Well, dear readers, it is a bright and sunny Monday morning and I have risen like a Phoenix to greet the world. Actually I don’t know how a Phoenix rises, but I liked the way it sounded. Do any of you know who a Phoenix rises? If so, do you know how a Tempe rises? Do only cities in Arizona rise? And isn’t there something about ashes? In any case, it is a bright and sunny Monday and I have risen like a Phoenix to greet the day.
Last night I dreamed I was at Manderley.
I had very disturbing dreams last night. I don’t even want to write about them because they involved people and things I cannot stomach. Not only can I not stomach them, I can’t feet them, I can’t arm them, and I can’t throat them. So, I will not be writing about my dreams from last night, because frankly or even stevely, I cannot stomach or any other body part the people and things said dreams were about.
Last night I watched the motion picture entitled The Verdict. I hadn’t seen it since it came out and I had very little memory of its plot. What a fine film The Verdict is. The type of film they no longer seem to be able to make. A non-hyped courtroom drama, subtle and well-crafted, with not one overt show-off cinematic moment. Just a beautifully written (David Mamet) and directed (Sidney Lumet) film. It was up for several Oscars and lost them all. The most disgusting loss was Mr. Paul Newman to Mr. Ben Kingsley in that ponderous piece of plastic known as Gandhi. Watching Mr. Newman in this film is a two-hour lesson in what great screen acting is all about. In fact, watching everyone in this film is a lesson in what great screen acting is all about. The marvelous cast also includes Jack Warden, Charlotte Rampling, Edward Binns, Lindsay Crouse, Roxanne Hart, and the always great James Mason. The judge is played by Milo O’Shea, and he’s so good that you want to just throw a squishy vegetable at him. The other truly wonderful performance in the film, albeit a brief one, is by the very underrated actor, Wesley Addy, as one of the doctors on trial. Addy was always terrific, and never finer than in this film and in John Frankenheimer’s Seconds. For you musical theater mavens, Mr. Addy was also married to Miss Celeste Holm. What I really like about this film is that despite evil machinations by the opposing side, despite witnesses being bought, despite all the money in the world, despite abuse of the judicial system, justice can prevail. I recommend this to one and all and also all and one. The enhanced transfer is excellent and really shows off the understated but great cinematography of Andrzej Bartkowiak. The score is by Johnny Mandel and it’s terrific, very sparse and spare and just perfect. If this film were made today, every dramatic point would be underlined by loud music, there would be pop songs coming out of the juke box in the bar, every door closing would sound thunderous, the camera would be doing Steadicam dances, and the actors would all be trying to win Academy Awards. It’s just really hard to believe that in twenty years time movie making, just classic simple movie making has degenerated like it has.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Well, like the Phoenix, I have risen and being that that is the case, isn’t it time to click on the Unseemly Button below? Yes, I do believe it is time to click on the Unseemly Button below because I have said what I have to say in this section and I can say no more. When one has said all they can say in a section it is time to click on any Unseemly Button in sight or, in the case of haineshisway.com, in site.
Yesterday I promised to print the lovely Meltz and Ernest song, Sunday in My Shorts if the demand was high, and because the demand was high I shall indeed print the song and I shall print it right here and now and also right now and here, for your mental delectation.
SUNDAY IN MY SHORTS Music by Hinky Meltz Lyrics by Ernest Ernest
Sunday in my shorts
My, I look so cute.
Monday through Friday days are dreary
When I have to wear a suit.
But Sunday is the one day when my shorts come into play
‘Cause Sunday is a fun day when I feel so glib and gay
Sunday in my shorts
Showin’ off my gams.
During the week is dull potatoes
But my Sundays are like yams.
For Sunday is the one day I’m relaxed and fancy-free
‘Cause Sunday is a fun day when it’s just my shorts and me.
When I’m parading in my shorts
Everyone stops and turns and stares.
But I don’t mind, in fact I’m flattered
Saturday I might be upset – but Sunday I just say “Who cares?”
Sunday in my shorts,
And I’m lookin’ swell.
During the week I’ve got to dress up
Sundays those clothes can go to hell.
‘Cause Sunday is the one day I can dress the way I choose
Yes, Sunday is the fun day when my shorts and I can cruise
Wearing my shorts
Feeling unique
When you’re in shorts
You still can feel chic
And Sunday in my shorts is my favorite day of the week!
Isn’t that a bouncy song? It’s so positive and sunny and yet with an underlying current of worldly angst.
Don’t forget, you still have until midnight tonight to get me your guesses for our Unseemly Trivia Contest. And Donald has a brand spanking new radio show up and running. I have no clue as to what the theme of that radio show is, so perhaps Mr. Donald Feltham would like to enlighten us all.
Well, dear readers, like the Phoenix I have risen to greet the day. I suggest that if you haven’t risen like the Phoenix or the city of your choice, you simply must, it is simply too too. Tomorrow perhaps I shall rise like Pomona. Today’s topic of discussion: One of our dear readers suggested this topic and I thought it would be fun – how did you first discover Guy Haines, this site or my notes, in other words how did you come to be a regular denizen of haineshisway.com? And what was the first CD you purchased that I produced? Post away, my pretties, for I am very anxious to find out the what, where and why.