 Notes from awards committee: 1972 is one of those very rare years when the HC Awards align with the Academy’s top awards. The rooster in the hen house was, without doubt, The Godfather - Here we have a view of organized crime from the executive suite. The film captures the look, mood, and feel of the late 1940’s, and this adds to success of the movie as an outstanding period piece. It should be mentioned that the camera does not look away during some very brutal and bloody scenes. I can understand why some people think the film is too violent. But it fits the storyline and America’s often violent history. Marlon Brando boycotted the academy ceremony, and refused the Best Actor award. He sent Sacheen Littlefeather to bitch about mistreatment of American Indians. Sacheen was later exposed as a Pretendian, a fake Indian. She was born Marie Louise Cruz in Salinas, Calif. The World at Large
Fun Surprises –
Deliverance – This is Burt Reynolds finest hour, as he leads three city boys on a white water canoe trip that goes terribly awry. Spectacular river scenery blends with unspeakable nastiness. This is the original survivalist horror flick. Burt Reynolds is superb as Lewis, the tough outdoors man who sees the dangers that lurk in the hills just a bit more clearly than most. And equally offsetting the evil ruffians is the beautiful scenery of a true American Wild & Scenic river valley. The true star of the movie is the Chattooga River, flowing sometimes gently then erupting into thundering, violent rapids - the Narrows, Drew’s Rock, and the wicked class V, Bull Sluice. Warning. The movie contains about six minutes of savage and sadistic sexual assault that is unfit for decent folks. Keep remote handy and Fast Forward as required. Poseidon Adventure – Take a cruise this year in your living room lazy boy and watch this 70s flick that helped jump start the disaster film genre. Yes, it is decades old, but still entertaining. Also has a good ensemble cast, and cool special effects - the scene when the cruise ship is hit by a tsunami and capsizes is spectacular. The film asks an ageless, fundamental question: if faced with a desperate situation would you fight to survive, or like the masses, do nothing and expect to be rescued? See this movie and watch who is doomed, and who lives. Hint: the movie stars have a much better chance of survival than the extras. The film is spot on following the Formula. I love it. Ulzana’s Raid - This western about an Apache uprising is one of those rare movies with a simple, straightforward plot with few diversions. I was most surprised by the portrayal of the Apaches. The Apache war party is violent, ruthless, and cruel--however the movie doesn't make them monsters. They're just the adversary. At one point the army scout (Burt Lancaster) says, "Hating the Apache is like hating the desert because there isn't any water in it." That line sums up the movie - two small groups of men from vastly different cultures using their stamina, wiles, and skills in a fight to the finish. The movie contains violence and some rather gruesome scenes, but the body count is low compared to modern action flicks. This movie, along with the Professionals, convinced me that Burt Lancaster was one of very best actors of the Western genre. He is convincing and enjoyable to watch as the veteran warrior who knows the ropes of Indian fighting. Super Fly - impacted black culture, ornamentation and dress styles. Young blacks, who could afford it, modified their cars to resemble the hero’s Cadillac Eldorado in the movie, with massive chrome grills and headlight lenses the size of manhole covers. In 1973 Chicago and Detroit blacks looked clownish wearing pimp suits and capes in garish colors, platform shoes, long fur coats and feathered Super Fly hats. Curtis Mayfield’s movie score was wildly popular, and I watched in astonishment as my cousin’s high school dance team (all White girls) danced an energetic routine to the Super Fly theme song. Disappointments - Cabaret - is hailed for celebrating German Weimar Republic decadence, as well as propaganda against the rising Nazi Party. But this film fails as entertainment due to unlikeable characters, and presents utter foolishness with the ridiculous acts at the Kit Kat Club Cabaret. It also fails as anti-Nazi propaganda, in fact, Cabaret often makes the case for rejecting the decadence of the Weimar and considering National Socialism as the better alternative in the 1930s. When the movie premiered in the 1970s, the people, of course, do not embrace or condone National Socialism due to the well-known history of aggressive militarism, harsh eugenics and concentration camps. The mainstream narrative of WW2 being the “Good War” to crush evil has been drilled into all Westerners minds. But once the movie is over, they can at least understand why millions of Germans voted NS in the 1930s. The main character of Cabaret is Sally Bowles, one of the wackiest female characters in movie history, played by Liza Minnelli. Film expert, Trevor Lynch wrote, “Let’s just say that if Sally Bowles is meant to be a mediocre singer with a potato face and potato physique, such that her aspirations to be a great actress are a pathetic delusion, then Minnelli nails the part.” And it is not fair to project the flaws of the movie character onto the actress herself. While the viewer can size up Sally as a phony hedonist with the morals of an alley cat, and dislike her; then you have to agree that Minnelli did her acting job very well.
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