The Orson Welles. It looked for a minute like The Orson Welles might be putting up The Harder They Come for the King-of-Hearts prize for most tiresome in town, but now that it's been relegated to a midnight slot the Welles is opening two important films, one of culture, one of politics, both of which started yesterday. The Lenny Bruce Performance Film, not to be confused with Bob Fosse's feature film with Dustin Hoffman, is the filmed version of a complete Bruce nightclub performance, not too far from the time when the comedian and his needle gave it all up. Also Attica is here--Cinde Firestone's film reviewed here on Tuesday. Not much was said about the film itself there because there isn't much to say: it's a competent, well-made research job, put together so that the event speaks for itself--very powerfully.

Bogart. The Brattle began its reading period Bogie festival last week and now To Have Or Have Not is on the bill. To avoid the most frustrating kind of rip-off, check out what the print is like from someone before you see the picture. Judging from the Brattle's Casablanca last week, your favorite lines are liable to be garbled and flashed out. They really shouldn't show mutilated movies.

The African Queen is one of the most fun experiences there is--and worth seeing on the big screen in color if you've only seen it in the box up til now. Made in 1951 in England by Sam Spiegel and director John Huston, about an African river trip in 1915. C.S. Forester's book is laughable, but Bogart and Hepburn--who somehow built up one of the most exciting rapports ever on film (they really seem to understand each other in a larger way as film characters)--turn James Agee's script into something literate as well as movie-blissful.