thursday, january 15, 1976
page 8
daily nebraskan
Ref
hing P
acino energizes Dog Day Afternoon
By Ryan Scott
The first school week is ending, and students are re
turning to Lincoln's downtwon streets searching for en
tertainment. The search can end at the Cinema 2, 13th
and P streets, where Al Pacino stars in one of the season's
best movies, Dog Day Afternoon.
Dog Day Afternoon is based on an actual Brooklyn
bank robbery on August 22, 1972. Pacino, starring as
Sonny, reunites with Godfather co-star John Cazale as Sal,
in an abortive bank heist attempt.
The robbery is held to finance a sex change operation
for Sonny's homosexual "wife." In a fast-moving two
Hi
hours, the bizarre twelve-hour incident unfolds in remark
able detail with explosive realism.
Pacino's triumph
Although Pacino is backed by an excellent cast,
notably Penny Allen in her supporting role as the head
bank teller Sylvia, and Charles Duming, as a New York
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ABbum cow courtesy of Arista Records, Inc.
Patti Smith's new album , Horses, is a combination
of poetry and rock sounds.
Coop might be
movie makers'
budget saver
. Have you dreamed of making a movie? Have you ever
seen yourself behind a camera creating your own master
piece? If so, you may have the opportunity as early as next
fall.
An organization helping would-be film makers, the
Sheldon Film Maker's Cooperative, Is beginning to take
form, according to Dan Ladeiy, director of the Sheldon
Film Theatre and coordinator for the cooperative.
A sizable donation by a Nebraska alumnus has made
the idea of a coop possible, Ladeiy said. The donation will
be used to buy s professional 16 mm camera and other
film production equipment.
The equipment will be available at a small charge to
anyone, he said. The only costs shouldered by the film
maker will be his own raw materials, such as film, a small
maintenance charge and a small Insurance charge on the
equipment.
He said the exact cost is unknown and the Insurance
terms have not been drawn.
Ladeiy said that production costs can be defrayed by
taking advantage of university agencies.
"We hope we can use facilities already on campus to
develop film and transfer sound so film makers won t have
to send their films to labs," Ladeiy said.
"The idea is to have professions! film -miking equip
ment available to film makers for them to make high
quality, synch-sound 16 mm films," Ladeiy said. "That is
the first priority. We will also acquire equipment for peo
ple to make less expensive films in silent 16 mm and
Super-8 mm to allow beginners a cheaper way to learn
film-making."
If there is enough interest, film making workshops will
be conducted. Ladeiy said the coop will have a manager
who will be able to assist peopla in using the equipment.
He said the coop is planned not solely for university
students, but for the entire community.
However, an ad hoc committee has been formed to
explore the possibility of a film minor, Ladeiy said. A
City detective, the film is his exclusive triumph. He makes
the movie.
His powerfully-moving interpretation of the multi
dimensional Scnny is a refreshing change from his "tough
guy" roles in Serpico and The Godfather I and.
Watching Pacino in action is testament enough to his
being heralded Hollywood's finest actor. An Oscar
nomination is a certainty.
Many actors would have difficulty interpreting Sonny,
but Pacino masters it beautifully. With his acute sense of
timing, Pacino jumps from one emotional state to
another. One moment he displays a keen intelligence; the
next he flies off the handle in a rage, only to be calmed
quickly into a display of human compassion and nearly
ignorant gullability.
Dialogue changes
A written promotion for the film said Pacino poured
himself so fully into the character that the director,
Sidney Lumet, frequently let him alter the dialogue where
he felt the need. His expert realization of character and
timing set the film's rapid pace.
Superb acting (Penny Allen may also be looked upon
favorably as an Oscar contender), and Lumet's fine direc
tion combine for one of 1975's finest entertainment
ventures.
The film's only fault is the use of a rolling camera to
create the sensation of movement. In both these shots and
a few pans, the camera is obviously out of focus, dizzying
the audience and making the action hard to follow. But
this minor fault does not intertere wiin one a eiy...,
of the film. ' Af,mM
This weekend, if not tonight, see Dog Day Afternoon.
It may be Lincoln's most attractive entertainment value.
arts&
n
2r ii u viva y
hot
licks 'Smith's new album unique
Patti Smith: Horses, Artista, $6.98.
Patti Smith's first album, as the King of Siam would
say, is a puzzlement. It works on many levels. Basically,
Smith blends spoken poetry with '60s rock tunes like
"Gloria" and "Land of 1,00 Dancers." The effect is
sometimes macabre, but always powerful, and, most
definitely, unique. Like it or not, this music is innovation.
Smith's images account for her distinct style. She can
be tender, as in "Birdland", which tells of a young boy's
reaction to his father's death: "It was as if someone had
spread butter on . all the fine points of the stars'Cause
when he looked up they started to slip. , n .
Other lines are downright bizarre. From "Kimberly":
"Your skull was like a network of spittleLike glass balls
moving in like cold streams of logic."
But I have no doubt that Smith will grow into one
cr rock's major creative forces. For one thing, mystique
surrounds her-a denominator quality for every rock
legend, from Elvis to Dylan to Jagger. She has been com
pared to Janis Joplin, but her vocal style-which has an
eerie asexual quality about it-owes more to Jagger and,
to some extent, Dylan.
Some of the songs are more accessible than others,
which means, simply put, the songs that rely on music
instead of spoken poetry for impact are the easiest to
appreciate.
."Gloria" merges its kicker line, "Jesus died for some
body's sins but not mine" with the Shades of Knight hit.
"Redondo Beach" is a humorous treatment of a broken
lesbian affair. "Free Money" is another adaptation of the
greed-lust theme.
The most powerful cut is "Land," with its animalistic, t
sexual imagery.
Smith snarls this verse, which blends into the chorus
from "Land of 1,000 Dancers." It's a ferocious effect, and
it leaves the listener squeamish, begging for mercy.
It may be too early to say a performer is the most
interesting new talent since Bruce Springsteen, but in a
year that has seen rebirth and excitement in rock music,
Smith certainly qualifies for that honor. Deb Gray
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Photo try TmI Kkti
Dan LaJdy, coordiiutor for the Shddm Fja Makers Cooperative, hopes to assist asplftej (2m mskera.
courts xor independent study tor applied university credit equipment available at a small cost
The cooperative, through grant by the Nebraska Arts
Council, hopes to acquire the services of a film maker-in-residence,
who would be salaried. Ladeiy said. The film
maker would offer his knowledge and direct assistance in
filmmaking.
Ladeiy said he also hopes to get film makers who
participate in Sheldon's Film Maker's Showcase for pos
sible workshops.
The coop will be a real bargain, he said. For example,
he said, a new professional 16 mm camera costs between
$12,000 and $16,000. The monthly rental for such &
camera is close to $2,000. The coop's purpose is to make
A tS00 recorder and eri tina mimtnt .Im.-I i v. ....
oeen donated to the coop, and the purchase of other pro
duction equipment such a lights, tripods, and micro
phones probably will be made by the end of the summer,
according to Ladeiy.
The coop plans to make its home in the basement of
the Nclle Cochrane Woods Art Bldg., as soon as final
permission is received and remodeling can be done. But
Ladeiy said he did not know when mat would be.
Ladeiy asks that any one interested in the program and
those able to donate time, talent, equipment, money or
interest to contact him at the Sheldon Memorial Art
Gallery.
