The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 69, No. 30, Ed. 1, Friday, January 22, 1982 Page: 3 of 15
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Texas Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Abilene Christian University Library.
- Highlighting
- Highlighting On/Off
- Color:
- Adjust Image
- Rotate Left
- Rotate Right
- Brightness, Contrast, etc. (Experimental)
- Cropping Tool
- Download Sizes
- Preview all sizes/dimensions or...
- Download Thumbnail
- Download Small
- Download Medium
- Download Large
- High Resolution Files
- IIIF Image JSON
- IIIF Image URL
- Accessibility
- View Extracted Text
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Jp(M?:
5ptWS
A-3
Brother Maynard
"
9 y us J"- 1 I
'Pennies' not worth two cents
"Creatively dumb." This is the phrase that
kept running through my head as a good
description of the movie "Pennies from
Heaven."
"Pennies" is billed as a new kind of musical
and indeed it is different.
Set in the Depression the film tries to
contrast the bleakness of those hard years
with the popular songs of the time which were
escapist tunes with boop-boop-de-doop lyrics.
Steve Martin in his first dramatic role
plays Arthur a struggling Chicago sheet-
music salesman. Not only does he sell the
songs he believes in them.
Throughout the film whenever things seem
the roughest the cast will break into a song
and dance routine that reveals the huge
disparity between the popular musical fan-
tasies and reality.
For example a starving street musician
played by Vernel Bagneris erupts into a
brilliantly staged performance of the song
"Pennies from Heaven" (sung by Arthur
Tracy) just after he admits he had received
only a dime for his day's playing.
During one of his sales trips Arthur sees
Eileen a young schoolteacher played by
Bernadette Peters and "falls in love." (I put
that phrase in quotation marks because his
idea of love is certainly not the kind Dr.
Brecheen teaches in his Family Relations
class.)
Their meeting is the start of an affair that
leads them both down the "road to ruin."
The creative idea of the movie the
choreography the music and the staging are
0
intermission
Tammy Fielder
all excellent.
It is the plot and characterizations that drag
it down. The basis for most of the songs and
fantasy segments and much of the plot are
Arthur and Eileen's sexual fantasies.
Most people would find it hard to identify
with any character in the movie. Arthur is the
biggest jerk who ever lived ; he does not make
one right decision or action during the whole
show but he still believes in "the songs."
Every male from Arthur to the school
principal to the street musician is portrayed
as lecherous and corrupt. But two types of
females are portrayed: the ones who are
totally repressed and the ones who are ab-
solutely adulterous.
This movie definitely deserves its R rating
as you could imagine from the last two
paragraphs. Although it has received rave
reviews from people who make a lot more
money reviewing movies than I do I don't
believe the movie's creativity and brilliant
staging can possibly offset its bad taste and
gutter images of love and sex.
In fact I wished someone had given me this
warning about the movie before I went to see
it.
Our letters to the editor policy
Letters to the editor of not more than 250
words will be given preference. All letters to
the editor should be typed or written legibly.
The writer must include his or her name
address and phone number for verification.
Student writers also are asked to include their
classification and hometown. Letters must be
submitted at least three days before the date
of publication. Occasionally letters will be
held because of space limitations. The Op-
timist reserves the right to edit or reject
contributions and to limit frequent writers.
Cartoonist's view
of creationist battle
illustrates muddle
wMfiyoir
To the Editor:
Your editorial on the Arkansas creation
battle ( 1-19-82) showed some good insights into
the ideological muddle that is going on in the
creation-evolution controversy.
However your cartoon from Ben Sargent
illustrated the muddle rather well. Sargent
was trying to make the point that if we allow
all the possible theories of creation to be given
equal time in the public schools it would
become ridiculous.
Sargent's position is erroneous. There are
only two basic theories of origin and these two
are essentially creation and evolution. It's
easy to make it seem as if there are many
creation theories but if you will look closely at
all of them you will divine a family likeness.
A true creation theory says that the physical
universe is finite and therefore had to have its
existence given to it by an infinite creator. A
true evolution theory says the physical
universe is eternal and hence needed no
creator. Beyond this basic distinction the
differences are mere details which is why the
creationists in Arkansas erred by putting the
age of the earth into the definition of
creationism.
I challenge anyone to bring me a theory of
origins that cannot be fitted into these two
categories. One could easily draw a cartoon
making the point that there are many theories
of evolution and then ask "Which theory of
evolution do we teach? ' '
A.J. Hoover
Professor of history
Optimist Staff
Reporters
Cheryl Beard Jay Friddell Donna Garrett
Kim Henry Leigh Ann Manis Billy Olson
Yoonkyoung Park Rachel Rainwater Karen
Smith Kevin Wasner Janie Webb.
David Baker Milt Buckelew Nelson Coates
Tammy Dahlof Jack Evans David Hallum
Larry Hendon Karen Hess Tim Ketchersid
Gina King Steve Larson Jeff Leving Brad
Loveland Mary Medina Kevin Mertens Dee-
Dee Minick Jimmy Owen Keith Pappas
Kelly Porter Lynn Ralston. Matt Ray Robert
Reagan Elizabeth Rippetoe Sally Sanderson
Daryl Sheppard Jenny Steftins Susan
Sullivan Kim Swinney Lisa Terrill Nate
Tinkle.
Production
Cheryl Anthony Jodie Brecheen Andrea
Cannedy Lyndel Cook Ann Fangio Jonathan
Gibbs Amy Hatfield. Monica Hart. Julie
Larson Leigh Ann Manis Kim Miller. Billy
Olson Rachel Rainwater J. Scott Russell
Jeff Slat ton. Elise Smith. Kelly Tolson
Brenda Zobrist.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 69, No. 30, Ed. 1, Friday, January 22, 1982, newspaper, January 22, 1982; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth99615/m1/3/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.