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By Sarah Baker
Senior Reporter
Long before Fox Mulder and Dana Scully graced America’j
television screens, a less photogenic but equally effective p
veyor of suspense shocked the viewing public.
That man was Alfred Hitchcock, and thanks to Nebi
Educational Television, his show, “Alfred Hitchcock Preseni
is back on the air in Nebraska.
“Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” a mystery series that ran from'
1955 to 1960, and again from 1960 to 1962, stars the late
Alfred Hitchcock telling macabre, and sometimes bizarre, sus
pense stories.
Gene Bunge, NETV program director, said a distributor
first brought the idea to NETV
“We got some old tapes of the show and - as we wat^
^ them - realized the writing of the show was first-rate,”
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Alfred Hitchcock's
suspense series
returns to airwaves
on public television
2
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was because of the many stars who were guests on the sh<
“When the show originally aired, many of the guests
not well known. Today, many of them could be consid
mega stars,” he said.
Some of the guests on “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” inclu'
Vincent Price, Burt Reynolds and Steve McQueen.
He said NETV talked with other public television statioi
who are rerunning the series to find out what the response was.
“We talked to a station in St. Louis and they had a great
response,” Bunge said. “We are really enthused about bringing
this program back for our viewers. People really seem to enjoy
these wonderful old shows.”
Bunge said he hopes the audience is pleased to see the show
back on television again.
“The program had a large audience the first time arou
Bunge said. “Hopefully we will have some people tu rg in
who have never seen the series, and they will find soi^ ijoy
ment in these fine, old shows.”
“Alfred Hitchcock Presents” is aired on the Nj ftaska ETV
network weeknights at 10.
Stellar veteran actors raise
‘Expectations’ to high level
By Jason Hardy
Film Critic
In tiie 20* Century Fox production of “Great
Expectations,” a young boy’s life is dramatically
affected by three individuals who continually
influence his transformation into adulthood.
Throughout the story, incredible coincidences
serve to fuel his dreams and desires as he blindly
wanders through life, guided by outside forces -
some good, some evil.
The story begins on the Gulf Coast of Florida,
where a young Finnegan Bell (Jeremy James
Kissner), is living in an impoverished area with
his older sister and her husband. Though finan
cially strapped, Finn finds joy in simple activities
such as painting and drawing the environment
around him. It is on one of his drawing excursions
that he first comes in contact with an escaped
convict, played by Robert De Niro. Though unbe
knownst to Finn, De Niro’s character will later
have a profound impact on the directions of Finn
adult life.
It is also in Florida that young Finn meets the
insanely charismatic Ms. Dinsmoor (Anne
Bancroft). Dinsmoor, the richest woman in the
gulf area, lost her mind 30 years earlier when her
fiance left her standing at the altar. She lives in a
run-down mansion with her young niece, Estella
(Raquel Beaudene). Dinsmoor invites Finn to
hang out with her and Estella. Throughout the rest
of the fihn, Finn continually pursues his dreams,
which are in part fueled by die obsessive, man
Jiadng Dinsmoor.
"The two children grow up to be played by
Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow. The actors’
sensual on-screen rapport builds on the already
romantic settings, be it the crystal-clear waters of
the Gulf Coast and the decaying beauty of
Dinsmoor’s mansion or the rainy streets of New
York and Finn’s upper-class, artsy apartment.
Paltrow does an exceptional job of playing the
super-icy, rich snob in the film. She shows the
Please see EXPECTATIONS on 14
Irish-set ‘Boxer’ punches out
JK
By Barb Churchill
Film Critic
“The Boxer” is the story of a former
Golden Gloves boxer, Danny Flynn (Daniel
Day-Lewis), who is attempting to restart his
life after taking part in one terrorist act for
the Irish Republican Army at the tender age
of 18.
“The Boxer” starts as Flynn gets out of
prison after a 14-year stay and goes back to
his old neighborhood in Belfast. Flynn
meets up with his former coach, Ike Weir
(Ken Stott), who has become a drunkard in
Flynn’s absence. Seeing Flynn again moti
vates Weir to reopen the old gym.
But reopening the gym reopens old
wounds as well. The gym is to be run as
“nonsectarian,” meaning that both
Protestants and Catholics may attend boxing
classes. This causes problems with the local
neaa oi me ika, joe naraui (Brian l-ox;,
who is battling internal problems in his orga
nization while trying to work out a cease-fire
with the police.
In the meantime, Maggie (Emily
Watson), Flynn’s former love, and Hamill’s
son re-enter Flynn’s life. The happy reunion
is initially spoiled When Flynn discovers that
Maggie is married to his now-jailed former
best friend.
Despite the complications, Maggie and
Flynn attempt to resume their affair discreet
ly
The affair is further complicated by
Harry (Gerard McSorley), the man who
abandoned Flynn to the authorities. Harry,
an IRA extremist, disdains Flynn not only
because of his affair with a married woman,
but also because of his nonsectarian gym.
Harry’s disdain soon manifests itself in vio
" Please see BOXER on 13