movies | dual personalities

June 12, 2015

“For so the LORD said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”*

by chuckofish

Finally Friday again. Yay. I have a few things of interest to note.

On June 10, 1915, the Astor Theater in Times Square presented the first documented public exhibition of three-dimensional motion pictures. In honor of the centennial of 3-D the Museum of Modern Art is celebrating “3-D Summer.”

For those of you in NYC, you can go to the MOMA this weekend to see Hondo (1953) on the big screen in all its 3-D glory. They’ll be showing it through July 4 on selected dates, so, hello, check your calendar! (The Duke’s daughter-in-law will be introducing the showing on Saturday.)

The rest of us will have to be satisfied with watching it on our TVs. C’est la vie. I have blogged about Hondo before. It is well worth watching again.

I must note that Christopher Lee (1922–2015) has died at the age of 93. The 6’5″ actor served in the RAF during WWII and afterwards had a long and semi-distinguished career as a movie actor. I say semi because many of his movies from the 1950s on were horror films of the Dracula variety. I read through his entire list of his film credits and couldn’t come up with many to recommend (besides, of course, the LOTR trilogy which I cannot watch anymore).

However, he did play “Bernard Day” in Scott of the Antarctic (1948) which is a favorite of mine.

That same year he played a “Spear Carrier” in Olivier’s Hamlet. Coincidentally, Peter Cushing also appeared in this Hamlet as scene-stealing “Osric”.

Well, you can watch a whole bunch of his movies on TCM on Monday if you are so inclined. You have to give him props for being a working actor all those years!

In other news, the new McDonnell Polar Bear Point opened recently at the St. Louis Zoo. We have been without polar bears at the zoo for several years and we have missed them.

stlpublicradio.org photo

So now we have Kali, a two-and-a-half year old bear, who looks so cute…until…

stlpublicradio.org photo

Yikes. I need to go check out this new (and very fancy) bear enclosure soon.

Have a good weekend and stay hydrated!

*Isaiah 18:4 (KJV)

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June 1, 2015

A cup of blessing

by chuckofish

It was a rainy, overcast weekend–which is kind of nice sometimes. It gives one permission to slow down and read a book instead of trying to get a million things done. You know what I mean?

However, I did manage to do a few things anyway. I saw this weird bug on my garage.

Have you ever seen anything like him? He was big like a cicada, but didn’t look like our typical flyover cicadas. Zut alors!

I found this while going through a bunch of old books in my basement.

According to the sentiment written inside the cover, my mother gave it to me February 14, 1968. She was always trying to encourage me in my endeavors francaise, but it really was a lost cause.

Apres le petit dejeuner, il avait repete sa chanson pour bien la savoir par couer, et maintenant il se la chantait tres gentilment, sans se tromper. Cela donnait a peu pres ceci:

Tra-la-la, tra-la-lere!

Zim-boum-boum, ran-tan-plan!

Brrm-brrm-brrm, la-di-dere!

Pout-pout-pout, zim-pan-pan!

(Sorry, no accent marks!)

I’m afraid Winnie the Pooh loses something in translation!

I watched To Have and Have Not (1943) in honor of Howard Hawks’ birthday on Saturday. It was as good as a Hemingway novel adapted for the screen by William Faulkner can be. And by that I mean excellent. Which Hawks classic did you watch?

I also watched a really terrible movie: Rhinestone (1984) starring Sylvester Stallone and Dolly Parton. I had never seen it, and despite Dolly doing her best, it was pretty awful. Stallone was painfully bad.

It is amazing that Bob Clark, who had directed A Christmas Story the year before, ever worked again.

Sunday night I DVR’d Grantchester and watched The Cowboys (1972) which is the story of a cattle owner (John Wayne) who is forced to go on a cattle drive with only a bunch of underage cowboys to help.

The young boys in this movie are excellent. Indeed, the movie is excellent and well directed by Mark Rydell. And although the Duke (spoiler alert) dies at the hands of some lesser men in the movie, it ends well.

The highlight of my weekend was when my old friend Dick, who was in town from Atlanta for our special event at work this week, dropped by my office on Friday and brought me this:

A Mike Matheny autographed baseball! He asked Mike to sign it when he was in Jupiter for spring training. Wasn’t that thoughtful? It certainly made my day!

Have a good Monday!

*Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting–a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.”

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May 21, 2015

This and that: “Toiling on, toiling on; Let us hope, let us watch…”*

by chuckofish

Here’s more pictures of that wonderful home overlooking the Missouri River that I covet. And another lottery ticket to purchase I guess.

Not that I buy lottery tickets. You know I don’t approve.

Here’s something fun to do this summer. TCM is collaborating with Ball State University and Canvas Network, an open online educational platform from Instructure, to present Into the Darkness: Investigating Film Noir, a free online multimedia course open to the general public.

Burt and Ava in The Killers (1946)

Film Noir isn’t really my thing, but they are showing some good movies in July.

This is a really good album. And Fred Vargas has a new book coming out Tuesday. Life is good.

Have a good Thursday! Take time to smell the flowers!

*”To the Work” by Frances J. Crosby

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May 6, 2015

“These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.”

by chuckofish

So did you know that last Monday was Star Wars Day? May the fourth? Get it? May the fourth be with you.

As a good Episcopalian, I always want to say, “And also with you,” but I digress.

The OM and I did not celebrate May 4 with a party or anything. Frankly, I was over Star Wars a long time ago. A long time ago.

But this is kind of funny. Especially #10.

On the other hand, we need to let these guys retire.

It’s too late for gracefully, but I’m just saying.

Anyway, after all this, now I am kind of in the mood to watch the original 1977 flick. I liked it in the first place because it is one big film homage to John Ford and better movies of an earlier era.

Han Solo even wears cavalry pants. And Obi-Wan says things like: “You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious.”

Yes, it sounds like a plan. It’s not like there’s anything on the telly to watch.

Have a good Wednesday. May the Force be with you.

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April 17, 2015

This and that

by chuckofish

TGIF. Boy, am I ready for the weekend! I plan to take it easy. How about you?

In the meantime here are a few end-of-the-week odds and ends.

1. I really want this house. I may have to buy my first lottery ticket.

2. The Ford Mustang was introduced to the public on this day (April 17) in 1964. It was named after the WWII P-51 Mustang fighter plane.

What a great car!

3. It is Thornton Wilder’s birthday today. I think I’ll eat some ice cream in his honor, because you know–“My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it is on your plate.”

4. It is also William Holden’s birthday.

He was born in O’Fallon, Illinois–just over the river from here–in 1918. So I suggest we watch one of his movies in his honor. When I think about it, I realize that he really is one of my favorites, although I seldom give him credit for being so. He was also one of those men who kind of just got better with age. Unfortunately, he was also a terrible alcoholic and died ignominiously. But you know, he had a younger brother, Robert W. “Bobbie” Beedle, who was a U.S. Navy fighter pilot and was killed in action in 1944–maybe that had something to do with it.

Anyway, there are obviously lots of good William Holden movies to choose from. My favorites are: Born Yesterday (1950), Sabrina (1954), The Horse Soldiers (1959), and Paris When It Sizzles (1964)–but there are lots of other good ones. I’ll leave that up to you.

5. Going to Athens, GA? You won’t want to miss this!

Have a great weekend!

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April 3, 2015

This and that

by chuckofish

Well, it’s Good Friday.

Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for Good Friday, BCP)

My Holy Week has been less than focused. It has been busy, busy at work, and I’m afraid I’m not the multi-tasker I once was–the result being that I am exhausted in the evening. I fell asleep during everything I attempted to watch this week, from Shogun (1980) to Peter and Paul (1981).

Last night I participated in the “Could you not keep watch with me for one hour?” vigil, as I always do.

In past years I have been late signing up so I always get stuck in the 4-5:00 a.m. or 5-6:00 a.m. slot., but this year I had the 9-10:00 p.m. slot which was a piece of cake in comparison. Which isn’t exactly the point–it being easy–but I was grateful anyway.

Tonight, of course, I will start Ben Hur (1959).

Last year daughter #1 was home and we watched the whole thing at one sitting, but I think I will watch until the chariot race and finish up on Holy Saturday.

What’s the rush?

And don’t forget: Wolf Hall starts on Sunday night on Masterpiece Theatre! Mark Rylance looks right for the Thomas Cromwell part anyway.

In past film renditions he has always been played as an evil, and therefore porcine, politician.

Leo McKern in ‘A Man For All Seasons’ (1966)

Please. I am hoping for the best. We shall see.

Also, tomorrow is our pater’s birthday. He would have been 93!

Love this pose!

A toast would be appropriate and perhaps some bagpipe tunes.

And FYI there will be a lunar eclipse on April 4th!

Have a wonderful Easter! Hopefully the OM will accompany me to church on one of his two annual visits. Then we’ll meet the boy and daughter #3 at my flyover university’s faculty club for brunch. No cooking for me.

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April 2, 2015

“I am ignorant, but I read books. You won’t believe it, everything is useful… “*

by chuckofish

A new month–April already. Did you turn over your calendar? I always forget. Well.

There is a new Star of the Month on TCM: Anthony Quinn. Funnily enough, I was just watching They Died With Their Boots On (1941)–Errol Flynn as Custer–and I commented to the OM, “Boy, Anthony Quinn makes a really good Crazy Horse!”

He really does, right? Well, you can watch Quinn all month on TCM. Not that I am a great fan of is, but he did make some good (and a few great) movies in his long, illustrious career.

I waited for years to see Viva Zapata (1952). It was unavailable on Netflix (or DVD) for forever, but now it is on TCM. I remember seeing John McCain being interviewed when he was running for president and when he was asked “What is your favorite movie?”, he never hesitated, but launched into an enthusiastic lovesong to Viva Zapata. I thought it was very endearing and I like a guy who feels strongly about a movie, and it made me want to see the movie. But I have to say, having finally seen it, Viva Zapata is not on my list of favorites. It has a screenplay by John Steinbeck (!) and Marlon Brando gives a great performance in the early days of his career, but still, it’s not my cup of tea. The Mexicans are all so needy–they want someone to save them, to lead them (Zapata). They seem so unable to help themselves or to even think of doing so as an option. But the film won a supporting-actor Academy Award for Quinn, nominations for Steinbeck, Brando, composer Alex North, and the art directors and set decorators, plus a best-actor prize for Brando at the Cannes film festival, among other honors.

Quinn also stars in La Strada (1954) which is undeniably one of the great movies of all time. Directed by Federico Fellini and starring the wonderful Giulietta Masina as Gelsomina, it is an unforgettable work of art.

Richard Basehart also has a part in the movie, playing the Fool. Around this same time he appeared as Ishmael in Moby Dick (1956).

He was such a hot commodity in the mid-1950s! I always think of him in made-for-tv movies in the 1970s. Anyway, La Strada won over 50 international awards, including a Best Foreign Language Oscar in 1957. Set your DVR for April 8 at 8 pm EST!

Of course, I always liked Anthony Quinn as Auda Abu Tayi in Lawrence of Arabia (1962) and my DP and I enjoyed imitating his pronunciation of the name as children.

His mantra, “I am a river to my people,” has always been mine as well.

So which is your favorite Anthony Quinn movie? Discuss among yourselves.

*The Fool in La Strada

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March 9, 2015

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.”*

by chuckofish

Yes, those are daffodil shoots–right on schedule. Last weekend church services were canceled all over the area and this weekend we enjoyed 60-degree days! The flora and fauna responds accordingly. Pretty amazing.

I had a busy week so I took it kind of easy on the weekend. I finished some books that I had been reading and I read up on ol’ Charles Darwin, about whom I knew not a lot. He was an interesting fellow. I understand natural selection. It is logical. But it doesn’t explain why there are elephants. Seriously, there must be a God.

I had lunch with my girlfriends. I went to Ted Drewes with the OM.

I watched the first chapter of that great old mini-series Shogun (1980) starring my cousin Richard as John Blackthorne.

The Jesuits are the bad guys and Toshiro Mifune is in the cast as Lord Toranaga.

What’s not to like? I will be watching the rest of it as the discs arrive from Netflix.

The boy and daughter #3 came over for Sunday night dinner. We barbequed!

Cute as ever

Today daughter #2 takes her oral exams at the U. of Maryland. They were postponed from Friday because of the snow! Aaaargh. She has been handling the stress like the trouper that she is. Hopefully we will have good new for you tomorrow…

Have a great week!

*Rainer Maria Rilke

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February 27, 2015

Friday movie pick(s)

by chuckofish

Ah, Friday! How sweet it is.

It being Lent, I think I will haul out one of my favorite lenten movies—The Robe (1953) with Richard Burton. In recent years, I have gone to my DVD shelf to find it and come away confused and empty-handed. You know–you think you have a movie, but you don’t. So thinking ahead, I bought a new copy recently. I am all set for some Cinemascope wonderfulness.

Earlier in the week I watched the movie St. Vincent (2014) starring Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy and Naomi Watts. It is the story of a little boy whose parents have just separated, forcing him and his mother to move. He finds an unlikely friend and after-school babysitter in the misanthropic, bawdy, alcoholic war veteran who lives next door.

I wan’t expecting much, but as often happens in that case, I enjoyed it. The TV ads always pushed it as a comedy, and it is funny, but it is more of a drama with comedic moments. Melissa McCarthy is subdued and not over-the-top. The child who plays the boy is very good, and as you know, that can make or break a film.

Anyway, I liked it and it would be appropriate lenten viewing since it asks the question, “Who is a saint?”

If neither of these choices appeals to you, you could choose a film starring Franchot Tone (February 27, 1905 – September 18, 1968), whose birthday is today.

Tone was a cousin of one of my father’s best friends and so he was always on my radar, although he is a rather stiff, old-fashioned kind of actor. He usually plays the debonaire, less sexy, but stalwart other guy, who sometimes manages to get the girl if the lead is a real schmo.

He was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar in Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) and he starred with the best of them, including Bette Davis, Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Gary Cooper. He was even married to Joan Crawford!

Recently I watched Suzy (1936)–a WWI drama–with Cary Grant and Jean Harlow. Mostly I was impressed with Harlow.

She steals the show.

Anyway, have a good weekend. Keep warm. We’re supposed to get more snow and wintry mix, etc. Whatever.

6 Comments

February 24, 2015

“Oh wow! What? Who’s that man? What the hell was that, man?”*

by chuckofish

Oh, man, so I finally saw Easy Rider (1969) over the weekend. I was too young to see it when it came out, but it was on TCM and the OM and I watched it.

I think I may have waited too long. If I was too young in 1969, I am an old lady now. But it wasn’t a total waste of my time.

There were some nicely shot scenes by László Kovács of the boys riding through the scenic American West. The music was appropriate and of the moment.

But seriously, the script by Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda and Terry Southern–which was nominated for an Oscar–is threadbare. It seems like most of it was made up as they went along. Wyatt (Fonda) and Billy (Hopper) sell drugs and score some big bucks, so they head out on the highway to go to Mardi Gras. They do drugs and meet some cool (not really) people on the way. They are free, man. And by free I mean free to do drugs.

Okay. Is this freedom? There is much drug-induced talk about freedom and exchanges like: “Where you from man?” “Hard to say.”

I don’t buy it, man.

Our heroes seem perplexed that people look at them askance and seem to judge them for being dirty, probably smelly, drugged-out, oddly-dressed bikers who disrespect the American flag. The ending seems extreme. I think they just needed to end the movie and couldn’t think of another way to do it.

Roger Ebert thought the movie was a “great” one when he reviewed it in 1969. Here’s the review. I’m still not buying it.

I’m sure my brother, who graduated from high school in 1969, saw this movie, but I can’t remember what he thought at the time. He probably thought it was pretty cool. After a semester in college he kind of resembled Dennis Hopper.

He even had one of those suede coats with fringe. At the time I thought he was channeling John Wayne in Fort Apache, but maybe I was mistaken. Looking back, it is just kind of embarrassing.

In other news, I did not watch the Oscars and it seems like I didn’t miss anything. The only surprise to me was that Eddie Redmayne won for The Theory of Everything. I thought Michael Keaton would win, but isn’t it typical that they give Best Picture and Best Director to a movie, but not to the actor who plays the titular character?

Whatever.

Remember when George C. Scott refused his Oscar for Patton in 1971? He said, “The whole thing is a goddamn meat parade. I don’t want any part of it.” He made a good point.

P.S. You can bet that I am going to remember that phrase “goddamn meat parade.”

*Dennis Hopper in Easy Rider

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