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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (June 11, 1981)
G- 5 ■= — 3 cs 3 , ,—^ {-!-< au based on altered If you spent a few precious hours of study time last semester viewing the film "Excalibur," you might not realize you were getting an education at the same time. Stories about the movie's hero King Arthur date back to the sixth century, while references to the sought-after Holy Grail came along 600 years later, says a Texas A&M University history pro fessor. "Many people may not realize that the king's character is believed to have been based on a true Celtic king, Arthur, whosp coal was to unite hie r>wn people in battles against the Anglo-Saxons wanting to take Britain," said Dr. Z. J. Kosztolnyik. "Arthur lived in the early 500s, during the time the Celts were at war among themselves. He managed to unite them in victorious battles against the Saxons. After returning home, however, Arthur was killed in the linger ing civil war." The Arthurian legend has its roots in northern England as Celtic folklore. It was revived in a 12th century history of Britain's kings by Goeffrey of Mam- mouth. The Holy Grail was mentioned first in medieval French literature. "The quest-for-the-Holy-Grail theme was carried on by 13th century French prose romances, which gave it Christian significance," Kosztolnyik said. "They linked it with the cup used by Christians at the Last Supper and with the story of Joseph of Aramathea, who used the cha lice to catch the dripping blood of Christ on the cross." St. Joseph reportedly took the chalice from Jerusalem to Rome and then to French soil, said the professor, and while legend reports it being in England, there are no documents showing that it was ever taken there. In the 15th century. Sir Thomas Mal ory took the tales, mostly from French sources, and translated them into En glish. Malory accounts for the king win ning the sword by pulling it from the stone. In the same work he also suggests the sword was given to Arthur by the Lady of the Lake, to whom it would eventually return. In "Morte d'Arthur," by Malory, Sir Bedivere takes the sword and throws it back into the lake, while Arthur lies mor tally wounded following his last battle. So the tales of Arthur and Round Table of knights, while not entirely true, do have a basis in either fact or folklore. THIS WEEK Movies Check theatres for specific times and prices. Movies subject to change without notice. All list ings are current through press time. Campus Theater 846-6512 Nighthawks: Sylvester Stal lone leaves his "Rocky" image behind to portray a tough New York detective who is after an imported German assassin. Billy Dee Williams stars as his part ner, and together they race the clock to stop the terrorist. Persis Khambatta (who used to be bald in "Star Trek, The Motion Pic ture") also stars. Rated R. Inside Seeka: Exactly how far inside this film actually goes, we would rather not know. You can find out for yourself Thursday, Friday and Saturday at mid night. Rated XXX. Manor East 823-8300 Raiders of the Lost Ark: A col laboration of Steven "Jaws" Spielberg and George "Star Wars" Lucas. A high-energy, 30s drama featuring Doc Savage and The Shadow type action. Harrison Ford stars as a mercen ary-adventurer-archaeologist in competition with Nazis sear ching for the lost tablets from the ark of the covenent. Hitler is interested in the occult, Ford is the good guy. Rated PG. Nice Dreams: This movie is not as good as the first two Cheech and Chong movies. Which means that it is actually an extremely poor movie, although it might be o.k. if you like this sort of thing — and if you do, try your local drug re habilitation center. Thomas Chong and Cheech Marin en counter more of their favorite things. See the movie yourself to find out what they are. Rated R. Outland: 007 trades in his gun for a space laser. Sean Connery stars as the Law of Jupiter. Prob ably not as good as "Alien" or "Saturn V" but we tend to con fuse all of those outer space epics anyway. In Dolby Stereo. Rated R. No midnight movies during the summer. The Grove 845-2916 All movies start at 8:45 p.m. unless otherwise indicated. Clockwork Orange: A whole new concept of "Singing in the Rain." Malcolm McDowell stars as a darling British punk who takes violence a bit too far, but luckily the British government wants to save his little soul. The results shouldn't be hilarious, but they are. Brilliantly directed by Stanley Kubrick. Rated R. Thursday night. Foul Play: Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase star in this comedy of love and crime in the big city, San Francisco. Goldie Hawn plays Goldie Hawn, and Chevy Chase falls for her anyway. Fea tures murder, chase scenes, snakes, devious plots and other exciting movie things. Rated PG. Friday night. The Warriors: New York City will never be the same after these gangs finish their cross town chase. They're after the Warriors, who don't plan on getting caught. A suspenseful movie, with a good dose of vio lence. Friday at midnight. Rated R. "10" • The film that shot comrows, Ravel's "Bolero" and Bo Derek to instant stardom. Well two out of three fads aren't bad. Also stars Dudley Moore and Julie Andrews, although no one ever paid much attention to them. Well you should, though — they may not be sexy, but they're funny. Saturday night. Rated R. The China Syndrome: Jane Fonda plays your typical pushy television reporter out to save the world from disaster. Unfor tunately those who control the nuclear power plants would be rich than safe. Also stars Michael Douglas and Jack Lem mon. (Came out before Three Mile Island). Sunday night. Rated R. The Twelve Chairs: A pre- Blazing Saddles Mel Brooks movie, also starring Frank Langella, better known as Dra- cula. Monday night. The Graduate: Dustin Hoff mann and Ann Bancroft star in this classic film which made no sense to most of us when it came out. But now, we are more ex perienced in the ways of the world ... Features the beautiful expressive music of Simon and Garfunkel. August graduates get in free with obvious proof of graduation (more than class ring). Tuesday night. Rated R. The Way We Were: Redford and Streisand — together. What more can we say? A real tearjer- ker. He is a Hollywood writer; she is a perennial activist. They make a perfect couple—almost. The latest news says no sequel is in the making, so better see the first one again. Wednesday night. Plitt Cinema I&II 846-6714 Bustin' Loose: The new and improved Richard Pryor, along with Cicely Tyson, star in this comedy about a parolee and a busload of orphans who en counter the law, the Ku Klux Klan and other All-America in stitutions while traveling through the South. Rated R. The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia: Kristy McNichol and Mark Hamill star in a tale of singing other stuff in the South. Based on a song by Vicki Lawrence, better known as Carol Burnett's sidekick. McNichol's singing sounds like Tanya Tucker, and, for some odd reason, Hamill looks like the actor who played Luke Sky- walker of "Star Wars" fame, but he wouldn't star in a film this corny, would he? Rated PG. Silver Streak: Gene Wilder, a quiet handbook editor, decides to take the train to Chicago from Los Angeles, instead of flying so he can rest and relax. Unfortun ately he encounters murder, horror and organized meanies. Fortunately he gets to romance Jill Clayburgh. He's so desper ate, Wilder needs Richard Pryor help to escape death. Speak of your terror train. Friday and Saturday at midnight. Music Backstage: Guests may eat dinner, or simply enjoy happy hour when draft beer is 35 cents, bar drinks are 75 cents and all call drinks are half price. Grins: Grin's presents Michael Marcoulier Friday and Saturday. Cover is $2.50. Happy hour is 4-7 p.m. weekdays. Lakeview: Tradition continues with Dennis Ivey and The Way- men playing country hits until midnight Thursday. Cover is $1 for women and $3 for men, with Lone Star draught beer 5c a cup. Friday is Rock 'n Roll night, with music by two bands, Albatross and Reflex. Cover is $3. Satur day night, Bill Busby and the Lone Star Express perform. Advance tickets for John Conlee are now on sale for $9 at Music Express, and will be $10 at the door. Ivebels: Rebel's presents the Bill Watkins Band, playing a lit tle bit of everything, with emph asis on country. Music starts at 8 on Friday and 9 on Saturday. No cover. Happy hour features half-price drinks Friday and Saturday. Rosewood Junction: Bill Irving brings his folk music to Rose wood this weekend. Two-for- one happy hour until 7 p.m., no cover. Texas Hall of Fame: Show off those cowboy boots Thursday night while kicking along with the Debonaires from Taylor un til midnight. $2 cover charge. Friday's band is Johnny Lyon and the Country Nu-Notes, from 9 to 1, for a $2 cover. Satur day night, Gary Nail and the Armadillo Express play for a $3 cover. r\rt Exhibit: The art collection of Dr. Lloyd Taylor, former his tory professor at Texas A&M University, is on display at the Memorial Student Center Gal lery. The exhibit features works of female artists.