People 8b 7/7

Filmmaker tried to put character in Indian face

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Action film director John Woo says Western films often have given viewers the mistaken idea that American Indians are without emotion.

"Whenever we saw the Indian character on the screen, he was very stoic," Woo said during a recent promotional visit for his new movie, "Windtalkers."

"We didn't know what they were thinking, or what they were feeling. We never saw them smile or cry. They seemed to be faceless," he said. "In this film, I wanted to show their real character."

"Windtalkers," which stars Nicolas Cage and Christian Slater, is the story of American Indians recruited as Marines and trained to use their language as code during World War II.

Houdini-like trick puts stamp on unveiling

APPLETON, Wis. -- Harry Houdini would have been proud.

A trick often performed by the master of escapes was repeated outside the Houdini Historical Center on Friday for the hometown unveiling of the 37-cent Harry Houdini stamp.

Mike Schroeder, half of a comedy-magic team with Chris Cochrane, was strapped into a straitjacket by Mayor Tim Hanna and hoisted by his feet 40 feet above the audience.

Schroeder slipped the straitjacket five minutes later and received a standing ovation.

"I am at a loss for words," Schroeder said. "This is just amazing. To actually represent to the public a trick Houdini did. What an honor."

The stamp was issued by the U.S. Postal Service on Wednesday in New York City, to mark the 100th anniversary of the Society of American Magicians.

Houdini, born as Ehrich Weiss in Budapest, Hungary, in 1874, grew up in Appleton after his family left Europe. He embarked on a career in magic and escapes, becoming an international star.

Ex-cop Serpico critical of anti-terror measures

CHATHAM, N.Y. -- Frank Serpico, the whistle-blowing ex-New York City cop, criticized the government's anti-terrorism measures at a July Fourth reading of the Declaration of Independence.

"It is my opinion that never before have we, as a nation, stood in greater danger of losing our individual liberties as we are today," he said. "We, the people of this great nation, are being punished for the transgressions of our leaders and their consorts."

Despite catcalls from the audience, he continued with his statement before moving on to the text of the historic document.

"When I still have the freedom to speak, I'll always use it," said Serpico, best known for fighting corruption within the police department in the 1960s.

Peter Maas wrote the book "Serpico," about Serpico's battle against departmental corruption. The book became a hit movie starring Al Pacino.

The organizers of Thursday's event, which also featured a performance of the play "1776," were surprised by Serpico's statements, and some were disappointed that he used the occasion as a soapbox.

Rocker Bowie won't live in Britain, blames media

LONDON -- Veteran rocker David Bowie said he would never live in Britain again because the news media are so obsessed with celebrities.

The 55-year-old singer, who has lived in the United States for a decade, said he and his family would have no private life if he came back to his native country.

"The pure inconvenience of having a camera lens stuck in either my face or my wife and child's face every morning, I think would certainly be a deterrent to me wanting to come back to live here on a permanent basis," he told the British Broadcasting Corp. on Friday.

"Even being here a couple of days, I mean, this is a really different place," he said. "It's astounding how media-driven London is."

Bowie, who is promoting his new album, "Heathen," also had critical words for much of the music that enjoys popularity in Britain. He said he knew about Australian pop diva Kylie Minogue and chart-topping British singer Robbie Williams.-- From wire reports

"You can't get away from that when you hit the shore, so I know all about the cruise-ship entertainment aspect of British pop," he said.

Sculpture commissioned of Elizabeth II on horse

LONDON -- A sculpture of Queen Elizabeth II on horseback has been commissioned to mark her Golden Jubilee, royal officials said.

The work, cast in bronze by sculptor Philip Jackson, will go on display in Windsor Great Park west of London, probably by the end of 2003, officials said Friday. It has been commissioned by the Crown Estate, which manages the royal properties, including Windsor Castle.

Buckingham Palace said it is the 12th official sculpture to be made of the queen -- a keen equestrian -- during her 50-year reign. The works stand in official buildings in Commonwealth countries and public buildings in Britain.

"It's a wonderful commission to get and quite a responsibility," said Jackson, who was chosen for the job by the Royal Society of British Sculptors.

His other works include a small model of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and a sculpture commemorating Britain's 1982 war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands.

The statue of the queen will stand 12 1/2 feet high and will be modeled in clay before being cast in bronze.

-- From wire reports