OCR Text |
Show Kramer film debut 'iignites controversy ei: By J ERI ANDERSON loj. Chronicle Staff 'Bless the Beasts and Children" is itill running after it made its ivorld premiere at Century 22 : Theater in August. .Hi 0, Stanley Kramer, the producer and rir director, was here in Salt Lake injuring the film's debut to accept s responsibility for all criticism. lt:n a debate on a local program, ;Face-to-Face, Heber Woolsey, 'Sublic relations director of the irWormon church owned university, rt Brigham Young University, which ''banned screening of the film on " bampus, declared: "Anyone who m,'lises garbage for your film is using '"it incorrectly. That is an apol- ' ogy" in: The "too real for our people" and Infilled with garbage" statement ivas made by Jay Eitner, business S:nanager of the university's Varsity Var-sity Theater, who ordered the fanning of the film when Kramer l ippeared on campiis for a semin- ir. OS ili'The principal reason for the k janning,"said Woolsey, "was because be-cause at times during the movie, tshe children and adults made light n:ouches of Jesus Christ in their l anguage." He also referred to a Oinasturbation and urination scene litis distasteful. "ramer, on the other hand, took he position that the language in he film was not blasphemous, hat the use of certain language nakes it a part of everyday voc-ibulary, voc-ibulary, even though he doesn't ipprove of it. Apparently Mr. Kramer had an insight as to what the reaction to 1!:he film would be in this area. 'Even with the criticism it was tiven, "Bless the Beasts and Chil dren" has been one of the most controversial films for sometime and ticket sales are still soaring. The film, based on a book by Glendon Swarthout, portrays a summer stay of six misfit teen-age boys at the Hidden Valley Ranch for Boys. Of the six portrayals, two stand out particularly - Cotton, Cot-ton, Barry Robins and Shecher, Miles Chapin. Their roles were most dramatic and required much acting skill. The characters, with their different differ-ent personalities made people in the audience cry or feel rebellious and they end up re-defining the word "Beasts." These six boys have one set desire, to free a herd of buffalo from the people who enjoy killing what they refer to as "misfit" or "dying" animals. The boys feel that by freeing the buffalo they will be freeing themselves as well. The impact of the film leaves the audience wondering what the true plot is. Some look at it with reference to gun control while others find it an easier way to digest "The Lord of the Flies.". The confrontation between Mr. Kramer and Mr. Woolsey came following the film's ban and the placement of half page ads in the local papers by Mr. Kramer addressed ad-dressed to BYU: "But whatever our differences, if you were to build the walls of this great university 50 feet higher into the sky, you will never manage man-age to block out ideas and the right of discussion from your studentbody." The film now deserves to find a wide audience. Yes, bless the beasts and children. . .bless Stanley Stan-ley Kramer too. |