Woodstock, 111., with THE CAST A f.

I j- ox I Vamd Beauregard Vera Older Patrick Sally Clio Mr. Upson Mrs. Upson Agnes Goock Young Patrick llo Mr. Babcock Lucille Ball Robert Preston Beatrice Arthur Bruce Davison Joyed Van Patten Don Porter Audrey Chnstn JaneConneii Klrby Furlong George Chiang John McGiver young socialite. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paul Zindel "The Effect of the Gamma Rays on the Man in the Moon Marigolds" is credited with the screenplay for "Mame," and it's a mess.

Editing is partially to blame. There are many awkward transitions that render character motivation absurd. Talking about "Mame" in terms of character motivation gives the enterprise more credit than it deserves. The film is coarse, embarrassing, and tedious in turn. That it has been billed as "wholesome family entertainment" is an insult to each of those words.

ASIDE from Robert Preston's brief appearance as the wealthy southerner, and an amusing music hall routine that smacks of the fine burlesque comedy of the original I Love Lucy television show, "Mame" is a failure. Those parents reasonably concerned about finding a movie suitable for the entire family ought to consider "Conrack," a lively story of a teacher's love of knowledge and his students, now playing downtown at the United Artists Theater. "Con-rack" couldn't afford the media blitz perpetrated by "Mame," but it is infinitely more satisfying. If family entertainment is your wish, "Con-rack''-and not "Mame" is your film. By Gene Siskel THE YOUNG boy's father has just died, leaving him a fabulous estate and instructions that he "be raised as a Protestant and sent to conservative schools." Fat chance.

The kid's only surviving relative and new guardian is Mame Dennis, who today would be called a swinger, but in 1928 the film's opening setting is best termed "a middle-aged flapper." Based on the Patrick Dennis novel "Auntine Mame" and a musical stage play based on the novel, the new, movie musical "Mame" would like to be a saga of one woman's ability to get the most out of life come stock market crash or high water. But with very few reservations, "Mame," starring Lucille Ball, is a total bust, devoid of joy, wit, good music, or decent dancing. Much ado has been made about the film's photographic treatment of Lucille Ball's face. Each time we see Miss Ball in closeup, it appears as tho the camera lens has been smeared with Vaseline. This is no small matter.

The goal of almost every film is to make you forget you are watching a movie. But the continual softening of focus each time Miss Ball's mug comes into view is at first distracting, then annoying, and, ultimately, offensive to our in- 1 1 i and to Miss Ball's strength as a performer. SOMEONE should have told Miss Ball that her public cares not about her face, but, rather, about what's behind it. The very essence of the Mame character, as I understand it, is that she is able to stare old age in the face and make it slink away. And she does this not with makeup, but with her personality.

The story of "Mame" spans some 25 years in which, the grand lady loses her shirtdituJ in the stock market, finds a litable diamond mine in the person of a rich southern gentleman, and almost loses her now college-age ward to a snooty SS.rfT in aa nV 1 tmil Maroviti Holm Walgreen III Lucille Ball as Closeup scrutiny. They'll all speak on a Bright New out City Paging people the Bakery's Louis Szathmary providing the food and Bob Clancy and Kevin Evans conducting an Irish 6ong fcst. Press Club members who enjoyed a jet-away week in Hawaii came back singing the praises of Frank Koza, an ABC cameraman, who arranged a VIP tour of Pearl Harbor. Dick Butkus sang "Behind Closed Doors" for a taping of ABC's Fantasies Fulfilled Special at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas and received a standing ovation. Of course, Shecky Greene, the star of the show, hollered: "Everyone on your feet." TICKER BITS: Celeste Holm, in the true show must go on tradition, finished the final scene in "Finishing Touches" at the Paramus, N.

J. Playhouse on the Mall after suffering a deep gash in her chin from an off-stage spill. When the curtain came down, Celeste was rushed to a hospital where she received 30 stitches. Bob Dearborn is another, deejay enjoying the Acapulco sun. to Assistant States Atty.

Stephen Connolly and his wife Janet on the birth of their second son, Sean. Birthday greetings to WSDM's Sandy Penny Lane Marcus. And happy first anniversary to WFYR Radio and Mel Markon's Restaurant. ATTENTION GETTERS: Some of Chicago's leading politicians are eyeing publicist Allen Rafalson for his deft handling of Bill Marovitz's successful campaign for state representative in the 12th district. Marovitz was clearly the underdog when Rafalson was retained.

Marovitz, who ran against the Aid. Bill Singer-backed independent Democrat, Steve Klein, and incumbent state representative Jack Merlo, was the number one votegetter in the district. Charles Walgreen in is the dinner chairman and Sen. Percy will be the main speaker when the national B'nai B'rith bestows its Great American Award on A. C.

Nielsen, Jr. April 28 at a dinner in the Palmer House. SEEN ON THE SCENE: Police Superintendent James Rochford and his wife and the Harvey Fosters hosting a bon voyage party at Su Casa for the Tom Meaghers who are off to Greece; Congressman Tom Railsback and Secretary of State Michael Howlett attending a reception of Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association Convention at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare; Playwright Dale Wasserman at Arlington Park Theater to see his play, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," with James Farentino; AI Lange, executive V. P. of the Chicago Fire football team planning strategy with his cheerleaders at Mel Markon's restaurant; and Carmen McRae having a late night snack at Agostino's Restaurant.

MONDAY HAPPENINGS: Neil Simon's "The Sunshine Boys," with Sam Levene and Ned Glass at the Blackstone Theater; The amazing Kreskin, along with singer-guitarist Denis Martin at Mister Kelly's; The Ace Trucking Company at the Blue Max; Leo Kottke's final performance at the Quiet Knight; and the opening of the fishing season at the 10 Chicago Park District Lagoons. Imports' Fred Kulow sums up the general Hollywood fling thusly: "People will believe anything if you tell them it's a rumor." representative of France in Chicago and the Middle West," presented the French medal to Mrs. Freund. "Mr. de La Gorce happened to be my guest at that time and "only attended the ceremony." When Lawrence Pucci and the Wedgwood Society learned that Sam VVanamakcr, executive director of the Globe Theater Trust, would be in Chicago one day only, tomorrow, they moved fast to invite members to tea with him at the Arts Club, and also invited Betsy Palmer, Robert Lansing, Ben Gazzara and other actors in town to enjoy the occasion.

Around the Town: Lots of small parties are welcoming Millie and Fred Crispin from Fort Lauderdale. They'll be at Lake Shore Drive Hotel for a week The West Suburban Hospital will benefit from a performance of "Damn Yankees" tomorrow at the Arie Crown Theater. The Casino is overbooked for supper following the Save the Children Federation benefit opening of "The Great Gatsby" Thursday in the Mc-Clurg Court Theater, but Lottie Haggerty bulletins she's still taking movie reservations. It's not black tie. By Eleanor Page A LECTURE, a luncheon, and a TV taping are on the busy schedule of distinguished speakers coming to Chicago for the Bright New City lecture series which opens at noon today in a new setting, the First National Bank Auditorium.

The lectures will be heard on the next four Mondays, but the TV shows will not be telecast until 1 p.m. on five Saturdays beginning April 20 on channel 2, says Mary Mrs. J. Harris Ward, chairman, who also was founder of the Know Your Chicago series, predecessor of the current one. The series is sponsored by the University of Chicago and the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts, with the cooperation of several other cultural and civic groups.

Tickets are $2.50. Today's speaker is Nathan J. Stark, senior vice presi-. dent of Hallmark of Kansas City. He'll discuss Crown Center, the new urban development his firm is creating "to keep everything up to date in Kansas City." James Leonard, cochair-man with Ross J.

Beatty of arrangements, and the First SAVE 30 Oil HUMMINGBIRD HOSIERY (NO FOOLING) National will be today's luncheon hosts. TV panelists with Mr. Stark will be Lewis W. Hill, Chicago Commissioner of Development and Planning, and architect Paul D. McCurry.

THE NAME of the new director of corporate development for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the attractive new extra man in town, is Philip Whitacre, and not James Whittaker as stated in this column Thursday. The Lyric Opera wanted him, too! And about the story concerning Geraldine Mrs. J. Dennis Frcund receiving the Knight of the National Order of Merit from the French Minister in Washington, Francois de La Gorce, Philippe Olivier, French consul general, writes that he, "as Bridge quiz answers? Here they are By Charles H. Goren Q.

1 Neither vulnerable, as South you hold: A5 0109543 The bidding has proceeded: North East South 1 A Dble. What action do you take? A. Pass. It Is poor tacUcs to presume that th double will be left in and that you should ball out partner with a bid of two hearts. Besides, that contract might not be any better.

It Is best to pass and let nature take Its course. Q. 2. North-South vulnerable, as South you hold: AK10 5 4 OJ108AJ3 The bidding has proceeded: after the opening lead. North could hardly have combined a two no trump rebld with a Jump preference with less than both major suit kings and either ace-king-queen of clubs or ace-king of clubs and ace of diamonds.

Charlej H. Goren's Bridge Quiz appeared in yesterday's Arts Fun. Mexico Be wise and save on Hummingbird pantyhose and South West North East 1 A Dble. Rdbl. 2 Pass Pass 2 A Pass What do you bid now? A.

Four spades. There is no sense in dilly-dallying. Once partner raises spades, your hand revalues to 16 points 14 in high cards, 1 for the doubleton heart and 1 for the fifth spade. Since partner's redouble marks him with at least 10, you are in the game zone. Q.

6 Both vulnerable, as South you hold: AAQJ104 3 VAQJ10 5 4 3 The bidding has proceeded: North East South West 1 Pass 1 A Pass 2 NT Pass 3 9 Pass 4 A Pass What do you bid now? A. Seven spades, and you should be able to claim the hand DENNIS THE MENACE knee-highs today thru April 13. Order panty 8 fun filled days irO hose by height and weight; sheer knee-high is one support knee-high sizes A(8-9V2)( B(l 0-1 first floor, all suburban stores. Mail coupon to Box AA 60690 or call 372-6800. 50c delivery charge on orders under 4.95.

sale sale MMLDD for only $299.00 the Cartan way per person sharing twin room including air fare, tax and service. See your travel agent broker or: CcrtcsiTrcvdl 101 N. State Chicago, III. 60602 372-7200 reg. pair 3 pairs colors South West North East Pass Pass 1 9 Pass What do you bid? A.

If you were not a passed hand, we would recommend a bid of one spade. But now, that call would not be forcing and it does not represent Uie full value of your hand. We suggest a Jump to two no trump, even tho you lack a full diamond stopper. Q. 3 Both vulnerable, as South you hold: AA9762 OA 9 What is your opening bid? A.

One spade. On distributional hands of this type, it is very likely that there will be considerable bidding around the table. You should attempt to show both your suits, and the most economical way to do this is to treat the heart suit as being the same length as the spades and bid your suits in the natural order. Q. 4 North-South vulnerable, as South you hold: The bidding has proceeded: North East South 1 10 What do you bid? A.

While this hand has the textbook requirements for a jump to three no trump, wo hesllalo to take this action with a single stopper In the enemy Bult. Our preference Is for a cue-bid of two diamonds, which Is forcing to game and might lead to a slam In clubs If partner's hand is unbalanced. Q. 5 As South, vulnerable, you hold: AKQ1073 65 OK62AQI0 The bidding has proceeded: 2.00 1.49 4.25A,B,C,D,E 1.00 69c 2.00 All 1 Control top pantyhose, nylonspandex 2. Sheer knee-highs, nylon 3.

Support knee-highs, 1.50 99c 2.95 nylonspandex Answer to Saturday Word Game tan, B. beige, C. taupe, D. brown, E. black, F.

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