Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 6, 1991 TAG: 9103060128
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Mike Mayo
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
These three, all recent arrivals to home video, aren't first-rate examples of the genre, but they have their moments and are often overlooked.
The most enjoyable of the bunch is \ "A Big Hand for the Little Lady," a tricky comedy/drama from 1966. It's really a Western in setting only. This is the story of a poker game - almost all of the action takes place in the back room of a saloon. There's not a gunfight or chase to be seen, but they'd only get in the way. Solid performances from the stars and a top-drawer supporting cast are the attractions.
Henry Fonda is a reformed compulsive gambler who's on his way to a new beginning in San Antonio with his wife, Joanne Woodward, and son. Their wagon breaks down in a little town where The Big Game is being held by the richest men in the territory: Jason Robards Jr., Kevin McCarthy, Charles Bickford and Robert Middleton. While his wife is taking care of the repairs, Fonda manages to wangle an invitation to the table. Also involved are Paul Ford as the banker and Burgess Meredith as the town doctor.
Sidney Carroll's script could have come from a good pulp short story. The lively, colorful characters are sketched quickly and though there is a certain one-joke quality, the pace never flags. Fielder Cook's snappy direction keeps it moving right along. But again, the film's real appeal is in watching this talented ensemble cast at their best.
\ "The Scalphunters," from 1968, is another comic western with a talented cast and a narrowly focused story. But despite some spectacular scenery and outdoor action, it doesn't fare as well. Burt Lancaster is a trapper who spends the whole movie trying to retrieve his furs. First, they're stolen by a group of Indians. Actually, they force Lancaster to take a slave, Ossie Davis, in exchange for them. The furs are then stolen from the Indians by a group of scalphunters led by Telly Savalas.
Sidney Pollack's direction gets the job done but the script by William Norton is so blatantly political at times that it is dated. At the same time, the energetic action scenes deliver the goods and Elmer Bernstein's score is one of his best. (Don't miss Dabney Coleman and Nick Cravat as two of the bad guys.)
\ "Pocket Money," from 1972, is the weakest of these three, though it has the most potential. It's a contemporary story of a gullible and none-too-bright cowboy (Paul Newman), his unscrupulous pal (Lee Marvin) and their involvement in a cattle-buying scheme in Mexico.
The script by Terrence Malick and John Gay has a few moments of unexpected realism, but the story is paced so slowly that it is pointless, not to mention boring. Yes, it's hard to believe that any movie teaming up Newman and Marvin could be called boring, but this one is. The reason: a complete lack of "buddy" chemistry between the stars. Whenever possible they ignore each other and when they are forced to converse, they seldom make eye contact.
Five years before they made this film, Newman and director Stuart Rosenberg created "Cool Hand Luke." In terms of energy, spirit, originality and sheer enjoyability, "Pocket Money" is the opposite of that popular masterpiece. Win some, lose some.
New release this week
Pump Up the Volume': RCA/Columbia. Starring Christian Slater, Samantha Mathis. Written and directed by Allan Moyle. Rated R for strong sexual material, profanity, brief nudity. 100 min. This teen drama is one of the best films of 1990. It's filled with real anger, angst, humor, sexual insecurity and raw emotion. Though writer/director Moyle resorts to some stock villains and finally brings his provocative mixture to a conventional ending, most of the story crackles with unfocused energy and rebellion. Christian Slater stars as a shy high school student who spins out his sexual fantasies and frustrations, and dispenses advice to alienated suburban teens on a pirate radio station.
What ratings mean:
Wonderful; one of the best of its kind. See it right away.
Very good; definitely worth renting.
Average. You've seen better; you've seen worse.
Poor. Make sure the fast-forward button on your VCR is in good working order.
\ Dud An insult to intelligence and taste. This category is as much a warning as a rating.
THE ESSENTIALS:\ `A Big Hand for the Little Lady' Warner. Unrated, contains no offensive material. 95 min.
\ `The Scalphunters' 1/2 MGM/UA. Unrated, contains mild violence and profanity. 100 min.
\ `Pocket Money' 1/2 Warner. Rated PG for mild profanity, violence. 100 min.
by CNB