james dean and pier angeli
sometimes there's nothing to watch. photo by william gedney
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
my kinda humor
'What keeps us broke is you going out
and buying five hats at a crack. Who
needs a hat in California?'
this is quite possibly my favorite line ever written in a film. 'double indemnity' forever.
painting by august macke
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
we barely knew you
jean seberg. want to find out more about the woman with the really short hair who made a french film that became one of the most famous new wave films of all time? that film was 1960's À bout de souffle ('breathless') and it put both jean and the herald tribune on cinema's map.
she may have been one of the most stunning actresses ever. her personal life was, well, see for yourself:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Seberg
should we be glad or mad that no one has dramatized her life? seems to me her real life was dramatized enough.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Saturday, June 4, 2011
cover your eyes
if i could have anybody in this world or the next read my novel 'janitor' out loud it would be actor dick powell. he is just terrific delivering lines with zero pretension. writer raymond chandler is my hero when it comes to technicolor talent written as though the pen only wrote in either black or white. the movie, Murder, My Sweet (1944) is a great way to get to know both chandler and powell.
the logo for my company is a blindfolded dog. whenever i see an image of someone in a blindfold i think of my dog 'cargo' who was very inspiring. powell in a blindfold gives deeper meaning to the word 'brave.'
images: painting by marlene dumas/'murder my sweet'
Thursday, June 2, 2011
second chances
47/78 hike!
anyone even thinking of remaking a film that starred robert montgomery had better be prepared. robert was one of the most darling actors ever and it would take someone with looks, agility, and timing as well as talent to step into his shoes.
enter warren. in the 1978 remake of the 1947 'here comes mr. jordan' beatty is terrific from the top of his head full of hair to his toes as the unlucky lad who gets whisked out of his body by an angel before his time is due.
the movie switched boxing to football but it matters not as 'heaven can wait' got enough inspiration from 'here come mr. jordan' to be one of the most enjoyable films you will ever see.
swapping the brilliant claude rains for james mason (of 'humbert humbert' fame) to play the role of a 'god figure' was a stroke of genius. add scrawny and intelligent buck henry and you have the perfect male cast to dance this delightful tango with the divine julie christie and the kooky dyan cannon.
i watched this again very late last night in my hotel room in copenhagen. it never fails.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
a kiss is just a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh
i am having a beautiful time in sweden. we are now staying with friends in stockholm in their large and loving apartment full of more books than any home i have been in. my host, ann, loves the writer sarah waters and suggested i read 'fingersmith.' i was familiar with the story from watching the british film which i absolutely love.
i have posted about this film before. now that i am reading the book i thought i'd slip in another posting to remind you of the terrific performances of everyone in it.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
oooh. it's the bat. man.
the best thing about ANY film with cillian murphy in the cast is cillian murphy. happy birthday, pal's fave actor!
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