ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 21, 1993                   TAG: 9304210332
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short


WHAT WOULD GARY COOPER THINK?

I'VE ALWAYS been partial to Western movies, so I guess that's why I talked my wife into going to see this one.

What we saw was lots of graphic violence and what we heard was lots of foul language, both centered around prostitutes, a bordello and a privy. We were relieved when it was finally over and disgusted to have spent our money so unwisely. I condemned it as another tasteless, over-publicized example of what Hollywood cranks out as cinema art.

It turns out I'm the one with no taste. This gem of a movie won four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for 1992. I need to see it again just to find out where I messed up. But I'm not sure I could stand it, and I know I'd have to go alone.

I wonder if Gary Cooper would have liked it? Oh well, I guess that's what the Old West was really like. KENT ROBERTS BLACKSBURG



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