The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 66, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 30, 1978 Page: 4 of 12
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The Rice Thresher, November 30, 1978, Page 4
Fine Arts
The Toy: A Well Crafted Device
Franz Brotzen
Written and Directed
by Francis Veber
Who says political state-
ments can't be funny? Granted:
most people would not
immediately associate such
concepts as the wage-slave and
the surplus value of labor with
uproarious comedy. (It's
difficult to imagine Marx and
Engels chortling over a private
joke, or for that matter, the
Keystone cops on strike for the
right to bargain collectively.)
But The Toy attempts to do just
that. And to a large measure,
this witty French import
achieves its goal.
Writer/director Veber's
tactic is to keep these divergent
elements within limits.
Through moderation, we are
spared both political harangue
and nonsensical antics. The
result is a warm film containing
hilarious moments alongside
social critique.
For the leading role Veber
cast Pierre Richard, a comic
actor (The Tall Blond Man
With One Black Shoe) who
knows when to be funny and
when not to. Richard plays a
journalist thrown into an
absurd situation. Employed by
a major periodical, he is sent to
cover the opening of a huge toy
store. A young boy spots him
and "chooses" him while he is
standing among a group of
mannequins. Unfortunately for
Richard, the boy happens to be
his boss' son, who is used to
getting what he wants. Goaded
by the promise of a bonus (and
threatened with immediate
National Holiday for Elvis
Elvis Aron Presley, the King
ol Rock and Roll music has
been the target of mixed
criticism and adoration for
vears. The faction that views
Hlvis as an integral part of
American music and history
seems to he at the forefront and
has activated plans to
memorialize the King by
establishing January 8th. his
birthday, as a national holiday.
American Artists Commem-
orative Foundation, a non-
profit organization, plans to
work on city, state and national
icxels to establish volunteer
centers at key points across the
.. umtry to promote the idea
For the Trips of Your Lifetime
THE MSilTi-MQVig EXPERIENCE
firing if he doesn't comply)
Richard plays along with the
game.
Being in the child's custody,
as it were, affords Richard
some excellent opportunities to
be poignant and humorous at
the same time. Here the
director displays an uncanny
sense of control, for the action
could easily have degenerated
into Jerry-Lewis-level idiocy.
Instead, the sight-gags and use
of slapstick remain intelligent.
They are within the realm of the
story, and don't sidetrack it
merely to get laughs.
Veber's greatest problem lies
in resolving the increasingly
intricate relationship between
the "toy" and its owner. The
film wanders at this point, and
even borders on over-
sentimentality. Nevertheless, if
you must take a younger sibling
to the movies during vacation,
and wish to avoid being bored
and/or insulted by the usual
made-for-children drivel, then
The Toy is your salvation.
and gather support through
state and federal agencies.
Promotional plans include
concerts, look-alike contests,
trips to Presley's birthplace at
Tupelo, Mississippi and his
graveside and other events
designed to increase awareness
of the need for such a holiday.
With the widespread Elvis-
mania among many American
women, the group should have
no trouble finding support.
"There's more to Elvis than
his epic music and unique
singing style. From the start, he
was and is an American
institution," said Gus Geotas,
president of the foundation.
The Genesis Movie. The com
plete Genesis Concert. The one
that made history!
[P!l
Filmed in widescreen Eonavision.Recorded Quadraphonic sound.
Directed by Tony Maylam
White Rock soundtrack available on A&M recojdi-and tapes.
A Miramax Release
The most astounding action ever
seen on film. Featuring James
Coburn. Music composed and per-
formed by Rick Wakeman.
SHUTS lOMMMn
SPECIAL
LIMITED
ENGAGEMENT
GENERAL. CINEMA THEATRES
/INEMAI & IX
WESTHEIMER 626-
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Francis Veber's "The Toy" stars Pierre Richard (right) and Francois Perrin, who becomes a human toy for
the son of a wealthy French Industrialist.
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Texas International ~K
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4600 POST OAK PLACE . SUITE 250 . HOUSTON, TEXAS 77027 . 713/960-9160 • TELEX 77-4230
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Heard, Michelle Leigh. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 66, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 30, 1978, newspaper, November 30, 1978; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth245389/m1/4/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.