The Collegian, Wednesday February 15
Black Actors at the Oscars
Part three
by Daryl Davidson
Collegian Staff Writer
Around this time of the year,
much attention is given to
famous blacks and to the
Academy Awards, or Oscars.
-To date, only 23 black actors
have made the Oscar scene,
although there have been
hundreds and hundreds of
nominations for acting roles. Of
these blacks, only three received
Oscars before the 19705: Hattie
McDaniel, for "Gone with the
Wind"; James Baskette, for
"Song of the South"; and Sidney
Poitier, for "Lillies of the Field."
Although there were only five
black actors nominated in the
70s, all the bids were for leading
roles.
In 1971, James Earl Jones was
up for Best Actor, thanks to "The
Great White Hope."
In the film, Jones played Jack
Jefferson, a boxing champion.
He was no stranger to the role:
he had already won a Tony Award
and a Drama Desk Award for his
Broadway performance in the
Pulitzer Prize-winning play on
which the -film is based. •
ACROSS 35 Disclosed
37 Fat *around
1 Deadly kidneys
6 Thick slices 38 Pedal digit
11 Coalition 40 Supercilious
13 Steadfast person
14 Either
43 Falsifiers
15 Eccentric
17 Either 4
Ventilate 5 The sun
18
46 Teutonic deity
Ardent 47 Colorful birds
20
49
21 Drinking vessel
50 Behold!
Rescind
24 Dioce§e
22 Light - meals
52 Kind of poem
54 Declare
25 Workbench 55 Aches
device
26 Drinks slowly
28 Fairy 1 Raft
30 Approach , • 2 Eagles' nests
32 Chimney carbon 3 Symbol for
33 Smaller tantalum
COLLEGE PRESS SERVICE
in a series
Jefferson was modeled on
controversial Jack Johnson, the
first black heavyweight champion
of the world. (After Johnson
knocked out his white opponent,
films of live fights were banned.)
But the Academy named George
C. Scott Best Actor, for
"Patton." Scott refused the
award, becoming the first to do
so.
By the early 70s, the film
industry discovered that there was
a demand for black-oriented films.
This period could be considered a
landmark one, not only for black
oriented films (such as "Shaft,"
"Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss
Song," "Watermelon Man" and
"Superfly"), but for black actors
as well.
In 1973, Paul Winfield and
Cicely Tyson were in the
respective leading Oscar races for
"Sounder." In this Depression
era tale about a Louisianna
sharecropping family, Winfield
and Tyson portrayed Nathan and
Rebecca Morgan.
In the filth, Morgan is sent to
prision after he steals some food
for his family. Rebecca then
carries on and holds the family
together.
One of Tyson's Competitors for
42 Sin
DOWN
the Best Actress title was former
Supremes lead-singer Diana
Ross, who was recognized for her
portrayal of tragic blues legend
Billie Holiday in "Lady Sings the
Blues."
Ross made her screen debut in
this rags-to-riches story. Critics
praised her, although some of
them said she was playing herself
instead of "Lady Day."
However, the top Oscar honors
went to Liza Minnelli, for
"Cabaret," and Marion Brando,
for'"The Godfather." Brando
refused his award, too.
The other black actor nominated
in the '7os was Diahann Carroll,
who got a Best Actress bid in
1975 for her gritty portrayal of a
Harlem welfare mother of six, in
"Claudine." (Claudine's suitor, a
garbage man, was played by
James Earl Jones.)
No other black actor was
nominated until 1982. And,
although the releases of 1989
will not be nominated until next
February, the 'Bos have already
brought more Academy Award
nominations to black actors than
any other decade has.
Weekly
Cniissworc
Puzzle
4 Mature 8 Hebrew month
5 Entice . 9 Waist
6 Mix • 10 Kind of fabric
7 100,006 rupees 12 Pitching stats.
13 Soaks
16 Grows old
19 More showery
21 Fingerless
gloves
23 Exhausted
25 Musical
instruments
27 Capuchin
monkey
29 Take unlawfully
31 Retreat
33 Gunner's
compartment
34 Bellow
36 Made of wool
37 Prophets
39 God of love
41 Blemishes
43 Body of water
44 Halt
47 Vessel
48 Nahoor sheep
51 A state: abbr.
53 Symbol for
nickel
The
Movie's Success
No Accident
by David Friend
Collegian Staff Writer
Lawrence Kasden has directed many good films. Included in his
impressive volume of works are such classics as "Silverado" and "The
Big Chill." Now, add "The Accidental Tourist" to that list. Filmed on
location in Baltimore, MD and Paris, France, "The Accidental
Tourist" is a sheer delight to watch. The richest and most rewarding
parts of the movie come from the characters and from the
performances of those involved.
The central and pivotal character in the.movie is Macon, portrayed
by William Hurt. Macon is an introverted travel guide writer. His
work always points to ways of traveling to distant points of the
globe, yet to remain at home doing it_ As the movie opens, Macon
and his wife (played by Kathleen Turner) are still trying to cope with
a loss. A year earlier, a man shot their son while holding up a fast
food restaurant. As evidenced by flashbacks, Macon had never fully
recovered, while all the while retaining an air of acceptance.
- The major activity in the movie occurs when Macon's wife moves
out of their house, and Macon becomes involved with a local dog
trainer: Macon's dog, Edward, provides most of the cometic elements
to Macon's life. For instance, Edward, with the help of stairs and a
skateboard, is the cause of Macon's broken leg. Geena Davis plays
the dog trainer, who is immediately infatuated with Macon. Through
various escapades, Macon has the most interesting time of his life
with the trainer.
I, personally, especially enjoyed this movie. The cast was superb,
perfectly playing their roles. The scenery was beautiful. Most of all,
the movie was interesting. The characters were ones that I
sympathized with. Now, not everyone will enjoy "The Accidental
Tourist" as much as I did, but if your looking for a thoughtful,
entertaining night at the movies, I strongly suggest this movie.
New Order: Dance
by David Friend
Collegian _Staff Writer
Technopop that has a
danceable beat has become a
mainstay of today's pop chart. So
why hasn't new Order become a
very big band? I don't have a
clue. This group practically
invented the technopop genre.
They started out as Joy Division
in the late 70's. After the suicide
of their lead singer, they changed
their name to New Order in 1981.
And after eight years , they still
remain the best and most
innovative with technopop.
The first single from the
album, and the initial track, is a
testament to that ability. "Fine
time," with the use of
synthesizers and a sequencer,
binds a seductive web around the
listener that is hard to escape. No
other group can do what New
Order does with its music.
Another impressive aspect of
New Order is their sheer
musicianship. On initial
listening, this is difficult to
really pick up on. But upon
further reflection of a song, such
small perfections are clearly
evident. Just listen to "Run." The
guitar's use is simply perfect to
the direction of the song. The
closest New Order has come to
the quality they so richly present
******************
*CONCERT CONNECTION 14 1 . c
*Feb. 19 Will to Power & -
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Feb.rFeb. 25 Bill Cosby Front Row, Cleveland ,
25 Poisonffesla Cleveland Colosseum
11. Feb. 27 Harlem Globetrotters Erie Civic Center NI.
*Mar. 25 Bon Jovi Cleveland Colosseum i
Mar. 31
- rk& Ap .1 Gallagher Front Row, Cleveland*
**4-*****************
Page 5
in Technique was their 1985
release Low-life.
But what they have added over
the years is a funky quality to
their music. "Mr. disco" presents
this exactly. The song is about
what it seems, a disco dancer.
However, the lyrics of New Order
songs are almost nonsensical.
So, what makes "Mr. disco"
stand out is its pure danceability.
Every song on Technique is
good. But, of course, some rise
to the top. These are the ones
you simply do not forget. "Mr.
disco" is one such song. The
best, though, is "Dream attack,"
which closes the tape. It not only
has a catchy tune and connects all
the aspects of the rest of the
album together, but the lyrics are
also the best. The most
memorable line from the entire
album is contained in this song.
"Is it really such a sin?/ 'Cause
if it is I give in," just has a
certain ring to it.
Overall, I simply recommend
this album to everyone. New
Order is the originator of most of
the technopop that one hears
today, so go to the source. New
Order is still the best example of
the genre. So go out, buy
Technique, and enjoy. If you
can snatch it up on CD, do so.
This is one you'll want to keep.