The Times

20 TIMES/GUIDE Wednesday, July 7, 1976

entertainment

Only the Great Spirit knows why 'Buffalo Bill' was ever filmed

Paul Newman would be gorgeous with long golden hair, but Paul Newman is gorgeous anyway. Director Robert Altman could vent his self-indulgence in a western and still make a good movie, but he did that with McCabe and Mrs. Miller. The white man's nasty treatment of the Indian would be a fine theme for a movie, but it was done in Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here and I Will Fight No More, Forever. So why in the world was Buffalo Bill and the Indians made? The Great Spirit only knows. For someone who picked Altman's Nashville as the best film in 1975, panning his first entry in 1976 is a wrench, but Buffalo Bill is so disjointed and directionless even its attention to detail, gold-washed photography and competent acting can't save it. The movie is subtitled Sitting Bull's History Lesson and it traces the chief's brief sojourn with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in the mid-1880's. Behind scenes, Joel Grey runs the Wild West Show and Indian interpreter Will Sampson (the massive Chief in One flew over the cuckoo's nest) runs Sitting Bull, who says all he is going to say with facial expressions. Harvey Keitel, as Newman's nephew; Geraldine Chaplin, as Annie Oakley; John Constantin as Annie's husband and the superb Kevin McCarthy as Newman's press agent round out the cast. Chaplin is pixie-faced and cute, Constantin is sweaty and believable, Keitel is a likeable puppy and Grey is a bearded entrepreneur — but they all function in entirely different directions, almost in entirely different movies. Newman is the only cohesive thread, and even he can't do it alone, though he cheerfully tries complete with golden wig, interchangeable opera-singing girlfriends and a dashing white stallion. Sitting Bull manages to confound the Wild West Show, confront the president (Pat McCormick as Grover Cleveland) and confirm the worst we suspect about how badly the Indians were dealt with. The audience hangs in there, trying to absorb the theme and trying to sort out the action. There are short bursts of delight, like when Annie accidently wings her husband, when Buffalo is caught without his hairpiece, when a legend-maker (Burt Lancaster in a cameo role) quips to Bill, "inventing you was the thrill of my life" and a few others. But, sadly, the ultimate result is confusion — prettily photographed, occasionally relieved, whole-heartedly acted, sadly mis-directed confusion.

movie review . . . erica meyer

Chaplin . . . she's cute Newman . . . he tries

THE THIN WEIGH

"MIAMI'S OLDEST DIETERS GROCERY" Complete Grocery for: • Low Sodium • Sugar Free • Low Calorie • Club Plans THE THIN WEIGH 4025 S.W. 96 Avenue Miami, Florida 223-7964 FREE LOW CALORIE ICE CREAM CONE WITH $5.00 PURCHASE

SYMPATHY FLOWERS

CHARGE BY PHONE 7 DAYS A WEEK BEGONIA FLORIST 6803 BIRD RD. 667-2394

Chez Vendome

One of the world's great restaurants "A MUST." Now in our 10th Year. DAVID WILLIAM HOTEL 700 Biltmore Way, Coral Gables For Reservations 443-4646

OUR 52nd SEASON ATOP LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN NEAR CHATTANOOGA, TENN. VALLEY VIEW RANCH

FOR GIRLS 6-17 EST. 1954 • 1000 ACRES OF TRAILS, HUNT FIELDS, SPRINGS, 150 HORSES. • CHOOSE YOUR OWN HORSE TO CARE FOR • INSTRUCTION IN WESTERN, ENGLISH & JUMPING • ACTIVITY & CRAFTS PROGRAM • ONE WEEK WAGON TRAIN • 2, 4 OR 8 WEEK SESSIONS CLOUDMONT FOR BOYS AGES 6-16 EST. 1924 • ADVENTURE CAMP — 3 WEEKS CANOE TRIP . . . WAGON TRAIN . . . MOUNTAIN CLIMBING . . . CAVING • SHADY GROVE CAMP 5 WEEKS YOUR OWN HORSE . . . RANCHING & FARMING • REGULAR CAMP 5 WEEKS GOLF . . . TENNIS . . . SPORTS . . . SNOW SKIING LESSON . . . SWIMMING . . . CRAFTS ETC. WRITE JACK E. OR NANCY C. JONES 3115 S.W. 106 AVE., MIAMI, FLA., 33165 CALL: 552-7782 or 264-3400

Choose from More Than 2,000 Shades LIGHTORAMA

5832 Sunset Dr., Mo.7-8941 IN SOUTH MIAMI REPAIRS PARTS

AFTER YOU HAVE DINED ON OUR AUTHENTIC ITALIAN CUISINE YOU'LL WANT TO COME BACK TO SORRENTO

A TRULY FINE ITALIAN RESTAURANT NOW OPEN 7 DAYS YOUR HOST FOR OVER 29 YEARS VINCENT AMANZIO 3059 S.W. 8th ST., MIAMI, FLORIDA 643-3111

BENIHANA

COME TO JAPAN FOR SUNDAY DINNER. EARLY. Your whole family will enjoy our very special summer fare, served from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sundays only. Complete Dinner - Regular $9.95 PRIME HIBACHI SIRLOIN 6.25 tax and tip not included Niku Dango (exotic meatballs), soup a la Japanese, Benihana salad bowl, vegetables, rice, green tea, ice cream or mandarin sherbet. BENIHANA of TOKYO STEAK HOUSE and TATAMI LOUNGE Major Credit Cards Honored OPEN 7 DAYS 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Commercial Blvd., Fort Lauderdale 776-0111 79th Street Causeway, North Bay Village, Miami Beach 866-2768