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PAGE 2—The Southern Cross, April 19,1979
TV Reviews-Programs Of Note
GRIEF AND ANGER -- Carol Burnett and Ned Beatty are torn
between grief and fury at the funeral of their son, whose non-battle death
in Vietnam has not been fully explained in “Friendly Fire,” a powerful
and true story airing in a three-hour presentation April 22 on ABC. (NC
Photo)
THE CHURCH:
A T HOME
BY T. FABRE
NEW YORK (NC) - Vietnam
represents so much pain and so much
division for all Americans that it is
difficult for the popular media to treat
it with any objectivity. Doing that and
more is the “ABC Theatre”
dramatization of a real family’s anguish
in “Friendly Fire,” airing Sunday, April
22, at 8-11 p.m. on ABC.
The Mullens are a fifth-generation
Iowa farm family, active Catholics and
solidly patriotic, who see their eldest
son depart for Vietnam in 1969. Six
months later, they receive a telegram
informing them that Michael has been
killed by “friendly fire.”
There may be some minor
reservations about the heavy hand
director David Greene sometimes
employs in stereotyping Middle America
or the perfunctory way he handles
crowd scenes. But, by and large, Greene
has brought to life sympathetically the
tragedy of the Mullens — loss of son and
loss of faith in the government.
“Friendly Fire” is the kind of
sensitive film that may help heal some
of the wounds left by Vietnam on the
American psyche.
“SANCTUARY OF FEAR,”
APRIL 23, NBC
Father Brown, G. K. Chesterton’s
First Penance Services
March was the month for First Penance Services
in Southwest Georgia. Like Zacchaeus of old, the
children desired to meet Jesus and receive His Love
and Peace.
TIFTON
STUDENTS dramatize the story of Zacchaeus (1.)
with their pastor, Rev. Rayner Dray, OFM. After
receiving the Sacrament of Peace (c) the students affix
AMERICUS
a felt flame to their baptismal candle. Sr. Ruth gives
Jennifer Johnson (r.) her certificate of remembrance of
this Sacrament.
FR. JAMES, pastor, sprinkles students and parents confessional door. All celebrate after the Penitential
with Holy Water at beginning of penitential service. Service with cake, ice cream and punch.
Parent accompanies Joanna Walton (c) to the
CAMILLA
I RAIS MOLINA and Ronald Magor (L) are pictured
with their Pastor, Rev. Richard Minch. Teachers Mrs.
Beverly Cox, Sr. Ruth (c) are pictured with the group
after reception of the Sacrament. Students, with their
parents (r.) renew their Baptismal promises.
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master detective, has been delighting
readers of mystery stories since his first
appearance in 1911. His return is
heralded in the dreadfully titled movie,
“Sanctuary of Fear,” airing Monday,
April 23, at 9-11 p.m. on NBC.
This time around, however, Father
Brown is the pastor of a modern-day
parish in New York City rather than
that of a sleepy English town earlier in
the century. What is surprising is how
well the paradoxical nature of
Chesterton’s creation survives such a
complete cultural uprooting.
Forgetting the story line — aspiring
actress terrorized by series of bizarre
and deadly accidents — it’s the kind of
mystery in which the explanation is
more complicated than the plot. The
conflict between Brown and his
ecclesiastical superiors is, moreover,
strictly television-land fantasy.,
What makes this one to see is Barnard
Hughes’ characterization — a master
actor portraying a master detective who
also happens to be a fascinating
compound of invincible personal
innocence and shrewd insight into
human evil.
Father Brown is back, up to his
Roman collar in crime, and if some
mystery writers can be found who
measure up to his durable appeal,
Barnard Hughes has a TV series for the
1980s.
TV PROGRAMS OF NOTE
Sunday, April 22, 6-7 p.m., (PBS)
“The Advocates.” Tonight’s program is
a debate between a variety of experts on
a question of some importance for
young viewers: Should we have
compulsory national service for all
young Americans?
Tuesday, April 24, 9-10:30 p.m.
(PBS) “An American Ism: Joe
McCarthy.” The senator from
Wisconsin, one of the most feared
politicians of the early 1950s, is profiled
through film segments and interviews
with people who knew him during his
rise to power.
Wednesday, April 25, 8-10:30 p.m.
(PBS) “Henry VIII.” Power, envy and
greed motivate the events of this BBC
production of Shakespeare’s last play
with John Stride as Henry VIII,
Timothy West as Wolsey, Claire Bloom
as Katherine and Barbara Kellerman as
Anne Boleyn.
Saturday, April 28, 9-11 p.m. (CBS)
that is something like “The Last Picture
Show” redone in “Laugh-In” style.
Star-crossed teen-agers, youth gangs,
inept armed robbers, nasty children and
a variety of other characters converge
upon a Texas drive-in to see a film
called “Disaster ’76.” Sometimes
amusing but more often unfunny and
vulgar. (PG) A-III — Morally
unobjectionable for adults.
Tuesday, April 24, 9 p.m. (CBS) --
“The Deserter” — a cynical Western
about the U.S. Cavalry’s recruiting a
deserter to lead a raid against an Apache
stronghold, this mediocre movie is
further marred by the way it exploits its
material for the sake of violence. B —
THE CHURCH:
TV-MOVIES
‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.”
Based on Maya, Angelou’s
autobiographical novel, this TV movie is
about growing up in a small, rural
Southern black community during the
1930s.
Friday, April 27, 10-11 p.m. (CBS)
“The Boston Goes to China.” The
Boston Symphony Orchestra’s historic
tour of China last month is the subject
of this “CBS Reports” documentary,
which also provides the first in-depth
look at this country since the
normalization of relations.
TV FILM FARE
Friday, April 20, 9 p.m. (ABC)
“Drive-In” (19761 This is a movie
Morally objectionable in part for all.
RELIGIOUS BROADCASTING
HIGHLIGHT
RADIO: Sunday, April 22 —
“Guideline” (NBC) begins a new series
of interviews exploring the tenets,
values and beliefs of three of the world’s
great religions — Islam, Judaism and
Christianity. The guest today is
Muzammil Siddiqi, chairman for Islamic
affairs, Moslem World League. In this
first inverview Siddiqi will discuss the
five fundamental principles of Islam as a
monotheistic religion. The interviewer is
Father Thaddeus Horgan, a Graymoor
Friar and director of the Graymoor
Ecumenical Institute.
Catholic Communications Collection
BY GILL BROWN
The recent replay of Zeffirelli’s
“Jesus of Nazareth” on NBC-TV was a
powerful reminder that electronic media
can be used effectively to carry a
religious message. Beginning at the same
time (and regrettably in conflict) we
saw on CBS the “Chronicles of Narnia”
by C. S. Lewis, presented in a lively
animated version of “The Lion, the
Witch and the Wardrobe.”
The presentation of these two
programs so close to Easter came as a
hopeful sign, particularly in view of the
approaching date of the new
Communications Collection, which will
broaden the opportunities the Church
has to make use of media to carry its
message. Scheduled for May 27th, the
nation-wide collection will help to bring
about more effective use of television,
radio and other media, as well as special
projects of the Catholic Press. Half the
money will be used for diocesan
activity, and the other half will help the
Church launch its national effort.
Three nation-wide hearings have been
held, to gather information and
inspiration from media specialists as
well as theologians and others having
experience of social ministry and
evangelization. Three major themes have
been stressed: the family, parish
renewal, and evangelization itself. A
wide range of ideas for possible
programs or projects has been discussed.
Parish promotion materials have been
mailed out, with posters, flyers and
other aids.
All these efforts have provided the
opportunity for a nationwide focusing
of attention on the media and for
discussion of ways in which the
MACON PASSION PLAY -- A Passion Play was presented during the
reading of the Gospel on Palm Sunday at three of the Masses at St.
Joseph’s Church, Macon. The dramatization was directed by Fr. Benedict
Swiderek and enacted by members of the Youth Group, with Jay Sanders
portraying Jesus. Shown around the cross, clockwise from left foreground,
are Melissa Nichols, Kevin Mullaney, Stephen Zurek, Dusty Holton,
Jimmy Zaenglein, Gary Brantley, Chris Kelley, Billy Hudson, Jimmy
Marion, Tim Tidwell, Mary Ellen Yockman. Also part of the
dramatization were Andrea Markwalter, Brian Markwalter and Phil
Stefano. The re-enactment meant a lot to the congregation who came with
guests, and there were many non-Catholic visitors. It was also quite
meaningful to the members of the cast. Several of them will be sharing
their feelings about it at Coffee and Conversation, the adult discussion
group, on Sunday, April 22. (Photo by Berry)
Collection might be used. In a broader
sense, it has already caused a certain
amount of thought about what the
church’s message and mission really is,
and how this can best be presented
throughvtelevision, radio and the press.
The Church has a rich store of
resources upon which to draw, in terms
of media material. Perhaps, following
the lead of “Jesus of Nazareth,” we will
see further dramatization of biblical
stories and themes. Perhaps the prayer
life of the church can be presented, in
all its richness and variety -- from the
ancient chants of monastic life,
congregational music and psalmody,
silent and contemplative prayer, to the
spontaneity of charismatic prayer
today. Perhaps the history of the
Church will provide dramatic themes,
showing as it does the working out of
the covenant through the ages and the
continuing rediscovery of religious
principles. Producers may find other
fertile sources in the lives of the Saints,
or in the ritual of the Church, so
appealling to many people today in an
age of informality. Perhaps there may
be a modern version of the morality and
miracle plays of the middle ages. The
possibilities are almost endless.
In the new enthusiasm that is
generated by the Campaign, the
important place of the Catholic Press
should not be forgotten. Grand schemes
for further use of electronic media
should not allow us to forget that we
need the Catholic newspaper alive and
well, and that existing services (such as
the Paulist presentations and “spot”
announcements) should continue to
play their part.
It will be important, also, to avoid
the hard-sell, fundamentalist type of
message whcih comes over in some
religious broadcasting - the kind which
urges viewers to prepare for a day of
doom, to embrace an emotional creed
or cult, - and to send dollars. In the face
of heavy competition, we need also to
avoid the temptation to come up with
some “catchy” or superficial theme to
attract the viewer or listener. Even in
the swiftly-changing world of today,
there is a real hunger for the ancient
truths and eternal values the Church has
to offer. We need to give people more
credit than we do, for their
discernment, and for their appreciation
of quality.
There is a great vitality available in
the Church itself, in the family, and in
the fact that there is still a community
of people who share strong beliefs. The
values of the Gospel have a healing
power that goes far beyond the “fast
relief” sought by many today.
In the long run, the concept of the
Campaign may well turn out to be more
important than the actual collection of
dollars for Communications. Through
the use of media, the Church will have
its opportunity to counter the
“doomsday sales” with its own message
of hope - the “Share my joy” which is
the Campaign theme, taken from John’s
Gospel and the account of Christ’s
discourse, at the Last Supper.