Well, dear readers, apropos of nothing, I had a very strange day yesterday. But before I get to that, might I just point out that I have, within the first six words of these here notes, already used a completely idiotic phrase – apropos of nothing. First of all, can we just try to imagine the mind that came up with the word “apropos”? That word is much better backwards – soporpa. Soporpa – that sounds like a Meredith Willson song, doesn’t it? Where was I? Oh, yes, apropos of nothing, I was commenting on the ridiculousness of the phrase apropos of nothing. It sound like some King who’s from some unknown land – Apropos of Nothing, rather like Louis of France. In any case, apropos of nothing, I had a very strange day yesterday. I thought I had a lot of appointments and meetings and whatnot, and yet I didn’t have any. That did enable me to do quite a lot of writing – five pages worth, which made me very happy, as I’m really having a good time doing the short story I’m doing. The most fun part of it is that it’s written in a young woman’s voice (recalling her childhood), and I love doing that. I also set a bunch of meetings, and made a lot of telephonic calls, and even shipped a couple of packages, but mostly I stayed indoors out of the pouring rain. So, even though it was a slightly strange day, I found it oddly comforting and nice and cozy. Isn’t that exciting? Isn’t that just too too?
Last night, I watched two-and-a-half count them two-and-a-half motion pictures on DVD. The first half-motion picture on DVD was entitled Monster In Law, starring Miss Jennifer Lopez, Mr. Michael Vartan, and Miss Jane Fonda as the titular character. Someone took a look at Meet the Parents and thought, let’s copy that. First of all, Meet the Parents wasn’t that great, so to copy it was really stupid (but that’s today’s movie business). Monster in Law is an incredibly lame title and the movie is even lamer. They really think these one-joke films will hit every time, but this one didn’t. It’s completely unfunny, even though Miss Fonda tries gamely to make it so. She’s had a little too much work done for my taste, so I find it difficult to even look at her. And then there are Miss Lopez and Mr. Vartan, who don’t exactly light up the screen. These are not movie stars in any sense of the word. The only fascinating thing about watching them is to know that Miss Lopez’ ex-fiance ended up with Mr. Vartan’s ex-girlfriend. I finally had to shut the thing off after fifty minutes. I then watched a motion picture on DVD entitled Save the Tiger, starring Mr. Jack Lemmon. Mr. Lemmon is wonderful in the film, as is Mr. Jack Gilford, and the other players are all fine. Even back in 1973 I found the film overwritten and a little too blatant, and watching it again all these years later, I still think so. There are some wonderful shots of Los Angeles, though, so I always like that. My favorite thing about it being an early 70s film, is that the hooker in the film wears a cotton bra and flowery cotton underpants – think that’s the way she’d be dressed if this film was made now? Not on your tintype. The transfer is excellent, perfectly replicating the somewhat ugly and grainy photography, which was the fashion for gritty slices of realism like this. I then watched a motion picture on DVD entitled Detective Story, which I’d only seen pieces of before. I must say I found it very compelling and wonderfully done. What a swell cast, too – Kirk Douglas, in a very difficult role, lovely Eleanor Parker as his wife, the always great William Bendix as a tough but understanding cop, Lee Grant as a thief, Horace McMahon as the Lieutenant, and on and on. The only performance I could have lived without was Joseph Wiseman as a hopped up, insane crook. He and Miss Grant were holdovers from the Broadway play – Miss Grant adapted herself well, but Mr. Wiseman is completely over-the-top. It’s interesting watching them trying to skirt around using the word abortion (which is the major plot point), but they do it so you understand what’s going on. I would imagine that was fairly shocking in 1950. The transfer is wonderful – Paramount, for the most part, is doing great work on their DVD releases.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Well, apropos of nothing, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below, because I have quite the busy day ahead of me.
For example, this morning I have a meeting with a potential set designer for our play. I’m also hoping to meet the sound man for the El Portal, but I haven’t heard back on that yet. Then I must have a meeting at LACC with the kids that I’ve cast, and then I must come back to the home environment and do a few things, and then I must be on my way to Mr. Donald Feltham’s to tape a radio show. I don’t know what said radio show will be about – could be one of our last two CD releases, or could be about the book. We shall see.
Apropos of nothing, I had a lovely chat with our very own Mr. Harvey Schmidt, who sends his best. Some theater in Texas just did a large tribute to he and Tom Jones, and presented full productions of The Fantasticks and 110 In The Shade, and staged readings of Celebration and Philemon. Apparently it all went very well.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, drive many places in my motor car, I must write, I must ship a package or three, I must find time to eat something interesting, and I must have meetings, greetings, and then tape a radio show. Today’s topic of discussion: What were your favorite radio shows when you were growing up – who were your favorite disc jockeys, and what kind of music did they play? Did any of them introduce you to music that changed your life (those who’ve read Kritzer Time know that that happened to me)? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and you must use the phrase apropos of nothing at least once.