The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 85

CooAnfleleggfaneg 6 Part VI Friday, July 3, 1981 KUNG FU: CHINA REVIVES VIOLENT 'ART' strains of Chinese classical music floating over the open-air stage. The central government in Peking appears to recognize the value and appeal of the Yuans. The two older brothers, the patriarchs of the performing clan, earn about $200 a month roughly the yearly income for a Chinese working in a city. The younger troupe members make about $100 a month. Both are regal wages by Chinese standards.

versity, he says. The Yuans are perhaps the most famous kung fu artists in China. Yuan Rujue said the profession is known to date back five generations to his ancestors in the Ming Dynasty. Like circus families in the West, the nine-member Yuan clan is a close-knit group that begins training its members early as young as 8. It takes a long time to learn how to wrap a steel bar around your throat, Yuan Rujue says.

When the entire family is on stage, it presents a curious mix of the modern and the traditional. One brother sweeps across the footlights in black Mongol attire, his 20th-century glasses gleaming. His daughter, a svelte young woman dressed in a luxurious costume, waits calmly nearby to have four bricks broken on her head. The crowd loves it. It gives the Yuans the ultimate Chinese accolade noise making it difficult to hear the TOM JONES OPENS AT GREEK THEATER Tom Jones has been playing the part of the hot young stud for 16 years, so one might be forgiven for expecting his act to have lapsed into cheap burlesque by now.

But Wednesday, opening a four-night engagement at the Greek Theater, Jones kept his macho image in check and notched an entertaining 70-minute set Because of the image hype, Jones has been underrated as a singer. His off-handed way with a lyric is perfect for throwaway pop; his winking style mocks the melodramatic aspects of many of his tunes. Jones set his sights on the top of the charts for much of his material, with mixed results. It's to his credit that he had the taste to include Paul Simon's "Late in the Evening" and John Lennon's "Starting Over," though one wonders if we really needed to hear both of Eddie Rabbitt's recent hits. Worse, Jones included three songs that have become tired cliches: "My Way," "Let It Be" and the wonderful but overfamiliar "As Time Goes By." A lengthy hits medley was also somewhat perfunctory.

Jones seemed to go on automatic pilot for the segment, which mixed stale melodramas like "I (Who Have Nothing)" with vibrant rhythm numbers like "It's Not Unusual." Jones exudes enviable assurance. Because he's confident that he's in control, he can be remarkably spontaneous and loose. Jones likes to play off his audience, accepting trinkets from female fans whom he then rewards with extended kisses. Jones is very animated, even a bit manic at times in his broad moves and exaggerated gyrations. Jones would be wise to tone down this aspect of his performance.

This isn't Las Vegas, and a singer doesn't need to pepper each song with a dozen bumps and grinds to keep a roomful of gamblers and vacationers from becoming bored or distracted. -PAULGREIN By MICHELE VINK. United Press International TAICHENG, China Several times a week Yuan Rujue wraps an iron bar around his neck, slams his head against a stone pillar and helps his father impale himself on a trident It is all in a night's work for Yuan, who is part of a family of kung fu artists touring China with their popular show. Qi Gong "spirit kung fu" is a centuries-old entertainment and art form in China that is undergoing a revival after being nearly banned under the Communist regime, especially during the austere 1966-76 Cultural Revolution. Part of the attraction for the violent art form is its reputed scientific value for study of the human body and the effects of severe blows and stress.

Besides being impaled on the three-pronged spear similar to one seen in illustrations of the fictional King Neptune, Yuan's father also lies on a bed of nails and performs other excruciating feats. The new popularity of spirit kung fu is due in part to the Chinese people readily embracing a form of entertainment that offers more excitement than the revolutionary operas that were the staple diet during the Cultural Revolution. In Taicheng, a small city in southern China's Guangdong Province, a capacity crowd of 2,600 enthusiastically applauded such feats as "head smashing a rock monolith," "sledgehammering a stone slab upon a man sleeping on a nail bed" and "sleeping on a spinning trident." Taicheng was just one stop on the Yuan family's current tour, which has taken them to remote communes, villages and cities all over China. This tour of the Middle Kingdom is but a stepping stone in the family's grand plan, which includes performances in Hong Kong, Macao and ultimately Canada and the United States. Yuan Rujue, a cheerful young man with the hefty physique needed for his job, intends to go to the United States, anyway.

He has received government permission to study business management at an American uni Jj A LADO COMPANY RLf AS6 TM0U AMfiOS MrAIMCOMMiaVXAIMVCCiAMV FaWNISHM" KCWtCOLW 70MMmiTiiwMl I MAD WC WAHHIH fOOK I NOW EVERYWHERE 1 SANTA MONICA W15IWOOO Mann Westwood 208-7664 Daily 1:00 315 5:30 8:00 It 10:20 PM HOUYWOOD UA Egyptian 467-6167 Daily 1:30 3:40 5 50 8:00 10:10 PM cfjmnos Alondro 924-5232 GAROCNA Twm-vue Duveln 324-5127 HAWTHORNE Howtnorne 644-9761 NEWPORT KACH Newport Cinema 714644-0760 PASADENA Monn 351-9641 Wilsniie 394-6386 UPLAND Mann Mountaingreen 714982-7851 WHITTIER Whittier 692-0077 WOODLAND HUMS UA Warner Center 999-2132 NOW CANOOA PARK TORRANCE Fox Follbrook 883-4212 UA Del Amo 542-7383 WfSTWOOD Loemmle Pktzo 208-3097 Daily 8:00 PM Sal-Sun 1:30 5:45 10:15 PM SHERMAN OAKS Sherman 784-991 1 MATINEES DAILY AT MANY THEATRES COVINA Covina Cinema 967-4361 OLENDAlf Sandt 246-6363 HOLLYWOOD WIST LOS ANGELES Palms 837-7171 NORTHRIDOE Peppertree 993-0211 ORANGE Villa Park 714639-0066 REDONOO REACH Marino Cinema 372-1109 MATINEES DAILY AT MANY THEATRES LOS ANOELES Fairfax 653-3117 NORTHRIDOE Peppertree 993-0211 Gordon 934-2944 ORANGE StarJium Drive-In 714639-8770 PASADENA Uptown 792-5276 CULVER CITY Culver 838-1893 HOLLYWOOD Oriental 876-0212 LOS ANGELES Clinton 461-3064 aft. WIENIES fMIWI0 hi PT! I QOLgy stereo! SANTA MONICA Brentwood 829-3366 "Fast-paced, action-filled and Romance-with a capital Rona Barrett COPPOLA'S BID Continued from First Page saying, 'a boy-girl movie set in Las "He talked about the cast, what great actors and actresses they were, and how the movie harkened back to the days when movies were truly entertaining. "And then there were some quick scenes from the movie. It was better than not getting anything at all; Coppola's very good about that, he's as helpful as he can be, and anytime someone does something for exhibitors, it's appreciated I'd just hoped for something SILENTS SILENCE: Hollywood may be in the full flush of a summertime boom, but the dedicated patrons of John Hampton's movie theater won't remember this summer fondly. After all, there are nothing but talkies to choose from.

Hampton has been running the Silent Movie Theater on Fairfax since 1942, when he opened with a screening of "Pony Express." The Silent Movie Theater closed down for the holidays last New Year's Even and hasn't reopened. "We've been getting a lot of telephone calls," said Dorothy Hampton. "Please tell them we've been working on films and renovating the building. I suspect it'll be a couple of more months. But we will reopen." In the meantime, there's always "Raiders of the Lost Ark" or "Superman II." Wear earplugs.

THE STUFF DREAMS ARE MADE OF: Joseph Sauers has spent this week readying safety reports on elevators and amusement park rides after 27 years as the projectionist for Maryland's motion picture censor board. The board closed down last week, and Sauers, 61, was transferred to the state's Division of Labor and Industry. "Times change and people change," Sauers said, "you got to move along with the changes, that's all." The censor board, while weakened by broadened interpretations of obscenity and a changing social climate, was active to the end, keeping more than 500 films from distribution in the state this year. The board was the victim of sunset legislation. Please see FILM CLIPS, Page 7 Off 4 I 4wivt I jXf XV O- I ft y.

-iv 111 eU? -r 7 IN U--- Jit it (h BARGAIN MATINEES-STARRED!) FEATURES T.wW SAT. SUN HOLIDAYS 1" MATINEE SHOW ONLY HAM MMrMA CIHEKA MbU MHUM Late Show IMS AM WWl. It WltWd. FCt Y0W IYIS 0YPS) ntynoMi HMIPS1 8. el VaaL Rvy.

Van Win M. 988-9660 475-0711 12W-23S-H-7: W2S- CINEMA AVCO CINEMA 966-9680 fSuownrrK oaT? MO-4: 213475-0711 CINEMA IAVC0 CINEMA woau n. mi 981-2437 mmojuokips) IWMl At Wlftpri. 475-0711 1 10-3: CINEMA 981-2437 tAtwasuraife! SO. BAY RMoortaJvMf Sond fiOHnrtanatl KKTOWITBOMTIKI 1 370-8587 CINEMA 981-2437 RWAMOUNT RCTURES Presents A LUCASFILM LTD Production A STEVEN SPIELBERG Film 80.

BAY mmitj 1 370-6396 Special Lati Show lommy in; Starting HARRISON FORD KAREN ALLEN PAUL FREEMAN RONALD LACEY JOHN RHYS-DAVIES DENHOLM ELLIOTT JOHN WILLIAMS GEORGE LUCAS HOWARD KAZANJIAN sow LAWRENCE KASDAN stt GEORGE LUCAS I SO. BAY SANTA ANITA him. MAOOMUYHIIfO) 370-8398 WOT 135 faaMea Park CUM Of TITain(PS) 445-6200 PHILIP KAUFMAN Special Late Show and 3 Stxooe NetMH) DOLBY STtHtO SANTA ANITA produced ty FRANK MARSHALL ob, STEVEN SRELBERG M.w LTJi NOVELIZATION FROM BALLANTINE BOOKS STRACK RECORDS STAPES' P-igff aa u- Hn iwTTiOlal fO TKtf I SO. BAY OUMOMiAU RUM(PG) 1 542-4361 CAMOMMU MMIPSI A PARAMOUNT PICTURE TM Copyright Lurasfilm Ltd IIFLI MCMIXXXI All Fights Reserwd PG I PARENTAL GUIDANCE SUGGESTED I 130-336-535-7tt-l SANTA ANITA IN THESE THEATRES AT THESE TIMES, SEE THIS SUMMER'S BLOCKBUSTER: SOME MATERIAL MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN STOtr or won ptjiii 13O-330-530-73O-430 WOODLAND HILLS SANTA ANITA NaOOMUTBIPS) CINED0ME Orange (714) 634-2553 Iaicww ktoy or rm worn rr. 1 703-7571 130-330-530-730-M6 MANN NATIONAL Westwood 208-4366 Dally: 12:30 3:00 5:36 8:00 10:30 Fri-Sat late Show: 12:30 MANN CHINESE Hollywood 464-8111 Daily: 12 00 2:30 5:15 8:00 10:30 Frl-Sat Lala Shsvr: 12:45 SOUTH COAST Costa Mesa (714) 549-3352 Dally: 12:30 3:00 5:30 BOO 10:20 i ufAAAl iyn ill A 2:00 4:30 I xnuuuuinunLO Harry Dally: 11:30 7:06 9 30 1:30 cum of mutsirs) Fri i Sat 12:00 Midnight 70mm Six-Track PTIioouy stereo CINEMA am.

MorrtcWr Plaza Mai ttalMBIMI I WOODLAND HLS Murray SIBPHII) 714828-3634 MANN BREA PLAZA Brea (714) 529-5339 CINEMA MANN I Valencia (805) 255-3966 Daily: 12 30 2 50 5 10 7 35 10 00 Daily: 12:30 3 3:00 5.30 8:00 10:20 wrotY or wont pt. iiii 2-4-a--i(wo CINEMA pm. FASHION CENTER I Ctnam Murray I Tutuan STHPBI 1 993-0111 M0-3: MAWXHUYBiPSI MANN 010 T0WNE Torrance 371-1221 1 Dally: 12:00 2:305:00 7:30 "10:00 2 Dally: 12:30 3:00 5:30 8:00 10:30 MANN LA REINA Sherman Oaks 788-8311 Daily: 12:30 3:00 5:30 8:66 10:15 PACIFIC T0PANQA Woodland Hills 883-3300 Dally: 1:00 3:30 6:00 8:30 11:00 MO-720-MO EDWARDS ALHAMBRA Alhambra 289-3861 Daily: 1 00 3:30 6 00 30 10:45 MANN FOX Covina 332-0050 Daily: 12:30 2:50 5:10 7:35 10:00 UA MOVIES Long Beach 596-2751 Dally: 1:00 3:25 5:50 10:40 MANN ALEX Glendale 241-4194 Dally: 12:30 2:50 5:10 MANN ACADEMY Pasadena 796-3191 Daily: 12:30 2:50 5:10 7:35 10:00 EDWARDS SADDLEBACK El Toro (714) 891-3935 Daily: 1:00 3:30 6:00 8:30 10:45 PACIFIC SOUTH COAST Laguna Beach (714) 494-1514 Daify: 2:15 4:30 7:00 9:15 PACIFIC LA MIRADA La Mirada (714) 994-2400 Daily: 12:30 3:00 5:30 8: 15 10:45 PACIFIC LAKEW00D CENTER SOUTH Long Beach 634-9281 Screen 5: Daily: 12:30 3:00 5:15 7:45 10:00 Screen 8: Daily: 1:30 3:45 6:15 8:45 11:00 MANN I Manhattan Beach 640-1075 Dally: 12:30 3:00 5:30 8:00 10:30 1 AMC PUENTE HILLS WEST Puente Hills 912-5394 Dally: 12:15 2:45 5:30 8:00 10:30 SRO COVINA DRIVE-IN Covina 331-6580 afTfiii-arnij Snows Start At Dusk FIESTA DRIVE-IN Pico Rivera 692-7581 PARAMOUNT DRIVE-IN Paramount 633-4646 VERMONT DRIVE-IN Gardena 323-4055 WINNETKA DRIVE-IN Chatsworth 349-6806 LINCOLN DRIVE-IN Buena Park (714) 821-4070 CINEMA McrardPrm I FASHION CTR. mMu 7M624-BO06 MiW lOOHfll stmt or won pt. () EDWARDS CINEMA WEST Westminster (714) 891-3935 Daily: 1:00 3:00 6:00 8:30 "10 45 SR0 M0NTCLAIR Montdalr (714) 624-9696 Daily: 11:30" 1:40 3:45 6:45 8:00" 10:15 MANN I Oceanside (714) 439-7008 Daily 12:30" 3:00 5 30 10:30 1SO-3S0-5SO-l-MO MANN C0NEJ0 Thousand Oaks (805) 495-6760 Daily: 12 45 "3 15 "5 45 8 15" 10 20 MANN FREMONT San Luis Obispo (805) 543-1121 Mon-Fri: 7:00 9 15 Sat-Sun 2 00 4 30 7 00 9 15 UA MOVIES Santa Maria (805) 922-0361 Daily: 1 30 4 15 7 00 9 15 i riAiiiAit umi' CINEMA wrramun iin.

rwi I raynoMi RUM(PO) NHlTOnVI(PO) 7:35 10:00 NO PASSES ACCEPTED FOR THIS ENOAOEMENT OHO I OKXM1 HO MIAMI I) LTD CINEMA In 30 'INLAND 11 an fay. lOmttfAwM 171478M-3521 MTonror won n. ARLINQTON PALMDALE DRIVE-IN Santa Barbara (805) 966-9382 Palmdale (805) 947-7566 ATTMI Of Tat OUHT OkUAP) 15-5: IMPERIAL VALLEY CAMELOT Palm Springs HEMET El Centra (714) 353-2213 (714) 327-1273 Hemet (714) 652-5951 1 CANYON CREST PLAZA CREST San Bernardino Riverside (714) 682-6900 Escondldo (714) 747-8075 714) 888-6826 MOVIES Vlctorville (714) 245-0233 VENTURA Ventura (805) 643-3333 MAOIC LANTERN Goleta (805) 968-3636 NILE Bakerslleld (805) 323-7118 INLAND LARWIN TWIN CINEMA EIGHT VALLEY DRIVE-IN Oceanside (714) 757-5556 BM Mwrty STWBjlj km Fan LAST MfTM(POI Simi (805) 525-6357.