tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-184399602024-03-18T03:33:56.303-04:00the passionate moviegoera fan's notes by joe baltake devoted to movies neglected and mostly misunderstood
joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comBlogger840125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-1154542958629812012020-02-03T14:21:00.000-05:002020-02-05T13:03:19.534-05:00encore! the film that defines me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>"This film is alive!"</i> Henry Miller once said, <i>"And it speaks to me."</i><br />
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Movies have many voices. Some simply entertain us; others instruct. A few make us feel alive, and even fewer influence our behavior and decisions. <br />
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The ones that grip us in a personal way are the truly special movies in our lives. They have the awesome ability to get us to look inside ourselves and to pursue dreams that we otherwise might never consider. <br />
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Growing up, we all invariably have used film as a point of reference, a learning tool, an example. We would gulp down our One-a-Day vitamins, check our PF Flyers to make sure that they were double-knotted and then, almost routinely, make a beeline for the neighborhood Bijou where we would lose ourselves in make-believe, fantasies, daydreams and movies. <i>Movies</i> - the word itself sparkles with glitter. <br />
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<em>Movies</em>. The special ones stay with us forever. It takes little mental coaxing for me to remember those personal film arousals that have overwhelmed my life. And I've a suspicion that if I were to connect these movies - the way one connects dots - I'd come up with an image that looks, well, very much like me.<br />
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Which brings me to Billy Wilder's "The Apartment," <i>my</i> film. A reference to it recently by TCM's Ben Mankiewicz jogged my memory. Turns out, "The Apartment" is not exclusively mine. Ben invoked it when he referred to it in one of his introductions as the all-time favorite of his Turner Classic Movies colleague Alicia Malone.<br />
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Yes, great minds do think alike.<br />
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Not surprisingly, each of us could be charted by the movies that have guided us, movies we love. As a society, that chart would include such widespread titles as "Gone with the Wind" and "The Wizard of Oz," seminal movie experiences that continue to have an impact on the masses. No question about it.<br />
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Then, there is something like more personal, such as"The Apartment."<br />
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The beauty of movies of this kind is that they work on us more intimately, directly on our senses. They get us alone in the dark and then, while we're isolated and diverted and vulnerable, they whisper to us, subliminally instructing us in the ways of life. And, yes, sometimes they lie to us. <br />
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They may not always change our lives in conspicuous ways, inspiring us to pick up and move away, get married or have a baby (although some can). What the best of them do is to, quite simply, put us in contact with ourselves. <br />
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The movies that are special to us - and you know which ones are your favorites - knock us out with some truth or some indication of what can be. We never do quite get our balance back. We leave the theater feeling dazed, irritated, excited, exhilarated and eager to do something, <em>anything</em>.<br />
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In my case, movies are more than a profession or even an avocation. I will be frank: They have been my life, I dream about them, the way I do about people. They are my world and it's a wondrous place. But one has to be careful because when one lives in a world of movies, one risks living in a place that's close to, well, nowhere. <br />
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So, how did I end up in this place? <br />
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It started innocently enough. I used movies initially as an escape, then as a learning tool, looking for examples, for role models, for someone with whom I could connect.<br />
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Not easy. I'd sit there in awe of John Wayne, for example - with his cunning and macho prowess, such as when he rescued a teenage Natalie Wood in John Ford’s "The Searchers," knowing that I could never measure up. Never. <br />
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It' difficult to feel much kinship with the men I saw on screen, but I tried. The image of Wayne swooping down and scooping up Natalie Wood has a strong, masculine force that is anything but absurd to a little boy. <br />
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But then, I saw a movie that convinced me that, somehow, my life could be emotionally mixed up with movies. When I first saw it, Billy Wilder’s “The Apartment" created a longing so ardent that I thought my chest and head would implode.<br />
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It was the summer of 1960. I remember little else about that summer or that year, for that matter, except that I loved "The Apartment" and that I related to its star, Jack Lemmon, in the most complete, complicated way possible. A point of reference at last. A role model. <br />
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Hearing Ben Mankiewicz reference Alicia Malone compelled me to dig out this old essay, which originally was published August 2, 2006, my second piece for The Passionate Moviegoer. I remember having written that with such dubious assets as his slight build, sagging shoulders, slouching posture and wide-open face filled with basset-hound anxiety, Jack Lemmon filled me with wonder for someone who seemed so much like me - or so I liked to think.<br />
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Jack Lemmon was Mr. Joe Average, a guy like a lot of other guys, only with a quizzical alertness and high-strung energy. As Saturday Review aptly put it in its uncredited review of Richard Murphy’s “The Wackiest Ship in the Army” (1961), Lemmon was <i>"the perfect personification of all harassed mankind - the outranked, outnumbered, out-manipulated little fellow with sound instincts and bad judgment. He is the one who is always taken advantage of. And if, in the end, he emerges triumphant, it's because of a basic decency rather than superior cunning or sudden inspiration."</i><br />
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Over the years, I've watched my 16mm print of "The Apartment" at least 50 times, and easily many more times on home entertainment, but I still remember the first time: I was with some Catholic-school friends, kids who tested their tonsils and tangled diction on the screen by shouting obscene words through their cupped hands. We told our parents that we'd be seeing "The Story of Ruth," a Biblical epic released the same summer as "The Apartment." (Blasphemy, I know.) <br />
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They goofed off, but I watched. “The Apartment” is the first film that I actually studied, reading between the lines and noting techniques. In my case, I couldn't get enough of "The Story of Ruth." While my friends moved on, "The Story of Ruth" became my go-to movie that summer. It's like I had invented binge-watching.<br />
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I’ve seen a lot of films, and my list of favorites keeps changing, but “The Apartment” – the story of an ambitious office worker (Lemmon) who climbs the corporate ladder by “lending” his apartment to his philandering bosses before getting his priorities straight – has been resistant to any upward or downward revision in my mind. It's been a constant - the test, I guess, of a truly great personal film. <br />
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Few movies, however, have the kind of impact on our lives that “The Apartment” has had on mine. But the infrequent great ones <em>do</em> come along from time to time, films that restore our belief in possibilities and that remain our points of reference throughout our lives.<br />
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These movies are like dreams that live on. Each movie, each celluloid dream, becomes a part of our mental scrapbooks. I know that I’ve lingered over movies and movie scenes the way some people reminisce over snapshots of that wonderful vacation in Cape Cod. “The Apartment,” for example, has been carried around inside me ever since that first viewing. It’s familiar and comforting, like an old easy chair that’s been lugged to each new place in which I’ve lived – to remind me of where I’ve been and where I will continue to go. <br />
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That movie is like a ribbon, a thread, that has run through my life and I can always go back to it. And, like me, throughout the years, it has evolved and changed. It hasn’t remained the same and, for some reason, I find that reassuring.<br />
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I still quote lines of the Billy Wilder-I.A.L. Diamond dialogue from the movie – such as David Lewis' casual shrug, <i>“That’s the way it crumbles, cookie-wise,” </i>or Lemmon's observation to his dream girl in the film, Shirley MacLaine, as they are about to enjoy a spaghetti dinner on Christmas day: <i>“It’s a wonderful thing – dinner for two.” </i>Shirley MacLaine. Yes, she was my dream, too. <br />
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Inevitably, I found myself discreetly consulting “The Apartment” as a way of getting through life. A situation would be confronted by speculating how C.C. Baxter, Lemmon’s character in the film, might handle it. I actually thought I’d grow up to be Jack Lemmon or, at least, C.C. Baxter. <br />
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Silly right? I was a kid.<br />
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Up until that time, I spent endless, sleepless nights as that kid wondering if I’d grow up to look like Jack Lemmon (I didn’t) or if I’d join the Navy the way he did in John Ford and Mervyn LeRoy's “Mr. Roberts” (again, I didn’t) or work for an insurance company the way he did in “The Apartment” (ditto) or if I’d marry MacLaine’s Fran Kubelik (no way). These were actual, recurring dreams. No exaggeration.<br />
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Of course, I wasn’t Jack Lemmon and my life that followed wasn’t at all like the one he lived in “The Apartment.” And with this, I realized that movies have the ability to hit us in more ways, and on more levels, than we can ever appreciate.<br />
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They are transporting and make us <i>believe</i>.<br />
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Ever since I first saw “The Apartment,” my life has been wrapped up, irrevocably, in movies, so much so that, for me, film has evolved into a pop psychology. Film became a part of something larger in my life. Movies and events in my world have tended to blend together.<br />
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Along the way, a kid no more, I learned to separate fantasy from reality, to realize that only a few of my movie-fed dreams will materialize. And I’ve also accepted the realization that many of these dreams may fall short of “the way it happens in the movies" - a harsh truth for the movie-loving kid who stayed with me far too long.<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>Notes in Passing:</b></i></span> No, the Navy no longer holds any glamour or allure for me, and neither do insurance companies (!). And I married someone far better than Fran Kubelik. But I have other, newer dreams, all of which, I’m sure, will also continue to come from movies.<br />
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My parents were not happy when they learned that in reality I had spent the summer of '60 watching Jack lend out his apartment to his bosses for sex.<br />
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A kid sinner.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_m6ZK7ZWtqbWav-6Ea9b8d4UWfGinZv0-GZjAQzpJ9WtaIH0318ayqlC4hoHBHfo8KehiKSgyc777SOApvyKaJn7OS1cTK6byKm_E_TZo6p9ZxF5GBcR_0Kfh7tUAfSbzZ0DY/s1600/Blog+Art+-+The+Apartment+lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="950" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_m6ZK7ZWtqbWav-6Ea9b8d4UWfGinZv0-GZjAQzpJ9WtaIH0318ayqlC4hoHBHfo8KehiKSgyc777SOApvyKaJn7OS1cTK6byKm_E_TZo6p9ZxF5GBcR_0Kfh7tUAfSbzZ0DY/s400/Blog+Art+-+The+Apartment+lunch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="55" data-original-width="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" /></a>Regarding</b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b> Comments:</b></span> All comments are enthusiastically appreciated but are moderated before publication. Replies signed "unknown" or "anonymous" are not encouraged. Please sign any response with a name (real or fabricated) or initials. Be advised that a "name" will be assigned to any accepted post signed "unknown" or "anonymous." Thank you. -J<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;">* * * * *</span></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;">~<i>images</i>~</span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;">(from top)</span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><i> </i></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-style: italic;">~</span><i>Opening title card for "The Apartment"</i></span></span></span></span></span></b></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">~design: United Artists</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></i><i><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">1960</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></b></span></i>
<i><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Turner Classic Movies host Alicia Malone</span></span></span></b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"> ~photography</span></span></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">: TCM </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">1960</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></b></span></i>
<i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b>~Assorted still shots of Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Hope Holliday and Billy Wilder in "The Apartment"</b> (<b>Publicity shot of Jack Lemmon as C.C. "Bud" Baxter in "The Apartment"; still shot of the office Christmas party, and Lemmon and director Billy Wilder, a "mutual admiration society" on the set)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Photography: United Artists </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">1960</span>©</b></span></i></div>
joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-18400599226200059912020-01-29T19:30:00.000-05:002020-02-01T13:34:04.894-05:00cinema obscura: Dorothy Malone's "Too Much, Too Soon" (1958)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0R6MIV0_MObKwKS8BOih7lQWeZnyUr3ZhgdwBUCUeKgBUnYyW6C6ayDNnNzoeW05qGdqzyzbNW3VJxfornPbSrHpAS1d-py4FbfHKykzDVZjLqZzlyE2U7HhSTbaIkGJ4VTK/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Too+Much%252C+Too+Soon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="921" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0R6MIV0_MObKwKS8BOih7lQWeZnyUr3ZhgdwBUCUeKgBUnYyW6C6ayDNnNzoeW05qGdqzyzbNW3VJxfornPbSrHpAS1d-py4FbfHKykzDVZjLqZzlyE2U7HhSTbaIkGJ4VTK/s400/Blog+Art+-+Too+Much%252C+Too+Soon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Katharine Hepburn and Bette Davis.<br />
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There are actresses about whom enough can't be said. Hepburn and Davis are inarguably two of them. And then there are those, equally accomplished, whose careers receive precious little acknowledgement or recognition.<br />
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An excellent case in point is the fabulous Dorothy Malone, a staple of the 1950s who glided effortlessly through such dubious-sounding films as Gordon Douglas' "Young at Heart" (1954), Raoul Walsh's "Battle Cry" (1955), Frank Tashlin's "Artists and Models" (1955), Douglas Sirk's "Written on the Wind" (1956) and "The Tarnished Angels" (1958), Joseph Pevney's "Man of a Thousand Faces' (1957) and Robert Aldrich's "The Last Sunset" (1961). <em></em><br />
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<em>And</em> Charles Marquis Warren's "Tension at Table Rock" (1956) and Richard Thorpe's "Tip on a Dead Jockey" (1957). What titles!<br />
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For the sheer fun of it, Malone also did William Asher's highly disposable "Beach Party" (1963), paired with an also-slumming Robert Cumming.<br />
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But her best role was in Art Napoleon's missing "Too Much, Too Soon" (1958), a steamy biopic in which Malone played the rebellious Diana Barrymore to Errol Flynn's John. Naturally sensual, Malone specialized in characters who had an "itch" - an itch for men, an itch for sex, an itch for highs and an itch for risks and adventure. "Too Much, Too Soon" presented Malone with material that she knew best - and which only she could pull off. <br />
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You can't imagine anyone else in the role. Not Elizabeth Taylor. Not Joanne Woodward. Not Piper Laurie. Not Jean Simmons. Not Shirley MacLaine.<br />
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This is the only film that truly showcased Malone in which she is/was <em><span style="color: yellow;">The Star</span></em> and she rewards her director and the viewer to an intricate, multi-faceted performance that is at once exhilarating, scary and sad. <br />
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And she is ably abetted by Flynn, who is very moving as Diana's father, and by such B-level actors as Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Ray Danton and Martin Milner as the assorted men who flit in and out of Diana's life - and bed.<br />
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The maker of "Too Much, Too Soon," one Art Napoleon, is also a curiosity. He made only three films in his lifetime, the other two being "Man on the Prowl" (1957), his debut feature starring Mala Powers and James Best, and "The Activist" (1969) which, to the best of my knowledge, was never released. All three films were written by Napoleon's wife, Jo, who also worked with him on several TV shows - "Whirlybirds," among them.<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="55" data-original-width="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" /></a>Regarding</b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b> Comments:</b></span> All comments are enthusiastically appreciated but are moderated before publication. Replies signed "unknown" or "anonymous" are not encouraged. Please sign any response with a name (real or fabricated) or initials. Be advised that a "name" will be assigned to any accepted post signed "unknown" or "anonymous." Thank you. -J<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;">* * * * *</span></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><strong><em>~image~</em></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><em><strong>The lost performances of Errol Flynn and Dorothy Malone as John and Diana Barrymore in Art Napoleon's biopic, "Too Much, Too Soon"</strong></em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><em><strong><span style="color: #93c47d;">~<span style="color: #93c47d;">photography: Warner Bros. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">1958</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></span></strong></em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-18667146908214835102020-01-23T16:24:00.000-05:002020-01-25T11:47:40.495-05:00a fan's notes<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">A trio of observations, pronouncements, insights or whatever...</span></i></b> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2-k2HrXKP_iUvcBTUAwEOw3ejEo0Dp9uAXgLKIETPvkA71tMqQ0ePAbu9M1psAgDLAzLrsUGEZCYgdvY9l-rpay8mzztfHk7OlyIRfzxRwbNoPqRRZm1yY36fa_2r6HcMg3b/s1600/Blog+Art+-+A+Face+in+the+Crowd+Neal1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2-k2HrXKP_iUvcBTUAwEOw3ejEo0Dp9uAXgLKIETPvkA71tMqQ0ePAbu9M1psAgDLAzLrsUGEZCYgdvY9l-rpay8mzztfHk7OlyIRfzxRwbNoPqRRZm1yY36fa_2r6HcMg3b/s400/Blog+Art+-+A+Face+in+the+Crowd+Neal1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><i><u>First up..</u>. </i></b></span>"A Face in the Crowd," the compulsively biting character study from 1957 by scenarist Budd Schulberg and director Elia Kazan, was impressively prescient in its improbable, hugely disturbing national prognosis. In retrospect, it remains exactly the same. <i>Except</i> in one area.<br />
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Ostensibly, the film's chief (and only real) focus had always been its lead character, Lonesome Rhodes, given a lustful reading here by a riveting Andy Griffith, a performance driven by Lonesome's narcissistic, power-driven appropriation of the country. But, arguably, more unsettling is the "journey" of Patricia Neal's Marcia Jeffries, created by the collaborating auteurs. <br />
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Initially a small-town journalist who works for her uncle's modest media outlet in Pickett, Arkansas, she produces a popular, raggy radio show titled "A Face in the Crowd" that exploits Lonesome's conservative radicalism and, by extension, celebrates Marcia as his most enthusiastic benefactor/enabler. <br />
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At the outset, oblivious to his danger, Marcia wears a little straw hat (<em><span style="color: #93c47d;"><strong>photo above</strong></span></em>) and brandishes a tiny, hand-held tape recorder. She's rather quaint. Towards the end of the film, her transformation/makeover into a Martini-sipping sophisticate who hangs out in dark bars is complete (<strong><em><span style="color: #93c47d;">photo below</span></em></strong>).<br />
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And the process doesn't take very long.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIBJvr6ysRM9Ys1q2NLvEKkQZCBfN1ChUQkcu9wezyZ3OxjNlqkCCU5P_BX6aw7J_88gKo4xLgZQI1pYky7jCkG5sS_x03yCsYv91GJCw5YnFL4sOo0P0DSpuoBc2qZs-gR5g/s1600/Blog+Art+-+A+Face+in+the+Crowd+Neal2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIBJvr6ysRM9Ys1q2NLvEKkQZCBfN1ChUQkcu9wezyZ3OxjNlqkCCU5P_BX6aw7J_88gKo4xLgZQI1pYky7jCkG5sS_x03yCsYv91GJCw5YnFL4sOo0P0DSpuoBc2qZs-gR5g/s400/Blog+Art+-+A+Face+in+the+Crowd+Neal2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><u><i>Punctuation Police... </i></u></span></b> For close to 30 years, I've engaged in a running battle with copy editors about the absence of an apostrophe in the title of D. A. Pennebaker's 1965-67 Bob Dylan documentary. It's <i>"Dont Look Back</i>," not <i>"Don't Look Back." </i>Editors have invariably added the apostrophe.<br />
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As explined on Wikipedia, "The original title of this film is <i>Dont Look Back</i>, without an apostrophe in the first word. D. A. Pennebaker, the film's writer director, decided to punctuate the title this way because 'It was my attempt to simplify the language.'"<br />
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Despite the DVD's title, Dylan never
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dont_Look_Back">never recorded</a> a song titled "Dont Look Back," per reader Bill Wolf in his response below.<br />
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In the commentary track to the DVD release, Pennebaker said that the title came from the Satchel Paige quote, "Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you," and that Dylan shared this view.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7rgpks9eJBn05HYCA3NQLGNVNvBiUqiqADjKDhwW5GRG-WjZ8fz7IUW_AhEygKIXz1Bt1D7CyQt1Tkc8ycZ2gIm4fMUmcd8TLs4X5NeGkWIvHGYUo6X7_rb02sMaPSaA-fOw/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Morton+DaCosta3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7rgpks9eJBn05HYCA3NQLGNVNvBiUqiqADjKDhwW5GRG-WjZ8fz7IUW_AhEygKIXz1Bt1D7CyQt1Tkc8ycZ2gIm4fMUmcd8TLs4X5NeGkWIvHGYUo6X7_rb02sMaPSaA-fOw/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Morton+DaCosta3.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><u><i><b>That voice!: </b></i></u></span>And it's rarely noted, but director Morton Da Costa provided the voice of Edwin
Dennis reading his last Will and Testament during the opening moments of Da Costa's film of "Auntie Mame."<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="55" data-original-width="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" /></a>Regarding</b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b> Comments:</b></span>
All comments are enthusiastically appreciated but are moderated before
publication. Replies signed "unknown" or "anonymous" are not
encouraged. Please sign any response with a name (real or fabricated) or
initials. Be advised that a "name" will be assigned to any accepted
post signed "unknown" or "anonymous." Thank you. -J<br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;">* *
* * *</span></i></b><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: inherit;"> </span><b><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"> </span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;">~images~</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"> (from top)</span></i></b><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"> </span><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Still shots of Patricia Neal in "A Face in the Crowd"</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography: Warner Bros. </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">1957</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></b><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">D. A. Pennebaker</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> ~photography: </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">Leacock-Pennebaker, Inc. </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">1965-67</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></b><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> ~Morton DaCosta </span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography: Warner Bros. </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">1962</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></b></div>
joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-78084094657403949712020-01-20T13:43:00.000-05:002020-01-21T07:24:13.062-05:00cinema obscura: J. Lee Thompson's "John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!" (1965)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5eiOecvP_9KH1KN2FBy8Gf5_nEyuT8Nn2Xu-zbzmemV_NZ_v6TbOtdrGE-NfBzCnZEsagfqPQQ5e_GYeFOpMSBhMfrAt2ro8But1v1rOGBljxOuIVdAHwIYclNRdi0RSC-0-M/s1600/Blog+Art+-+John+Goldfarb5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5eiOecvP_9KH1KN2FBy8Gf5_nEyuT8Nn2Xu-zbzmemV_NZ_v6TbOtdrGE-NfBzCnZEsagfqPQQ5e_GYeFOpMSBhMfrAt2ro8But1v1rOGBljxOuIVdAHwIYclNRdi0RSC-0-M/s400/Blog+Art+-+John+Goldfarb5.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
No one would ever mistake J. Lee Thompson's "John Goldfarb, Please
Come One" for a good movie.<br />
<br />
Aside from being director Thompson's second
back-to-back collaboration with star Shirley MacLaine in 1965, its only
real claim to fame during its brief life in theaters
during the spring of '65, was that Notre Dame University threatened
Twentieth Century-Fox with a lawsuit for defaming both the school's name and its football players (as buffoons, no less).<br />
<br />
"John Goldfarb, Please
Come One" is a mess but it's an eccentric mess. It's certainly better (just barely) than the previous Thompson-MacLaine pairing - "What a Way to Go!," a
bloated, conventional pseudo-musical dud and shameless vanity production for MacLaine from the
year before.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrqzSmuaadDXhDRE82KC_y-X4u5p14p8I9pZjF1xa2P7HPY74q6xFntI3rLLKL3N65uyKwFo1jvNc6nn2fdCdpkEMTmfR9gGY5WvTgGi67RYYszRFBcE2PDHpWUBSlh4LYkRS/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Fred+Clark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrqzSmuaadDXhDRE82KC_y-X4u5p14p8I9pZjF1xa2P7HPY74q6xFntI3rLLKL3N65uyKwFo1jvNc6nn2fdCdpkEMTmfR9gGY5WvTgGi67RYYszRFBcE2PDHpWUBSlh4LYkRS/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Fred+Clark.jpg" /></a></div>
But you have to love a D-level film like "Goldfarb" that conjurs up a
buffoonish CIA Chief, names him Heinous Overreach and casts the
great Fred Clark in the role.<br />
<br />
The plot, concocted by no less than
William Peter Blatty, involves a dim-witted U-2 pilot for the USAF,
nicknamed Wrong Way Goldfarb, played by Richard Crenna (in his
first major film role following decades on television). While en route to the
USSR on a spy mission, former Notre Dame football star Wrong Way
Goldfarb crashes in a mythical Arabian country called Fawzia. He is apprehended
and held captive by King Fawz (Peter Ustinov), who happens to be a
football-obsessed tyrant and who wants Goldfarb to organize a local team
for him.<br />
<br />
MacLaine plays a mouthy reporter for Strife magazine who happens to be on
assignment in Fawzia and unwittingly ends up in Fawz'
harem and in Wrong Way's arms.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMVyKr5FgdWpeP6w5rHbpAK3TyWkoCCotgmrkmdP-6x1R5e3mWdPj_BdQznIEtPplLzLQui7BcsqueiEiL-UaBdfzjlZh_ZjTjelUGnOLGJ30KBXPoXqphf_U_svDBs4aGlMjlA/s1600-h/Blog+Art+-+John+Goldbarb2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5110614074518033698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMVyKr5FgdWpeP6w5rHbpAK3TyWkoCCotgmrkmdP-6x1R5e3mWdPj_BdQznIEtPplLzLQui7BcsqueiEiL-UaBdfzjlZh_ZjTjelUGnOLGJ30KBXPoXqphf_U_svDBs4aGlMjlA/s320/Blog+Art+-+John+Goldbarb2.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a><br />
Aside from Clark, the
supporting cast consists of such ace character actors as Jim Backus,
Harry Mogan, Richard Deacon, Scott Brady, David Lewis, Jackie Coogan,
Chalres Lane, Leon Askin, Jerome Cowan, Milton Frome and the great Wilfred
Hyde-White. And keep
an eye out for a young Jerry Orbach.<br />
<br />
Yes, the film is awful, but this cast is compulsively watchable.<br />
<br />
MacLaine, meanwhile, plays her character as a fractured cross between an over-aged cheerleader and an over-heated harem contestant.<br />
<br />
By
the way, Blatty and MacLaine worked together in the 1960s and, when he wrote "The Exorcist," Blatty modeled the character of Chris MacNeil (played by Ellen Burstyn in the film) after MacLaine, a dubious tribute of sorts. Bottom Line: This film was made for Frank Tashlin to direct. Period. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIHHYXPyIt8bDUy4OYS0U8fhug05NF_uSugdCMoI4EUrr6MP4ma6mY_J_M8izJRxz7FpSlSOwnTLcLvEoklsvo14U9M5I1sUJQ0T4WK5IzfjLAu8LuK2d4AdNwbhETmsR0xhh-g/s1600-h/Blog+Art+-+John+Goldbarb3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5110614074518033714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIHHYXPyIt8bDUy4OYS0U8fhug05NF_uSugdCMoI4EUrr6MP4ma6mY_J_M8izJRxz7FpSlSOwnTLcLvEoklsvo14U9M5I1sUJQ0T4WK5IzfjLAu8LuK2d4AdNwbhETmsR0xhh-g/s320/Blog+Art+-+John+Goldbarb3.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; margin: 0 0 10px 10px;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>Note in Passing:
</b></i></span> Oh,
yes, John Williams' score for the film, never recorded, was released
belatedly in 2007 in a limited-edition CD. Shirley MacLaine, ever the
good sport, honks out the cacophonous title song.<br />
<br />
Blatty also attempted to adapt "Goldfarb" into a musical comedy back in 2007, with music and
lyrics by Michael Garin, Robert Hipkens, and Erik Frandsen, choreography
by Jennifer Schmermund and Anahid Sofian, and direction by Jeffrey
Lewonczyk. It was staged for four performances only in August of that year
at The Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, 566 LaGuardia Place.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="55" data-original-width="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" /></a>Regarding</b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b> Comments:</b></span>
All comments are enthusiastically appreciated but are moderated before
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post signed "unknown" or "anonymous." Thank you. -J<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>* * * * *</b></span></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~<i>images</i>~</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b> (from top)</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b> </b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Poster art for "John Goldfarb, Please Come Home"</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography:
Twentieth Century-Fox </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1965</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">© </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Publicity shot of Fred Clark in </span></i></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">"John Goldfarb, Please Come Home"</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b> </span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography:
Twentieth Century-Fox </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1965</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">© </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">
</span><span style="color: #f6b26b;">
</span></span></b><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Two still shots of Shirley MacLaine in </span></i></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">"John Goldfarb, Please Come Home"</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b> </span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography:
Twentieth Century-Fox </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1965</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">© </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></div>
joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-76435580419220598832020-01-04T15:59:00.000-05:002020-01-07T19:31:14.302-05:00salted<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DFqye7FdUw-XoUsp2UZVOM8dITEvJdwUm08E67L0s4EgfVlEKRisACzpnZkOVZs_eHTUqpO3GmV1Ns_9SSZ4-LpTdKCa3aOC1HmZVt9_nVUBpWZBzKsPX2bEfTCRzNcnJGVi/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Butter1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="674" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DFqye7FdUw-XoUsp2UZVOM8dITEvJdwUm08E67L0s4EgfVlEKRisACzpnZkOVZs_eHTUqpO3GmV1Ns_9SSZ4-LpTdKCa3aOC1HmZVt9_nVUBpWZBzKsPX2bEfTCRzNcnJGVi/s400/Blog+Art+-+Butter1.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
Something different. A "cinema obscura" entry that's a true original - a modern screen comedy that compels one to continue smiling in retrospect, days after its closing credits have expired. Not surprisingly, the movie itself - shot and released back in 2011 - is largely, sadly forgotten now.<br />
<br />
Cinema obscura - the price paid for being ... different.<br />
<br />
The film is Jim Field Smith's "Butter" and, in terms of its "style" - which is blissfully scattershot, anarchic and irreverent - one would have to wander back to 1980 and to Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale's <a href="https://www.robertzemeckis.info/used-cars">”Used Cars”</a> in a bedazzled state to locate a screen comedy this delightfully addelpated.<br />
<br />
Smith, a British name new to me, made only one feature prior to "Butter" (the Jay Baruchel 2010 comedy, "She's Out of My League") and seemingly has worked in TV exclusively ever since. So, until I have the opportunity to experience any of his future work, I'll binge on "Butter" indulgently.<br />
<br />
Its plot, solipsistic to the extreme, centers on a butter-sculpting event in suburban Johnson County, Iowa whose piddling four contestants are soon reduced to two - Laura Pickler, an ambitious, uptight conservative who sees her win as a rare political opportunity, and Destiny (just Destiny), a foster-care child looking for a forever home. On paper, it sounds like the stuff of an arch Hallmark/Lifetime movie or, at the very least, a spoof.<br />
<br />
But Smith is ruthless, playing it for dark, wicked laughs and buoyed by a game cast driven by Jennifer Garner as the twitchy, shameless Laura.<br />
<br />
Garner has carved out a curious niche for herself, excelling as compulsive, type-A, genuinely frighteningly women (see HBO's "Camping") who double down and dig in, eschewing any hint of weakness. Somehow, she manages to make her scary machinations downright hilarious. Garner is an original.<br />
<br />
Ty Burrell plays Laura's husband Bob, also a butter artist who has won awards for his specialty, namely religious-right sculptures based on The Last Supper and The Passion of the Christ, among others. He's also been lauded for his carving of a Newt Gingrich likeness. You get the picture.<br />
<br />
Laura has talent but she's no match for Destiny, played here by the preternaturally gifted child actress Yara Shahidi, who was 9 at the time of filming and is now a grown 19. Destiny has true vision, and there's some warm, lighthearted chemistry between Shahidi and the very good Alicia Silverstone and Rob Corddry, who play Destiny's latest foster parents and who are, of course, the polar opposites of the hypocritical Picklers.<br />
<br />
"Butter" is one of those films which showcases every bit of talent on screen, and Corddry gets a prime shot with an anxiety-ridden diatribe/monologue against the evils of butter, while a most companionable Silverstone shrewdly exploits her off-screen status as a practicing vegan. <br />
<br />
The always welcome Kristen Schaal plays one of the other contestants; Phyllis Smith (of "The Office") is Nancy, the calming presence who oversees the event; Ashley Greene ("Twilight") is Bob's teenage daughter from his first marriage, and Olivia Wilde is a, well, wild as an aggressive prostitute to whom Bob still owes $600 for services previously rendered.<br />
<br />
Finally, Hugh Jackman does a witty turn as Laurel's old high-school crush, an illiterate lummox who agrees to help her rig the contest. Her
entry for the latest competition? A butter reproduction of something I could not possibly invent: <i>"Wait!,"</i> I said to my wife as the sculpture took form. <i>"Is that Jacki Kennedy crawling on the trunk of a convertible trying to save Jack? Has she actually carved a butter rendering of <u>the JFK assassination</u>?"</i><br />
<br />
Scenarist Jason Micallef is credited with the film's
quick-witty, gutsy, and at times tasteless script, but whether the culprit is Smith or Micallef - or the two working
in tandem - the various sculptures here are at once hideous,
hilarious, delicious and actually quite artful. They still have me smiling.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh32dWaBwHfuOqlVu4C2kKiYcrYPxixaQ6Zx8lNNlczFxQkKk8ZzdaTWfntHL9hrMd5KycT8bMbF9WZmpMgSz8_IDwrUxEBnIQ1u-9ejj9AHPiijBd8QfsivEh7pCdgSyxDcOX/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Butter3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="960" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh32dWaBwHfuOqlVu4C2kKiYcrYPxixaQ6Zx8lNNlczFxQkKk8ZzdaTWfntHL9hrMd5KycT8bMbF9WZmpMgSz8_IDwrUxEBnIQ1u-9ejj9AHPiijBd8QfsivEh7pCdgSyxDcOX/s400/Blog+Art+-+Butter3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><b>Click on photo to enlarge </b></i></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="55" data-original-width="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" /></a>Regarding</b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b> Comments:</b></span>
All comments are enthusiastically appreciated but are moderated before
publication. Replies signed "unknown" or "anonymous" are not
encouraged. Please sign any response with a name (real or fabricated) or
initials. Be advised that a "name" will be assigned to any accepted
post signed "unknown" or "anonymous." Thank you. -J<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>* * * * *</b></span></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b> </b></span></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~<i>images</i>~ </b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>(from top)</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b> </b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Poster art for "Butter" </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography:
TWC/Radius </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">2010</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Laura's novel, notorious butter rendering of the Kennedy assassination</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> ~photography: </span></i></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">TWC/Radius </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">2010</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b></div>
joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-77399772064174571282019-12-31T16:30:00.000-05:002020-01-01T14:24:37.656-05:00over & out. at long last.<blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHy3dK1BIoELK6BDrrE3ONWP7g88X9bKNI0cutsOVvZwgX8d78AFM28U_GlHY6Tq8-hRy1_tTdFF2tF4OIEEaFEAQyEl8Yq1pULaod8ZmuoxB-7w2jSFvcgb6PmkzQEm1t6PzrDw/s1600/Blog+Art+-+The+Apartment+Shirley+in+bar2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHy3dK1BIoELK6BDrrE3ONWP7g88X9bKNI0cutsOVvZwgX8d78AFM28U_GlHY6Tq8-hRy1_tTdFF2tF4OIEEaFEAQyEl8Yq1pULaod8ZmuoxB-7w2jSFvcgb6PmkzQEm1t6PzrDw/s320/Blog+Art+-+The+Apartment+Shirley+in+bar2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>"Ring out the old year, ring in the new. Ring-a-ding-ding"</b></i></span></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b> </b>- Fran Kubelik's sarcasm on New Year's Eve.</i></span></blockquote>
</div>
<i>- From Billy Wilder's "The Apartment" (1960), an apt quote to end 2019.</i>joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-3283865737488593292019-12-21T14:30:00.000-05:002019-12-26T10:45:46.965-05:00joe's dreaded genre<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNdqTImpkJVziElLHul3n3c31CVfGXoD10c_RdukBcM3-Jcv3w7a_LB8uxv5CwMWtqOQ6tWhLpVpMEz6EqbLc-sLRW46ILGVUoPx21fs_aImjv9NwiWuIOm7QBPn0x-l3RVWr/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Ben+Mankiewicz2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="685" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNdqTImpkJVziElLHul3n3c31CVfGXoD10c_RdukBcM3-Jcv3w7a_LB8uxv5CwMWtqOQ6tWhLpVpMEz6EqbLc-sLRW46ILGVUoPx21fs_aImjv9NwiWuIOm7QBPn0x-l3RVWr/s400/Blog+Art+-+Ben+Mankiewicz2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Since the passing of Robert Osborne in 2017, Turner Classic Movies has taken on a new dynamic, diversifying its features via the showcasing of its chief host - the intrepid, amiable Ben Mankiewicz, who brings brio to every new addition to TCM's line-up and achieves it with an easy-going mastery.<br />
<br />
These days, everything seems essential on Turner, not the least of which is a new feature titled Pets on Sets, which examines the role of animals in film and how their participation is manipulated and achieved. The segment works largely because of Mankiewicz who brings it off effortlessly with a concern for the animals being exploited that seems genuine and heartfelt.<br />
<br />
Is Ben an animal advocate? I have a hunch that he is. Me? Count me in. But my love of animals is equaled by my dislike of movies <i>about</i> them. I don't want to see any movie that's
about a dog, cat, horse or lion. Have you noticed that movies about animals are always -<i> always</i>
- sad and disturbing? Awful things traditionally happen to the animal
star.<br />
<br />
Movies about animals have become my dreaded genre.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHa0o7hit_eJVGbR2Wr2Yz4n9EHIDslPIwyCZ5Y5xbXQ68Xp9jMxjxW4PS_QBbHb2VjIozLGbMkpSNSZu_unP0qClicmMGK0oMiV6VXSiKbhzWUl4cz_jOV1jgzJ364z2Gta1Dg/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Marley+and+Me4.bmp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHa0o7hit_eJVGbR2Wr2Yz4n9EHIDslPIwyCZ5Y5xbXQ68Xp9jMxjxW4PS_QBbHb2VjIozLGbMkpSNSZu_unP0qClicmMGK0oMiV6VXSiKbhzWUl4cz_jOV1jgzJ364z2Gta1Dg/s400/Blog+Art+-+Marley+and+Me4.bmp" width="400" /></a> The MGM/Lassie films are the worst. "Old Yeller" is the pits.
(Blasphemy, I know!) I do like Asta in the "Thin Man" series and Pyewacket in
"Bell, Book and Candle," but those films really aren't about them, are
they? <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNFLrmSIVTISS7ba2bNGFL0Jpu6_oi4fJyA2tSHxEvBXjd6njof5F4C0IpcxlhnSEAHEc8ooQAVWuheYzuN53tw4fFozvHRpQE_1swPp9A_1BTdX2QbLqiz_4yZmDH-Alw2AL/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Carol+Tresan.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="397" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNFLrmSIVTISS7ba2bNGFL0Jpu6_oi4fJyA2tSHxEvBXjd6njof5F4C0IpcxlhnSEAHEc8ooQAVWuheYzuN53tw4fFozvHRpQE_1swPp9A_1BTdX2QbLqiz_4yZmDH-Alw2AL/s320/Blog+Art+-+Carol+Tresan.jpg" width="210" /></a><br />
<br />
David Frankel's <a href="http://thepassionatemoviegoer.blogspot.com/2010/08/indelible-moment-marley-me.html">“Marley and Me”</a> is the one rare exception - for<i> me. </i>And it remains a great film in general because it is about a life - in this case, the life of a dog
from puppyhood to death - and also because of its complete, unapologetic
empathy for the animal. All of this occurred to me
belatedly after I wrote a previous essay on a potential remake of <a href="http://thepassionatemoviegoer.blogspot.com/2010/04/fantasy-remake-born-free-with-julia-and.html">”Born Free.”</a><br />
<br />
Sorry, Elsa.<br />
<br />
<span class="flipboard-hidden" data-src="">Throughout this
<a href="https://mercurie.blogspot.com/2019/11/pets-on-sets-on-tcm-in-december.html">December,</a></span>
Mankiewicz has been hosting Pets on Sets in tandem with Carol Tresan, who with her husband Greg, is owner and operator of <a href="https://animalcastingatlanta.com/about-us">Animal Casting Atlanta</a>, which trains animal actors. <span class="flipboard-hidden" data-src="">And
while their Wednesday evening get togethers are dominated largely by discussions
of animal performances in finished films, Ben, Carol and Greg do not hesitate
to consider what it took to achieve those performances. Was it done with ease? <span class="flipboard-hidden" data-src="">Or - and I hate to ask - was cruelty a factor in the process?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="flipboard-hidden" data-src=""><span class="flipboard-hidden" data-src="">Ben asks all the right questions. No surprise here. And Carol and Greg provide invaluable insight, as well as an inside look into the system. Neither pulls any punches. They educate us. We learn a lot about a movie subject that has never been addressed openly - or, if so, only rarely.</span></span><br />
<br />
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<span class="flipboard-hidden" data-src=""><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9b3wLZWHHpga-qbg1bK8TjhQD57_Hy4YcCmCr1Siy22AhdNLMogBQn8NWP_gJU2ngIDgaPCLB6UxxoDBfdkbAH-X69U2vDMWrYJ5NSd2Gm976EVWCCr_eF0B558vc1lGqXHfg/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Pat+Derby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9b3wLZWHHpga-qbg1bK8TjhQD57_Hy4YcCmCr1Siy22AhdNLMogBQn8NWP_gJU2ngIDgaPCLB6UxxoDBfdkbAH-X69U2vDMWrYJ5NSd2Gm976EVWCCr_eF0B558vc1lGqXHfg/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Pat+Derby.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span class="flipboard-hidden" data-src="">No, this trio does not skirt the tough questions. So, again, is cruelty indeed an occasional factor?</span><br />
<br />
<span class="flipboard-hidden" data-src="">This subject came up back in 1995 when I interviewed the late </span><br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Derby" title="Pat Derby">Pat Derby</a> and her husband and partner Ed Stewart at their <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performing_Animal_Welfare_Society">PAWS</a><br />
facility
(Performing Animal Welfare Society) in Galt, Ca.<br />
<br />
Pat had worked for
almost her entire adult life as an animal trainer (specializing in
elephants, bears and tigers). but
had a change of heart - as well as a carer change - becaming an outspoken crusader for animal rights on movie sets. Pat had a
lot to say. Her story about the orangutan
that worked in the 1978 Clint Eastwood film, "Every Which Way but Loose"
was particularly disturbing. It precipitated her about-face enlighetnment.<br />
<br />
A personal case in point: My
wife adores George Stevens' "Giant." Yes, it's a
great movie in every way. But for me, I can't get past the sequence in
which Mercedes McCambridge abuses Elizabeth Taylor's beloved horse by
driving her spurs into its sides. It's an ugly scene and the horse
is clearly in agony. But was the horse "acting"? Later, after the
horse throws McCambridge, killing her (justice served), it limps back to
the ranch - shot in silhouette, against a nighttime sky. An evocative,
haunting moment.<br />
<br />
But wait! <br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJhlN1JyES1ud6HhUQopsC5mQOC4X70mxxkv5BKpSHFqhRmgNIYqu3GmDQsR46woNVla8HjZJobNN77nP7PXGLB8zwc6oUx6R4hUDGnSt3gCf6RaHn2FbB_oDoFx7pf-A-O-LSA/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Giant2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJhlN1JyES1ud6HhUQopsC5mQOC4X70mxxkv5BKpSHFqhRmgNIYqu3GmDQsR46woNVla8HjZJobNN77nP7PXGLB8zwc6oUx6R4hUDGnSt3gCf6RaHn2FbB_oDoFx7pf-A-O-LSA/s320/Blog+Art+-+Giant2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
For
decades, I've wondered exactly how the filmmakers got that horse to limp on
cue. Was it "acting" or real? It's important to remember that "Giant"
was made in less enlightened times when it was routine to trip horses
(often crippling or even killing them) for action scenes. My guess is that the horse
being bludgeoned with spurs and later limping wasn't "acting." Making that particular
moment in "Giant' even more deplorable to contemplate (let alone watch) is that, once the men in the film realize that McCambridge died after
the horse threw her, they shoot the poor animal (justice <i>not</i> served).<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJgitAPaWXvndA0sM54fzM9nLBJSwJVH5ex8nYoUXbcp3KqHJE3MwEtzUgwoXXQ6O_X6tU4LidiaXC1R8yH-YghyphenhyphenEVh3PVLBCetra0ZsRKGKQdvh2-yKFQHrvUSUUem_rT82N_Q/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Jumbo.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJgitAPaWXvndA0sM54fzM9nLBJSwJVH5ex8nYoUXbcp3KqHJE3MwEtzUgwoXXQ6O_X6tU4LidiaXC1R8yH-YghyphenhyphenEVh3PVLBCetra0ZsRKGKQdvh2-yKFQHrvUSUUem_rT82N_Q/s320/Blog+Art+-+Jumbo.jpg" width="320" /></a>Finally, I
always wanted to interview Doris Day, something that evaded me during my career. One subject that I specifically wanted to address was about a film she made in
1962 - "Billy Rose's Jumbo," a musical named after its elephant star. The animal is forced
to do silly routines that are humiliating for a creature as magnificent
and sentient as an elephant. What did it take? Again, was there any cruelty involved? Doris, of course, was a vocal animal
activist and this is one area of her career I would have loved to discuss with
her.<br />
<br />
That said, thanks Ben and Carol for the observation. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>Note in Passing:</b></i></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b> </b></i></span>Getting back to Frankel's "Marley & Me"... The film works beautifully as an intelligent,
acute depiction of what's like to have a relationship with an animal and
how the sudden absence of an animal companion can make one feel so
terribly desolate because, well, the animal is always, reliably there - a
point driven in the scene where stars Jennifer Aniston and Owen
Wilson watch videos after Marley's passing.<br />
<br />
In one
of the videos, Aniston is standing at a kitchen counter talking to a
friend. She has a baby on her hip and eating food off the counter.
Marley is behind her and, almost absent-mindedly, without thinking, she
gives Marley some of the food - because she just <i>knew</i> he would be there.<br />
<br />
But, now, he isn't. No longer.<br />
<br />
"Marley & Me." A truly under-appreciated film, the only "animal movie" I can tolerate.<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="55" data-original-width="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" /></a>Regarding</b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b> Comments:</b></span>
All comments are enthusiastically appreciated but are moderated before
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encouraged. Please sign any response with a name (real or fabricated) or
initials. Be advised that a "name" will be assigned to any accepted
post signed "unknown" or "anonymous." Thank you. -J<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>* * * * *</b></span></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~<i>images</i>~</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>(from top)</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Ben Mankiewicz</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography: Turner Classic Movies </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">2019</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Marley, as a pup in "Marley & Me"</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography: Twentieth Century-Fox 2008</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Animal trainer Carol Tresan</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> who works in tandem with her husband and partner Greg</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography: Animal Casting Atlanta </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">2019</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Animal trainer Pat Derby and friend</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography:PAWS 1995</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i> </i></span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i>~Opening title card for the film "Giant"</i></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i>~photography: Warner Bros.</i></span><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">1956</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b> <b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></span></b></span></i></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Doris Day and Jimmy Durante in "Billy Rose's Jumbo"</span></i></span></span></b></span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography: MGM 1962</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b> </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Marley, as a young adult in "Marley & Me"</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography: Twentieth Century-Fox 2008</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></span></b></div>
joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-76999049026062213612019-12-16T10:30:00.000-05:002019-12-16T13:19:26.917-05:00you got mail<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRIrXwTnQSvVaeU0eEEFSkRSfjxPxgj0G3HaYPnVAuXOQOjj31ovcoFolrr0wh3ZTqAL77Mmn_jwfkh7dQrRJ-ZZ39iEaJTTyG2TznYmAjgooFx03T4-XWReGv-SZKiJD12yFVA/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Lucy2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637840865263993250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRIrXwTnQSvVaeU0eEEFSkRSfjxPxgj0G3HaYPnVAuXOQOjj31ovcoFolrr0wh3ZTqAL77Mmn_jwfkh7dQrRJ-ZZ39iEaJTTyG2TznYmAjgooFx03T4-XWReGv-SZKiJD12yFVA/s400/Blog+Art+-+Lucy2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 325px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> The letter, unexpected, arrived about a week after I interviewed Angela Lansbury, ostensibly about a 1973 Philadelphia event in which Lansbury was participating at The Academy of Music. Or perhaps she was touring with Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street."<br />
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But it wasn't from Angela.<br />
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It was from Lucille Ball who had just started production on the 1974 film version of Jerry Herman's "Mame," which starred Lansbury on Broadway. Apparently, I referenced Lucy's name in the piece (perhaps only fleetingly), she saw it and, being a pro, wasted no time acknowledging her gratitude. It's all very fuzzy now but it must have been something positive.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvZiu3GW_8i5342a8yVroJUp74PEbCbFH5Us3gjRfCKp60WjnhQkxqXBe_Gyrc3G0hBb3oSxuR0phm4gBf-2v_6jrlum9Vvw3F3OmMWcZgeaFcMufD9m9jFYzk5MI7CSY6NEH/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Lucille+Ball+letter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1540" data-original-width="1139" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvZiu3GW_8i5342a8yVroJUp74PEbCbFH5Us3gjRfCKp60WjnhQkxqXBe_Gyrc3G0hBb3oSxuR0phm4gBf-2v_6jrlum9Vvw3F3OmMWcZgeaFcMufD9m9jFYzk5MI7CSY6NEH/s400/Blog+Art+-+Lucille+Ball+letter.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><b>~click on letter to enlarge~</b></i></span></div>
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I suppose the subject of "Mame" came up, with Lansbury explaining that Ball snagged the role because Warner Bros. felt the film needed not just a big star, but an icon - something that Lansbury, also a pro, took in stride.<br />
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That said, with the holidays upon us, CBS has scheduled its annual Christmas screening of "I Love Lucy" in tandem as usual with another vintage episode. This year, the double-bill includes "Paris At Last" which originally broadcast on February. 27, 1956 and involves Lucy's problems with a sidewalk artist with "original" oil paintings, the exchange rate for American dollars (and counterfeit French francs) and .. a plate of snails.<br />
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CBS will air the back-to-back episodes on Friday, December 20 at 8 est.
The network reports that the main titles and end credits are seamlessly combined into one set at
the beginning and end of the hour, with no interruption between the
showings. (Both episodes have been colorized.)<br />
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Would it be too much of a cliché for me to confess that, yes, I too have been bamboozled and still love Lucy? <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1F72KAEuPkBjY_xriNyBIg3pAvvx4Gwcwapy2C7MDkfQ4tONT8PqXe_sLOnk_36J46uI3YoDfarq3GsOz4TzCyquIdcwY4b53axc6lPBqZwRIjCBw1SpfeQOlMYwBSxIUj3aV/s1600/Blog+Art+-+I+Love+Lucy+Paris2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="678" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1F72KAEuPkBjY_xriNyBIg3pAvvx4Gwcwapy2C7MDkfQ4tONT8PqXe_sLOnk_36J46uI3YoDfarq3GsOz4TzCyquIdcwY4b53axc6lPBqZwRIjCBw1SpfeQOlMYwBSxIUj3aV/s400/Blog+Art+-+I+Love+Lucy+Paris2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Note in Passing: </b></span>BTW, when Lucy was cast in "Mame," Rosalind Russell, the original Auntie Mame and a contemporary of Ball's, questioned her friend's age, with the implication that she could have easily reprised the role herself. Instead, Roz opined that maybe Cher would have been a more age-appropriate choice at the time. Interesting. Could have worked.<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="55" data-original-width="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" /></a>Regarding</b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b> Comments:</b></span>
All comments are enthusiastically appreciated but are moderated before
publication. Replies signed "unknown" or "anonymous" are not
encouraged. Please sign any response with a name (real or fabricated) or
initials. Be advised that a "name" will be assigned to any accepted
post signed "unknown" or "anonymous." Thank you. -J<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>* * * * *</b></span></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~<i>images</i>~</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>(from top)</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b> </b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Vintage Lucille Ball</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography:
MGM </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1940</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~The letter (circa 1973)~</span></i></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Lucy in the outdoor </span></i></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">café scene from the "Paris At Last" episode of "I Love Lucy"</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">photography:</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b> CBS 1956/2019</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b></div>
joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-76975619765918365682019-12-11T10:24:00.001-05:002019-12-14T17:25:26.505-05:00drawing out ms. aniston<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikM3AtocczGCg99rhCLJ3jsZ_luDLwpzUwoBAmA_aSk1YOKFjTqbJ91grJ_dYRzBqzWgy-gXTPIAEntk_b-W4V9-4SeNtWuIu1L2JqSk2Qg2DujZd3fp7QBTrR8pmCjH95nWt5/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Jennifer+Anistn+playing+with+dog4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikM3AtocczGCg99rhCLJ3jsZ_luDLwpzUwoBAmA_aSk1YOKFjTqbJ91grJ_dYRzBqzWgy-gXTPIAEntk_b-W4V9-4SeNtWuIu1L2JqSk2Qg2DujZd3fp7QBTrR8pmCjH95nWt5/s400/Blog+Art+-+Jennifer+Anistn+playing+with+dog4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><b>Jen has moved beyond being an actress to producer, businesswoman, humanitarian, feminist, entrepreneur,
spokeswoman, philanthropist, animal activist, millionaire.</b></i></span></div>
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Nearly ten years ago, I devoted a column to some well-deserved praise of <a href="http://thepassionatemoviegoer.blogspot.com/2010/08/facade-jennifer-aniston_17.html">Jennifer Aniston</a>, whose on-screen persona perfectly matched the spirit of this site. A string of Aniston-driven "double-bills" was listed to illustrate her place in my solipsistic movie world of the underrated and neglected.<br />
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She is an actor who is attractive, companionable and blessed with crack comic timing and also what The New Yorker's TV critic <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/11/25/mixed-debuts-on-apple-tv-plus-in-the-morning-show-and-dickinson">Emily Nussbaum</a> recently described as "vulnerable warmth." All of which produce a terrific chemistry. Both on-screen and off-. With actors and audiences alike.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoMdCLtvurfszll0QzB9SGopEqEpW0VjNZemLWf1wKNjmGviB3GD2OXeButnyCAaYZKjU9zmXG43GYL6n-h4BYVSBl0iZFEyCEOvklWREJ3RMHv__fBWZppBLsplC9T7nOqtD/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Jennifer+Aniston7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="600" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoMdCLtvurfszll0QzB9SGopEqEpW0VjNZemLWf1wKNjmGviB3GD2OXeButnyCAaYZKjU9zmXG43GYL6n-h4BYVSBl0iZFEyCEOvklWREJ3RMHv__fBWZppBLsplC9T7nOqtD/s320/Blog+Art+-+Jennifer+Aniston7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Aside from these qualities, the list of films themselves underlined the playfulness and diversity of her decisions ("The Good Girl"! "Friends with Money"! "Office Space"!) and had me wondering exactly why Aniston has been perpetually underrated. Also, she had - and still has - the potential to revive the kind of breezy movies popularized by Debbie Reynolds and Doris Day in the 1960s, that's if anyone in Hollywood these days is resourceful or creative enough to even consider such a retro revival.<br />
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Surprisingly, I was not alone in my assessment: The essay drew in excess of 5,000 hits and 79 comments (to date). <i>Companionable. </i>Yes.<i><br /></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxhySLKd04GlQchTsLPn6M1mAmCKFUO4nDcQEX4f2xN1lVj1oAiBFWzmyYsUnnv9luUmRoPfX37kGK1fNoKN_K1RuZV6R4_Cq6U3okT51nGYPAs7wnQLJMYTi0UVUTIezk40t/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Jennifer+Aniston8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="600" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxhySLKd04GlQchTsLPn6M1mAmCKFUO4nDcQEX4f2xN1lVj1oAiBFWzmyYsUnnv9luUmRoPfX37kGK1fNoKN_K1RuZV6R4_Cq6U3okT51nGYPAs7wnQLJMYTi0UVUTIezk40t/s320/Blog+Art+-+Jennifer+Aniston8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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But since then, Jen has moved on, as evidenced in a piece written by <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/celebrity/how-jennifer-aniston-has-stayed-americas-sweetheart-%e2%80%94-when-so-many-rivals-failed/ar-BBXxsvC?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=mailsignout">Rachel Simon</a> for NBC News, titled "How Jennifer Aniston has stayed America's sweetheart - when so many rivals failed." Being a "movie star" is the least of it these days. There is now so much more to consider and celebrate. Yes, she remains ever-companionable. There's that word again. </div>
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In the interim, other words and expressions have gathered, applying crucially to Jennifer Aniston - words and expressions that go beyond the ease of being an "actress" or "team player" or, yes, even, "<i>friend</i>."<br />
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The Jennifer Aniston of the new millennium now commands attention as <i><b>a producer, businesswoman, humanitarian, feminist, entrepreneur, spokeswoman, philanthropist, animal activist, millionaire.</b></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVU5gqA2QFfk3lomjLLnLi84QP7XqrsKazjJD506baxlTZins2Zv1d0O-TanI32J7ndufiyqY8x9SZpnZUiV_Pafkr1-RhERCkkLdA8aYjwF8FpDbfy6DqadDXxcxUhm1OJUT/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Jennifer+Anistn+playing+with+dog5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVU5gqA2QFfk3lomjLLnLi84QP7XqrsKazjJD506baxlTZins2Zv1d0O-TanI32J7ndufiyqY8x9SZpnZUiV_Pafkr1-RhERCkkLdA8aYjwF8FpDbfy6DqadDXxcxUhm1OJUT/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Jennifer+Anistn+playing+with+dog5.jpg" /></a></div>
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She has positioned herself as one of the leading, highest-paid, and richest actresses and, more impressively, as an animal devotee. Aniston's new "friends" (apart from her TV besties) have included dogs of all breeds.<br />
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And some of these friends have come and gone. There was Norman, her Welsh Corgi-Terrier who was with Aniston during her run on "Friends" and who died in 2008 at age 15. Given that he always slept near her feet, Aniston had his name tattooed on her right ankle after he passed.<br />
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When Dolly - the white German Shepherd that she shared with her ex, Justin Theroux, and who appeared on the Aveeno TV commercials with her - passed, Aniston <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-7297059/Jennifer-Aniston-Justin-Theroux-reunite-mourn-death-pet-dog-Dolly-spiritual-ceremony.html">reunited</a> with Theroux to mourn her death, with two other Aniston/Theroux pooches attending - Sally, a Pit Bull mix, and a Hobo Terrier named Clyde who can be seen squeezing his snout into photos during Dolly's funeral. Added to the Aniston/Theroux mix after the funeral, an absolutely adorable <a href="https://www.goodpitbulls.com/celebrity-have-pit-bull/jennifer-aniston-sophie/">Pit puppy</a> named Sally was adopted.<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b>~Sophie, Jennifer's Choice~</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7tg5gbeqTrJbp8Rbl4szdFMkRxrhUtXoGlfI14pKjrtVWi7zC1CowO2COG05_IpBsmc9ghMPHSeKNQoAAPLaFtiO9Qv8zlAm8A_nDJ0RDOiZCtEzBJc92_OUkbG3bn1mff0v/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Jennifer+Aniston+happy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7tg5gbeqTrJbp8Rbl4szdFMkRxrhUtXoGlfI14pKjrtVWi7zC1CowO2COG05_IpBsmc9ghMPHSeKNQoAAPLaFtiO9Qv8zlAm8A_nDJ0RDOiZCtEzBJc92_OUkbG3bn1mff0v/s400/Blog+Art+-+Jennifer+Aniston+happy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">~The quintessential Jennifer Aniston~</span></b></div>
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In the 20 years since she's become an actress, Aniston has amassed 64 credits (including television), many of which are essentials. Anyone contemplating a Jennifer Aniston Film Festival would do well to consider these ten (listed in no particular order):<br />
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"The Good Girl"</div>
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"Office Space"</div>
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"The Break-Up"</div>
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"He's Just Not That into You"</div>
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"Friends with Money"</div>
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"Management" </div>
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"The Object of My Affection"</div>
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"Marley & Me"</div>
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"Love Happens"</div>
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"Derailed" </div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="55" data-original-width="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" /></a>Regarding</b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b> Comments:</b></span>
All comments are enthusiastically appreciated but are moderated before
publication. Replies signed "unknown" or "anonymous" are not
encouraged. Please sign any response with a name (real or fabricated) or
initials. Be advised that a "name" will be assigned to any accepted
post signed "unknown" or "anonymous." Thank you. -J<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>* * * * *</b></span></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~<i>images</i>~</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>(from top)</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Jen and her Friends~</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-62312947951465461862019-12-06T10:30:00.000-05:002019-12-07T11:11:41.211-05:00lonesome rhodes goes viral<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcX6ptD6cfwxVnuQP5TRfXtyM677Gaz9Ii4BhRZMyI4r8ep8_G-Z49QKJb6qyaCKLG-JOflL2F9Nzrd20g5c6F1xZzdFw7nRTq1bCxEvZAuSfXVo1lfkdQYhc3qUqKaGfmENRE/s1600/Blog+Art+-+A+Face+in+the+Crowd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="544" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcX6ptD6cfwxVnuQP5TRfXtyM677Gaz9Ii4BhRZMyI4r8ep8_G-Z49QKJb6qyaCKLG-JOflL2F9Nzrd20g5c6F1xZzdFw7nRTq1bCxEvZAuSfXVo1lfkdQYhc3qUqKaGfmENRE/s400/Blog+Art+-+A+Face+in+the+Crowd.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i>“I’m an influencer, a wielder of opinion, a force — a force!”</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i> -Lonesome Rhodes in "A Face in the Crowd"</i></span></b></div>
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Well, now, it turns out that the word "influencer," most closely associated these days with the ambitions of contemporary self-made celebs such as Olivia Jade, is not exactly a current expression linked to the social media.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbcjE3ox35gO4n41S8b4KN0f8rqJOqrgV83qzx9lJqmH1z93UHme_BJYX7NPWFm8jAzV8nk7shkTNZytIWsXnQWhBvAcJv3R8a47nTtK3ORppCsZWoNr6wlgFhY0iubuCc7cQ/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Some+Faces+in+the+Crowd1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="600" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbcjE3ox35gO4n41S8b4KN0f8rqJOqrgV83qzx9lJqmH1z93UHme_BJYX7NPWFm8jAzV8nk7shkTNZytIWsXnQWhBvAcJv3R8a47nTtK3ORppCsZWoNr6wlgFhY0iubuCc7cQ/s320/Blog+Art+-+Some+Faces+in+the+Crowd1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
No, it was coined by Budd Schulberg sometime back in the early 1950s and is invoked by Andy Griffith on screen in Elia Kazan's "A Face in the Crowd," released in 1957. Towards the end of the film, suddenly aware of the power produced by his money-making popularity, Griffith's Lonesome Rhodes screams out, “I’m an influencer, a wielder of opinion, a force — a force!” But exactly when Schulberg came up with the word merits a little research.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPwIkxvmouMShj-dd5Nq63CorxgW91l-Pl6YHv8H_SbKFucqmPT1vb9eq9Gft3gyE9kFKmaDcdEUZ-stsodMrpwQsG7Zeafh6tP7nJc0lNgdTARG14Jho5LagjnkqjbhTClIv/s1600/Blog+Art+-+The+Arkansas+Traveler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="850" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPwIkxvmouMShj-dd5Nq63CorxgW91l-Pl6YHv8H_SbKFucqmPT1vb9eq9Gft3gyE9kFKmaDcdEUZ-stsodMrpwQsG7Zeafh6tP7nJc0lNgdTARG14Jho5LagjnkqjbhTClIv/s320/Blog+Art+-+The+Arkansas+Traveler.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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"A Face in the Crowd" was adapted by Schulberg from a collection of short stories published by Random House in 1953 under the title "Some Faces in the Crowd."<br />
<br />
The story source from the book was one titled "The Arkansas Traveler," which was the working title for the movie. In fact, Kazan filmed all the initial scenes in "A Face in the Crowd" in a rural northeast Arkansas town called Piggott in August of 1956. Bottom line: "Influencer" may date back to '53 or '56, invented for either the short story or the film. It depends.<br />
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And I doubt if Olivia Jade was there for either.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPzVq3a2vBCuDEN-_JOiaO8RUmtq4wlCp2G3T7D5TaZEaV-fwwd0xSHbMavSKPJii3jE-Jwpqs8-dnq5-9gVex7gcxFg7swaiMJOAnsMz7xAy_YpENODowO8_r0NOIcAVk5fX/s1600/Blog+Art+-+A+Face+in+the+Crowd1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="655" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPzVq3a2vBCuDEN-_JOiaO8RUmtq4wlCp2G3T7D5TaZEaV-fwwd0xSHbMavSKPJii3jE-Jwpqs8-dnq5-9gVex7gcxFg7swaiMJOAnsMz7xAy_YpENODowO8_r0NOIcAVk5fX/s400/Blog+Art+-+A+Face+in+the+Crowd1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="55" data-original-width="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" /></a>Regarding</b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b> Comments:</b></span>
All comments are enthusiastically appreciated but are moderated before
publication. Replies signed "unknown" or "anonymous" are not
encouraged. Please sign any response with a name (real or fabricated) or
initials. Be advised that a "name" will be assigned to any accepted
post signed "unknown" or "anonymous." Thank you. -J<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>* * * * *</b></span></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~<i>images</i>~</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>(from top)</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b> </b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Andy Griffith in a scene from "A Face in the Crowd"</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography:
Warner Bros. </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1957</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Dust jacket for "Some Faces in the Crowd" and a page from the story, "The Arkansas Traveler"</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography:
Random House </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1953</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Opening title card from "A Face in the Crowd"</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~p</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">hotography:</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b> Warner
Bros. </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1957</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b></div>
joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-68202967941728284642019-12-04T14:26:00.001-05:002019-12-04T15:25:20.608-05:00m. m. m.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Having interviewed an incredible number of film personalities during my years as a movie critic, I am inevitably asked who were the nicest.<br />
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Easy. Jack Lemmon comes to mind immediately, of course. After that, I surprise even myself because two encounters of which I have particularly fond memories involved John Wayne and David Niven, especially Niven.<br />
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But more about David Niven later, in another essay. Today, I'll share my John Wayne reminiscence, a situation that was unexpected and wholly memorable. It was July 1976 and Wayne was visiting Philadelphia to promote what would be his final film, Don Siegel's "The Shootist."<br />
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Paramount welcomed Wayne, celebrating his arrival by staging the event in the massive John Wanamaker department store, specifically with a luncheon in the store's glittery eighth-floor Grand Crystal Tea Room.<br />
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The place was packed, overwhelmingly so. (For a time, the Grand Crystal Tea Room was the largest dining venue in Philadelphia, accommodating sit-down receptions of up to 1,000 people.) The late Linda Goldenberg, who was the Paramount rep in Philly at the time, was in charge of seating and sat me next to Wayne, whom I had interviewed a bit earlier in a more subdued location in the store, Wanamaker's Board Room.<br />
<br />
Hold on. <i>Lunch with John Wayne</i>. (Which turned out to nothing like my unfortunate encounter with Shirley MacLaine which was covered <a href="https://thepassionatemoviegoer.blogspot.com/2019/11/shirley-maclaine-heartbreaker.html">here</a> a few essays ago.) Lunch with a mythical screen presence, a situation which made it difficult for the person sitting opposite him to be professional and controlled.<br />
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It is here that he became Marion Mitchell Morrison (his real name).<br />
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For a while, it was just the two of us sitting at the table, making largely small talk. Wayne was soft-spoken, relaxed and courtly. Uncommonly modest and deferential. An actor and man whom critic Richard Schickel once astutely described as "the unacclaimed hero." The Quiet Man.<br />
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It wasn't long before we were approached by a Wanamaker executive who I recognized as Benjamin H. Doroff, the store's Executive Vice President, who asked me to move to another chair or table so that he could sit with Wayne. Doroff was a nice man but he was getting adament. Would there be a scene? To quash that possibility, I simply referred him to the table's place cards. "Perhaps you want to check this out with Linda," I said. This is when Wayne intervened. "She's over there," he said, pointing at Linda.<br />
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After Doroff left, John Wayne patted me on my hand and said "Well done."<br />
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Other people were now sitting at our table. One woman showed up with the July issue of Cosmopolitan to have Wayne autograph one of its stories - a piece titled "Wayne, Westerns and Women" by the feminist film critic Molly Haskell.<br />
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Wayne was surprised that the piece was positive. "She likes me?," he asked of Haskell.<br />
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Before we got around to lunch, there was another autograph request - of a terrific (and, again, unexpected) 1979 Phil Stern shot of Wayne vacationing in Acalpulco, providing a side of the actor removed from The Duke and closer to Marion Mitchell Morrison. Softer.<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="55" data-original-width="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" /></a>Regarding</b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b> Comments:</b></span>
All comments are enthusiastically appreciated but are moderated before
publication. Replies signed "unknown" or "anonymous" are not
encouraged. Please sign any response with a name (real or fabricated) or
initials. Be advised that a "name" will be assigned to any accepted
post signed "unknown" or "anonymous." Thank you. -J<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>* * * * *</b></span></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~<i>images</i> </b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>(from top)</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b> </b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~John Wayne between interview sessions in 1976</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography:
Clayton Davis/Getty images</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1976</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~One of the logos for The Grand Crystal Tea Room</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~poster art:
Wanamaker </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1976</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~A different John Wayne</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">photography:</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b> Phil Stern </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1959</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b></div>
joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-52049628409483033782019-11-25T13:56:00.000-05:002020-01-24T19:32:23.506-05:00everybody has one<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8nikOrQSH5f8xGYkpxwp7jL4jMe_XbauvGu0ycValVtNbrOfMCUglZiv__YxaH50B8ytAAcbrzkqbS80ib478MiHiWwT30J-le4MNZAqU4pIHo_g2JLbGnFjXETdNsPNhrzK/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Eddie+Muller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1400" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8nikOrQSH5f8xGYkpxwp7jL4jMe_XbauvGu0ycValVtNbrOfMCUglZiv__YxaH50B8ytAAcbrzkqbS80ib478MiHiWwT30J-le4MNZAqU4pIHo_g2JLbGnFjXETdNsPNhrzK/s400/Blog+Art+-+Eddie+Muller.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/08/obituaries/bosley-crowther-27-years-a-critic-of-films-for-times-is-dead-at-75.html">Bosley Crowther </a>covered film for The New York Times for a whopping 27 years. My one encounter with him was in 1967, the year he retired. I was in college, reviewing for the campus newspaper, and had been invited by Paramount to a New York critics' screening of "Barefoot in the Park."
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Encounter is a misleading word. We never actually <i>met</i> and my only recollection of the legendary critic was that he sat in the aisle in front of me, to my right, and that he could be heard ... snoring. Disillusioning.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCU8v51jW4s1cs3KJ3ShBWH1-ALyU6gbwlWnij0egDTUV7U_DuTLOQN0JtZYwSzX4H5KePHEtlffPMmKuFpKLPl1W-8UGCzP9m1JQjB6nIaK8hhuyr_p-Umvhp1KAdydopfx9P/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Kansas+City+Confidential1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="447" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCU8v51jW4s1cs3KJ3ShBWH1-ALyU6gbwlWnij0egDTUV7U_DuTLOQN0JtZYwSzX4H5KePHEtlffPMmKuFpKLPl1W-8UGCzP9m1JQjB6nIaK8hhuyr_p-Umvhp1KAdydopfx9P/s320/Blog+Art+-+Kansas+City+Confidential1a.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
Flashforward to 2019 and I'm watching Phil Karlson's "Kansas City Confidential," an installment of Turner Classic Movies' "Noir Alley," hosted by the utterly thorough <a href="http://eddiemuller.com/">Eddie Muller</a>. Without missing a beat, Muller invokes the name Bosley Crowther during his post-screening discussion, referencing the critic's near-irrational pan of an otherwise solid film.<br />
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After quoting a lengthy portion of Crowther's scathing attack on Karlson and his
star John Payne in particular - with the venomous quote also
superimposed as an on-screen caption (Chyron<b>) </b>- Muller digs into his bag of words and accurately designates Crowther a
"gasbag."<br />
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At long last.<br />
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Like a certain body part, everybody has one, as the old saying goes (cleaned up here). An <i>opinio</i>n, that is. But there are educated opinions, the kind smoothly espoused by Muller - and the kind that seem to evade most professional, working critics, represented by critics like Crowther. <br />
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Finally, the impressively knowledegable Muller, who is nothing less than sophsticated, erudite and astute in his taste and brings panache and snap to his presentations, then flings himself into a long overdue critique of Bosley Crowther, equally scathing. Well done. There's a reason why Muller self-describes as "wordslinger, impresario and noirchaelogist."<br />
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Muller is an esoteric wordsmith, refreshingly idiosyncratic at times. <br />
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As for Crowther, in many other quarters, he was dismissed as "unnecessarily mean" and was particularly questioned about the cluelessness of his take on Arthur Penn's <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1967/09/03/archives/run-bonnie-and-clyde-run-bonnie.html">”Bonnie and Clyde”</a>and his refusal, unlike other reviewers, to re-evaluate it following the controversy of his attack. Instead, he doubled down and retired not long after that.<br />
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Yes, Eddie Muller nailed Bosley Crowther with "gasbag."<br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Note in Passing: </b></span>Furthermore, any noir whose cast includes Jack Elam, Lee Van Cleef and Neville Brand in supporting character roles, as "Kansas City Confidential" demonstrates, has at least three elements worth recommending. Crowther also ignored the film's contribution of leading lady Coleen Grey. Nothing on Preston Foster either. Unprofessional. </div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b>FYI: </b></span> <a href="http://www.noircity.com/nc17p1.html">The 2019 Noir City 71 / 2020 Noir City Program</a> kicks off Sunday, January 25 with screenings of Richard Fleischer's "Trapped" (1949) and Robert Siodmak's "The File on Thelma Jordan" (1950) at the Castro Theater and concludes on February 3, 2020 with Samuel Fuller's "Underworld, U.S.A." (1961) and Allen Baron's "Blast of Silence" (1961)<span style="color: white; font-family: "oswald" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-transform: uppercase;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>The September 3rd, 1967 New York Times page containing Bosley Crowther's review of "Bonnie and Clyde"</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>~click on image to enlarge~</b></span></div>
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All comments are enthusiastically appreciated but are moderated before
publication. Replies signed "unknown" or "anonymous" are not
encouraged. Please sign any response with a name (real or fabricated) or
initials. Be advised that a "name" will be assigned to any accepted
post signed "unknown" or "anonymous." Thank you. -J<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>* * * * *</b></span></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~<i>images</i>~</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>(from top)</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b> </b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Eddie Muller, TCM's host of "Noir Alley"</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography:
Turner Classic Movies </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">2018</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Poster art for Phil Karlson's "Kansas City Confidential" </span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography:
United Artists </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1952</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~N.Y. Times tear sheet containing Bosley Crowther's review of "Bonnie and Clyde"</span></i></span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">news page:</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b> New York Times 1967</span></i></span></span><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></b></div>
joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-73921096880065195192019-11-21T10:28:00.000-05:002019-11-23T08:28:37.338-05:00the hissy fit<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Wo3qOoyK3zqZJv0NfPk56lUrzvqe_tUHvs1uPLpPJgq8yYOcPeuCjvDujMkoRIDQFqJCeL1yRDOO2y5uPKAsmH0Xc1taQFPRuI_M14r0RCj4chnUq0059WKfZhNdQlIax4K-/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Jack+Benny+in+mad+world.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1600" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Wo3qOoyK3zqZJv0NfPk56lUrzvqe_tUHvs1uPLpPJgq8yYOcPeuCjvDujMkoRIDQFqJCeL1yRDOO2y5uPKAsmH0Xc1taQFPRuI_M14r0RCj4chnUq0059WKfZhNdQlIax4K-/s400/Blog+Art+-+Jack+Benny+in+mad+world.png" width="400" /></a><br />
Those who read this site with any regularity are aware that Mervyn LeRoy's 1962
adaptation of "Gypsy" is my all-time favorite movie musical - and a favorite film in general - with much space devoted to finer points.<br />
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Case in point: A 60-plus-year hissy fit ensued when the play's star, Ethel Merman, was passed over in favor of movie icon Rosalind Russell.<br />
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This casting was - and remains - one of the more contentious aspects of the movie, haunting it ever since and prompting columnist Dorothy Kilgallen to put "Gypsy" under a microscope during its production with regular criticisms. Kilgallen even questioned the inspired decision to bring in Jack Benny for a cameo as a vaudeville comic. "<i>Jack Benny has been hired for a role in the film of 'Gypsy,'"</i> Kilgallen wrote. <i>"Must be in trouble."</i><br />
<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddmdGo6h0DQibdD2GLVrHIqR8UcqTQsksHfhv9eC878T6hFj8a-WSFSDSc8G7FtFaFSFrZejEoDAm4glWO_UhBL5YUdtuauhO2z-GmgAowSiUnPKsBNEj1AX9oc09HWfKWa5B/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Ethel+Merman.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490955899925578322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddmdGo6h0DQibdD2GLVrHIqR8UcqTQsksHfhv9eC878T6hFj8a-WSFSDSc8G7FtFaFSFrZejEoDAm4glWO_UhBL5YUdtuauhO2z-GmgAowSiUnPKsBNEj1AX9oc09HWfKWa5B/s400/Blog+Art+-+Ethel+Merman.jpg" style="display: block; height: 304px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 380px;" /></a> </i>A year later, Merman got a consolation prize (so to speak) - and the last word - when she was hired by
Stanley Kramer to play the harridan, Mrs. Marcus - mother of Dorothy
Provine and Dick Shawn and mother-in-law of Milton Berle - in Kramer's 1963 "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World."<br />
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Anyway, Jack Benny, perhaps not coincidentally, popped up for another cameo scene - which leads to a very inside joke.<br />
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Merman and company are stranded, their car having broken down, when Benny happens to drive by and asks if they're having trouble.<br />
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"NO!" screams Merman as only she could, adding ... "And we <u><i>don't</i></u> need any <u><i>help</i></u> from you!"<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcVxK2P1WcHr-AG822LH0qFCEAS0BymkkvYqa3nw51-xJM6RZmFS7ILUiIW31LkCuhFqdI6Y0z8z8U6yxwVTpj1PzgteOW7E7eFHuMeM9iuocmwiGtp1gXZF3eMcl9MqaY7mt/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Jack+Benny+with+Mervyn+LeRoy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="535" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcVxK2P1WcHr-AG822LH0qFCEAS0BymkkvYqa3nw51-xJM6RZmFS7ILUiIW31LkCuhFqdI6Y0z8z8U6yxwVTpj1PzgteOW7E7eFHuMeM9iuocmwiGtp1gXZF3eMcl9MqaY7mt/s400/Blog+Art+-+Jack+Benny+with+Mervyn+LeRoy.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
The
scene isn't the least bit funny and seems pointless - until you think
about Benny's "unclean" participation in Merman's beloved "Gypsy."<br />
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I don't know but that throwaway line, "And we <u><i>don't</i></u> need any <u><i>help</i> </u>from you!,"<i> </i> always takes on a deeper meaning for me. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-UOGobUqhJ02dazA4Z2mgBYxzG4CQ4La478RVn99eRRKrnfrHBMXG06lukiSWS4nHqciDhq8xWB92PraavjqtzvOvfOpS61X28f1HzqXYln04Pf_-Y8iWpp7rzeNdXIMm9_x/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Gypsy+Natalie+and+Ethel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="1200" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-UOGobUqhJ02dazA4Z2mgBYxzG4CQ4La478RVn99eRRKrnfrHBMXG06lukiSWS4nHqciDhq8xWB92PraavjqtzvOvfOpS61X28f1HzqXYln04Pf_-Y8iWpp7rzeNdXIMm9_x/s400/Blog+Art+-+Gypsy+Natalie+and+Ethel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Finally, it can be safely presumed, I think, that Jack Warner wasn't stupid: Like everyone else, he had seen the Merman movies, "Call
Me Madam" and "There's No Business Like Show Business," and knew that
she was no screen personality. Instead, he went for a world-class
actress who would bring psychological depth to the character. Rosalind Russell. Terrific. <br />
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But, nevertheless, he managed to acknowledge Merman in his film of "Gypsy." It's a small tribute and it occurs in the scene in which Natalie Wood is preparing to perform as Gypsy Rose Lee for the very first time. She's backstage, in her dressing room, and thinks aloud, <i>"I'm a pretty girl, Momma."</i> If you pivot towards Natalie's right shoulder and look closely, you'll see a framed caricature on the wall - a caricature of ... Could it be?<br />
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<i>Ethel Merman</i>!<br />
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Regarding</b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b> Comments:</b></span> All comments are enthusiastically appreciated but are moderated before
publication. Replies signed "unknown" or "anonymous" are not
encouraged. Please sign any response with a name (real or fabricated) or
initials. Be advised that a name (real or fabricated) or
initials. Be advised that a "name" will be assigned to any accepted
post signed "unknown" or "anonymous." Thank you. -J<br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>* * * * *</b></span></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~<i>images</i>~</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>(from top)</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Jack Benny in a scene from "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World"</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">photography: United Artists</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1963</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Dorothy Provine and Ethel Merman in a </span></i></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">scene from "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World"</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography: United Artists</span></i></span></span></b></span></i></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1963</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">© </span></i></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Benny with Mervyn LeRoy on the set of "Gypsy"</span></i></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">photography:</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b> Warner
Bros. </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1962</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Natalie Wood in a scene from "Gypsy"</span></i></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">photography:</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b> Warner
Bros. </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1962</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Benny performing in "Gypsy"</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Film clip</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">:</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b> Warner
Bros. </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1962</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b></div>
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joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-31661606956742615002019-11-19T16:30:00.000-05:002020-01-24T17:37:21.654-05:00cinema obscura: two robert preston gems<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzX217nYV_WYKp2RIyLeHMlUZn_hqWLuJ3Mp48MU7MdOMeDuPC9EMTzcSzs9ArB_YhgLN_DkOQ2LTQhTlktIBVInmpnuEOHLdeeuGmdrLxuf-WHTiWJJf7UMaEq1QdwkX-0lf/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Robert+Preston2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="589" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzX217nYV_WYKp2RIyLeHMlUZn_hqWLuJ3Mp48MU7MdOMeDuPC9EMTzcSzs9ArB_YhgLN_DkOQ2LTQhTlktIBVInmpnuEOHLdeeuGmdrLxuf-WHTiWJJf7UMaEq1QdwkX-0lf/s400/Blog+Art+-+Robert+Preston2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Following his incredible success on Broadway in "The Music Man," Robert Preston went on to give his defining performance in the 1962 film version of Meredith Willson's fabulous musical - a performance which should have earned him at the very least a shot at an Oscar nomination but didn't.<br />
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Gregory Peck won the Oscar that year for Robert Mulligan's "To Kill a Mockingbird." Preston's is the better performance of the two, but really, where does one begin to compare? However, with the Willson musical, director Morton DaCosta provided Preston with an awesome second act.<br />
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Preston went on to do the incredible work in a dazzling array of films - Sam Peckinpah's "Junior Bonner," Sidney Lumet's <a href="http://thepassionatemoviegoer.blogspot.com/2008/10/cinema-obscura-sidney-lumets-childs.html">"Child's Play,"</a> Michael Ritchie's
"Semi-Tough," Gene Saks' "Mame," Nick Castle's "The Last Starfighter" (his final film)
and, of course, two with Blake Edwards, "Victor/Victoria" and "S.O.B." Then there are two titles that bookend his performance in the movie version of "The Music Man' - the film versions of two other stage productions, both films apparently now lost.<br />
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They would be "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs," based on the William Inge play and shot immediately prior to "The Music Man" (and for the same studio, Warner Bros.), and Tad Mosel's "All the Way Home," adapted from James Agee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "A Death in the Family." <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfPZDFw53kam1F4vhXEs4UkK7MT8cDePXLXfIGBannNXybQ4y37iMzn0O2tfyIIA0_dHJAfY8KQ4bE4GSSszyHmMl8PJXYx0qtqqDG2NktFjNzyNkBYHLiRa8ZJ4gkOiGudvxhA/s1600/Blog+Art+-+The+Dark+at+the+Top+of+the+Stairs3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfPZDFw53kam1F4vhXEs4UkK7MT8cDePXLXfIGBannNXybQ4y37iMzn0O2tfyIIA0_dHJAfY8KQ4bE4GSSszyHmMl8PJXYx0qtqqDG2NktFjNzyNkBYHLiRa8ZJ4gkOiGudvxhA/s1600/Blog+Art+-+The+Dark+at+the+Top+of+the+Stairs3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
There are those who thought that William Inge would enjoy the household-name status of Tennessee Williams, given that in the 1950s, he wrote such plays as "Come Back, Little Sheba," "Picnic," "Bus Stop" and, in 1957, "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs," all of which were adapted into films. His 1959 play, "A Loss of Roses," became the 1963 film,<a href="https://thepassionatemoviegoer.blogspot.com/2019/01/cinema-obscura-schaffners-stripper.html">”The Stripper”</a> and he also wrote the screenplay for Elia Kazan's "Splendor in the Grass" (1961), in which Inge also plays the small on-screen role of a minister who counsels Natalie Wood.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarU1xfg7F968860qzJ-7rHp1Mwl_t5mJUZv6S7ig6a54prfz22Kgj2qfxT_mLMENi_Y797FsLiHm4OgKtwEfHblndEJrMoPZ0KNlDgaxgRAUkXhbt4-JQPZcJlVRV8GT9iRYdew/s1600/Blog+Art+-+The+Dark+at+the+Top+of+the+Stairs4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarU1xfg7F968860qzJ-7rHp1Mwl_t5mJUZv6S7ig6a54prfz22Kgj2qfxT_mLMENi_Y797FsLiHm4OgKtwEfHblndEJrMoPZ0KNlDgaxgRAUkXhbt4-JQPZcJlVRV8GT9iRYdew/s1600/Blog+Art+-+The+Dark+at+the+Top+of+the+Stairs4.jpg" width="233" /></a><br />
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Kazan also directed the Broadway version of "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs," which opend at the Music Box Theatre on December 5, 1957, with a cast including of Pat Hingle (in the role that Preston would play on film), Teresa Wright and Eileen Heckart. Once again, we have another dysfunctional family drama about a man who, in middle age and out of work, tries to compensate for a lack of self esteem by cheating on his wife with another woman in another town.<br />
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The 1960 movie version, directed by Delbert Mann from Harriet Frank, Jr.'s adapation, cast Dorothy McGuire in the part created on stage by Wright, and replaced Heckart with Eve Arden. Angela Lansbury has a supporting role in the film, and a young Shirley Knight was an Oscar nominee for her debut performance.<br />
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Preston, meanwhile, walks the tricky, balance-testing demands of a man teetering between our sympathy and disregard. He's likable but do we<i> like</i> him? (One could stretch this part, seeing it as a somewhat lighter variation on "The Music Man.") It's a testament to Preston's talent that he pulls it off.<br />
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"All the Way Home," meanwhile, has something of a legendary history. Based on Agee's Pulitzer Prize book, it was first adapted by Tad Mosel for the stage in 1960. It opened at the Belasco Theater on November 30th of that year, with a cast headed by Arthur Hill, Colleen Dewhurt and - now get this - Lillian Gish and Aline MacMahon. Actors' heaven. Arthur Penn directed.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6RkEqkgWOCaTgA8j8SYHiUrhnJypXTnEwUO6t9I4o_o67jdfZVuFhXCUIm5uFWOAoZm-_XvYdyysz-LXNWcho-vpEmUnAvGVXXBUZcJB9zuqetRXBqD0Cr9lKWOsIvsarbnRGA/s1600-h/Blog+art+-+All+the+Way+Home.jpg"></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4R5n18y6_vd4UAiqOGY4Asce34QXMAXBZLx2xVUN0txYv43ttknr3kOcEJ5wFF2QEH4MURU2UPmMPkW0e77zyHL0FGUHICLjPoOVO9q-qZfiwXOGBqY6aR-_1U28L_Z6gMa1oMQ/s1600/Blog+art+-+All+the+Way+Home2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636731779408440130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4R5n18y6_vd4UAiqOGY4Asce34QXMAXBZLx2xVUN0txYv43ttknr3kOcEJ5wFF2QEH4MURU2UPmMPkW0e77zyHL0FGUHICLjPoOVO9q-qZfiwXOGBqY6aR-_1U28L_Z6gMa1oMQ/s320/Blog+art+-+All+the+Way+Home2.jpg" style="float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 210px;" /></a><br />
Set in Tennessee in the early 1900's, "All the Way Home" revolves around a man's sudden, accidental death and the ramifications that it has on his family, especially his young son.<br />
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The 1963 Paramount film version, directed by Alex Segal from a Philip H. Reisman Jr. adaptation, starred Preston as the father and Jean Simmons as his wife; Pat Hingle (again) as his brother and, recreating her Broadway role, the great MacMahon as Aunt Hannah. Michael Kearney played the boy, a role performed on Broadway by John Megna, a New York child actor best known for his role on film as Dill in "To Kill a Mockingbird."<br />
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Due to its narrative arc, Preston has a smaller role here, but even when he is not on screen, his presence is always felt, a crucial quality for a play/film that examines the process of mourning and the heartache that makes it almost impossible to heal. Another piece of lost filmmaking art, and yet another performance by Robert Preston, that begs to be seen.<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b>Note in Passing: </b></span>Re my earlier reference to the history of "All the Way Home," the material was filmed twice more, both times for televison - first in 1971, with Fred Coe directing Richard Kiley, Joanne Woodward and (again) Hingle from a teleplay by Mosel. The second TV version, shot in 1981 by Delbert Mann (again), stars William Hurt, Sally Field, Ned Beatty and Polly Holliday as Aunt Hannah. Between Mann and Hingle, there are a lot of cross-connections shared by these two plays and films.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayy6wJeLOqMAxH-1ol-CaicszzwpRKSoi_jpoqkPg8o1hxYRbbkrJMdrSx0ZHgrsd4ne5sDl4SvuVZWJnNJgaIUKv7Ps6IIrB9_NgIMX-XfWDrZFHJNqLmyTgwF7LMiPlME7YPA/s1600/Blog+art+-+All+the+Way+Home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayy6wJeLOqMAxH-1ol-CaicszzwpRKSoi_jpoqkPg8o1hxYRbbkrJMdrSx0ZHgrsd4ne5sDl4SvuVZWJnNJgaIUKv7Ps6IIrB9_NgIMX-XfWDrZFHJNqLmyTgwF7LMiPlME7YPA/s1600/Blog+art+-+All+the+Way+Home.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="55" data-original-width="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" /></a>Regarding</b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b> Comments:</b></span>
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encouraged. Please sign any response with a name (real or fabricated) or
initials. Be advised that a "name" will be assigned to any accepted
post signed "unknown" or "anonymous." Thank you. -J<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"></span>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>* * * * *</b></span></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~<i>images</i>~</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>(from top)</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>Preston with his wife Catherine Craig backstage at the Majestic Theatre where "The Music Man" had opened in 1957</b></i></span></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography:
Friedman-Ables </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1957</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Preston with Dorothy Maguire in a scene from </span></i></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>Delbert Mann's film of "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs"</b></i></span> </span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography:
Warner Bros. </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1960</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Playbill from the stage version of the William Inge play, "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs"</span></i></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Preston with Jean Simmons and Michael Kearney in </span></i></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>Alex Segal's "All the Way Home"</b></i></span></span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b> </b></i></span>~</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">photography:</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b> Paramount Pictures </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1963</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Poster art for "All the Way Home"</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Paramount</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> Pictures</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1963</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Preston and Simmons in a scene from"All the Way Home"</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">photography:</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b> Param</span></i></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">ount</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> Pictures</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1963</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b></div>
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joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-26552108262434447262019-11-17T14:37:00.002-05:002019-11-18T10:43:56.804-05:00shirley maclaine, heartbreaker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmT44XOiHZ1pHn1_OdcxBjsbyeC-Ura1mSmSbx4g0otLda5FwUWvIeLZcgRnxOU_uvF08fsU2DGoJZkSFi4U8Kf4a83HFShzhyphenhypheniXIihfUUsK96IsaqQYKwWIobg9a9mI6hCoWT/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Shirley+MacLaine+Caricature2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="224" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmT44XOiHZ1pHn1_OdcxBjsbyeC-Ura1mSmSbx4g0otLda5FwUWvIeLZcgRnxOU_uvF08fsU2DGoJZkSFi4U8Kf4a83HFShzhyphenhypheniXIihfUUsK96IsaqQYKwWIobg9a9mI6hCoWT/s400/Blog+Art+-+Shirley+MacLaine+Caricature2.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>
I suppose that the "movie-star crush" is something of the distant past, a phenomenon of the 1950s and '60s experienced by some little boys (and a few girls) who were fated to become movie nerds in their adult lives.<br />
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Marilyn Monroe comes immediately to mind as the most popular object of affection among children back then, even if they had no appreciation of exactly why. My theory is that Marilyn came with an innate child-like quality that made her seem like a peer, despite her physically adult, womanly attributes. She was an innocent. She had no plots or designs.<br />
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A child.<br />
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But my personal crush was Shirley MacLaine. I was so enamored of her that, when I was about 11 or 12, I devoted my budding artistic skills to a little pencil caricature (see above) that, I thought, captured her appeal.<br />
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Fast forward several decades and I am a working movie critic. I spent 35 years reviewing and, occasionally, interviewing film people. Hundreds. But, somehow, never Shirley MacLaine. Never. But I finally met her in 1991 when Jack Lemmon was honored by the Hollywood Foreign Press with the Cecil B. DeMille Life Achievement Award at the Golden Globes that year. Jack and I were friends and I was invited to join in the celebration.<br />
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Connie McCauley, who served as Jack's career-long secretary and assistant and was vice president of his<i></i> Jalem Productions, arranged the seating at Jack's table. Jack was with his wife Felicia Farr and, among the other guests, were Walter Matthau and his wife Carol Matthau (aka, Carol Grace and Carol Marcus and who had just written the fabulous autobiography, "Among the Porcupines"), their son Charlie Matthau and his wife Ashley <i>and</i> ... Shirley MacLaine! Whom Connie sat next to me.<br />
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She appeared to be attending with either her agent or manager.<br />
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Shirley smiled and said hello - and then studied me with a steely gaze. A pause.<i> "Didn't we work together on "Madame Sousatzka"? </i>In retrospect, I probably should have said yes and engage her in a one-sided conversation about the 1988 John Schlesinger film. She would do all the talking and reminiscing. Opting for honesty, I said no. <i>"I'm a friend of Jack's."</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ron4IDIcjxJqG2k-Qj1N7fKDGIgrR77lVKwMPGJ_HDZywuSkYhEi2ptW80j80lBBDPV-YfS1OvhljxRIkcjG-WKwyhQwi2B2xL9wZ1npfFM9SYb30bDBXdNBYvQOn3gIp0Bn/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Madame+Sousatzka+-+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="660" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ron4IDIcjxJqG2k-Qj1N7fKDGIgrR77lVKwMPGJ_HDZywuSkYhEi2ptW80j80lBBDPV-YfS1OvhljxRIkcjG-WKwyhQwi2B2xL9wZ1npfFM9SYb30bDBXdNBYvQOn3gIp0Bn/s400/Blog+Art+-+Madame+Sousatzka+-+2.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
I turned to my wife Susan, who was sitting on the other side of me, planning to introduce them. When I turned back, almost a split second later, Shirley was gone. Her agent/manager was now in her seat and he sheepishly explained that Shirley needed private time to prepare her notes for the presentation. And Shirley? She was now sitting with Carol Matthau.<br />
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Oh, well. What can I say? Needless to say, it was a disappointment. Huge. Perhaps she thought that we'd have nothing to say to each other, And she probably would have been correct. Or - dare I admit it? - I simply wasn't important enough for her company. Either way, it seemed like bad form.<br />
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When Susan and I got home that night, I immediately logged on to "Madame Sousatzka" on IMDb to see what part I could have played. Had I been better versed on the film, I could have said yes to Shirley - that we <i>did</i> work on a couple scenes in the movie. I just needed a name.<i> "I could have played 'Ronnie Blum',"</i> I thought, oblivious to the fact that my decades-old crush, decidedly one-sided, was over. Goodbye, Shirley.<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="55" data-original-width="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" /></a>Regarding</b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b> Commensts:</b></span>
All comments are enthusiastically appreciated but are moderated before
publication. Replies signed "unknown" or "anonymous" are not
encouraged. Please sign any response with a name (real or fabricated) or
initials. Be advised that a "name" will be assigned to any accepted
post signed "unknown" or "anonymous." Thank you. -J<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>* * * * *</b></span></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~<i>images</i>~</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>(from top)</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Caricature of Shirley MacLaine</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Art work: Joe Baltake </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1958</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;">
</span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></b>
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Poster art for "Madame Sousatzka"</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography:
Universal Pictures </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1988</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b></div>
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joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-33358176625558044032019-11-14T17:08:00.000-05:002019-11-20T07:18:39.514-05:00willfully taken. every time.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBDKoO7w0gZGuepujGe-y1LoohHM78ziEisWO3ojFAWRmjK5HF2tZ-Wp8TDxvEGrKPVSxM8YTw-UzerdCBcy1BpkwcN-lUzh5dgYDRzWXkkS1xDubPd62BXi7Hm_J2484StF4/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Invasion+of+the+Body+Snatchers+ad5.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBDKoO7w0gZGuepujGe-y1LoohHM78ziEisWO3ojFAWRmjK5HF2tZ-Wp8TDxvEGrKPVSxM8YTw-UzerdCBcy1BpkwcN-lUzh5dgYDRzWXkkS1xDubPd62BXi7Hm_J2484StF4/s320/Blog+Art+-+Invasion+of+the+Body+Snatchers+ad5.jpg" width="208" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> <span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"></span></span></span><span style="color: orange;">•!♪ ░E░N░S░A░R░ E░D(¯''•.¸*!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"> ! ! ¸.•''¯)</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"> !*</span></span></span> ░S░E░I░Z░ E░D░ ! ! !*</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;">*•.¸¸! !</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;">/!░C░A░P░T░U░R░E░D¸¸!!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;">!*&~</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;">(¯''•</span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;">.•*Y░O░U░'R░E </span></span></span><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;">¨*•.¸</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;">*•.¸¸! !</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"> *░N░E░X░T░!!!!</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;">When I first read Jack Finney's "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" in novel form a lifetime ago in 1955, it seemed a natural for movies, specifically a B-level black-&-white movie, the kind that Hollywood produced also a lifetime ago - the tale of curious seeds that grow as people sleep, replacing the human form. Finney (1911-1995) originally wrote the piece - set in his (and my) beloved Mill Valley, California - for Colliers Magazine in 1954. Then came the movie. Enter Don Seigel who made just such a modest fifties-B-film classic some 63 years ago. Perfection. It remains so. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;">It remains inimitable.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCLSOj0jUPn6HofI13xjMvVdRcFJxaYfoU_HVixJ08_Etp6xP3_QXGSkj-2TPa2TkYP3550PB7utYliCXThm5wlqyVp7JHNwCIhL162ZpCIsBJFbZ8fUvX3qFkHWKFKmtSmgZ/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Invasion+of+the+Body+Snatchers+ad+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCLSOj0jUPn6HofI13xjMvVdRcFJxaYfoU_HVixJ08_Etp6xP3_QXGSkj-2TPa2TkYP3550PB7utYliCXThm5wlqyVp7JHNwCIhL162ZpCIsBJFbZ8fUvX3qFkHWKFKmtSmgZ/s400/Blog+Art+-+Invasion+of+the+Body+Snatchers+ad+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: orange;">There was no need to tamper with or remake the material, rebooting of course being Hollywood's wont. Enter Philip Kaufman. It's 1978. Another version, also a California-set thriller. Almost as classic as the original.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8lwW3JlGFfL52RAKnhwt75_KhC9c9BAz4Egx3sJufpldVTSkqUhanFh3WSQQucIE8_bDyr7yvnwWvWd1W_OX4L8R5IwfHCiYdRShcb5abPVzVBcL_9TkuwQ1_BxEQ5zaClVa/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Invasion+of+the+Body+Snatchers+ad+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8lwW3JlGFfL52RAKnhwt75_KhC9c9BAz4Egx3sJufpldVTSkqUhanFh3WSQQucIE8_bDyr7yvnwWvWd1W_OX4L8R5IwfHCiYdRShcb5abPVzVBcL_9TkuwQ1_BxEQ5zaClVa/s400/Blog+Art+-+Invasion+of+the+Body+Snatchers+ad+2.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: orange;">It's 1993 now and Abel Ferrera, the king of New
York raunch, brought just that dubious quality to Finney's narrative and
- guess what - it worked!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjF7X6moZMjvczaRvB1hG4ATyczQDjMBNn9pvR3Cna2kFD9bj-D3MJHbQ7ylg_QiClQLc5JiiTqFGFbCMPv1eUu38_zoVal3IKQPccTkGHu91msj2448ZwZUgvL4Z8KY172ou/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Invasion+of+the+Body+Snatchers+ad+3a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjF7X6moZMjvczaRvB1hG4ATyczQDjMBNn9pvR3Cna2kFD9bj-D3MJHbQ7ylg_QiClQLc5JiiTqFGFbCMPv1eUu38_zoVal3IKQPccTkGHu91msj2448ZwZUgvL4Z8KY172ou/s320/Blog+Art+-+Invasion+of+the+Body+Snatchers+ad+3a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: orange;">Yet another. The playwright Oliver Hirschbiegel whipped the material into a surprisingly credible indie in 2007. Unusual but <i>hugely</i> watchable.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDIo2GL-GU6q4w6XKomJ2EoLEZUMQNEADGWSZFb7OqSIp0B7lEBHHQGDpWqajNFZ0nswFKjZ2usCjCTxLxOOhxKhIG1alS9rFd15EZ2USjtu7akBh4dR-bX_E0u8HaQO6JHtE/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Invasion+of+the+Body+Snatchers+ad+4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="677" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDIo2GL-GU6q4w6XKomJ2EoLEZUMQNEADGWSZFb7OqSIp0B7lEBHHQGDpWqajNFZ0nswFKjZ2usCjCTxLxOOhxKhIG1alS9rFd15EZ2USjtu7akBh4dR-bX_E0u8HaQO6JHtE/s400/Blog+Art+-+Invasion+of+the+Body+Snatchers+ad+4.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: orange;">In short, this fabulous material is surefire as the stuff of movies.</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;">I like them all - all the invasions.</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;">Take me...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglezEQjJGAswYA-fefSrYQrQmyfQaAeyYgQAdifYgKz0EF3JR8P4flRxlT-3Vdyuk6MU7U57nszBxJQHNs3MSkfInFGVUdNsm9yC6E7vpxLIHVWk-wBkGrMtZjbp-elPJJW7Tx/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Invasion+of+the+Body+Snatchers8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="640" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglezEQjJGAswYA-fefSrYQrQmyfQaAeyYgQAdifYgKz0EF3JR8P4flRxlT-3Vdyuk6MU7U57nszBxJQHNs3MSkfInFGVUdNsm9yC6E7vpxLIHVWk-wBkGrMtZjbp-elPJJW7Tx/s200/Blog+Art+-+Invasion+of+the+Body+Snatchers8.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: orange;">I'm next!</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;">Again. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="55" data-original-width="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" /></a>Regarding</b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b> Comments:</b></span>
All comments are enthusiastically appreciated but are moderated before
publication. Replies signed "unknown" or "anonymous" are not
encouraged. Please sign any response with a name (real or fabricated) or
initials. Be advised that a "name" will be assigned to any accepted
post signed "unknown" or "anonymous." Thank you. -J<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>* * * * *</b></span></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~<i>images</i>~</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>(from top)</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>
</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~The various incarnations of an effective invasion, poster-wise</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Poster art: "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" / Allied Artists</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> 1956</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> ~Poster art:</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">
</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">"Invasion of the Body Snatchers" /</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b> United Artists 1978</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> ~Poster art:</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">
"</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">Body Snatchers" / </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b>Warner Bros. 1993</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> ~Poster art:</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> "The Invasion" / Warner Bros. 2007</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b><br />
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joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-47848895833292318272019-11-11T13:51:00.001-05:002019-11-14T07:47:01.039-05:00"the young and the restless": utterly torturous <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We're not in Genoa City anymore, Toto.<br />
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No, this feels as if we are doing time in some ink-stained writers' room at CBS where scenarists are desperately struggling - but failing - to restore the greatness of one of the network's crown jewels. That would be "The Young and the Restless," once a resounding sensation of either the station's daytime or nighttime schedule - but now virtually unwatchable.<br />
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I've written previously about the pure pleasure of daytime dramas that my wife and I have enjoyed for decades, recently singling out "The Young and the Restlest" <a href="https://thepassionatemoviegoer.blogspot.com/2018/02/uncommon-women-young-and-restless.html">here</a> and
<a href="https://thepassionatemoviegoer.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-young-and-restless-literally.html">here,</a> the former of which celebrated the writing - for the show's female cast in particular. But almost immediately, the writing went into a serious decline, with one actress after another dropping out.<br />
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The show never rebounded. Frankly, matters have become worse, exacerbated by the bad casting decision to bring back old characters (to appease the fan base) and other decisions - artistic, narrative or otherwise - that border on the grotesque. It's been utterly painful to watch.<br />
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One could blame the writing exclusively, but the pathetic writing and other dubious decisions are ostensibly based on executive orders.<br />
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While my eyes were once glued to the screen for each plot turn, I now find myself taking mental notes (pick up dry cleaning, take Peanut to the vet's) or simply walking away from the TV for minutes at a time, confident that I am missing ... <i>nothing</i>. I tried to make sense of the addlepated decisions.<br />
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Case in point: The Genoa City Athletic Club (also called the GCAC and The Club), the cozy, woody, viewer-friendly hotel-gym-bar-restaurant combo that has been seemingly abandoned <i>without notice </i>for the awfulness of a trendy new place called The Grand Phoenix. This new place boasts a discordant production design that’s truly unattractive, almost toxic.<br />
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Its lobby looks as if some out-of-control production designer simply threw ugly furniture and decor against the walls, letting the mess stay where it all landed; the guest rooms are even worse - uninhabitable.<br />
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Perhaps The Grand Phoenix is supposed to reflect the messed-up personality of Phyllis who allegedly designed the place. More likely, it's the result of a professional's inept design. The bottom line: <i>I miss the GCAC! </i>In my mind, I always wanted to stay in a room there and share a drink with Jack or Abby at the bar or join Nick in the gym. One can dream.<br />
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Moving on, what's with the show's preoccupation with the letter "C" - Chelsea, Chloe, Connor, Christian, Cane, Charlie? <u><i>Cccc</i>onfusing</u>. A minor complaint but also unnecessarily annoying. And Chelsea always screaming for and shouting at Connor is like chalk against a blackboard for me.</div>
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Which brings to the show's worst offense - its cast of characters. </div>
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In a naked attempt to pander to the show's so-called fan base, the producers have restored recently departed familiar faces to the canvas – Chelsea, Chloe, Kevin and Hillary
(now named Amanda). Chelsea has been given the most to do, which largely means looking nervous and edgy in scene after repetitive scene. In the two or three months since she's been back, Chelsea has struggled to crack a smile, producing a performance dominated by darting eyes. Not good. Meanwhile, the charmless Kevin wore out his welcome at least several comebacks ago.<br />
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And a little bit of Chloe - whinny, mannered and bad-quirky - goes a long, long way, while a recast Phyllis (recast with the original) has been a bust. </div>
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Other characters have morphed (in a bad way), seemingly taking the show hostage. There's Billy. Once an incorrigible schemer, he's now an unattractive, judgmental prig. Much worse is Mariah, an unctuous know-it-all who seemingly is in every scene with every other character, <i>except</i> (strangely enough) for Tess. Tess, yes, Tess. She is supposed to be Mariah's inamorata, involved in a curiuos lesbian relationship that is strictly <i>non-sexual</i>, so as not to turn off the show's right-leaning fan base.<br />
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The routine Mariah-Tess romance goes as such: The template is always the same - some grotesque gourmet dinner, always planned by Mariah, that ends with Mariah (always again) praising Tess to high heaven in an overdone testimonial and then planting a tiny, chaste kiss on Tess's tear-stained face. Tess, easily the most useless character on the show, never reciprocates. Never. She behaves like a piece of wood.</div>
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Meanwhile, the once-promising character of Kyle is currently in the throes of being rethought into an entitled baby; Rey remains a big snooze; Cane the most repellent among all the characters, hands-down; Nate a pointless addition to the cast; Adam recast by a reptilian stick-figure; Devon continuing to make no sense whatsoever in terms of anything/everything he does, and Jill, who has become reason not to watch the show at all. </div>
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So does anyone, any character, make the quickly-declining show worth watching these days? Well, actually, yes - and it has everything to do with the joy in their work that the actors achieve, in spite of the bad material.</div>
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First and foremost, Sharon and Jack, followed by Summer, Traci,
Abby, Lola, Dina and the fabulous new addition, Theo. Wishing them my best.</div>
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Now, if only I can join Jack and Sharon at the GCAC bar for a Scotch neat.</div>
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If only.</div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b>Note in Passing:</b></span> Sharon Case (as Sharon), who has incredible chemistry with everyone in the cast, remains the best actor on daytime, hands-down, and Peter Bergman (as Jack) always seems to be having a blast.<br />
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Their enthusiasm can be - and is - contagious.</div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="55" data-original-width="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" /></a>Regarding</b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b> Comments:</b></span>
All comments are enthusiastically appreciated but are moderated before
publication. Replies signed "unknown" or "anonymous" are not
encouraged. Please sign any response with a name (real or fabricated) or
initials. Be advised that a "name" will be assigned to any accepted
post signed "unknown" or "anonymous." Thank you. -J<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>* * * * *</b></span></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~<i>images</i>~</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>
</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Where terminal daytime dramas go when the end is close</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-30126668653445855052019-11-06T14:30:00.000-05:002019-11-09T14:34:00.521-05:00façade: hal ashby's third act<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rwONMcWrPO3D_3eVYDnUEopFxAl2Yf1v16C5areTdF2f4fK-Hsm1tx6DGxnX4fL8EIzOQoQpl5iI0rPIRUxVmP1jlVtX7n7Iz01tjYhsGMXnnTI6u8GYHCJdiRoCyY-gfHdz/s1600-h/Blog+Art+-+Hal+Ashby2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426281714673088946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rwONMcWrPO3D_3eVYDnUEopFxAl2Yf1v16C5areTdF2f4fK-Hsm1tx6DGxnX4fL8EIzOQoQpl5iI0rPIRUxVmP1jlVtX7n7Iz01tjYhsGMXnnTI6u8GYHCJdiRoCyY-gfHdz/s400/Blog+Art+-+Hal+Ashby2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 339px;" /></a><a href="http://thepassionatemoviegoer.blogspot.com/2009/05/literi-nick-dawsons-being-hal-ashby.html">Hal Ashby,</a> who died 30 year ago at age 59, enjoyed a brief but exhilarating directing career. The former house editor for Norman Jewison (and 1967 Oscar winner for Jewison's "In the Heat of the Night"), he was prodded by Jewison to transition into directing, helming eleven narrative films, plus one documentary, in the modest span of about 15 years.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFv0CofTnrMlk7H8kqTleTDAbpd8ml6zYiYU8rDXpO1E20orTm-H8J2aWldxaj3rBw_FyRpDBxJUFyLXEf37YzIkcFvWYLyd2UO9B1j6pVYAFCxmKlvw0ZrdKHxcOL049iMUzH/s1600/Blog+Art+-+The+Landlord10.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="172" data-original-width="400" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFv0CofTnrMlk7H8kqTleTDAbpd8ml6zYiYU8rDXpO1E20orTm-H8J2aWldxaj3rBw_FyRpDBxJUFyLXEf37YzIkcFvWYLyd2UO9B1j6pVYAFCxmKlvw0ZrdKHxcOL049iMUzH/s320/Blog+Art+-+The+Landlord10.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Ashby's debut, 1970's fabulous <a href="http://thepassionatemoviegoer.blogspot.com/2007/09/cinema-obsura-hal-ashbys-landlord-1970.html">"The Landlord,"</a> was something of a happy accident. Jewison had commissioned Kristen Hunter's novel to direct himself, but sidelined by pre-production work on "Fiddler on the Roof," he generously handed the material to his invaluable editor.<br />
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This was Ashby's Act One as a budding auteur. A year later came the seminal, ready-made cult classic, "Harold and Maude." Two brilliant movies, neither of which was immediately embraced by critics or audiences. He would have turned 90 this year and I've a hunch both titles would not only be embraced but celebrated for his birthday.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFsQIV0o3sB17J8MVTriOHY7v9YnnnhPrGv5PY7aFbrJd0EhNiMHxoROFddK_YjVyLvxZ1ApOm9vx7r4GlsVCzWSru_ib_V4LUwHmu21DbIwqU9pYMy_MU-PpW7sevog98Xxd/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Harold+and+Maude2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="249" data-original-width="395" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFsQIV0o3sB17J8MVTriOHY7v9YnnnhPrGv5PY7aFbrJd0EhNiMHxoROFddK_YjVyLvxZ1ApOm9vx7r4GlsVCzWSru_ib_V4LUwHmu21DbIwqU9pYMy_MU-PpW7sevog98Xxd/s400/Blog+Art+-+Harold+and+Maude2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Ashby's Act Two was something of a jaw-dropper - rich, beautifully realized films starting with "The Last Detail" in 1973 and continuing with near-breathlessness with "Shampoo," "Bound for Glory," "Coming Home" and "Being There." Much of what is written these days about Ashby revolves around these particular titles.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2GGdrFs8E0WHMAnq15o2OX-e4B_MVpTWpo5tdj7MCtHg-yF6Fy3-vNh8h522oWZAs1mOK87T-72U4x2AHNI0uXD41Q1SVLIbTgy0A1auhmhm7KklCukQ8CeN-6LnbMgqrv-H/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Being+There.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="1024" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2GGdrFs8E0WHMAnq15o2OX-e4B_MVpTWpo5tdj7MCtHg-yF6Fy3-vNh8h522oWZAs1mOK87T-72U4x2AHNI0uXD41Q1SVLIbTgy0A1auhmhm7KklCukQ8CeN-6LnbMgqrv-H/s320/Blog+Art+-+Being+There.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Ashby's Act Three, however, produced during a particularly troubling time in his private life, is no less interesting. His choice of material was as personal and idiosyncratic as ever and his eye for casting remained fresh and sure. Less sure was his directorial confidence but the shared erratic quality of his final four films only make them more fascinating.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0OZFY8iEO31R-vwa2PasR75vrLGVXkQp9as5WaprYLGJhyhcgL0mX9od1ClpFDBDDcyV8940HVtAtGC3ErbddH2ll-Mu_Z2sYra53I5PH-u8TG4_UKZDYPm-YK4106CQ_Yoc/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Second+Hand+Hearts2jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="401" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0OZFY8iEO31R-vwa2PasR75vrLGVXkQp9as5WaprYLGJhyhcgL0mX9od1ClpFDBDDcyV8940HVtAtGC3ErbddH2ll-Mu_Z2sYra53I5PH-u8TG4_UKZDYPm-YK4106CQ_Yoc/s320/Blog+Art+-+Second+Hand+Hearts2jpg.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
Either by accident or perhaps on purpose, Ashby's work on "Second-Hand Hearts" (1981), "Lookin' to Get Out" (1982), "The Slugger's Wife" (1985) and "Eight Million Ways to Die" (1986) mirrored much of the expressionism that John Cassavetes was specializing in at the time.<br />
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"Second-Hand Hearts"<br />
(aka, "The Hamster of Happiness"), a shaggy-dog tale about losers,
offers the singular team of Robert Blake and Barbara Harris, who are
compulsively watchable here.<br />
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"Second-Hand Hearts" may be a genuine lost title, although it popped up on Turner Classic Movies recently, while "Lookin' to Get Out" managed to make it to DVD in a "narratively enhanced" version that restores footage excised by Paramount. Working with Jon Voight and Ann-Margaret, Ashby took rather routine buddy gambling material and somehow twisted it into something vaguely existential.<br />
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Mainstream and middlebrow, "The Slugger's Wife," an original
screenplay by Neil Simon, comes with an unexpected melancholy with
Michael O'Keefe and Rebecca DeMornay, fine performers who never hit the
big time, as two people - a ballplayer and a singer not entirely made
for each other.<br />
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The film lingers almost in spite of itself. (Martin Ritt puts in a bit as the wittily named Burly DeVito, manager of the Atlanta Braves, the team for which O'Keefe slugs.) More memorable but no less erratic is "Eight Million Ways to Die," an atmospherically sordid character study with Jeff Bridges outstanding as detective who uses booze to self-destruct, seesawing between his planned rehabilitation and the vices that permate his personal/professional lives. Rosanna Arquette and Alexandra Paul are the atypical female leads here.<br />
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Fascinating. Ashby both opened and closed his career as a narratve filmmaker with The Brothers Bridges.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbioTlj2PpCIqk3ueDEf9PbPTOpu_FHzpcAQi71lGGmaF03o8FBz-YwO9Xlgbxz1i_mYiT1OeIZD0JTbzNeHcDk4RZcrCOFpUl_h1j2uCurGtB5J1G_HPpw4mXne34dmfFgMT/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Eight.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="229" data-original-width="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbioTlj2PpCIqk3ueDEf9PbPTOpu_FHzpcAQi71lGGmaF03o8FBz-YwO9Xlgbxz1i_mYiT1OeIZD0JTbzNeHcDk4RZcrCOFpUl_h1j2uCurGtB5J1G_HPpw4mXne34dmfFgMT/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Eight.png" /></a></div>
Ashby's documentary was The Rolling Stones' "Let's Spend the Night Together" (1983). Trailing off towards the end, he directed Neil Young in something called "Solo Trans" (1984); the pilot of Dennis Franz' TV series, ""Beverly Hills Buntz" (1987) and his last, "Jake's Journey," a 1988 British TV film with Graham Chapman and Peter Cook. <br />
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He died in in December of that year of liver and colon cancer.<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="55" data-original-width="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" /></a>Regarding</b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b> Comments:</b></span>
All comments are enthusiastically appreciated but are moderated before
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>* * * * *</b></span></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~<i>images</i>~</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>(from top)</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>
</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Hal Ashby </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography: United Artists </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1970</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Beau Bridges in a scene from "The Landlord"</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> ~photography: </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">United Artists </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1970</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Mood shot of Bud Cort and Ruth Gordon in "Harold and Maude"</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> ~photography: </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">Paramount </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1971</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Peter Sellers as Chance, literally walking on water in "Being There"</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> ~photography: United Artists </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1979</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">© </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b>Caricatures of Robert Blake and Barbara Harris for poster art for "Second-Hand Hearts"</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> ~photography: Paramount </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1981</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Poster art for "Lookin' to Get Out"</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography:
Paramount </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1982</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Ashby with Rebecca DeMornay on the set of "The Slugger's Wife"</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">photography:</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b> Columbia Pictures </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1985</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Jeff Bridges and Rosanna Arquette in "Eight Million Ways to Die</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">photography:</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b> PSO International </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1986</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b></div>
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joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-9802418155257400442019-11-01T14:11:00.003-04:002019-11-02T13:27:31.456-04:00"frankie": a different destination<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
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<![endif]--><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">"frankie": Isabelle Huppert dans la disparition
graduelle de une jeune fille. à plus tard.</span></i></span></b></div>
<br />
During the past decade or so, we've experienced various examples of The New Normal, including destination events grounded in the current wide-spread narcissism.The Destination Wedding, of course, is one example<br />
<br />
The Destination Bar Mitzvah, another case in point.<br />
<br />
It takes an astute mind to bring a newer, shrewder layer to this self-addiction - and filmmaker Ira Sachs rather wittily and poignantly manages to push matters to yet another level with ... Destination Funeral, a conceit that not only works surprisingly well (to a limited degree) but functions perfectly in tandem with his star's commanding persona.<br />
<br />
That would be the iconic Isabelle Huppert whose character here is in the throes of death and is intent on spreading the word to family and friends, but in only one specific location for her passing and funeral - the dreamy, sun-dappled Portuguese seaside town of Sintra.<br />
<br />
The movie, with the real-time feel of an unrushed afternoon, consists of Huppert performing acting duets with her wonderful supporting cast - sharing secrets, expressing regrets and often testing them with a dour playfulness that's wholly suitable for this very unusual occasion.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCG3w7wboqDkALez9JzuQi9XJlZ-tzq8qOQD0ZPUKj7K1a4em8lfYgOmHx0V6LtjK3VdxdwLZ_jLeI_9qh6ElP7u_4retp_LRbmBMvJbj35uFsIDYUMAMfhlkhCqXqhCkGKuSU/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Isabelle+Huppert+in+Rosebud2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1297" data-original-width="1060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCG3w7wboqDkALez9JzuQi9XJlZ-tzq8qOQD0ZPUKj7K1a4em8lfYgOmHx0V6LtjK3VdxdwLZ_jLeI_9qh6ElP7u_4retp_LRbmBMvJbj35uFsIDYUMAMfhlkhCqXqhCkGKuSU/s320/Blog+Art+-+Isabelle+Huppert+in+Rosebud2.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
<br />
She's Françoise Crémont, known as a great actress but whose greatness has often minimalized other aspects of her life Her outsized personality, so crucial on stage and screen, has worked out with decidedly different results with family and friends. On hand to attest to this are Frankie's first husband, Michel (Pascal Greggory); her current husband, Jimmy (Brendon Gleeson) and Jimmy's family from his first marriage; Paul (Jérémie Renier), her son with Jimmy; Frankie's best friend Ilene (a terrific Marisa Tomei) and Ilene's hanger-on, would-be fiance Gary (Greg Kinnear). All great company.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPcFXGYTmfW2r7rqc-2Z2ckSyuHgCWd9ZoUxYT44arY287okhgIWOgSQ1iC74THzki8W5VbdOArBVNWJz_avnvVnt0LqV4_GPeYQ0edmBVzAp8pFwnJFyd4PJZAr36X-nYT8z/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Isabelle+Huppert3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="650" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPcFXGYTmfW2r7rqc-2Z2ckSyuHgCWd9ZoUxYT44arY287okhgIWOgSQ1iC74THzki8W5VbdOArBVNWJz_avnvVnt0LqV4_GPeYQ0edmBVzAp8pFwnJFyd4PJZAr36X-nYT8z/s320/Blog+Art+-+Isabelle+Huppert3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
But this is clearly Isabelle's film - her <i>year</i>, in fact. What with the film, "Greta" and her success on stage in "The Mother" (two more title roles), Huppert is experiencing something of a new destination herself. An invigorating second act.<br />
<br />
'Frankie" opens today in San Francisco and Palo Alto. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="55" data-original-width="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" /></a>Regarding</b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b> Comments:</b></span>
All comments are enthusiastically appreciated but are moderated before
publication. Replies signed "unknown" or "anonymous" are not
encouraged. Please sign any response with a name (real or fabricated) or
initials. Be advised that a "name" will be assigned to any accepted
post signed "unknown" or "anonymous." Thank you. -J<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>* * * * *</b></span></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~<i>images</i>~</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>(from top)</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>
</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Isabelle Huppert on stage during Florian Zeller's play, "The Mother"</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography: </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">Ahron R. Foster </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1960</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Huppert in her a publicity shot for her movie debut in Otto Preminge's "Rosebud." Age 22 </span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography: Paramount 1975</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Forty years later - Huppert today. Age 66.</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">photography:</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b> Eurovision 2019</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b></div>
joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-89214179494032575732019-10-27T11:22:00.000-04:002019-10-27T14:42:55.131-04:00thoroughly awful<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwrOQ1d9SrVTsoCWBF1By0ULFavUvt3C5QKtSyzNTyFDDkJjYDBTDqBGmA82wJt6nqFgfH1vbHiTJcA_rJauJ-g3XbpdQBRXLEGAZTWglhSZ_i9Cz-Ig_B6lRWR079_QhphKD/s1600-h/Blog+Art+-+Thoroughly+Moden+Millie.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444909745402167906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwrOQ1d9SrVTsoCWBF1By0ULFavUvt3C5QKtSyzNTyFDDkJjYDBTDqBGmA82wJt6nqFgfH1vbHiTJcA_rJauJ-g3XbpdQBRXLEGAZTWglhSZ_i9Cz-Ig_B6lRWR079_QhphKD/s400/Blog+Art+-+Thoroughly+Moden+Millie.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 258px;" /></a><span style="color: red;"> </span>The sublime Julie Andrews has a new book to pitch - "Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years" (Hatchett Books) - and, not surprisingly, for the occasion, she'll join Ben Mankiewicz on Tuesday evening for what I anticipate will be another swell Turner Classic Movies conversation.<br />
<br />
Four titles from those Hollywood years will be screened, starting with George Roy Hill's dismal "Thoroughly Modern Millie," an unwatchable 1967 pseudo-musical that TCM disinters with (thankfully) only limited regularity. The movie was made during Andrews' brief reign in the '60s as Roadshow Queen (it was filmed back-to-back with Hill's "Hawaii), and its brand of forced fun apparently still enjoys her embrace and enthusiasm.<br />
<br />
It remains an affront that the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, an outfit known for thoughtlessly throwing
away Oscars, saw fit to reward this mess with seven - count 'em - seven
Academy Awards nominations, including one for Carol Channing's screeching, amateurish supporting
turn.<br />
<br />
There's a reason why some stage performers never make it in
movies.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_C3oQDZF8E5-QKF0KukUlmb-wfCfKsFuJ3LWHIpXDj9La2UUP911vJ9f-a-mvEYHvMPhGeqY1KNoZ-7B4aObRu0jCY8GU93HyjsPsHiRlD4o5vJXMl2PvFZrSFp1O6dAQFKv6/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Star1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="736" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_C3oQDZF8E5-QKF0KukUlmb-wfCfKsFuJ3LWHIpXDj9La2UUP911vJ9f-a-mvEYHvMPhGeqY1KNoZ-7B4aObRu0jCY8GU93HyjsPsHiRlD4o5vJXMl2PvFZrSFp1O6dAQFKv6/s320/Blog+Art+-+Star1.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
<br />
And it remains jaw-dropping that Universal was oblivious to its film's batant racism. The presentation of
Asians here, as personified by the wince-producing performances of Jack
Soo and Pat Morita, is unacceptable, a brand of
racist entertainment tossed off as innocent fun by Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s.<br />
<br />
t was a different culture back then but times had supposedly changed by the time "Thoroughly Modern Millie" was made in the so-called, enlightened late '60s - a prevalent theme these days unlikely to be addressed during Ben and Julie's pre- and post-screening discussions.<br />
<br />
If Julie was to celebrate one of her other roadshow films during the same period, I'd have nudged her towards Robert Wise's brilliant, hugely underrated "Star!" (1968) or Blake Edwards' troubled "Darling Lili" (1970).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzGKr0ApfQMg85aYJICZWclJXMCcB72PNLr1X4sa_xU88oNtFgHtq_7vy9C1MukzRWBcKNve1QoYTtlLpjDZRFLJ_FH0RtRXmCeYfYpXFVY5yKMAOPszRQF8Q2Yb4DHIo1zxf/s1600/Blog+Art+-+That%2527s+Life1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="1000" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzGKr0ApfQMg85aYJICZWclJXMCcB72PNLr1X4sa_xU88oNtFgHtq_7vy9C1MukzRWBcKNve1QoYTtlLpjDZRFLJ_FH0RtRXmCeYfYpXFVY5yKMAOPszRQF8Q2Yb4DHIo1zxf/s400/Blog+Art+-+That%2527s+Life1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The three other titles selected for screening are Arthur Hiller's "The Americanization of Emily" (1964), with a screenplay by Paddy Chayefsky, and two by Edwards, the urbane "Victor/Victoria" (1982) and the little-seen family affair, "That's Life!" (1986), starring Jack Lemmon, Sally Kellerman, Robert Loggia, Felicia Farr and all the Lemmon, Edwards and Andrews children. The film was a last-minute addition to the 1986 Toronto Film Festival and it was the first - and only - time that I met Andrews.<br />
<br />
She was one of the singularly nicest movie people I met and perhaps the most beautiful. I was struck by her incredibly dreamy complexion.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="55" data-original-width="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" /></a>Regarding</b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b> Comments:</b></span>
All comments are enthusiastically appreciated but are moderated before
publication. Replies signed "unknown" or "anonymous" are not
encouraged. Please sign any response with a name (real or fabricated) or
initials. Be advised that a "name" will be assigned to any accepted
post signed "unknown" or "anonymous." Thank you. -J<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>* * * * *</b></span></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></i></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~Andrews with Jack Lemmon in "That's Life!"</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~photography: Sony 1986</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>©</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></div>
joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-34919336624376636822019-10-25T14:38:00.000-04:002019-10-27T11:39:57.225-04:00marriage a la mode<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The title of this essay is not original.<i> </i> It was coined by the late film critic Richard Schickel back in 1962 for his landmark coffeetable book, "The Stars" (Houghton Mifflin)<b> </b>to describe the united perfection of the stars of the six-film MGM series, "The Thin Man," William Powell and Myrna Loy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBT_MhcVSu54FlV8RAw8PeibdmBFXxeRTA108dOga_whyf5LKmZzLfOKWKoWOsaKdXqomw4rv8yzdqbkxe6JMC7GdFR2kuQV26uwMgFD1A4y7qihjrDoVyf3KmvQfiEm59sfqCqA/s1600/thestars_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBT_MhcVSu54FlV8RAw8PeibdmBFXxeRTA108dOga_whyf5LKmZzLfOKWKoWOsaKdXqomw4rv8yzdqbkxe6JMC7GdFR2kuQV26uwMgFD1A4y7qihjrDoVyf3KmvQfiEm59sfqCqA/s1600/thestars_.jpg" width="146" /></a></div>
The duo made a total of 14 films together, sharing the pleasure of their company with us, but only a half dozen were devoted to the marital bliss and playful sleuthing of "The Thin Man" collection. Only six? Really?<br />
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There seems to have been so many more.<br />
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The moniker Marriage a la Mode handily summons up a union very much in place, balanced and perfected, but doesn't conjure the possible messiness of arriving at that point - namely, the courtship. <br />
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But recently, Turner Classic Movies picked up the slack in a wholly clever way. It generally airs the "Thin Man" series during one long afternoon
or evening. And during a prime-time night earlier this
month, TCM considered the courtship of Nick and Nora Charles with a clever difference. In preamble to
an evening with The Charles, Turner scattered other Powell-Loy
titles throughtout the daytime, along with clips and shorts to demonstrate the chemistry that
the studio heads may have deemed necessary for any
commitment to the eventual series.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGLBm9h9WyLWo_y3_a5awxQDZPePDYXajJs40ag_vwsRuDLW0vRoABW1CYTKaaMkkfWQbCwI-8bY5lMqxnOEAutfGjmUinr-GoIAggy7TivsRQXmCukd5t0nr369qarj_v6bK/s1600/Blog+Art+-+The+Thin+Man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="502" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGLBm9h9WyLWo_y3_a5awxQDZPePDYXajJs40ag_vwsRuDLW0vRoABW1CYTKaaMkkfWQbCwI-8bY5lMqxnOEAutfGjmUinr-GoIAggy7TivsRQXmCukd5t0nr369qarj_v6bK/s320/Blog+Art+-+The+Thin+Man.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It played like an audition - a collection of tryout bits in which Loy and especially Powell do turns that are nothing remotely like what they do as Nick and Nora.<br />
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The humor is much broader, often flat-out hilarious. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGbASIyvlrhd0rv-w2YFu6nMvgv_1dOqKIWMo9NqlYS4Axhx1yPf6upUR8NB90eSzhFXGJrPACKmv69JeRx16AW1EQjQ2H9feUn544FAa_ZJOiPPSCBhDuTf749ssNPFbxXEl/s1600/Blog+Art+-+The+Thin+Man4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGbASIyvlrhd0rv-w2YFu6nMvgv_1dOqKIWMo9NqlYS4Axhx1yPf6upUR8NB90eSzhFXGJrPACKmv69JeRx16AW1EQjQ2H9feUn544FAa_ZJOiPPSCBhDuTf749ssNPFbxXEl/s320/Blog+Art+-+The+Thin+Man4.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
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Among the other full-length titles showcasing the team's versatility were "Evelyn Prentice," "Manhattan Melodrama," "I Love You Again" and "Love Crazy." <br />
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Clips from other films included "G: Men," "Don't Tell the Wife," "Libeled Lady," "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "Surprise Parties,"and the shorts, "Better Say Goodbye"and "Angry Marbles."<br />
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In a way, we got to see Nick and Nora behind closed doors and how their inimitable chemistry came to produce Marriage a la Mode. <br />
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<u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikO4ZVBb73jDWFOUOtxeHrdLUet5edtCBOVeJLJoaNvVjepieI16-wYSfkWI83AqLPdA6PjFmlpOxaKYGXa_6QcpYpIjFb_YnhJg2XaouO2ZbpDiC3cZ-18iplqxYZUYNNe5Re/s1600/Blog+Art+-+The+Thin+Man3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikO4ZVBb73jDWFOUOtxeHrdLUet5edtCBOVeJLJoaNvVjepieI16-wYSfkWI83AqLPdA6PjFmlpOxaKYGXa_6QcpYpIjFb_YnhJg2XaouO2ZbpDiC3cZ-18iplqxYZUYNNe5Re/s320/Blog+Art+-+The+Thin+Man3.jpg" width="251" /></a></u></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="55" data-original-width="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" /></a>Regarding</b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b> Comments:</b></span>
All comments are enthusiastically appreciated but are moderated before
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encouraged. Please sign any response with a name (real or fabricated) or
initials. Be advised that a "name" will be assigned to any accepted
post signed "unknown" or "anonymous." Thank you. -J<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>* * * * *</b></span></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~<i>images</i>~ </b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Powell/Loy - Nick/Nora</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></b></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography:
MGM 1930s</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"></span></b>joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-84620112465097125462019-10-19T11:24:00.000-04:002019-10-23T13:00:41.636-04:00who's that girl?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_62n2vDJHpXOG2tcpYHvUQmZwmKzkQNYC5Jp39lGZEfndvbQUjCgiNotPzfhdWq72bf69NaFn66BFGq99sNgN52GExZCmkAPpykeq2teP8lnI6762ekGS0fOHAqxxJ_AFVUn/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Guys+and+Dolls+Larri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_62n2vDJHpXOG2tcpYHvUQmZwmKzkQNYC5Jp39lGZEfndvbQUjCgiNotPzfhdWq72bf69NaFn66BFGq99sNgN52GExZCmkAPpykeq2teP8lnI6762ekGS0fOHAqxxJ_AFVUn/s400/Blog+Art+-+Guys+and+Dolls+Larri.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
They weren't stars, but when they were on screen, they managed to attract attention, no matter the limitations of their screen time.<br />
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The invaluable character actor.<br />
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But beyond the likes of Eric Blore, Margaret Dumont, Connie Gilchrist, Franklin Pangborn and, of course, Thelma Ritter, there were other sub-sections of of small actors breathing big life into movies.<br />
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Case in point: The esoteric breed of actor known as The Dress Extra - performers who specialized in playing swells at swank dinner parties, always decked out in gowns, pearls, sable and white tie and tails.<br />
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When one of them was on screen, you could smell the money. And there was no one more representative of this group than <a href="https://viennasclassichollywood.com/2014/07/01/bess-flowers-queen-of-the-extras/">Bess Flowers,</a> who appeared in no fewer than 500 titles, regal as ever in all of them. It's impossible to watch an old movie and not spot her. She was rightly dubbed The Queen of The Dress Extras by the ever astute Vienna on her site, Vienna's Classic Hollywood.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIbgSkkz7ERcnFxAaiaA71j_7qoZNPKtg7efeyM2VH5pjnLlOP38iLabiWyAp4FBUZN7l6tBP02Rxg1nQD8rXAbyMzP93OQ-4W-ijo2hxQTh_mZoIKh0evS2lMnRf0g4hMvkW/s1600/Blog+Art+-+The+Music+Man+Larri1a.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="841" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIbgSkkz7ERcnFxAaiaA71j_7qoZNPKtg7efeyM2VH5pjnLlOP38iLabiWyAp4FBUZN7l6tBP02Rxg1nQD8rXAbyMzP93OQ-4W-ijo2hxQTh_mZoIKh0evS2lMnRf0g4hMvkW/s400/Blog+Art+-+The+Music+Man+Larri1a.bmp" width="400" /></a></div>
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But much more compelling to me is Larri Thomas, largely because she was every bit as present as Flowers in films but even less well-known.<br />
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The wildly statuesque Larri was one of the many Goldwyn Girls to appear for Sam on stage and screen. I remember her largely for her trademark platinum ponytail and ligament-straining high kicks.<br />
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Throughout the 1950s and '60s, I also remember myself frantically looking to spot her in movie after movie - she made only 38 - and asking "Who's that girl?" The answer never came; to this day Larri Thomas remains a mystery. (She died in 2013 at age 81.) <br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="55" data-original-width="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" /></a>Regarding</b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b> Comments:</b></span>
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encouraged. Please sign any response with a name (real or fabricated) or
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOASzr0NYyvAo96Qe9aU5ry2-28AWRV0ijfEg9xD5XH93UWGlCpy_BUDts3pBCJa4z8LoNd4Q6CeOj8ie_tQXq_2KBdED1I_HonbsOJTqTwaISiRrLsJnOuDzH6EW7kfhjIdzG/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Larri+Thomas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOASzr0NYyvAo96Qe9aU5ry2-28AWRV0ijfEg9xD5XH93UWGlCpy_BUDts3pBCJa4z8LoNd4Q6CeOj8ie_tQXq_2KBdED1I_HonbsOJTqTwaISiRrLsJnOuDzH6EW7kfhjIdzG/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Larri+Thomas.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>* * * * *</b></span></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~<i>images</i>~</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>(from top)</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>
</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Larri Thomas's hand on Marlon Brando' right shoulder for a publicity still for "Guys and Dolls"</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography:Samuel Goldwyn </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1955</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> ~The ubiquitous Bess Flowers</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography:
RKO 1942</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;">
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Larri's brief bit during the "Marian the Librarian" production number in "The Music Man"</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~photography:
Warner Bros. 1962</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">© </span></i></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~The definitive Larri publicity still</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">~</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">photography:</span></i></span></i></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></b> Samuel Goldwyn 1956</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">©</span></i></span></span></b></div>
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</span></b>joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-36239572645381636562019-10-14T16:21:00.000-04:002019-10-18T12:05:55.625-04:00when bad things happen to good movies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGxJWCILjcIS88njLvk8sShSlZhptKX1qmYrrQCDGvmBXBSyAeAtRcN0lLgPBjvVBsjzkIHv2sC0tqt3mXQAySEmqWXI7ZgiXcS0SFHeZrEsuaP1iJPgIgU17nYZMPHhHQ4gf_g/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Annie7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGxJWCILjcIS88njLvk8sShSlZhptKX1qmYrrQCDGvmBXBSyAeAtRcN0lLgPBjvVBsjzkIHv2sC0tqt3mXQAySEmqWXI7ZgiXcS0SFHeZrEsuaP1iJPgIgU17nYZMPHhHQ4gf_g/s400/Blog+Art+-+Annie7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
It's heartening to sense that John Huston's 1982 film version of the Broadway musical "Annie" is yet another hastily dismissed, misunderstood title that has been - at long last - "rediscovered" and appreciated for the terrific movie musical that it is. Of course, it took more than 30 years and two inferior remakes to convince its detractors of its worthiness - a watered-down 1999 TV version and a grotesquely updated 2014 remake.<br />
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For the past three decades, people who don't "get" movie musicals - including professional critics whom one would think would know better (well, think again) - have indulged in snarky derision and bad jokes, exhibiting their abject cluelessness. And, for me, few things are as amusing as a dull white middle-aged male movie critic trying to be funny.<br />
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"Annie" joins a select list of movies initially written off, chief among them Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo" (1958) which, in its day, was harshly reviewed, to put it mildly. So much (again) for critics and their educated tastes.<br />
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"Annie" could certainly be included among the films recently celebrated by the Brooklyn Museum of Art (BAM) in its <a href="http://www.bam.org/film/2015/turkeys-for-thanksgiving">"Turkeys for Thanksgiving"</a> program, among them Joseph L. Mankiewicz's "Cleopatra," Michael Cimino's "Heaven's Gate," Francis Ford Coppola's "One from the Heart," Robert Altman's "Popeye," Peter Bogdanovich's "At Long Last Love" and Charles Chaplin's "Monsieur Verdoux." All really good films. "Folly or misunderstood masterpieces?," BAM asked in its promotion for the series.<br />
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Richard Brody, arguably the best movie critic writing today (although his official title is actually movie editor at The New Yorker), covered the BAM series on his New Yorker blog in a piece titled "These So-Called Bad Movies Prove the Urgency of Film Criticism," an essay you can read <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/these-so-called-bad-movies-prove-the-urgency-of-film-criticism">here</a>.<br />
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But back to "Annie." It's popularity as a "family-friendly" Broadway show (when there were precious few back in those days) is a given. Columbia Pictures sensed that it could be transferred rather seamlessly to the big screen and spent a then-record $9.5-million for the movie rights.<br />
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Producing chores were handed to Ray Stark, who had successfully overseen "Funny Girl" for Columbia years earlier, and Stark was given complete creative control to hire anyone he desired. He could have picked among the usual suspects to direct this valuable property but he (wisely) settled on Huston, a decidedly non-musical name but a real filmmaker.<br />
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This was a shrewd trend in the late 1970s and early '80s which answered the question, "How do the few remaining denizens in Hollywood who actually like musicals combat critics who, sight unseen, immediately declare every new movie musical 'an unmitigated, unwatchable disaster'?"<br />
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Answer: You bring in the Big Guns - Sidney Lumet to direct "The Wiz," Milos Foreman (!) to film "Hair" and Sir Richard Attenborough to take "A Chorus Line" from stage to screen. Surely, critics would approve, right?<br />
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Wrong. The critics nitpicked, even though both Huston and Foreman hit all the right notes, with Huston delivering a throwback. an old-fashioned movie musical, and Foreman helming the definitive version of "Hair."<br />
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In the case of Huston, it was the perfect mating of filmmaker and material. The director seemed to relate to his tough-willed little title character and, in nine-year-old Aileen Quinn, he found an effortlessly spunky kid who could have stepped out of a '30s Warners street film. And Quinn handily nailed the role.<br />
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Huston's other smart move was to bring in the great veteran Broadway choreographer Joe Layton to oversee all of his film's musical numbers and the then-new British choreographer Arlene Philips to stage all the dances.<br />
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Philips' exuberant, acrobatic staging of the film's "It's a Hard-Knock Life" number is a jaw-dropping knockout - hands-down. It gets better with each viewing, equalled by her breezy staging of Ann Reinking's "We Got Annie."<br />
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Which brings us to Huston's shrewd casting - Reinking, Bernadette Peters, Geoffrey Holder and Edward Hermann and Lois De Banzie (spot-on and Franklin D. and Eleanor Roosevelt) from Broadway; Albert Finney from international cinema; Tim Curry from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," and of course, Carol Burnett from, well, every medium imaginable.<br />
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And thanks to reader Kevin Barry for the gentle reminder of the crucial role that the legendary editor Margaret Booth played in "Annie," another astute hire. (Kevin's response is among the posted comments.)<br />
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That said, here are a few "Annie" factoids that add to the fascination of this terrific film:<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>Albert Finney's line-readings for Daddy Warbucks.</b></i></span> Stark reportedly joked that Huston himself would be the perfect Warbucks. That gave Huston and Finney an idea: Finney appropriated Huston's vocal intonations for his performance. His line readings sound exactly like Huston speaking.<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>John Huston's own "cameo" in the film.</b></i></span> The sonorous voice of the actor on the radio soap opera who seems to be talking directly to Carol Burnett (just prior to the "Little Girls" number) is ... Huston's.<br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><i><b>Carol Burnett's performance.</b></i></span> When the actress asked her director for a tip on how to perform Miss Hannigan, Huston made it simple:<i> "Play is soused."</i> Burnett's performance is one long (witty) drunk scene.<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>Carol Burnett and Dorothy Loudon</b></i></span>. When Carol Burnett exited as a regular on "The Garry Moore Show" to do the 1964 Broadway musical "Fade In, Fade Out," she was replaced by Dorothy Loudon. Loudon would go on to create the role of Miss Hannigan in "Annie" on Broadway and Burnett would replace her in the film. A nifty, circuitous happenstance. <br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>The casting of Rooster Hannigan:</b></i></span> Huston had his heart set on his "almost" son-in-law Jack Nicholson for a smallish role in "Annie" - as Miss Hannigan's incorrigible brother, Rooster. (Nicholson was romantically involved with Anjelica Huston at the time.) That would have been a hoot. Perfect casting. But even though it would have been a quick shoot for Nicholson, he had a scheduling conflict and Huston moved on and subsequently nabbed Tim Curry for the role. And Curry also proved to be a perfect Rooster Hannigan - wildly theatrical, juicily evil, in the role. <br />
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Prior to a recent TCM screening of "Annie," a Turner host erroneously reported that Nicholson was Huston's choice to play <i>Warbucks. </i>This<i> </i>misinformation (from <a href="http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/189033%7C0/Annie.html">the “Annie” page</a> on Turner's website) could have been easily fact-checked: The Nicholson-Rooster connection was widely reported prior to production. No, Albert Finney was Huston's sole choice to play Warbucks, which seemed curious at the time (even though Finney had previously sung on-screen in 1970's "Scrooge"), but it worked. Finney is just witty enough as Warbucks and his eyes expose his affection for Annie.<br />
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And Nicholson also previously sung on screen., but his rendition of Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner's "Who Is There Among Us Who Knows?" was cut from Vincente Minnelli's 1970 film musical, "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever." (Nicholson's song was included among other deleted movie musical numbers on an album released by Out Take Records.)<br />
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As for Huston and Finney, two years late,r they would collaborate again but on a film the polar opposite of "Annie" - "Under the Volcano," based on the Malcolm Lowry novel.<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>The return of two "Annie" characters from the strip:</b></i></span> Huston reinstated the characters of Punjab (Holder) and Asp (Roger Minami) for his film version Neither character is in the stage musical. Which brings me to Carol Sobieski who adapted "Annie" for the screen, managing to honor not only Thomas Meehan's stage script but also the original Harold Gray cartoon strip. Sobieski, who died in 1990 at age 51, had previously worked for Stark, writing the screenplay for the fine 1978 Walter Matthau film, "Casey's Shadow." Two of her screenplays were filmed after she died - Jon Avnet's hugely popular "Fried Green Tomatoes" (1991), based on the Fannie Flagg book, and John Cusack's "Money for Nothing" (1993). <br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>The original "Easy Street" number: </b></i></span>Two versions of this memorable number were filmed. Philips originally staged it along the lines of "Who Will Buy?" from Sir
Carol Reed's 1968 version of "Oliver!" (choreographed by Onna White), on an outdoor set and backup dancers (pictured directly below). But producer Stark reportedly wasn't entirely happy with the finished
product and asked that the song be re-filmed - this time, in an indoor setting with a more intimate staging and with only Curry, Burnett and Peters performing (also pictured below).<br />
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I speculate the number also had to be re-recorded to accommodate the revised staging. <br />
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All of this was documented by Andrew J. Kuehn in his promotional documentary, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0263654/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_5">"Lights, Camera, Annie!"</a>, which was televised by ABC and broadcast prior to the film's release. Kuehn's film is a must-see for any movie-musical aficionado who has ever fantasized about going
behind-the-scenes and on set during the making of a film musical. It helps to
have an appreciation of Huston's film, of course, but that's not a
prerequisite.<br />
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This is fly-on-the-wall fun. Period. <br />
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There is ample footage of Huston, Layton, Stark and Phillips discussing the reinvention of the number as something smaller, with a few shots of "Easy Street" as it was originally conceived. Kuehn's work, narrated by
Gene McGarr and produced by Jim Washburn, goes beyond the promotional documentary genre and
sneakily slips us into meetings and on-set discussions, giving us an insider's insight into the making of a musical.<br />
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There are also on-set interviews with Finney, Burnett, Quinn, Peters, Curry,
Reinking and Holder and an extended sequence devoted to the auditions
for the title role among scores of little girls. The casting director got the
job done expeditiously by going up and down aisles of little girls, having each
one contribute to a on-going, non-stop version of "Tomorrow."<br />
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Each
girl picks up where the previous girl left off.<br />
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Carol Burnett discussed the filming of the two versions of "Easy Street" when she was a guest on Alec Baldwin's <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/heres-thing-alec-baldwin/id472939437?mt=2">”Here’s the Thing”</a>
podcast on October 10<sup>th</sup>.<br />
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Frankly, I'd love to know why Sony Home Entertainment didn't include Kuehn's
documentary or the original "Easy Street" staging on its recent reissue of the "Annie" DVD as bonus
features, instead of an updated "rap" version
of "It's a Hard-Knock Life" by some generic teen group - an ominous inclusion that anticipated Columbia's dubious 2014 remake.<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>The song score: </b></i></span>The stage songs dropped from the movie were "We'd Like to Thank You, Herbert Hoover," "N.Y.C.," "You Make Me Happy," "You Won't Be an Orphan for Long," "Why Should I Change a Thing?," "Something Was Missing" and "A New Deal for Christmas." New songs added to the film were "We Got Annie," "Dumb Dog"/"Sandy," "Let's Go to the Movies" and "Sign." All songs, for both the play and the film, were written by Charles Strouse (music) and Martin Charnin (lyrics). Charnin has directed seemingly umpteen stage revivals of the show. It's his baby.<br />
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Strouse also wrote the music for "Bye Bye Birdie" (with Lee Adams doing the lyrics) and I've a hunch that all those dropped "Annie" songs brought back unpleasant memories of when the same studio, namely Columbia, filmed (and unnecessarily truncated) "Bye Bye Birdie" back in 1963.<br />
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I can't say I particularly miss the deleted stage songs, but the "We Got Annie" number is wonderful, so wonderful that I'm surprised Strouse and Charnin never incorporated into the subsequent stage revivals of "Annie." <br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>"Live" versus Dubbing:</b></i></span> Although most of the songs for "Annie" were pre-recorded, there are areas of the film when the performers sung "live" on set, most notably Carol Burnett's rendition of "Little Girls." Finney sings a "live" reprise of "Maybe" and the opening portion of "Easy Street" is sung "live" by Curry, Peters and Burnett. Huston used the show's signature song, "Tomorrow," over the opening credits (in lieu of an overture), sung by Quinn who later in the film sings it "live" (sweetly and with no musical accompaniment) to Hermann and De Banzie. When Finney, Hermann and De Banzie join her in a quick reprise, the song is lip-synced and scored.<br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><i><b>The film's one oddity: </b></i></span>One of the film's highlights - the "Let's Go to the Movies," shot it the magnificent Radio City Music Hall - is marred when the film stops cold to screen assorted scenes from George Cukor's "Camille" (1936) with Greta Garbo and Robert Taylor. Huh? My assumption has always been that "Camille" was one of Ray Stark's favorite films - an assumption never confirmed. I can't think of any other reason for its inclusion. Otherwise, it beats me. But that one blemish aside, at least we get great shots of the Music Hall's cavernous lobby. Gorgeous.<br />
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And there you have it... All about "Annie." <br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="55" data-original-width="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" /></a>Regarding</b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b> Comments:</b></span>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>* * * * *</b></span></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~<i>images</i>~</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>(from top)</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~Director John Huston with his film's little girls, including title star Aileen Quinn (right of Huston) and the late Amanda Peterson (next to Quinn).</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~photography: Sony Pictures 1982 </b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>©</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~Quinn with Albert Finney as Daddy Warbucks </b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~photography: Sony Pictures 1982 </b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>©</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~Ann Reinking in the "We Got Annie" production number </b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~photography: Sony Pictures 1982 </b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>©</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~Carol Burnett as Miss Hannigan</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~photography: Sony Pictures 1982 </b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>©</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~Burnett with Bernadette Peters and Tim Curry perform the second, revised version of "Easy Street"</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~photography: Sony Pictures 1982 </b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>©</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~Huston does his bit</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~photography: Sony Pictures 1982 </b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>©</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">~Quinn shows her stuff</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">~photography: Sony Pictures 1982 </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">©</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></b></i></span>
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">~Lois DeBanzie, Finney, Quinn and Edward Hermann as FDR perform a toned-down version of "Tomorrow"</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">~photography: Sony Pictures 1982 </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">©</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></b></i></span>
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">~Quinn confers with Finney and Huston</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">~photography: Sony Pictures 1982</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">©</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></span></div>
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joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-52826722822173805582019-06-13T14:54:00.000-04:002019-10-19T11:13:30.922-04:00façade: elizabeth hartman & Inger Stevens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquw6qgeveA3ba3ps1Ihv6hmLlWfcrv2U37_6J5TSRCFw2O2VrvGpa6F8mUEcuzcgHvKfGVJD_CYkhtyqN4jrQ9kUDPnL8yGGWAXNJ4Qz5uh29oHFiDP1I7oGVhKXwerI2Yb70fA/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Elizabeth+Hartman2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquw6qgeveA3ba3ps1Ihv6hmLlWfcrv2U37_6J5TSRCFw2O2VrvGpa6F8mUEcuzcgHvKfGVJD_CYkhtyqN4jrQ9kUDPnL8yGGWAXNJ4Qz5uh29oHFiDP1I7oGVhKXwerI2Yb70fA/s400/Blog+Art+-+Elizabeth+Hartman2.jpg" width="380" /></a></div>
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Too soon.<br />
<br />
Those two words come to mind whenever my thoughts turn to those stars who died young or relatively young, It's not the usual suspects who haunt me - James Dean, Natalie Wood, Steve McQueen, Philip Seymour Hoffman.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6d8NwYf-9PYe5KMgC9q7XqOXTQo50Ue_ukfeMGXy7An9xhVVvHIuNaDsSOWEs1XJu-7Q3c-9Zhjy444KkbKDBxLJw2G9TkPx8-7ZDubmge3EgZV7jdfLZi1rbZbs6lgdeZscu/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Diary+of+a+Mad+Hosuewife3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="774" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6d8NwYf-9PYe5KMgC9q7XqOXTQo50Ue_ukfeMGXy7An9xhVVvHIuNaDsSOWEs1XJu-7Q3c-9Zhjy444KkbKDBxLJw2G9TkPx8-7ZDubmge3EgZV7jdfLZi1rbZbs6lgdeZscu/s320/Blog+Art+-+Diary+of+a+Mad+Hosuewife3.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
No, I think of Carrie Snodgress, for example. True, she wasn't exactly young when she died of heart failure and liver failure in 2004. She was 57. But in my mind, she was still that interesting young actress who commanded attention in a handful of films 30 years earlier, starting with Jack Smight's "Rabbit, Run" and Frank Perry's "Diary of a Mad Housewife" in 1970. Her film career as a major player was painfully short.<br />
<br />
In that sense, she died young.<br />
<br />
Then, there are two heartbreakers who were indeed young when they passed.<br />
<br />
Both suicides. <br />
<br />
Frail and incredibly touching, Elizabeth Hartman was arguably the most promising film actress of the mid-1960s, appearing in four diverse films in the space of three years, and then she disappeared, popping up in movies and on TV only occasionally until, sadly, she went away completely.<br />
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Time moves on and we tend to forget elusive people like Elizabeth Hartman. When screen writer Gill Dennis, who was married to her from 1968 to 1984, died in 2015, Hartman was just a footnote in his obiturary.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNf7cuTHcLIQl0b7fdHSptRVikOpVIkCLebDAGMmny2qcapPAUexbSlH1eBexxC2qLpt-iYH4DavHQVzAb7837KsChNglZr3xQs46LikmaWqov1eHR1Q3M4kfXQ1DUo7myPTkCw/s1600/Blog+Art+-+A+Patch+of+Blue.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNf7cuTHcLIQl0b7fdHSptRVikOpVIkCLebDAGMmny2qcapPAUexbSlH1eBexxC2qLpt-iYH4DavHQVzAb7837KsChNglZr3xQs46LikmaWqov1eHR1Q3M4kfXQ1DUo7myPTkCw/s400/Blog+Art+-+A+Patch+of+Blue.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Hartman made her film debut in Guy Green's <a href="http://thepassionatemoviegoer.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-feel-bad-movie-of-all-time.html">”A Patch of Blue,”</a> an unusually unpleasant film about a young blind woman (Hartman) who has an almost accidental relationship with a man (Sidney Poitier) who, unknown to her, is black. Shelley Winters as her cruel mother, Wallace Ford as her cruel grandfather and Elisabeth Fraser as her mother's cruel friend make the film almost unwatchable. But the role brought Hartman an Oscar nomination as best actress. At age 22, she was the youngest person in that category at that time to be nominated for an Oscar.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvociAYfJ1PApr07Ise__w5_33zQWw7BfW3N62ygwKnLL4sQH5SBFN_anwzjyGg9-JJtSZEfRd5UkRV0tVvf2-v0YCbaRY2jyNKMcE-VMjnekJuC_k7p3isZbQC4IGNqNQSiFfw/s1600/Blog+Art+-+You%2527re+a+Big+Boy+Now8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvociAYfJ1PApr07Ise__w5_33zQWw7BfW3N62ygwKnLL4sQH5SBFN_anwzjyGg9-JJtSZEfRd5UkRV0tVvf2-v0YCbaRY2jyNKMcE-VMjnekJuC_k7p3isZbQC4IGNqNQSiFfw/s400/Blog+Art+-+You%2527re+a+Big+Boy+Now8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXJr81CSFNTJNFYzmYVsyP4xzUq0xh4Xiy9oRN1Id6AwL8cgAZPGHofzbVaVHdqI42_HFagm3EgpRmq8K_qGkhlCa0r7pBhXhF0uLO7rlacfnjHvjUBeLKLXbqqoUKxMDtGUVzw/s1600/Blog+Art+-+You%2527re+a+Big+Boy+Now.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXJr81CSFNTJNFYzmYVsyP4xzUq0xh4Xiy9oRN1Id6AwL8cgAZPGHofzbVaVHdqI42_HFagm3EgpRmq8K_qGkhlCa0r7pBhXhF0uLO7rlacfnjHvjUBeLKLXbqqoUKxMDtGUVzw/s320/Blog+Art+-+You%2527re+a+Big+Boy+Now.JPG" width="213" /></a>A year later, Hartman was part of Sidney Lumet's impressive ensemble in his film version of Mary McCarthy's <a href="http://thepassionatemoviegoer.blogspot.com/2009/06/cinema-obscura-sidney-lumets-group-1966.html">”The Group,”</a> playing the key role of Priss. At this early point in her film career, Hartman could do anything she desired. Hollywood wanted her.<br />
<br />
But she responded instead to a young filmmaker named Francis Ford Coppola who needed a "name" for his New Wave comedy, "You're a Big Boy Now," although the film also featured the estimable Geraldine Page and Julie Harris (with whom Hartman was something of a kindred spirit) and another newcomer named Karen Black. The role was Barbara Darling, a go-go dancer, a vamp and a sadist. And Elizabeth Hartman, to her credit, signed on. It was the only time that Elizabeth Hartman looked glamorous in a film.<br />
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And, reportedly, Coppola was forever grateful.<br />
<br />
Hartman then went on to do John Frankenheimer's <a href="http://thepassionatemoviegoer.blogspot.com/2010/01/cinema-obscura-john-frankenheimers.html">”The Fixer”</a> in 1968 as part of a British ensemble that included star Alan Bates, Dirk Bogarde, Ian Holm, Hugh Griffith and Georgia Brown. Around this time, Coppola was preparing "The Rain People" and wanted Hartman for the role of Natalie Revenna, a fed-up housewife who runs away from her marriage. But Hartman, always insecure, wasn't emotionally ready for the role and Coppola had to opt for one of Hartman's co-stars from "The Group," Shirley Knight, who rewarded her director with a brilliant performance.<br />
<br />
After taking off for a few years, Hartman returned to the screen for Don Siegel in his Clint Eastwood psychological Western, "The Beguiled" in 1971, which also features Hartman's "Boy" co-star, Geraldine Page.<br />
<br />
It would be her last role in an important film.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJYwcAQUczNW92iq1fh2mlOIuEMmb_SP8Kg_SY_l-jigMeXvHfAdjv1Mb0BqqBMpJh_JHKmqKgODqEMwU5w86lnNjDlNYvaoJ-u1zCG5WfnhvkVCNrsFdUsqbDJk7rf9-c81c/s1600/Blog+Art+-+The+Beguiled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="1200" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJYwcAQUczNW92iq1fh2mlOIuEMmb_SP8Kg_SY_l-jigMeXvHfAdjv1Mb0BqqBMpJh_JHKmqKgODqEMwU5w86lnNjDlNYvaoJ-u1zCG5WfnhvkVCNrsFdUsqbDJk7rf9-c81c/s320/Blog+Art+-+The+Beguiled.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Her next film, had she made it, would have been even more important - and perhaps crucial to her career and her health. She was Coppola's first choice for the role of Kay in his 1972 adaptation of Mario Puzo's "The Godfather." But, again, life got in the way; Hartman remained insecure and emotionally fraught. (The director was reportedly so grateful for her participation in "You're a Big Boy Now" that he wanted to reward her with a showcase female role in a big, largely all-male film.) The part of Kay eventually went to Diane Keaton who is the one weak link in "The Godfather," although in Keaton's defense, it's a poorly written role.<br />
<br />
Frankly, I'm not sure that even an actress of Hartman's talent and caliber could have made it memorable.<br />
<br />
There were a few roles on television after that, very few. In terms of film, the latter part of Hartman's career included only two roles - in the original "Walking Tall" (1973), a red-neck drama starring Joe Don Baker, and, a decade later, as a voice in the animated "The Secret of NIMH" (1982), made by MGM - the studio that produced "A Patch of Blue."<br />
<br />
Hartman went full circle, ending up where she had begun.<br />
<br />
Before her suicide in 1987, she worked in a museum in Pittsburgh. Elizabeth Hartman died on June 10th of that year. She jumped to her death from a fifth story window. She was 44.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRw6M7em7o2yS5MHuHwzbnoqQgEwgYB_qgGjMoML8CgKeteH1eRLtG_FziDicUFBsWJjAyhaeeiQ1ou3gmcpTgTniwTP8Tlyukz43M_8boF52Q4yN3OZnAqiZGPGx6AIkW-HNYbA/s1600-h/Blog+Art+-+Inger+Stevens+(1963).jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261795054237741826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRw6M7em7o2yS5MHuHwzbnoqQgEwgYB_qgGjMoML8CgKeteH1eRLtG_FziDicUFBsWJjAyhaeeiQ1ou3gmcpTgTniwTP8Tlyukz43M_8boF52Q4yN3OZnAqiZGPGx6AIkW-HNYbA/s400/Blog+Art+-+Inger+Stevens+(1963).jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 312px;" /></a>Inger Stevens. Yes, Inger Stevens, whose star - and sweet face - twinkled brightly but briefly
from the late 1950s to 1970 when she died at age 35.<br />
<br />
She was one of those curious stars whose
troubled personal life contrasted sharply with her public persona, which
was probably best defined by her role as a plucky Swedish governess
opposite William Windom (and the invaluable Cathleen Nesbitt) on the
popular TV series, "The Farmer's Daughter," a sitcom with a realistic
edge.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVLYU-zAaR6-caYmHOtBo_QNz26GWnJ0U-NDPwSx_doFbHtO5-Glj9mpvMPAKtHryGmRNMy8FXZjmgSdVcAAk-eIScW9wg77We1YH5q8rEe-3xPNQBrRC3M9D4Fud8Xa3EWoy/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Man+on+Fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="999" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVLYU-zAaR6-caYmHOtBo_QNz26GWnJ0U-NDPwSx_doFbHtO5-Glj9mpvMPAKtHryGmRNMy8FXZjmgSdVcAAk-eIScW9wg77We1YH5q8rEe-3xPNQBrRC3M9D4Fud8Xa3EWoy/s320/Blog+Art+-+Man+on+Fire.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Stevens made her film debut in 1957 in the very
small Bing Crosby vehicle, "Man on Fire," directed by Ranald MacDougall.
She had just turned 20 when she was cast and 22 when it was released,
immediately following it with an eclectic collection of titles - Andrew
L. Stone's "Cry Terror!" (1958), with James Mason; Anthony Quinn's "The
Buccaneer" (1958), with Charlton Heston; MacDougall's "The World, the
Flesh and the Devil" (1959) with Harry Belafonte and Mel Ferrer, and an
Emmy-nominated role opposite Peter Falk in David Friedkin's "The Price
of Tomatoes" (1962), a playlet on Dick Powell's anthology series.<br />
<br />
During this period, Stevens reportedly had doomed affairs with most of her leading men, including Crosby, Mason and Quinn.<br />
<br />
Like Hartman, the latter part of her career was devoted to television. On TV, she had too many thankless roles. After
interrupting her screen work for the small screen, Stevens
returned to films in, among others, Gene Kelly's "A Guide for the
Married Man" (1967), John Guillermin's "House of Cards" (1968) and,
opposite Quinn, in Daniel Mann's "A Dream of Kings" (1969), finally a
role worthy of her talents. But it was too little too late.<br />
<br />
In
less than a year, the ultimately enigmatic Inger Stevens was dead -
another Hollywood suicide and also a tragic missed opportunity.<br />
<br />
Stevens worked on screen for 14 years. Fourteen years. Way too brief. She left us ... too soon.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="55" data-original-width="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" /></a>Regarding</b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b> Comments:</b></span>
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encouraged. Please sign any response with a name (real or fabricated) or
initials. Be advised that a "name" will be assigned to any accepted
post signed "unknown" or "anonymous." Thank you. -J<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~<i>images</i>~</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>(from top) </b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~Elizabeth Hartman in a publicity still for "The Group"</b></i></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></i></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">~photography: United Artists 1966</span></i></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span>©<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~Carrie Snodgress with Richard Benjamin in a scene from "Diary of a Mad Housewife"</b></i></span></b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~photography: Universal 1970</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span>©<br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b> </b></i></span></b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></b></i></span>
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~Hartman with Sidney Poitier in a scene from "A Patch of Blue"</b></i></span></b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~photography: MGM</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b> 1965</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span>©<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~Hartman as Barbara Darling in "You're a Big Boy Now"</b></i></span></b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~photography: Seven Arts</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b> 1966</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span>©<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~Hartman doing her go-go dance in "You're a Big Boy Now"</b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~photography: Seven Arts</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b> 1966</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span>©<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~Hartman with Clint Eastwood in a scene from "The Beguiled"</b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~photography: </b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><b>Universal</b></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b> 1971</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span>©<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~Inger Stevens in a publicity shot for the TV series, "The Farmer's Daughter"<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b> </b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~photography: ABC/Screen Gems Television</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b> 1963</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span>©<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~Stevens with Bing Crosby in "Man on Fire"<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b> </b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~photography: MGM</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b> 1957</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span>© </div>
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joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-28626880415293458622019-06-02T15:28:00.000-04:002019-10-15T13:14:58.540-04:00representation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAU0HxZqz21mNfW8p6n3tETgyAQt1qacb8xHurXVoKphs_OMJ3gfnFs01bHB2cK6mbhZ8E9gLwxqGIQUTdxI8WJnZFOChMBSg92DC03v_mhEIxncWufCTm9QrslBZslzUl4JgC/s1600/Blog+Art+-+West+Side+Story+dance2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="840" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAU0HxZqz21mNfW8p6n3tETgyAQt1qacb8xHurXVoKphs_OMJ3gfnFs01bHB2cK6mbhZ8E9gLwxqGIQUTdxI8WJnZFOChMBSg92DC03v_mhEIxncWufCTm9QrslBZslzUl4JgC/s400/Blog+Art+-+West+Side+Story+dance2.bmp" width="400" /></a></div>
Ben Mankiewicz was diplomatic, as he always is.<br />
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Last night, he screened "West Side Story" as part of TCM's "The Essentials." The film was picked by his charming co-host, filmmaker Ava DuVernay, who teased us by saying it is one of her two favorite movies.<br />
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"No one wants to see Natalie Wood in brownface, but what do you think of her performance?," Ben asked at the top of the post-screening discussion. "Gorgeous!," a beaming Ava proclaimed.<br />
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This was in preamble to a brief conversation about Hollywood's bottom-line decision to cast white performers as people of color because, as Ben summed it up, "We gotta sell this movie." Sixty-eight years ago, MGM cast Ava Gardner as Julie in "Show Boat" when Lena Horne was under contract. Go figure.<br />
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But it is Natalie Wood who, since the 1961 release of "West Side Story," remains <i>The Official Poster Child of Misguided Casting</i>, despite the strength and sincerity of her performance in the film.<br />
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It's too bad that Mankiewicz's chat with DuVernay was limited to about five minutes because there are other issues about "West Side Story" that have never been considered and could use some scrutiny. First, It's worth noting that a precedent of casting a white actress to play Maria was set by the original 1957 stage production, which starred Carol Lawrence in the role and, frankly, no one noticed and certainly no one cared enough to comment or complain. But, fair or unfair, film is somehow different, largely because of the camera's eye with its uncanny ability to magnify images a thousand times over.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2u-eEwuenLY0dyq4wvDlxWQfhvomJs7RDthySPLwFlT9CojPEgm_uAfZ0zQvheznzV4HYog65kJugX_QNDamhz2aVMYoyz_Ci8lXd0fHTj3K0Cvb81FbwgYmk3WG1_H-3L17/s1600/Blog+Art+-+West+Side+Story4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="597" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2u-eEwuenLY0dyq4wvDlxWQfhvomJs7RDthySPLwFlT9CojPEgm_uAfZ0zQvheznzV4HYog65kJugX_QNDamhz2aVMYoyz_Ci8lXd0fHTj3K0Cvb81FbwgYmk3WG1_H-3L17/s320/Blog+Art+-+West+Side+Story4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A quick aside... None of the stars of the original Broadway version were considered for the film (just a few of the dancers). Only Michael Callen - billed as Mickey Calin when he created the role of Riff, leader of the Jets, on stage - ended up with a movie contract in 1959. But it was with Columbia Pictures, not United Artists which released WSS. Columbia put Callen in such titles as "Pepe," "The Interns," "Gidget Goes Hawaiian" and "The Victors." It was Russ Tamblyn who was cast as Riff in the movie. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Qr0BHdQnQkD8tcA_TOjZtcCPM0UnQgYsBcp1d8JVjduAbho5wrTwvQg1ViQLFvI34F5G2gfklSxejbHAUMQw0QoMN8vRxWzM_KvKpQDreTJaWgnOLn6M-wAGPeu-DHKfp6lV/s1600/Blog+Art+-+West+Side+Story+AAlawrence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="1200" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Qr0BHdQnQkD8tcA_TOjZtcCPM0UnQgYsBcp1d8JVjduAbho5wrTwvQg1ViQLFvI34F5G2gfklSxejbHAUMQw0QoMN8vRxWzM_KvKpQDreTJaWgnOLn6M-wAGPeu-DHKfp6lV/s320/Blog+Art+-+West+Side+Story+AAlawrence.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And if Natalie Wood was "miscast" because she was white, then so was George Chakiris who plays her brother Bernardo, leader of the Sharks, in the film. Like Wood, Charkiris is decidedly not Puerto Rican. He is the son of Greek immigrants and also went brownface for the movie. Unlike Wood, however, his casting in the movie has never been questoned. Ironically, Chakiris played the role of Riff in the 1958 London production of the show.<br />
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Then there's the close proximity of another major 1961 movie musical at the time. Universal's "Flower Drum Song" was released almost in tandem with "West Side Story" and it is difficult not to notice the difference in casting choices. The leading roles in "Flower Drum Song," produced by Ross Hunter, were cast with Asian actors (both Chinese and Japanese), a truly enlightened move at the time. The original 1958 stage version?<br />
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Not so much.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRApmJyjlaL7x_DhJ30fFCE_xA-YC64f4JbWlB2FkWiZYm6iIGcr036IibsYd_NY4VBmVhe_3AYIpDrDd80AXgLDWx8P6akDqIPgkAZpyUTLZzoo3iRpFXb8biid_AX1uYqdO/s1600/Blog+Art+-+Flower+Drum+Song+publicity2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="412" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRApmJyjlaL7x_DhJ30fFCE_xA-YC64f4JbWlB2FkWiZYm6iIGcr036IibsYd_NY4VBmVhe_3AYIpDrDd80AXgLDWx8P6akDqIPgkAZpyUTLZzoo3iRpFXb8biid_AX1uYqdO/s320/Blog+Art+-+Flower+Drum+Song+publicity2.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
Composer Richard Rodgers, speaking strictly as a Caucasian, had been quoted saying that "what was important was that the actors gave the <i>illusion</i> of being Chinese." He said this because of the difficulty of casting the role of Sammy Fong. Larry Storch played it during the Boston tryout but Larry Blyden took over the role when it opened on Broadway.<br />
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Storch and Blyden - two white men.<br />
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Hunter and director Henry Koster wisely cast Jack Soo for the movie version. (Soo, who had played another role in the Broadway production, succeeded Blyden as Fong and played Fong in the national touring company of the show.)<br />
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If "West Side Story" can be criticized for anything, it's not for the casting of Natalie Wood but rather for the cringe-inducing stereotypical performances that director Robert Wise coaxed out of the actors who play Puerto Ricans in the film, the various performers who were cast as the Sharks and their women, including the film's two Oscar winners, Rita Moreno and Chakiris.<br />
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Actually, it's almost cartoon-like, something jarring for a work that has congratulated itself for five decades now for being a "serious musical."<br />
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Perhaps, <a href="https://thepassionatemoviegoer.blogspot.com/2019/01/why.html">Steven Spielberg,</a> working with scenarist Tony Kushner, will get it right with his planned remake. He's already cast a Latina as Maria.<br />
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That said, Mankiewicz' discourse with DuVernay is a good start that will lead, hopefully, to lengthier discussions, especially since so many of the classic musicals on TCM routinely include <a href="https://thepassionatemoviegoer.blogspot.com/2019/02/movie-racism-for-fun-of-it.html">blackface</a> sequences featuring the likes of Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Fred Astaire and Dennis Morgan.<br />
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Once enjoyable, they are now something of head-scratchers: "What on earth were they thinking?" Or maybe for other decision-makers - "artists" like Richard Rodgers - only illusion really matters. At one time, at least.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-AE4gUsxHALWL01XRpKBpcSPCOxX7_affgH2Fwz30x4XRhrJnQMQwE0YwRkCn6Oa-4owps7P1fU2Ls3bl7p10QfBHlhyphenhyphenh683BEjEiZeIHtjHMT5_vycZQMd_J3_zzetWZmwYa/s1600/Blog+Art+-+West+Side+Story+Wood.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="310" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-AE4gUsxHALWL01XRpKBpcSPCOxX7_affgH2Fwz30x4XRhrJnQMQwE0YwRkCn6Oa-4owps7P1fU2Ls3bl7p10QfBHlhyphenhyphenh683BEjEiZeIHtjHMT5_vycZQMd_J3_zzetWZmwYa/s400/Blog+Art+-+West+Side+Story+Wood.bmp" width="275" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b>click on photo to enlarge</b></span> </div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="55" data-original-width="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx-OFbcEUOsRG7cGJz56HEKysiP-22bfqtLclh853dsobyaqzYFwWx9335C4Vst6zjPuANsNPbR2rnGXpKZ3J9bJquL0cDLjGzdpLHk0V7rTxfv02tfYSKxfZtPS_U8NMf8I9/s1600/Joe+-+Logo+Small.gif" /></a>Regarding</b></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b> Comments:</b></span>
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post signed "unknown" or "anonymous." Thank you. -J<br />
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<span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>~<i>images</i>~</b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>(from top) </b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~</b></i></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Natalie Wood performing a dance created for her by Jerome Robbins for the film version of "West Side Story"</span> </span></i></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">~photography: United Artists 1961</span></i></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span>©<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b> </b></i></span></b></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~TCM host Ben Mankiewicz</b></i></span></b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~photography: Turner Classic Movies</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b> 2018</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span>©<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~Filmmaker Ava DuVernay</b></i></span></b></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~Rita Moreno and Wood in the "A Boy Like That"/"I Have a Love" duet in the film</b></i></span></b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~photography: United Artists</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b> 1961</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span>©<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~Chita Rivera and Carol Lawrence performing the same duet in the stage version<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b> </b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span><br />
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font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~photography: </b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><b>Friedman</b>-<b>Abeles</b></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b> 1957</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span>©<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~The cast of the film of "Flower Drum Song" - Jack Soo, Nancy Kwan, Miyoshi Umeki and James Shigeta</b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~photography: </b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><b>Universal-International</b></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b> 1961</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span>©</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~Natalie Wood in a publicity photo announcing her casting in "West Side Story." She's holding a copy of the song score autographed by Leonard Bernstein</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>~p</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i><b>hotography: United Artists 1960</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span>©</div>
joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com16