Newspaper Page Text
Page 7
The Panther
April 11,1980
MOVIES "FOXES"
“CRUISING"
BY SHERRY JONES
Panther Entertainment Editor
“Cruising”, starring Al Pacino,
Paul Sorvino and Karen Allen isa
controversial movie based upon
Gerald Walker’s 1970 novel of
the same tile Cruising.
Patterned after actual crimes,
the movie is a murder mystery
based on a series of brutal
killings of homosexuals in New
York City from 1962 to 1979.
The movie was picketed by gay
activists in New York during the
filming last summer, they
claimed that it only projects a
"negative image of gay life.”
The characters and events in
"Cruising,’’however, were com
piled trom the f ilesof the District
Attorney’s office, the Homicide
Division of the Police
Department, the Medical
Examiner and documented
experiences from undercover
police in New York City.
The S & M heavy leather bars
and sex clubs along the
Waterfront of New York’s Cen
tral Park and the West Village
cru ising area known as the Ram
bles are the scenes for the actual
slayings and for the film.
Released by United Artists, the
Trans America Company clearly
relates that “Cruising” is a world
that exists far from the
mainstream of gay life, and is
experienced by only a few
homosexuals and by almost
none of the straight com
munity.”
A series of unsolved “Bag
Murders” occurred from 1973 -
1979. Limbs and torsos,
dismembered from the body
(some of them mutilated,
wrapped in black plastic bags)
washed ashore near the Hudson
River.
During the 17 year period
(1962 - 79) another series of un
solved killings “crime of pas
sion” occurred.The victims were
mutilated or stabbed several
times.
After extensive investigation,
both “Bag Murders” and "crime
of passion” victims were dis
covered to be homosexuals.
This investigation, along with
complaints that gays were being
harrassed by two policemen,
prompted the police
department to send an officer
undercover.
Steve Burns (portrayed by Al
Pacino) was selected by the Cap
tain of the Major Case Squad to
pose as a homosexual in the gay
community of West Village.
Bums quickly realized that he
would have to change his
appearance. Therefore, he
bought a wardrobe of sneakers,
black boots, tight pants, leather
jacket and studded leather
wristbands.
Cruising the trucks and piers,
he learned the lingo and cus
toms. He also became friends to
homosexuals who later allowed
him to go into the subterranean
leather bars.
Once inside the bars, Burns
trys to uncover the killer. In an
attempt to do so, a gay is arrested
and charged with the murders.
The arrest results in the brutal
beating of the suspect by a huge,
muscular detective wearing only
a jockstrap and a cowboy hat.
The suspect was asked several
questions. If he did not answer
them the way the detectives
wanted him to, the muscular
detective wou Id enter and knock
the suspect around the room.
This scene, along with others
depicting the police
department’s brutal treatment
and attitude toward gays, are one
of the reasons for the con
troversy over the movie.
BY SHERRY JONES
Panther Entertainment Editor
A Casablanca Record and
Filmworks production, released
by United Artists, "Foxes”, is a
story about four teenage girls
struggling with the problems and
pressures of growing up in
today’s teen society.
The girls find their relationship
with each other more fulfilling
than that of their own families.
Their dream, as a result, is to es
tablish their own family unit by
getting their own apartment.
Surrounded by the “plastic
and neon” of Los Angeles’ San
Fernando Valley, the movie gives
a compassionate, realistic look at
the modern teenage girl growing
up all too quickly.
“Foxes” also shows the special
caring and trust among the girls.
Their tolerance and understan
ding of each other makes their
search for self-identify and
maturity more endurable.
The girls, while still struggling
to find themselves, explore the
development of friendships with
boys.
The “Foxes” of the movie are
Kandice Stroh (Deidre), Marilyn
Kagan (Madge), Jodie Foster
(Jeanie) and Cherie Currie (An
nie).
The role of Jodie’s mother is
portrayed by SaJly Kellerman.
KeHerman (Mary in “Foxes”) is
an attractive divorcee. She trys
desperately to re-evaluate her
own life, while at the same time,
cope with the difficulties con
fronting her teenage daughter.
Scott Baio appears as Brad, the
girls' friend. Brad’s loyalty to the
girls and his expertise
skateboarding leads him tomany
adventures.
A 29 year old business man,
Randy Quaid is Jay, the older
man in the life of Marilyn Kagan
(Madge).
Musical features in the movie
included the sounds of Donna.
Summer, Cher, Janice Ian and
Angel. The music focuses upon
the issues encountered by /
today’s teenagers.
“Foxes” was shot, in addition
to the sites in San Fernando
Valley, in the famous Shrine
Auditorium, on top of Lookout
Mountain and at the Inglewood
Park Cemetery.
Kandice Stroh, Marilyn Kagan, Jodie Foster and
Chenie Currie in “Foxes”
THEATRE
IBILACIK
IPIICTJUCC
SUCH'
BY SHERRY JONES
Panther Entertainment Editor
Theatrical viewers finding it
impossible for them to get to the
theatre for curtain call; along
with viewers that are offended
by partial nudity and "profane
language," were advised against
attending "Black Picture Show.”
Bill Gunn's "Black Picture
Show” presented by Proposition
Theatre, was a profound and
controversial play scheduled to
start promptly at 8:00. No one
would be allowed to enter after
this time.
Directed by Walter Dallas, the
play was presented March 18
through March 29 at the Studio
Theater of the Memorial Arts
Center.
“Black Picture Show,”
however, did not start promptly
at 8:00 on Thursday night, March
27. At 8:05 the lights in the rear of
the theatre were dimmed, but at
8:10 people were continuously
entering.
True, it did not start on time,
however, once the play got
under way, time became a very
unimportant factor. It was ap
parent by the audience’s
laughter and applauding, that
the play was worth waiting for.
The play is about a playwright-
film maker named Alexander,
who is forced to choose between
commercialism, insanity and
wealth, or his sanity, integrity
and art.
The playwright-film maker,
while very much in debt, got a
generous offer from a major
movie studio to write a screen
play.
The movie would make him
enough money to get out of debt
and satisfy his wife, Rita’s desire
for the finer things in life.
However, Alexander sighted the
movie as being tasteless and
therefore would put his “artistic
integrity at stake.”
The highest point of
excitement in the play happened
when the film producer, Philipp
(played by Ray Collins) and his
wife, Jane (played by Rebecca
Alworth) come to Alexander’s
home to sign the contract and
have dinner.
Alexander, after dinner,
signed the contract. In doing so,
he signs his integrity and sanity
over to the white producer.
The producer and his wife,
after having Alexander and Rita
masked and roped to chairs,
drew guns and killed them.
Malik Purley and Barbara
Stokes did an excellent job
portraying Alexander and Rita.
However, the best performer
was Atiim Kweli as J.D.
Kweli combined hisactingand
dancing talents to create a sen
sitive, humorous, but serious
character.
J. D. (Kweli), Alexander’s son,
tried to save his father from the
fate of pills, a loss of dignity, his
(Alexander’s) insanity, and the
producer. However, he failed to
get through to him.
The three musicians serving as
the entertainment center in
Alexander’s home, gave the play
a great touch of creativity.
“Black Picture Show” is not a
play that the average person
would take their mother to see.
Yet, it is a very humorous, SHOC
KING, and explosive play that
will remain in the minds of its
viewers.