University of Virginia Library

CINEMA

Erich Segal's Plastic People

By PAUL CHAPLIN

"Jennifer on My Mind"
brings Yale's most famous exile
back to the screen for another
attempt at writing a
meaningful, touching and
commercially successful
screenplay. Of course I'm
referring to Erich Segal, author
of scripts for "RPM," "Yellow
Submarine," and the infamous
"Love Story."

Based on Roger L. Simon's
novel, "Heir," the story
concerns a very rich young
man chasing a beautiful rich
girl. These two are charter
members of the jet set, and the
locations jump from New York
to Venice. The only obstacle
blocking an affair between the
two is that Jennifer is hooked
on heroin.

Michael Brandon as the
Young Man is hardly the 24
year-old man we're told he is.
His acting is very bad; it is
conceivable that he is a rich
fellow who will never
amount to anything. Tippy
Walker, however, gives a better
performance as Jennifer, in the
same manner that Kitty Winn
gave a moving performance in
Joan Didion's "Panic In Needle
Park." There is something
terrifying about a young girl
glassily staring at you from the
big screen, creating a feeling of
helplessness and emptiness.

Miss Walker achieves this
sensation through her presence,
not through her reading of
Segal's lines. The dialogue is
frequently laughable, and the
story is so similar to the
structure and language of "love
Story" that I wonder if Segal
will ever find another plot and
style for his Hollywood efforts.

One particular effort which
doesn't work is the ghostly
grandfather figure, delightfully
played by Lou Gilbert.
Whenever the hero has left
Jennifer, the grandfather
appears to comment about her.
Unfortunately, the device
doesn't work, due to Noel
Black's direction which is not
the stuff that could make
Segal's material seem to have
more substance.

Like "Panic In Needle Park"
"Jennifer On My Mind" is
valuable for showing the evils
of heroin. In this film the
effect is more frightening since
Jennifer will never have to steal
or hustle to get dope money.
Segal should be commended
for creating characters who
show more depth than those in
"Love Story," but the gross
stereotypes and devices he uses
to make the characters seem
heroic or tragic (instead of
pathetic) are still evident If
anybody decides to see the
film I hope they'll keep this in
mind.

(Now at Barracks Road)

***

The University this week
has brought back "The Song of
Norway," a musical based on
the life and music of Edvard
Brieg, and starting Sunday,
Richard Burton and Genevieve
Bujold move in with "Anne of
the Thousand Days."
Downtown, the Cinema is
showing "Cry Uncle" for an
incredible third week.

Tonight, Saturday and
Monday, the Film Production
Union will be having three
benefits for WTJU to help the
station during their financial
difficulties. The films to be
shown are the Walt Disney
cartoon production of "Robin
Hood," "Fall Safe," and a
program of UPI's Mr. Magoo
re-enacting famous stories of
the sea. Screenings will be in
Wilson Hall at 7:30 and 9, and
admission is $1.00.