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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 8, 1975)
[ ‘Quixote’ filming By STEVE GOBLE Battalion Staff Writer To bring ballet to those who cannot travel to a cultural center, it is probably necessary to film the production. The costs of maintaining a traveling bal let troop are tremendous, and smaller cities and towns simply cannot provide the large audience and facilities necessary to attract top-rate ballet. If the future popularity of ballet de pends upon film, however, one must hope that the filming can be improved over that presented in Nureyev’s “Don Quixote.’ The cinematography is obnoxious — apparently photographer Geoffrey Un- sworth didn’t have a shorter lense in the bag. The edge of the picture is continually aborting the action and cropping off toes, arms, feet, etc. The film was shot in Austria, far from Don Quixote’s native Spain — and the plot and action are equally removed from Cer vantes classic story. If this ballet were not more than 1(X) years old, one might sus pect that Marius Petipa threw the knight errant into the action as a form of name dropping. The production certainly doesn’t center about Don Quixote, and could probably be carried as a more straightforward story without him and Sancho Panza. Ballet is, at its best, a breathtaking celebration of the power, beauty and agil ity of the human body. It is an expression of human transcendence over ape begin nings. In Nureyev’s “Don Quixote, however, the dancing often seems powerful without control — the dancers run amok, rushing through their movements with a breath less haste, unmindful of the possibilities of controlled speed. The directing drags in the first part of the movie but apparently Robert Helpmann modified his approach after se eing the first takes. Too bad he didn t re shoot the whole thing. On the positive side, Rudolf Nureyev is beautiful, fantastic, every inch the pre mier dancer of the world. Leading lady Lucette Aldous also turns in a creditable performance, and the rest of the artists of the Austrian ballet provide excellent support. Marilyn Rowe is par- ticularly striking in a cameo role as a street dancer. The costumes and sets are rich — unfor tunately for the color, parts of the film were apparently processed in a mud pud dle. The comic emphasis of this ballet is par ticularly suited to a filmed treatment, which can zoom in for close-ups of facial expression. Surrealistic sequences during Don Quixote’s hallucinations and dreams are well-done, but the Don is not really a part of the story. Nureyev cleaned up the 19th-century choreography and helped direct the film, but he wasn’t happy with it and is demand ing more control over future productions. As a ballet, "Don Quixote” is a curiosity and, at the low price of admission, worth seeing merely for the good sequences with Nureyev. As a movie, it’s two hours of mild enter tainment. The crowd Monday night was sparse — only about 30 people attended. About 120 saw last Sunday’s showing, but an MSC Review Book highlights grass By DON MIDDLETON Battalion StafT Writer THE GRASSES OF TEXAS; by Frank W. Gould with drawings by Vallo Kupadia and others (Texas A6cM University Press), $20.00. Consistent with its goal of publishing scholarly works relating to fields of study at Texits A&M Universitv, the A&M Press has released THE GRASSES OF TEXAS, by Dr. Frank W. Gould, professor of Range Science at Texas A&M University. The book is a massive compilation of grasses indigenous to Texas, with techni cal descriptions and drawings. The descriptions are scientific enough to make identification accurate, but writ ten in an understandable manner. Ran chers and farmers unfamiliar with Latin terms should find the book readable. They include information for identifica tion, period of flowering and the geog raphical distribution of the particular species. An added bonus is the large amount of line drawings, a feature usually lacking in a technical work of this type. The book is not a work the general pub lic will buy for easy reading. But it will be a valuable addition to the field of range sci ence, as a guide for professional botanists as well as ranchers and farmers, and as textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses. Rolling Stones THE BATTALION WEDNESDAY, OCT. 8. 1975 Disappointing music Page terrible ) Directorate spokesman admitted to disap pointment over the attendance so far. With a ballet company booked for November and another booked for March, perhaps the College Station market for ballet has been saturated. The “South-Central Texas Premiere” of Rudolph Nureyev’s “Don Quixote” con tinues at the Rudder Theater Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Be prepared to stay awake — the movie contains no dialog but is carried by a nearly continuous score composed by Ludwig Minkus. By JOHN VANORE Battalion StafT Writer In its own right, “Metamorphosis” isn’t bad. However, in light of what we know the Stones to be capable of, it’s really disap pointing. Despite some occasional high points, it’s mostly mediocre. And no group, even the Rolling Stones, can survive stagnation or mediocrity. “Metamorphosis has quite a few stories behind it. A while back, the Stones, in an attempt to fulfill a contract obligation, presented a package of old, unreleased songs to Abkco, their former management. Abkco turned it down in favor of the tracks on “Metamorphosis,” which were never intended for public release. Some were alternate takes of oldies, and others were unreleased. It is because the Stones never release stuff like this on their own that they’re still the greatest band in the world. Bill Wyman, the Stones’ bassist, h suggested that Mick Jagger is the on Stone on the album. He thought trad featuring Jagger singing lead were wi session musicians. Since the tracks a from 1964-67, memories are fuzzy, esp cially since there are no written notes. . Abkco seemingly suspected this, ai “The Rolling Stones” appears only on tl jacket spine, as though they were trying j hide it. They’re probably playing it safij The album is a curiosity more than an thing else. As a true metamorphosis, it fails mise ably. It doesn’t follow any traceable line | progression in the Stones’ musical odyj sey. It has no session information on wl played what, when. Andrew Oldham, the Stones’ form producer, wrote the liner notes— son j impressive name-dropping and little els' In addition to individual Stones, Graha Nash, Jimmy Page, Gene Pitney, and J of Paul Jones are credited with performanci on the album. Side Two gives some cause for op timism. A Jagger/Richard composition, “Jivii Sister Fanny,” gives Side Two a sha kick. Jagger weaves his words loose around a driving riff, and Richard’s guitl licks during the break of the possib “Beggar’s Banquet” out-take are in fii form. “Downtown Suzie ’ is Bill Wyman s so contribution to the collection. A loo: blues jam is the groundwork that Jaggi builds his vocals on. It is doubtless one the best tracks here. Mick Jagger s idea of the family is ma< perfectly clear on “Family,” a bleak c : also taken from the “Beggar’s Banque' sessions. It's about a household full cripples and whores. The smoothness so obvious on “Out > Time” is missing on “Memo from Turner The rough edges here on the guitar ai = vocals give it an abrasiveness that was lac r ing on the movie soundtrack version. Tl| raw bluntness of this take is the prin 1 factor which puts it head and shoulde above the original. i| "I Don’t Know Why ” is a Stevie Wondo tune mistakenly attributed to Jagge Richard/Taylor. The guitars, definite E the work of Keith Richard, date the soi' from the “Let It Bleed” era. ') Stylistically, “If You Let Me” relate back to the days of “Between the Buttons' with its tragi-comic tone. Its lyrics displat, that distinctive satirical flair. Scratch, a drama set in the colonial period of the United States, tells of Dan iel Webster s infamous bout with the Devil, or Scratch. In its second week of production, curtain time is 8 p.m. Wed- nesdax through Saturday. Tickets are available in the MSC Box Office or at the door. Special lighting and make-up effects coupled with good acting make this the Aggie Players’ production to see. Lost Horizons, the 1935 vintage show, will curtain at 8 p.m. in the Rudder The ater Wednesday . The story deals with a utopian city cradled in the Himalayas and what happens when outsiders arrive. favorite topic “Man of the Future (Su perman?) as the first of a series of lectures. He is a member of the NATO task force working on genetic control and has received numerous citations for his teaching. His lecture will be in room 504 of the Tower at 7:30 p.m. Frank Mankiewicz has authored two books on the effects of Richard Nixon on politics. He will speak on liberalism in politics on Oct. 15 at 8 p.m. in the MSC Ballroom. Mankiewicz served as McGov erns national political director in 71. Genetic comic and lecturer. Dr. Gerard O Donovan, will speak on his The Bryan-College Station Chamber Orchestra will perform Oct. 16 at 1:30 p.m. in the MSC Lounge and 8 p.m. in the Rudder Forum. The performance is free. Conductor is Dr. Charles Johnson from Sam Houston State University. Featured soloist is Rennee Hostetler playing the first movement of Chopin’s piano con certo in F minor. Play It Again Sam, another Woody Allen parody, will be shown at midnight Friday in the Rudder Theater. Allen finds himself turning to his idol, Hum phrey Bogart, to find advice about re lieving frustrations in handling women. Sleeper is Woody Allen s glance into the probable, maybe not possible, future. Allen enters a hospital for surgery and finds himself awake 200 years into the future. The movie will be shown in the Rudder Theater at 8 and 10 p.m. Thurs day . Jules and Jim, a film by Francois TruHaut, will show at 8 p.m. Monday in the Rudder Theater. It s the story of a woman who loves and must have two fraternal friends. Games of Angels, a film dealing in imagery that suggests the hor ror of concentration camps, will also be shown. Dr. Cleve Want will lead dis cussion of the films. ROBERT HALSELL TRAVEL SERVICE AIRLINE SCHEDULE INFORMATION FARES AND TICKETS DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL m CALL 822-3737 1016 Texas Avenue — Bryan Le n The SILVER FAWN gift 6 §/iop TURQUOISE & STERLING SILVER DO-IT-YOURSELF: Sterling Silver Beads Turquoise Nuggets Cones Hooks & Eyes Shell Heshei Liquid Silves Tiger Tail Cord FED MART SHOPPING CENTER - SUITE 404 COLLEGE STATION 846-7877 COME ONE! COME ALL! BOOKS! BOOKS! BOOKS! NEW SHIPMENT JUST ARRIVED OVER 1500 TITLES PAPER BACKS 95c HARD COVERS $1.95 ALL NEW COPIES • ALL SUBJECTS 3RD ANNUAL BOOK SALE TEXAS A&M BOOKSTORE The Aggie Players present RUDDER CENTER FORUM October 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11 8:00 p.m. Tickets at MSC Box Office or at the door Students $1.50, $1.75, $2.00 Others $2.00, $2.25, $2.50 RODEO PICTURES Tf.f !• rrt from the All-Aggie Rodeo ) Call 846-3574 or 845-1048 TAMU FLYING CLUB GET ’EM OFF 8:00, THURS., OCT. 9 ROOM 401 RUDDER TOWER fttprnamba Eddie Dominguez '66 Joe Arciniega '74 Greg Price s'" If you want the real thing, not frozen or canned . . We call it "Mexican Food Supreme." Dallas location: < 3071 Northwest Hwy_ 352-857C C0URTEA HAIR DESIGNERS SHAG CUT In the Memorial Student Center A PULL SERVICE SHOP FOR THE DISCRIMINATING MAN RADIAL CUTS SEBRING STYLE PROMPTER WE USE & RECOMMEND ALL RK ACID BALANCED PRODUCTS *■**£11 cut DORTHY DUNN °wn*r CALL FOR APPOINTMENT 823-7217 3808 OLD COLLEGE RD. - NEXT TO TRIANGLE BOWLING - BRYftN