Well, dear readers, it’s the morning of the day of the evening of Mr. Kevin Spirtas’ show at the El Portal Theater in the Hollywood of North. Hence, I must write these notes in a hurry so I can get a full night’s sleep and then hie myself over to the theater bright and early to work on the lighting of the show, and then setting up both Vinnie (for the recording of the CD) and the camera crew (for the videotaping of the show). It will be an intense, non-stop day until about four, and then we’ll all break until five-thirty or so. Again, if any of our West Coast hainsies/kimlets want to attend and can’t afford the admission price, just use my name at the box-office and you’ll get in. Happily, yesterday we had quite a nice rehearsal and worked out the few problem spots and got them smoother (including one punch line that’s been eluding me for ages – I finally figured out what it should be and we put it in). Directly after the rehearsal I came home and sat on my couch like so much fish, letting my mind rest and my body relax, not necessarily in that order. And thus ends paragraph one – short and sweet or, at the very least, sweet and short.
Yesterday, I watched two count them two motion pictures on DVD. The first motion picture on DVD was entitled State Fair, the 1962 Cinemascope production, directed by Mr. Jose Ferrer, and starring Miss Ann-Margret, Mr. Pat Boone, Miss Pamela Tiffin, Mr. Bobby Darin, Mr. Tom Ewell, and Miss Alice Faye. It’s quite a poor film, but it does have certain guilty pleasure aspects to it. First amongst them is, of course, the sizzling Miss Ann-Margret. Mr. Ewell and Miss Faye are fine, although they are without much energy throughout the proceedings. Bobby Darin is a bit smarmy, Mr. Boone sings nicely and gets to kiss Miss Ann-Margret repeatedly, and Miss Pamela Tiffin is just plain gorgeous, although I wanted her to say “marvy”. The Rodgers and Hammerstein songs are fine, but the added songs (all by Rodgers) are quite mediocre. Alfred Newman makes everything sound like Carousel, and the big dance number by Nick Castle is fun. The good news is that the transfer is superb and sharp as they get. The 4.0 sound is robust and excellent. The less said about Mr. Ferrer’s contribution, the better. The second motion picture on DVD was entitled Cop, starring Mr. James Woods, Mr. Charles Durning, and Miss Lesley Ann Warren as The Feminist. Cop is based on James Ellroy’s Blood on the Moon, but, other than the most basic plot points, Mr. James B. Harris’ very bad screenplay has little to do with Mr. Ellroy – a shame, since there could have been a good movie made from the book. Mr. Woods is fine, and the film is certainly watchable and moves right along, but Mr. Harris, who produced many films for Mr. Stanley Kubrick, did not inherit one or even two whits of Mr. Kubrick’s talent. In fact, he’s a really bad director. The transfer is a bit out of registration, but otherwise replicates perfectly the completely ugly photography of the film.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below, because I must get my beauty sleep so that I may be sharp-witted and ready for the long day and evening ahead. And thus ends this section. Thus spake BK.
I have just sneezed fourteen times in a row. I had the heat on and I get a little allergic reaction to it sometimes. I have turned the heat off and taken an Actifed.
For those who’ve forgotten (apparently single hainsies/kimlets known to man), Donald has a new radio show up and you should all listen to it and report. I excoriate you to do so.
Now, I shall, of course, be gone all the livelong day and night, so I would hope that you will all keep the home fries burning until my returning. And thus, I haz spoken.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, work all the livelong day and evening doing the Kevin Spirtas show. I do hope to see some of you there. I apologize for the brevity of these here notes, and I will have a full and major report on the show in tomorrow’s notes. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite Biblical Epic films, and what are your favorite Sword and Sandal movies? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we? So it is written, so it shall be done. Thus spake BK.