tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post7907686119753795593..comments2024-03-23T21:46:50.843-04:00Comments on the passionate moviegoer: stage→film: dacosta, prince & lapinejoe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-38871098606190292942018-04-02T15:41:02.742-04:002018-04-02T15:41:02.742-04:00Unfortunately, the "home video" version ...Unfortunately, the "home video" version of "A Little Night Music" is of horrendous quality. There is a region 1 (U.S. and Canada) and a Spanish region 2 version (with a dubbed Spanish soundtrack included as well) called "Dulce Viena". Both feature the same awful print, full of scratches and dirt, looking almost like it was a bootleg.<br /><br />As I recall, Joe, wasn't this originally intended as the first Dinner Theater Movie, then cut horribly for what little release it ever had. I remember you screened it (after Smokey and the Bandit) on Saturday morning a lifetime ago (in the wonderful screening room in Philly). I don't see anyone ever restoring it, since your audience is probably the only group left who know it.Paul Margulieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04357628086168148184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-85094805184564116102018-03-31T06:32:26.462-04:002018-03-31T06:32:26.462-04:00Daryl- Thanks for the heads-up, re "Something...Daryl- Thanks for the heads-up, re "Something for Everyone." Good News, indeed. Now, about Elia Kazan... Yes, you are correct about his making the successful transition from stage to film - and also about Sarris writing him off because of it. However, as noted, I focused on DaCosta, Prince and Lapine because their filmmaking careers were all truncated, each having made only 2-3 films. They never enjoyed Kazan's multi-film success on screen. There's still time for Prince and Lapine to dabble in film again but, alas, DaCosta is gone - and without ever receiving the recognition that he so richly deserved. -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-7646588662365480532018-03-30T23:41:04.780-04:002018-03-30T23:41:04.780-04:00SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE was (finally) available on ...SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE was (finally) available on DVD and BluRay, put out by Kino Lorber at the end of 2016. So it has become "available".<br /><br />Orson Welles, of course, was the classic example of a theater prodigy who became a movie director. Elia Kazan had a notable career as both a theater director and a film director. (It should be noted that the "auteur" critics, such as Andrew Sarris and Robin Wood, used this fact as a way to denigrate Elia Kazan, opposing him to Nicholas Ray, who was supposed to represent "pure" cinema, except for one little irksome fact which they always ignored: Nicholas Ray had started his career in the theater as an assistant to Elia Kazan, and then went to Hollywood with Kazan.) But a lot of entertaining movies have roots in the theater, and people shouldn't forget that.Daryl Chinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13371258313590183345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-80866878403605083002018-03-29T21:14:16.494-04:002018-03-29T21:14:16.494-04:00As for Impromtu - brilliant casting. First time I...As for Impromtu - brilliant casting. First time I ever saw Hugh Grant and still think it's the best movie he ever did. Kikinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-46187866543487926502018-03-29T21:09:27.989-04:002018-03-29T21:09:27.989-04:00"Stag director?" Oy, my proofing skills ..."Stag director?" Oy, my proofing skills are declining.<br /><br />mike schlesingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15824197221204862706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-13019781968922736692018-03-29T20:57:39.602-04:002018-03-29T20:57:39.602-04:00Mike- touché! Yes, Sam Mendes definitely counts a...Mike- touché! Yes, Sam Mendes definitely counts as a stage director who made credible films. I still can't quite grasp the animosity leveled at "American Beauty." As for "Island of Love," yes, I'm sure Morton DaCosta went fishing after that one. Still, with those stars, it's not completely unwatchable. BTW, DaCosta would later go back to Broadway to direct Judy Holliday in an ill-fated musical titled "Hot Spot." Another fishing trip. -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-82222667306628224102018-03-29T20:30:21.114-04:002018-03-29T20:30:21.114-04:00Isn't Sam Mendes considered a stag director?
...Isn't Sam Mendes considered a stag director?<br /><br />I finally saw ISLAND OF LOVE about a year ago. It's the textbook example of "staggering waste of talent." When you've made a comedy with Preston, Randall and Matthau and NONE of them are funny, it's time to take up fishing.mike schlesingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15824197221204862706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-59836707605247825782013-02-17T05:48:59.607-05:002013-02-17T05:48:59.607-05:00I have very fond memories of Something For Everyon...I have very fond memories of Something For Everyone, I remember seeing it a few times when it first came out ( and I did as well) . I bet it probably hasn't aged well but it does offer a chance to see Ms Lansbury in her sleek decadaent phase and I remember well here sensual and hurried devouring of a serving of fresh strawberries. I think you can add Peter Hall, Trevor Nunn, and Peter Brook to the list of theatre directors who didn't make an easy transfer to films. McAnuff tried and was given a few opportunities (Cousin Bette?) but his films lack the energy and inventiveness that he is (sometimes) able to bring to the stage. Hytner has publcly acknowledged that he's not a natural filmmaker. I think Lapine could probably have made a transition to film but both Imprmptu and Life with Mikey weren't hits and that makes that sort of career transition difficult. Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11177432692806101132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-43479369035773236552013-01-11T19:03:09.446-05:002013-01-11T19:03:09.446-05:00Love, love, love "Impromptu," definitely...Love, love, love "Impromptu," definitely Judy Davis' movie. Brilliant screenplay by Sarah Kernochan (spouse of Lapine) that uses Davis' butch and femme qualities. I could live without Hugh Grant's painfully awful Polish accent, but Lapine also teases out his femme qualities in an interesting way.Cassienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-63637871577927469372013-01-11T17:59:10.222-05:002013-01-11T17:59:10.222-05:00IMPROMPTU is available on DVD, and has been for ye...IMPROMPTU is available on DVD, and has been for years: it's gone through several changes in cover design, but, aside from that, it's available from MGM.<br /><br />I also loved the movie, and it's the kind of movie which, if it had been a big success, would have made Judy Davis a big star. But it didn't happen.Jean-Pierrenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-58192064160334869672013-01-11T13:04:16.389-05:002013-01-11T13:04:16.389-05:00I thought Judy Davis would become a major star aft...I thought Judy Davis would become a major star after "Impromptu." What happened? I only see her in supporting roles and on TV. Jennifer Banksnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-6504138343124328172013-01-11T12:32:27.911-05:002013-01-11T12:32:27.911-05:00I'm a fan of "Impromptu." Nice to kn...I'm a fan of "Impromptu." Nice to know there are others.<br /><br />"Something for Everyone" used to show up at rep theaters in NYC around 1980. Now I wish I'd taken the time to see it. Kennynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-79372130573631991612013-01-11T09:55:49.670-05:002013-01-11T09:55:49.670-05:00I haven't seen "Something For Everyone,&q...I haven't seen "Something For Everyone," but I very much liked "Impromptu" when I rented it many years ago - most probably in 1992, when it would have been released on video. As I recall, it even got good reviews, so I wonder why it's never made it to a DVD release. It's nice to see it spotlighted here, in any case. j. russonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-73215862526197415332013-01-11T07:56:29.854-05:002013-01-11T07:56:29.854-05:00"Something for Everyone" is one of guilt..."Something for Everyone" is one of guilty pleasures. Got a VHS copy of it on eBay about a year ago. This film should be seen by more people. It should be a cult film by nowAlexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-78080406240053048742013-01-11T07:26:39.822-05:002013-01-11T07:26:39.822-05:00Chris-
Frankly, my memory of "Something for ...Chris-<br /><br />Frankly, my memory of "Something for Everyone" has dimmed but I recall liking it a good deal, its directorial shortcomings nothwithstanding. (BTW, I can barely tolerate "Cabaret.")<br /><br />I had no idea that Matthau modeled his vocal performance in "Island of Love" after its director Morton DaCosta. I'll have to listen closely - if I ever get to see the film again. Trivia: DaCosta is the voice of Patrick's father, narrating the contents of his will at the beginning of "Auntie Mame."<br /><br />Re the two directors you mention, I expected more from Des McAanuff in terms of movies by now, and I think that Nicholas Hytner has an interesting, if limited, filmmography. joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-35584409742403680322013-01-11T07:09:22.630-05:002013-01-11T07:09:22.630-05:00Is it a sign of being over-the-hill when one remem...Is it a sign of being over-the-hill when one remembers seeing "Something For Everyone" in the theater?<br /><br />I remember thinking that it was a great *idea* for a film, but that it didn't really work -- Harold Prince's cluelessness as to what to do with a camera being a prime factor. I wanted it to be a combination of "My Man Godfrey" and Joe Orton's "Entertaining Mr. Sloan," which the Prince-directed film never *quite* became.<br /><br />I saw it in a revival house on a double-bill with the Fosse-directed "Cabaret," and I remember that both films -- along with all their other elements in common -- featured seduction scenes where the two lovers were surrounded by candles and candles.<br /><br />As for the phenomenon of stage directors turned movie directors ... where would, say, Nicholas Hytner or Des McAnuff fit into this?<br /><br />And I remember seeing Walter Matthau on Dick Cavett's show (are we dating ourselves sufficiently?) talk about "Island of Love." Apparently his character used a funny voice, and it was directly modeled on that of director DaCosta ... but neither DaCosta nor anyone else got around to acknowleding itChrisnoreply@blogger.com