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FORTY-SECOND STREET (RCA Victor). The Rod Levitt octet exhibits some of the pop-touches that one expects from the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra—plus occasional flashes of joyous jazz, a la Dizzy Gillespie's band. Trombonist Levitt is an alumnus of both groups, and he has emerged as a successful and rather humorous arranger. In this, his fourth album, he devotes himself to the songs of the '30s—which is a fine idea, except when he produces parodies (About a Quarter to Nine, Lulu's Back in Town).
INTERMODULATION (Verve). In his last album, Bill Evans was almost swallowed alive by a symphony orchestra, but fortunately the subtle pianist has reappeared safe and sound to try another experiment —trading off his introspective musings on the keyboard with Jim Hall's quiet explorations on guitar. The contrast between plucked and hammered strings is delicate but piquant, and the songs (I've Got You Under My Skin, Jazz Samba) arc on the quiet side, each a pastel, pointillist canvas.
TIME IN (Columbia) takes time out to celebrate the 15th anniversary of that durable commodity, the Dave Brubeck Quartet. As in the past, Pianist Brubeck often plays second fiddle to his alto saxman, Paul Desmond, and both are buoyed up by Joe Morello's drums and Eugene Wright's bass. Cassandra and Travellin' Blues are civilized but swinging, as is 40 Days, an excerpt from a new 30-minute liturgical work by Brubeck.
CINEMA
FUNERAL IN BERLIN picks up the trail of Harry Palmer (Michael Caine), that scruffy, insubordinate British agent whom audiences first met in The Ipcress File, and follows his movements from crisis to crisis in Berlin. Though the script is a bit muddled, the action is engrossing, the dialogue pert, and the suspense enlivened by honest good humor.
A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS. The collaboration of Director Fred Zinnemann, Screenwriter Robert Bolt and Actor Paul Scofield has produced one of the year's best films. The heart of the drama is a conflict of conscience, as Sir Thomas More, Chancellor of England, tries to find a way to serve both his King and his God.
GOAL! There are enough kicks for everybody in this film about the world series of soccer held in England last summer. With 16 of the world's top teams competing, it will command the empathy of any spectator sportsman who admires the aspect of men in intricate and aggressive movement.
THE PROFESSIONALS. Director Richard Brooks pumps this fast-moving western full of high-caliber performances, flaming arrows and hot lead. The action starts when, for $10,000 apiece, Burt Lancaster, Lee Marvin, Woody Strode and Robert Ryan set out to return a kidnaped wife (Claudia Cardinale) to her husband.
THE FORTUNE COOKIE. Offering the season's lushest crop of crass, Walter Matthau leers, sneers and swaggers as an ambulance-chasing lawyer who cons his brother-in-law (Jack Lemmon) into faking an insurance claim in Director Billy Wilder's latest jab at American mores.
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM. Unhappily, Director Richard Lester sells his mirthright for a mess of footage in his version of this comedy of erotic errors. But Zero Mostel still manages to be funny skipping around in his fingertip-length tunic.
BOOKS