Newspaper Page Text
TV Docudrama Focuses
On AIDS-Infected Babies
PAGE 9 — The Georgia Bulletin, April 20, 1989
BY JUDITH TROJAN
AND HENRY HERX
NEW YORK (NC) -
Perhaps the most heart
breaking victims of the
AIDS epidemic are
children infected at birth
through their mothers or
later through tainted blood
transfusions.
A new made-for-TV
movie, “The Littlest Vic
tims,” covers the true
story of the compassionate
Newark, N.J., pediatrician
who first detected AIDS in
children. The docudrama
airs Sunday, April 23, 9-11
p.m. EDT on CBS, WAGA,
Channel 5.
Opening in 1982, the film
follows pediatrician-
immunologist Dr. James
Oleske (Tim Matheson)
and his dedicated staff at
Newark’s Children’s
Hospital of New Jersey as
they face the deaths of a
growing number of inner-
city children.
The deaths, caused by a
mysterious disease that
As part of its “Together
We Can Help: AIDS
Awareness Month” offer
ings, GPTV, Channel 8 will
air three programs to close
out its monthlong focus on
the disease.
“The AIDS Quarterly,” a
60-minute program dealing
with the medical aspects of
the epidemic, airs Tues.,
April 25, at 8 p.m.
Included in the program
will be a segment on AIDS
research and its implica
tions for the science of
psychoneurommunology; a
profile of two doctors and
how AIDS has affected
their practice of medicine;
and an examination of how
billions of dollars of federal
research money is spent.
impairs the immune
system, frustrates Oleske
until he sees that AIDS
may be the culprit. His col
leagues are slow to accept
his diagnosis or to finance
further research, believing
AIDS to be a disease affect
ing only homosexuals and
intravenous drug users.
Out of fear and ignorance,
few in the medical profes
sion or government in the
early 1980s were willing to
acknowledge that the
disease went beyond
homosexual and drug-
abuse circles.
As Oleske struggles to
gain funding and staffing
for his lonely battle, he’s
forced to stand by helpless
ly as more and more babies
die. He also must calm con
fused, grief-stricken par
ents who suffer a double
blow when they learn that
they may have passed on
the disease to their off
spring or innocently sanc
tioned a tainted blood
transfusion for their child.
Immediately following,
at 9 p.m., GPTV will air
“AIDS: Your Questions
Not surprisingly, Ole-
ske’s own family and
health suffer due to his
24-hour dedication to his
patients and his fight to
educate his skeptical col
leagues.
“The Littlest Victims” is
a compassionate and
frightening behind-the-
scenes look at the early
AIDS epidemic. It is com
forting to know that thanks
to the foresight and
brilliance of Oleske and his
small staff, the presence of
AIDS in infants was
discovered. But viewers
will not be favorably
predisposed toward homo
sexuals or IV drug users
after being told that this
horrible disease began with
them.
“The Littlest Victims” is
suitable for older adoles
cents and adults and pro
motes education and com
passionate care in the on
going fight against AIDS,
no longer a disease of
“other people.” ¥
Answered,” during which a
panel of local experts will
answer callers’ questions.
Mass Televised
SUNDAY, APRIL 23
THE CATHOLIC MASS - The Mass will be tele
vised at the following times:
8:30a.m. on WOR-TV (Channel 14on Prime Cable).
9 a.m. on WGN-TV (Channel 15 on Prime Cable).
10 a.m. on WVEU-TV (Channel 69).
The Mass for the Fifth Sunday of Easter will be
celebrated by Father James Lloyd, C.S.P. The pro
gram is produced by Passionist Communications. To
obtain a missalette for the Mass, write Passionist
Communications, Inc., The Sunday Mass, P.O. Box
440, Pelham, N.Y. 10803.
‘POSITIVE’ MESSAGE — Shelley Long calls her troops to a halt in
“Troop Beverly Hills.” The U.S. Catholic Conference describes the
film as “surprisingly entertaining fluff thanks in large part to Shelley
Long’s comedic talents.” Due to fleeting rough language and minimal
sexual innuendo, the USCC classification is A-II — adults and
adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America ratings is PG
— parental guidance suggested. (NC photo from Columbia Pictures)
Film Revives "Feel-Good" Plot
NEW YORK (NC) -
Even if you're not a
baseball fan, you’re sure to
enjoy “Major League”
(Paramount), a light
hearted comedy about
some misfit ballplayers
who rally for one rousing
last hurrah.
Although there’s nothing
new here, writer-director
David Ward (screenwriter
of “The Sting”) has a fun
time whipping his team of
losers into shape for the big
game. With over 30 years of
losses, the Cleveland In
dians sit at the bottom of
the majors, which is fine
with the team’s new owner,
Rachel Phelps (Margaret
Whitton), who hopes to
close out one more season
in last place and move the
franchise to Miami. In
FILM RATINGS
NEW YORK (NC) — Here is a list of recent films the U.S. Catholic Con
ference Office for Film and Broadcasting has rated on the basis of moral
suitability.
The first symbol after each title is the USCC classification. The second
symbol is the rating of the Motion Picture Association of America
(MPAA).
USCC classifications: A-I — general patronage; A-II — adults and
adolescents; A-III — adults; A-IV — adults, with reservations (this in
dicates films that, while not morally offensive in themselves, are not for
casual viewing because they require some analysis and explanation in
order to avoid false impressions and interpretations); O — morally offen
sive.
MPAA ratings: G — general audiences, all ages admitted; PG —
parental guidance suggested, some material may not be suitable for
children; PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned that some material may be
inappropriate for children under 13; R — restricted, under 17 requires ac
companying parent or adult guardian; X — no one under 17 admitted
(age limit may vary in certain areas).
The Accidental Tourist,
A-III (PG)
The Accused, O (R)
The Adventures of Baron
Munchausen, A-II (PG)
B
Babette’s Feast, A-II (G)
Bagdad Cafe, A-III (PG)
Beaches, A-III (PG-13)
Bert Rigby, You’re a Fool,
A-III (R)
Bill and Ted’s Ex
cellent Adventure, A-III (PG)
The Burbs, A-II (PG)
C
Chances Are, A-III (PG)
Child’s Play, O (R)
Cousins, O (PG-13)
Crossing Delancey, A-III
(PG)
Cyborg, O (R)
D
Dangerous Liaisons, O (R)
Dead-Bang, O (R)
Dead Calm, A-IV (R)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,
A-III (PG)
The Dream Team,
A-III (PG-13)
Dream a Little Dream, A-III
(PG-13)
F
Farewell to the King,
A-III (PG-13)
A Fish Called Wanda, O (R)
Fletch Lives, A-III (PG)
The Fly II, O (R)
G
Gleaming the Cube,
A-II (PG-13)
H
Heat and Sunlight, O
(No Rating)
Her Alibi, A-III (PG)
I
I’m Gonna Git You Sucka,
O (R)
Jacknife, A-III (R)
The January Man, O (R)
L
Lean on Me, A-III (PG-13)
Leviathan, A-III (R)
M
Major League, A-III (R)
Married to the Mob, A-III (R)
The Mighty Quinn, A-III (R)
Mississippi Burning, A-IV (R)
Mystic Pizza, O (R)
N
The Naked Gun: From the
Files of Police Squad! A-III
(PG-13)
New York Stories, A-III (PG)
P
Paperhouse, A-III (PG-13)
Pelle the Conqueror, A-III (No
rating)
Physical Evidence, A-III (R)
Police Academy 6: City Under
Siege, A-II (PG)
R
Rain Man, A-III (R)
The Rescuers, A-I (G)
S
Sing, A-III (PG-13)
Skindeep, O (R)
T
Tequila Sunrise, A-III (R)
The Thin Blue Line, A-III (No
rating)
Things Change, A-III (PG)
Torch Song Trilogy, O (R)
Troop Beverly Hills, A-II
(PG)
True Believer, A-III (R)
Twins, A-III (PG)
W
Who’s Harry Crumb?, O
(PG-13)
Wings of Desire, A-IV (PG-13)
Women on the Verge of a Ner
vous Breakdown, A-IV (R)
Working Girl, A-IV (R)
return, she’ll win some
cushy perks for herself.
To reach her goal,
Rachel hires players least
likely to succeed. Burned-
out old-timers and
unseasoned rookies des
cend on spring training and
leave a trail of losses in
their wake. But these guys
are survivors, despite
Rachel’s plot to make their
life miserable (they com
mute to games in a pro
peller plane with wings
repaired with duct tape,
and locker-room amenities
such as hot water are non
existent). The team begins
to win some games thanks
to their levelheaded
manager, Lou Brown
(James Gammon). And
when they find out about
Rachel’s underhanded
scheme, team spirit soars
and they go for the gold.
Strapped with a feel-good
plot as old as the hills,
“Major League” is fun and
funny due to inspired
casting and characters who
don’t take themselves too
seriously.
Standouts include Tom
Berenger as Jake Taylor, a
one-time promising catch
er with bad knees who
just wants one more
chance to play big-time
baseball and another
chance with his former
love, Lynn (Rene Russo, a
Susan Sarandon look-
alike). Charlie Sheen is a
standout as steel-jawed
“Wild Thing” Rickie
Vaughn, a rookie punk
pitcher and graduate of the
California Penal League
who has bad eyesight.
Corbin Bernsen (“L.A.
Law”) is perfectly cast as
vain, pretty-boy Roger
Dorn, who is more concern
ed with his looks and his
stock portfolio than with
catching wild balls.
Especially funny are
Wesley Snipes as Willy
Mays Hayes (he can run
fast, but will he ever hit a
ball?) and ballplayer-
turned-actor Bob Uecker
as the Indians’ sports-
caster Harry Doyle.
The most noteworthy
aspect of “Major League”
is that it doesn’t sink in a
sea of “Rocky-itis.” There
is a boring love story, but it
takes a back seat to the
baseball action. And,
thankfully, there are none
of the other soapsuds nor
mally found in feel-good
movies. The guys are
likeable, their humor is
light and their win, though
expected, is rousing. “Ma
jor League” shows that
team spirit can actually be
fun.
Due to much locker-room
language and two implied
sexual trysts, the U.S.
Catholic Conference clas
sification ia A-III — adults.
The Motion Picture
Association of America
rating is R - restricted.
‘Dead Calm" (Warner
Bros.)
A taut psychological
thriller expertly directed
by Australian Phillip
Noyce that tracks a couple
(Sam Neill and Nicole Kid
man) terrorized at sea by a
psychopath (Billy Zane)
who overtakes their sailing
yacht. A real nail-biter that
showcases powerful tech
nical credits and a refresh
ingly resourceful female
heroine, but is unfortunate
ly hampered by some im
ages of horrific violence
that may prove off-putting
to some adult audiences.
Some gratuitous violence
and a brief graphic sexual
encounter with nudity. The
U.S. Catholic Conference
classification is A-IV —
adults, with reservations.
The Motion Picture
Association of America
rating is R — restricted.