This encouraging first feature by a young Vancouver film-maker offers a look at the hard life of B.C. halibut fishermen in locations far off the tourist path-but with scarcely a ripple of drama
With Thursday night’s spotlighted premiere of The Inbreaker at The Orpheum Theatre, Bob Elliott has proved that he can do what he wants to do, and that is to make movies.
His next challenge is to make better movies because The Inbreaker, his first feature, though not a bad film, certainly can be improved on.
Those easily satisfied by a movie, especially when it is made right on their doorstep, will find The Inbreaker has almost everything in it th pass as mild family entertainment.
It gives audiences a tantalizing blend. Of lush and colorful B.C. scenery and a look at natural locations far off the beaten tourist path. It also informs as it entertains, providing a dramatic look at the hard life of B.C.’s halibut fishermen, both at sea and on land.
But despite the efforts of all concerned о stir up an exciting story out of the hared and rivalry of a white fishboat captain and an Indian skipper, the plot barely creates a ripple of suspense and action in 99 minutes of movie.
Elliot, Crawford and Yesno... the challenge is to make better movies
- Glenn Baglo Photo
The screenplay by Jake Zilber and W. I. Sigurgeison is slim in dramatic content and stretched out to fill up time, often with gratuitous, contrived scenes hat do nothing to propel the story, and badded with arch, trite dialogue that dampens interest in the characters.
Banal direction by George McCowan, with unfortunate signs of actual disinterest and a knowledge that the film editor could patch things up later, does a tremendous disservice to these connected with the production who threw themselves into it energetically and seriously.
Werner Franz, who did the editing, and also is responsible for some beautiful second unit camerawork, deserves praise for what he has been able to put in the screen. Miklos' Lente’s cinematography is a plus for The Inbreaker, too, Seldom in a locally-made movie have the scenic qualities been captured with such moody beauty.The trouble is that, With all the eyecatching images in the background, the characterizations — and the lack of hem, too — are flat. Failure to develop hem in the screenplay, and an absence of instructive direction, results in the players themselves having to assume responsibility that is not theirs.Canadian actor Johnny Yesno is the most creative performer in The Inbreaker but the is pampered by some really awkward dialbgue that weakens his intelligent, inbred awareness of his role.
He and American actor Johnny Crawford establish a solid rapport early in the movie and their relationship has a positive land real impact on the drama.
Crawford plays a university I student from the Prairies who goes to Alert Bay to spend the Rimmer fishing to finance his education and repay the money his brother has been giving him. When his brother Christopher George, can’t use him on his boat, Crawford breaks in as a fisherman on Indian Yesno’s boat. That’s why the movie is the Inbreaker.
American Christopher George does everything but twirl his moustache, as the villain of the piece, a sore loser with a deep enmity toward Yesno and a racist superiority to all Indians.
George comes on too strongly much of the time, and when he is not overacting he is so wooden that he could double for an Indian totem pole.The supporting players, all Canadians, have little to do but do it well. Al Kozlik, as George’s partner, is a craggy- faced asset in a well- thought - out portrayal of a rough and ready fisherman Lenny George, trapped in a “typical Indian” role and scalped in a heedless murder scene, is added strength, Pretty Wendy Sparrow, in an unresolved love interest bit, fulfils her role with dignity and warmth. Gordon Robertson, in another unoriginal drunken oldtimer bit, and Jacques Hubeit, ad a beer parlor trouble-maker, pad out the movie with welcome touches of humor.
A mellow but spritely musical score by Grant Horrocks, is a real lifeline for The Inbreaker, rescuing it repeatedly when inertia sets in. And the title song by Michael Palmer has more impetus to it than the story.
The Ipbreaker continues its run today at The Orpheum, Park Royal and Richmond Square theatres nd soon will be seen in more than 30 В.C. communities, andthroughout Canada.
The Capitol Theatre will close its doors in about two mjnths and re-open as a six auditorium complex, it was announced here Thursday by Famous Players Ltd. president George Destounis.
He said the re-development will be a multi - million dollar job and was decided on after sale of The Orpheum to the city because of Famous Players “determinatioh to be represented on Theatre row.”
The plans, according to Leon G. Dirassar, of the Vancouver architectural firm of Dirassar, James and Jorgenson, call for two levels of underground parking and six cinemas on three levels. He said a redevelopment permit application is being processed.
Destounis said every effort will be made to preserve as much of the Capitol as it now exists although, because of the extensive reconstruction, the job almost requires “starting from scratch.”
When the city decided to buy The Orpheurn, Famous Players was left with out 2.800 seats for its movies. Demolition of The Strand deprived the company of another 1.000 seats. The present Capitol has about 1,100 seats. The new Birks’ corner for Vancouver Centre will include a twin theatre that Famous Players will operate.
Main entrance of The Capitol will remain on Granville but there will be another major entrance off Seymour and a walk-through between the streets.
The theatres will be “single purpose.” said Destounis, which means they will be for movies only. Movie attendance — for the first time in Canada in eight years - is up for the first quarter of 1974 and Famous Players is confident of a better flow of product to justify six screens instead of one.
By LES WEDMAN
Entertainment Fri., Juno 14, 1974
Проникновенное понимание чувственных потребностей женщин отражено в скандальной презентации Trans-American Films «The Female Response», открывающейся в театре.
Показанный в документальном стиле, фильм прослеживает эмоциональные и сексуальные проблемы группы женщин, включая секретаря по правовым вопросам, дорогую девушку по вызову, пригородную домохозяйку, привлекательного хиппи и стоматолога-гигиениста. Он драматизирует эпизоды из жизни молодых женщин, выявляя проблемы, которые делают их чувственную жизнь неудовлетворительной, и средства, которые они должны применять, чтобы достичь эмоционального удовлетворения и полноценной любовной жизни.
Важной особенностью фильма является серия уличных интервью, в которых изучается общественное мнение по ряду важных вопросов, таких как индивидуальное отношение к сегодняшней морали и сексу.
A penetrating insight to the sensual needs of women is displayed in “The Female Response,” Trans-American Films’ controversial screen presentation opening at the Theatre.
Shown in documentary style, the film traces the emotional and sexual problems of a group of women, including a legal secretary, a high-priced call girl, a suburban housewife, an attractive hippie and a dental hygenist. It dramatizes episodes in the lives of the young women, bringing out the problems which make their sensual lives unsatisfactory and the remedies they must apply to reach emotional satisfaction and a full love life.
An important feature of the film is a series of on-the-street interviews surveying public opinions on a number of today’s important questions such as individual attitudes toward today’s morality and sex.
На первый взгляд, это могло показаться мгновенным успехом. История Pizza Man, с 22 заведениями, открытыми с февраля прошлого года, восемь в настоящее время строятся и в общей сложности 62 «проданных», читается как демон скорости в сфере франшизы быстрого питания.
Но, как и в случае почти всех мгновенных успехов, более внимательное изучение показывает богатый опыт до применения формулы Желе. Том Хансен, молодой парень, - пицца. Но он не был новичком в ресторанном бизнесе, когда в июле 1967 года открыл свой первый Pizza Man в Голливуде.
Он управлял семью магазинами Chicken Delight, A&W Drive-In, Der Weinershnitzel, Buffalo Bill's и двумя ресторанами Kentucky Fried Chicken до своего приключения в мире моцареллы.
Секрет невероятно быстрого успеха Pizza Man заключается в использовании коммерчески эффективной службы доставки для звонков клиентам на дом. Пицца, доставленная в горячем виде в тяжелом металлическом контейнере, стоит не больше, а иногда и меньше, чем продукты для еды конкурентов. И, кстати, доступен до трех часов ночи.
Том Хэнсон, имея в виду бурно развивающуюся индустрию продуктовых франшиз (например, курицу, рыбу с жареным картофелем и ростбиф), предсказывает, что 1970 год принесет больше неудач "фаст-фуда", чем когда-либо можно было вообразить. По словам Хэнсона: «Старая поговорка« Найди потребность и восполни ее », наконец-то заменяет« Найди место и открой его ».
И удовлетворение потребности (аспект доставки) должно быть ключом к триумфу пиццы. Мы всегда предпочитаем, чтобы они приходили к нам, чем наоборот. Это просто вопрос комфорта, удобства и откровенной лени. Естественно, когда качество и ценность соответствуют нашим стандартам и добавляется немного дополнительных услуг, мы не можем сопротивляться.
Хэнсон утверждает, что в настоящее время Pizza Man продает 20 000 пицц в неделю и насчитывает более 200 сотрудников по доставке. К июню этого года, по его словам, у него будет открыто 40 магазинов, и будет продаваться по 40 000 в неделю.
Это немного моцареллы, друзья мои, а еще чертовски много теста - путешествуя в обоих направлениях.
At first glance it would look like an overnight success. The Pizza Man story, with 22 locations opened since February of last year, eight currently under construction and a total of 62 "sold," reads like the speed demon of the fast food service franchise field.
But like almost all overnight successes, closer scrutiny reveals a wealth of experience before the formula Jells. Tom Hansen, a youngish fellow, is the Pizza Man. But he was no novice in the restaurant business when he opened his first Pizza Man in Hollywood in July '67.
He had operated seven Chicken Delight stores, an A & W Drive-In, a Der Weinershnitzel, a Buffalo Bill's and two Kentucky Fried Chicken spots prior to his venture into the world of mozzarella.
The secret behind Pizza Man’s incredibly immediate success is the utilization of a commercially efficient delivery service to phone-in customers* homes. The pizza, delivered piping hot in a heavy metal container, costs no more, and sometimes less, than competitive eat-in products. And, to boot, it's available until three in the morning.
Tom Hanson, referring to the wildly mushrooming food franchise industry (Le., chicken, fish and chips and roast beef), predicts that 1970 will produce more "fast food" failures than ever imagined poesible. Stated Hanson: "The old saying, 'Find a need and fill it,' is finally going to replace, ‘Find a location and open it”*
And filling a need (the delivery aspect) must be the key to the Pizza Man’s triumph. We always prefer them to come to us than vice versa. It’s merely a matter of comfort, convenience and downright laziness. Naturally, when the quality and value meet our standards and a little extra service is thrown in, we can’t resist it.
Hanson claims the Pizza Man presently sells 20,000 pizzas a week and employs over 200 delivery personnel. By June of this year he says he’ll have 40 stores open, sellbig 40,000 a week.
That's a Jot of mozzarella my friends, also a heckuva lot of dough — traveling in both directions that is.
The Valley News & Green Sheet
- Van Nuys, CA -
4/11/1969