Try Western Union

By M.G.

"You're into the big, clean American sound of WUSA, the sound of a decent generation." The disk jockey is a drunken, apolitical animal named Rheinhardt (Paul Newman), whose job is to plug crypto-fascism for good ole WUSA, a right-wing New Orleans radio station. By night he delivers his spiel under the heel of the station's jackboot-minded owner (Pat Hingle). By day he wallows in booze and self-pity ("I had it made and I woke up one morning, I looked down and fell off my life") in the arms of his pathetic paramour, a hooker named Geraldine (Joanne Woodward).

Adapted from A Hall of Mirrors, a slice of underworld life by Novelist Robert Stone, WUSA is a wayward attempt to chart the depredations of right-wing forces in America. The film, produced by Newman, patently reflects the political views held by him and his wife Joanne. Their social awareness is admirable, but it has led their moviemaking astray. As two of the screen's most talented artists, they could have brought strength to Stone's closely stitched characters. Instead, personality and plot are overridden by politics.

Having saddled themselves with Stuart Rosenberg's direction, the Newmans wander through a series of disconnected episodes. While rising to radio preeminence, Rheinhardt is plagued by the do-good blandishments of a social worker named Rainey (Anthony Perkins), who is taking a welfare survey in New Orleans' black slums. Rheinhardt underscores Rainey's presence by calling him a "cornpone Christ." Sure enough, Rainey falls to bloody martyrdom in a contemporary Pilate's court--a barbaric red, white and blue rally sponsored by WUSA. Geraldine's symbolic vulnerability propels her to suicide, while Rheinhardt's apathy naturally puts him back on the road to nowhere. It is no secret that virulent ideas infect the U.S. at both extremes of the political spectrum. The Newmans have chosen to level their attack on the right flank; they should have confined their battle to the hustings. To paraphrase a hoary Hollywood adage, messages ought to be sent by Western Union, not fictitious radio stations.

sb M.G.

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