European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 28, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Big Young Billy Rowan Sebastian Edwards leads a Light Down a War torn London Street in Hope and glory which is playing on the cafes circuit. Hope and glory makes a Noble Effort but by Chuck Vinch staff writer there Are two types of movies that usually get a big thumbs Down from this Humble viewer. One category includes out and out stink bombs the kind that even my dog could immediately recognize As being destined for the Hollywood Hall of shame. If clogs were allowed into Heaters that is. Then there Are the ones that i really want to like but just can t. I always have a lingering sense of guilt after i trash them which is about As close to a moral dilemma As critics Ever come. Hope and glory British director John Boorman s Semi autobiographical account of his boyhood during the London Blitz in the Early Days of world War ii Falls into that second category. It s gotten raves from most quarters nabbed a Bunch of Oscar nominations and is the kind of epic historical Saga that you feel you ought to be interested in. But you probably won t be. The reasons have to do with the differences Between the British and . Schools of filmmaking. I have be careful or every British subject with Access to the stars and stripes will be offended which is certainly not my intent. But the fact is British films can be kind of plodding to american audiences at least. That in t to say that the lightning paced action laced but often mindless american films that currently reign in Hollywood Are better. It s just that this is the fare we be become used to and any deviations from what has become our Norm usually sink like bricks on the . Movie Market. Hope and glory opens in 1939. Uncle Adolf has bulldozed Poland and the bombs Are about to Start raining on London. But for Young Billy Rowan Sebastian Edward the War is abstract something he sees on movie newsreels or imagines in his mind As he plays with toy soldiers in the Garden. When the first bombs fall they re treated like curiosities As if they were harmless fireworks instead of weapons of death and destruction. To Billy and his friends it s a Chance to play army for real they even thank Hitler when a stray bomb hits their school cancelling classes for the Day. But the War becomes progressively More personal As a neighbor Down the Street has her House destroyed and Billy s own Home is gutted by a fire. The youngster soon realizes that this War is going to bring major disruptions to his life. Boorman makes the film into a series of almost Independent vignettes. A German Pilot lands in a nearby Field and is treated like an alien from another planet. Billy s father joins the War Effort and disappears from his life. His sister takes up Vilh a Canadian Soldier who promptly gets her pregnant. His Mother makes goo goo eyes at a neighbor while dad is away. And after their House Burns the family pulls up roots and moves 20 Miles away to the country Home of Billy s rather eccentric Grandfather a Chap who Hunts Garden mice with a Shotgun. Boorman gives it a Noble Effort. On the plus Side the movie offers a Nice slice of eur history from an eyewitness source. It shows something of the fabled Iron character and indomitable will of the British people. If you re interested in learning about the War in Europe seeing Hope and glory is a Good Way to Doit. On the Downside and again this in t a slam against our Anglo cousins american audiences Are Likely to find it too weighty. The thick accents can be a bit Tough to decipher at times. Aside from Young Billy his Grandfather Ian Bannen and his mom Sarah mile there Are no characters among the Many who wander through the film that really stand out. And the ending is rather abrupt As if Boorman could t quite figure out How to wrap it up. If you re looking to get out of the House for a couple of hours and have nothing belter to do Hope and glory might be Worth your while. But i would t make major rearrangements in my schedule to see it. Roger Rabbit is week s Leader in Box office revenues _ _ f R.R-, a who Camp Norinh last Vear. Bambi was sixth with $5.3  to associated press burgeoning lines of moviegoers lured by hits like this week s top film who framed Roger Rabbit Are leading to record summer Box office revenues. The Pace is Well ahead of last year s record take. The business is really rolling along. It s got momentum because there s variety a selection for every taste said John Krier of exhibitor relations co., which tracks Box office performance. With the completion of eight weeks of the traditionally Rich summer season the Gross has already accumulated More than $934 million a 13 percent increase Over the same period last year. Steven Spielberg s collaboration with Disney who framed Roger Rabbit featuring the technological wizardry of live and animated characters regained the no. 1 position in its fifth week of release with a take of $8,919,732. It nudged out by a Hare last week s top film coming to America. The Eddie Murphy comedy earned $8,886,442, just $33,000 shy of the Leader. Bruce Willis and die hard were was third with $7.1 million Clint Eastwood s dead Pool was fourth with $6.0 million the Robert Dentro Charles Grodin comedy Midnight run was fifth in its debut weekend with $5.5 million and the 46-year-old Disney classic m the pee wee Herman comedy big top be a Vee faired relatively poorly in its debut bringing in $4.6 million to place seventh and the comic sequel Cadd Shack was eighth with $4.4 million in its first weekend of release. The Tom Hanks hit big placing ninth maintained its stature after eight weeks of release by adding $3.9 million in receipts for a total Gross of $75.3 million. The baseball movie Bull Durham rounded out the top 10 with $2.4 million. Dropping off the top 10 list after abbreviated runs were Arthur 2 on the rocks Short circuit 2 and License to drive. July 28, 1988 stripes Magazine 23