Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-27

ana leTTy- lnOkuho. Ato FntuC
out on the low vitality Of higher
education, 1t fault q tendency
to let its point get lost in a
storm of standard slapstick.
The non-reader Of Author
Amis petulant first work can
only conclude that he managed
to be both more ferocious and
funny than the movie. This is
not to say that the whole point
Of view of the original has dis
appeared on the screen but
rather that more Of its satirical
sting would be appreciated IN
the Boulting brothers comedy.
One of those universities the /
English call "redbrick" TO dis
tinguish them from their stone
walled betters is the setting OF
Lucky jim"
1t Isl here that the Title
character, and assistant in the
history department, finds him
self trapped in faculty tradi-
ton that is driving him daft.
At term-end and his next years
Job at stake, his dilemma is
one of trading a temptation to
wreck the place for the secur-
ity of further employment.
This is not a decision to be
made of hand and while null
ing it over, the young man
finds himself sinking deeper
into the routine he hates. Par
ticularly is he trapped in the
fuddy -duddy affairs of his de-
partment head, a grazing an
cient who thinks only a return
to madrigal singing can save
England.
AS Lucky JIM" Actor Car
michael's response to this is to
conform where he absolutely
must and to find what relief
he can in getting uproariously
drunk, flirting with the new
chancellor's naive niece, scott
ing at the minor imposterS
around him, and trying to for,
get that he is to give the big
annual memorial address to
the schools, and England's,
past.
John Boulting, the brother
who directs the family pictures,
is never at a loss for something
to keep his title character busy
He can, and does. set him to-
scaling country house walls
which land him in the bed
room of a predatory woman
teacher. picture him on mid
night brandy binge with a
Boxer dog. and show him stalk
ing the pretty girl who wonders
If she is old enough really to
discover life.
These are the materials OF
standard farce, however. and
their over-indulgence blurs the
Young mans Indignation and
leaves him looking sometimes
merely ridiculous.
One suspects that Mr.. An1is
Intended something more. saw
age.
It is a good cast that plays
LUCKY Jim" and each OF its
members has a good enough
idea of his assignment that
something comes through. For
tunately. there is always a
touch of the rebel in Car
michael's hero; of the stuffy
conformist in Terry-Thomas'
phony writer; of the rut-happy
elderly history prof In Hugh
Griffith; and the tentatively
adventurous girl in pretty
Sharon Acker,
~ ~
SCHMALTZ REPERTORY:
The Apex Theater reinforces its
claim to being one Of the
community'S most adventurous
with o brand-new idea.
It's latest notion of fun for
moviegoers is a German OPP
eretta festival, three new,
lavish productions Of famed
musical pot-boilers which will
be run on repertory schedule.
The three, in the order of their
scheduling at the Apex, are
"The Beggar Student" White
Horse Inn," and THE Dancing
Heart"
Sung. danced and acted by
Germany's outstanding stars of
today, the first of the trio will
open on March 5. run three
days and be followed by two
day stands of each of the
others. If the festival is a sue