The print., January 12, 1983, Page 7, Image 7

‘Gandhi’ more for enlightenment than entertainment
By Troy Maben
Of The Print
‘7t is possible to live in
peace, ” these words were
spoken by one of the biggest
most influential political (as
well as spiritual) figures of the
20th century, Mahatma Gan­
dhi. He was a small man in his
political and military power
compared to some of the other
world leaders of the time such
as Hitler, Stalin, and
Roosevelt, but he successfully
freed his home country of India
from the then strong-rule over
his country by the British. He
accomplished his homeland’s
freedom almost single handed-
ly by his stand on “passive
resistance.”
The life of this extra­
ordinary individual has now
been brought to the screen in
Alumni art
on display
A celebration of at by
some noted alumni of
Clackamas Community Col­
lege will be presented to the
public during a two-week
“Alumni Art Show” offered
Jan. 10-21 at the College.
Works of sculpture, pain­
ting, graphics, ceramics and
more will be on display in the
Pauling Center Lobby. A 7
p.m. reception will kick off the
show on Jan. 10.-
Steve Sandstrom, J.D.
Perkins, Sylvia Dobbes and
Jerry Upchurch will be among
flie artists displaying their work.
The show, and the reception,
are free. For more information,
contact the art dept., ext. 386:
the twenty-year endeavor by
Sir Richard Attenborough in his
cinematic accomplishment of
the film titled “Gandhi.”
This film really can’t be
classified as an entertainment
movie, and it can’t be classified
as a biography, ft is in a class all
by itself, bordering on the form
of art. All in all, the film has
aspects of all three, entertain­
ment, art, and biography. The
entertainment aspect comes
from its photography, acting,
and story development. The
care, research, and time that
was put into this film can
almost classify it as pure art, a
masterpiece of film work.
Altogether however, this film is
more of a documentary/
biography about a man and his
struggles to fight for what he
believes. The film is so com­
plete, it covers almost every
aspect of this man’s life, from
young lawyer to old man.
Gandhi was a young black
Indian lawyer in Africa when
he first learned of prejudice. He
was traveling on a passenger
train in a compartment where
blacks were not allowed. His
persistence to stay where he
was got him literally thrown off
the train, and this single inci­
dent started his fight for the
rights of others.
Gandhi won many rights
for Indians in Africa due to his
persistence. He then set off to
India to continue his fight for
the rights of the people in his
homeland. During the time of
helping Africans with their in­
dependance, he became
almost hermit-like wearing only
white wrap-around robes made
from cloth that he himself had
spun. This was his testimony to
Billy Rancher
recreated a funeral procession
that incorporated nearly a third
of a million people. Can you
imagine paying for all of those
extras?
The viewer can easily see
the care and devotion that
went into producing this film. It
is superbly photographed in
many of the actual places
where the real events took
place, paying close attention to
details and character develop­
ment.
The film contains such
notable actors as Sir John
Gielgud, Martin Sheen, Can-
dice Bergen, Trevor Howard,
and Ben Kingsly. The most
notable performances in this
film come from Ben Kingsly in
the title role, which could
possibly win him an oscar when
the time comes around.
The makeup transforma­
tion of the actor (Kingsly) to the
leader (Gandhi) is truly fan­
tastic. In the film Kingsly
changes from a young lawyer
in his twenties to an 89-year-
old man. It is nearly impossible
to tell the two apart when com­
paring actual photographs of
the once spiritual and political
leader to Kingsly in costume.
Not since Dustin Hoffinan’s
Photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures
tranformation from a young
Ben Kingsly in his role of Gandhi.
man to an old Indian Chief in
the movie “Little Big Man” has
others. By putting aside world­ demands for nonviolence were the effect looked so convinc­
ly possessions, he could show heeded. In addition to nearly ing.
The main drawback to this
the world that we was not get­ starving to death, Gandhi was
ting involved in his crusades for beaten, imprisioned, and har- film, if it can be classified as a
drawback, is the length, nearly
his own personal benefit.
rassed continually.
In order for his peace ef­
His escapades and hunger three and a half hours long.
forts to happen, Gandhi went strikes brought him much There just doesn’t seem to be
on numerous hunger strikes recognition, and by the time of enough action to carry it
that almost killed him, and he the second world war he was through that length of time.
stayed on the strikes until his know throughout his country The viewer might lose interest
and around the world. In a toward the end. But one must
public ceremony in his take into account as to why this
homeland, Gandhi witnessed film was made. ft was not made
England replacing the British purely for entertainment’s
month. With all this support flag with that of the flag of In­ sake, but rather a form of art.
and loyalty, no wonder Ran­ dia. Gandhi’s devotion to his “Gandhi” might not do so well
cher feels “it’s the best place on lifelong cause had finally paid at the box office, possibly
off; he achieved independance because it’s too sophisticated
earth to be.”
for modern audiences.
for his country.
Now, as for the movie However, it will be said about
Gods’ by choosing other local
musicians he had met along the itself, to say that it was a this film that it is a creation of
way. He decided on musicians tremendous production would contemporary art to pass
he liked not only musically, but almost be like saying “Gone through the regular run of
also as people. “If they played With The Wind” was just theatres and the medium of
television, to rest upon the
good, that was a fringe another movie. For instance:
One of the scenes of the film stack of classic films.
benefit,” Rancher said.
In their year and a half ex­
istence, Billy Rancher and the
f
Unreal Gods have not only
become Portland’s number one
M
j©* w
These specials are for you on-
band, but have also released an
1 \
ly. Please show copy of this
album and a just-released
ad and your student body
Christmas single on the Boom
card for these prices.
Chuck record label. Boom
Chuck is Rancher’s own label,
81/z ft. GARCIA
which he hopes to make the
$10.00
Steelhead Rod $24.95 Value
biggest independant in the
Pacific Northwest.
Local rocker makes good
By Vicki Archila
Of The Print
Billy Rancher and the
Unreal Gods is the name of a
band that plays the Portland
rock scene. They have been
hailed the next band to break
on a national level. Playing
upbeat pop, with a strong
dance beat, Rancher and Com­
pany have
established
themselves a very loyal follow­
ing.
Rancher didn’t always
want to be a rock and roll star.
He was much more interested
in baseball and his father was a
pro-ball player for the Brooklyn
Dodgers. He was going to
school on a scholarship for
baseball when he decided on a
musical career.
He got his first influence
when a friend turned him on to
Bowie and the Rolling Stones.
Then in 1976, Rancher won a
David Bowie look-a-like con-
test. The prize was being
chauffeur-driven to the show
sipping sherry in the the back
seat, and meeting everyone in
the band.
Rancher’s first band
started in a garage with his
brother. T took a crash course
in guitar playing and singing,”
he said. He played with that
band for a year and a half. He
then assembled the ‘Unreal
Rancher does quite a bit of
bouncing around between
Portland and New York, where
he is now working on a new
albut to be titled “Made in
Hong Kong.” Also in the works
is a video, hoping to coincede
with the album’s release.
Rnacher hopes to finish both
projects before the Musical
Festival in France. If he can do
this in time, it could lead to
possible tour dates in Europe.
‘They offer a little more
for the price at the door,” Ran­
cher said of the Goddess A Go-
Go, two Portland dancers who
work with the band. The future
of the ‘Goddess’ is up in the air
right now, but Rancher plans to
use them in upcoming videos.
Wednesday, January 12, 1983
Claiming his music is
“Floating rock and roll,
unstylized music,” Rancher
writes about “whatever hap­
pens to pop into their (the au­
dience) minds at the moment,”
he said. His music is simple and
basic, not too serious, which
some fans think is a refreshing
change from the too serious,
political, depression music of
today.
Rancher feels he owes
quite a bit to the Portland
scene, because of all the sup­
port given to him, with even a
half hour T.V. special aired last
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