Change Your Image
FaustPWilliamsWLeach
Reviews
Dionysus in '69 (1970)
'Reality- theatre' at its best
I'd been wanting to see this play/movie for a while, and when a friend was kind enough to send me a copy of Brian DePalma, Le Annees 60 (Brian De Palma- The 60's) I couldn't believe my luck!
Having been introduced to both Bill Finley and Bill Shephard through PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE, I was intrigued and deeply impressed to see both men in VERY different roles, and yet, if you've seen Phantom, there's almost a reversal of roles. Whereas, with Phantom, Mr. Shephard's role is an active spectator in the theatrical blood bath, with Dionysus, he plays a character who is duped in much the same way Bill Finley's character would be, a few years down the road.
And speaking of Mr. Finley, you really have to wonder how idiotic the folks in Hollywood's high hills must be, to pass up such a natural talent! After seeing Phantom of the Paradise a number of times, I was amazed and impressed to see him in roles that are as far removed from the ambitious but naive Winslow Leach as it's possible to get!
In Dionysus in '69, Bill plays the title role; the man/god Bacchus/Dionysus, who plots out revenge on the family and city responsible for the killing of his mother. His villainy is so cleverly deceptive, however, that you couldn't help but be reminded of a unscrupulous record producer, as he lures young king Pentheus and his entire kingdom to its own ruin.
I'll admit that there were a couple scenes I couldn't sit through, for the graphic nature, but that's just me. The story, over all, was intriguing and had me reading Euripides' The Bacchae, to find out how the play really ended. I like Bill Finley's version better.