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Whitby Free Press, Wednesday, August 21, 1996 , Page, 7 :< ~ ~ ê One of Charly's best moments comes when Charly turns to his teacher."Why is it" he says, "that the same people who would neyer thiink of making fun ofecripples or people with other handicaps think notbing of making fun of a moron?'Thiis lime cornes shortly after Charly bas begun to respond to bis surgery, and bas become aware that thre taunting and laughter his fellow workers have heaped on hlm for years is not friendly hanter but cruel and sadistic torture. In retrospeet, I believe that movie did much to change our perception of the mentally handicapped. Ifyou've seen the current movie, Phenomenon, starring John Travolta, you may see some sunilarities in the story line: dumb guy becomes smart, then ... oh, welI, see the movie. By the way, if my memory serves me correctly, this original story succeeded so well ini its original format that author Daniel Reyes rewrote the stoiy as a novel. It was that novel wbich eventually became the movie. After I saw Phenomenon, I rented Charly to see how my memoy held up. You will see sinmIarities. You might also, as I did, compare the' acting performances, of Cliff Robertson and John Travolta, and realize why Robertson won bis best actor award, and why Travolta isn't likely to. The imitators I B .Once in a long wbile a story emerges which shakes iti genre by the scruff of the neck and becomes an endearinl classic. When this happens, thre imitators came out in droves. In addition, each generation seems ompelled to make its own movie version of great atonies. That's why The Secret Garden can be viewed iii three or more versions. Why Peter Pan, is a stage play, a cartoon feature-length movie, a novel, and 24,Disiney rewrites. It also, happened to an insignificant little science fiction novella fr-om, the sixties, entitled Flowers for Algernon. I first.encountered this story i the pages of a science fiction magazine, Amazing Science Fiction/Science Fantasy. Over 40 pages, the main charactrCbarly Gordon, telsethre story in a series of notes or letters. Cbarly was what was known- as i those good old days of the Mites, and sixties as retarded. il know, I kcnow,' we don't use, that word today. I. repeat it here lbfr historical1 accuracy., Near the end of this 600- ,word column wel1l try to'explain, how this science fiction story, ties in with a vigorous respect we now have for individuals, hopefully with or without handicaps. The torythrogh-letters device is perhaps as old as ýï.fiction.-In t.heoriginal, it workedpretyel< Charly's notes and letters show bis deficiencies in gralmmar, spelhing and simple understanding of thre world around hlm. Goons he worked with laughed at him; those who would.help him rnanipulated him for thefr own ends; he lived alone in an attic room. Scientists had developed a, new technique for overcoming mental handicaps. Thfe technique worked on a laboratory mouse, Algernon, (from which came the name of the story, Flowera for, Algernon). Mie simple surgical technique also works on Charly. Hie becomes'smart, educ-ated. lus transfration shows clearly bomugh bis notes, whicb become pointed, sharply written and literate. One shouldn't, of course, give away the endings of stories or movies. But this one was made into a movie i 1968, so there shouldn't be too man y surprises. By the way,, actor Cliff Robertson won the Acaderny Âward for Best Actor for bis porirayal of CheirY. (Robertson aiso shows up this month, playmng the president of the United States in Escape from LA) 10 YEARS AGO, from the Wednesday, August 20, 1986 edition of the wamTBY rFREE PRESS " Brooklin.Redmen Tykes have won the Provincial Lacrosse Tournament at Whitby. " Councillor Joe Bugelli lias resigned as diroctor of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario after five years. " Many sehools will reqire portables ti September because of Whitbys rapid growth. " Bill Làttie wlll oei hie new development at Byron and Mary streeta "Pearson Lanes," after hie father. 35 YEARS AGO from the. Thursday, Auguat 17, 1961 edition of the WHTBY WeEEKLY NEWs *Whitb)Y Ministal Association fa protesting a proposai to expand the Miller Paving works near Groveside Cemetery. *Whutby will have a Junior A hockey team for 1961462. *Businesst is slow at Whitby Harbour. O)nly three ofi tankers have entered this year to, fil the tanks on the eastern pier. * There are stili odours eminating from the wagel treatment plant, a year after the new plant opçned. 100 YEaRB AGO from theFrlday, August 21,1896 edition of the WB1TBY CRONICLE- Ili " Wlliam Newport charges 15 cents for a bus trip between downtown Whitby and the- Junction railway station. Round tripisa 25 cents. " Passin gtrains are oeusing fires in the fields near the Grand Trunk Railway tI the dry s >mmorweather. " A nmiber ofIWhitbys young mon'are going to Weste7rn Canada to find work. * A gaod wire mattres,ý any aize, cosa$1.75 at William TIII'furniture store. ... . . .. . -- ---................. r riz-m- BROOKS'IBEzr.LOOKIGSOUIROFDUNDAS SUW1-Sg, 194? The moat significant landmark at Whltby' our Corners for 49yearsý was the Post Offic wlth the clock tower at right. It was openend In 1910, closed ln 1956 and demollshed'ti 1959. Ail the other buildings in this picture are still standing. Whit1zAchIv..photo