Word: bettis
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This sex-driven movie, transliteration of a play by Italy's late, earnest Ugo Betti, would be far better if it gave its characters time to indulge in a few other natural functions, eating and sleeping, for instance. The English subtitles are as unnecessary to the story as its French dialogue. All is really said in sign language, and it cannot be mistaken...
Unlike most Broadway plays. The Gambler tries to say something. But though Playwright Betti shows metaphysical courage, he has little dramatic force. What with rhetorical flights on wings that collapse, and philosophical depth bombs that refuse to explode, the play is at most an interesting dud. It has suggestions of Pirandello without his wit, of Kafka without his vivid symbolism, of Dostoevsky without his vision, and of 19th century German romanticism with all its sentimentality. Nothing comes to life, least of all the language...
...Players. The original Flonzaley players were Adolfo Betti and Alfred Pochon, violin player; Iwan d'Archambeau, 'cellist; Ugo Ara, violinist. The first three are in the Quartet today but Ara left to join the Italian army in 1917. Ill health prevented his return and Louis Bailly, now of the Curtis Institute, succeeded him until 1924. Then Felicien d'Archambeau, brother of Cellist Iwan, played for a season and since then Nicholas Moldavan. The Quartet now stands with Betti, an Italian; Pochon, a Swiss; d'Archambeau, a Belgian; Moldavan, a Russian. Yet so dominated are they...
Violinist Pochon is the wittiest and most talkative of the four. He had studied medicine, composed chamber music. His wife is a Virginian; he has a stepson of 14 and one child of his own. Cellist D'Archambeau is also married. Violinist Betti and Viola-player Moldavan are both bachelors, the one confirmed, the other eligible...
...four men from giving private or solo performances, and from teaching. Of all audiences they have preferred those in the U. S. The reason for their farewell was not announced. Some say that they agreed to separate after 25 years. Others say that it is because venerable Violinist Betti is threatened with that next-to-the-worst affliction a musician can suffer-blindness...