Well, dear readers, another week has vanished, hasn’t it? I always thought it was a lady who vanished, but I’m here to tell you it’s the week that vanished. In fact, this was the week that was. Yes, Virginia, this was the week that was – days flew by, like a gazelle on jet skis. I can’t even remember all the things I did this week, but I know I did a lot. Yesterday, for example, was no exception. I did a lot. And yet, I don’t rememeber what I did. “Rememeber”? I can’t even type remember correctly anyomore. “Anyomore”? That sounds like a Dean Martin song. Where was I? Oh, yes, I did quite a few things yesterday. I ate lunch with Miss Tammy Minoff. I did a spot of work. I took a swim. I drove about in my motor car and I did a few errands that needed doing. Well, that really isn’t very much, is it? I mean, I built it up and then, when push came to shove, the actual events weren’t worth the build up. In any case, this was the week that was and that’s all there is to it. Isn’t that exciting? Isn’t that just too too?
Last night I watched many motion pictures on DVD. I got an early start, which enabled me to get in some extra viewing time. I actually finished the first motion picture I watched last night. I hadn’t intended to, but I found that I couldn’t stop watching. The motion picture was entitled An Inspector Calls, adapted from the play by J.B. Priestley. I’d never seen the motion picture version, and I must say it’s a rather splendidly splendid affair. Nicely directed by Guy Hamilton (later to direct Goldfinger), and with a great Inspector, namely Alistair Sim. The entire cast is excellent, and I loved the story and dialogue. It all runs a brisk seventy-seven minutes. I’d only ever seen the very interesting Stephen Daldry production, which was so different and weird, so it was nice to see this conventional version. I then watched a motion picture entitled Air Hostess from Hong Kong. It’s the earliest of the Hong Kong musicals I bought. These earlier films just sort of have songs that show up every now and then, but they’re not really musicals. The songs in Air Hostess are actually pretty catchy, whilst the film is pretty kitschy. Yes, you heard it here, it was catchy and kitschy and even citschy and katchy. Back in those days, especially in Hong Kong, being an Air Hostess was a very exotic and excellent job. It’s all a big bauble of a soap opera, but it has its moments. I then watched another Hong Kong musical entitled The Love Parade. This one has bold, splashy color and ShawScope, with some lavish fashion sequences and a handful of dance numbers. All these films just go on too long, but they’re fun in their own way. I then watched The Professionals, a film of Richard Brooks. I have always loved this film since I saw it on the day it opened. I think I must have seen it five or six times the first week it played. This new Special Edition DVD sports a much better transfer than the previous DVD. That said, the Edition isn’t that special – just three completely inane “documentaries” by that completely uninteresting DVD extras fellow, Laurent Bouzereau. This isn’t even up to his usual inept standards. But, it’s the film that counts, and the film is as great today as it was then; in fact, it’s greater. In one of the little documentaries, director Martin Campbell correctly says that you could never make this film today because there is not one actor you could cast that would be in the league of Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan, Woody Strode, Lee Marvin, Ralph Bellamy, Jack Palance and Claudia Cardinale. Script, also by Richard Brooks, is impeccable, and beautifully structured, with crackling dialogue. It’s the kind of film that has just vanished, and we are not the better for it, cinema-wise.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because this is the week that was and also this was the section that was.
Today, if all goes according to Hoyle, I shall be going to Mr. Grant Geissman’s home environment to hear more tracks and also to take home a CD for Mr. Haines to practice with. I shall then be attending a gala opening night at Los Angeles City College, seeing their new production of Bus Stop by Mr. William Inge. I shall, of course, have a full report for you upon my return.
We’re still trying to choose one song, a song done with just Mr. Haines and Mr. Geissman on guitar. We had a song, but we all decided there was no point to it. Then I chose another song I’m quite fond of, but we’re still not sure about that. I’ve got a couple of other ideas, and I’m going to go through some more material over the next day or two. Whatever it is, it can be chosen at the last minute, much the way we chose You Must Believe in Spring during the very last session for the first Guy Haines album.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must do errands, I must hopefully pick up packages, I must go to Mr. Geissman’s, I must attend an opening night, and I must find time to eat something, too. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/video player? I’ll start – CD, all my new Andre Kostelanetz CDs. DVD – so many movies. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we? And remember, this was the week that was so bring on the weekend, baby, because I’m hot and ready for action.