Well, dear readers, it’s one week before Christmas. I am now officially in the Christmas spirit. I walk down the street every day saying “Ho, ho, ho” – in most neighborhoods it’s fine, but I said it in Hollywood the other day and three hookers hit me. I am jingling bells and looking for mistletoe and feel very jolly. I am very much looking forward to my Christmas Eve Do, and then Christmas Day. In the meantime, I’ve got lots to do this week, including meeting with Miss Linda Purl, meeting with the LACC people, rehearsals, lunches, dinners, and whatnot. I’m going to ask my actors to be off book by the end of this week, and I hope they’ll be able to. That will give us a solid week of run-throughs the following week, because by the 30th we have to be ready to shoot a couple of video sequences. Then, after New Year’s, we move directly into the theater. Time does fly by when you’re having fun. Yesterday, for example, time flew right by because I was having fun. Time didn’t walk or drive or jog by, no, time flew by because that’s how time is. I’m happy to say that the fireplace in the den is working splendidly now, and I lit a nice log yesterday afternoon. I’m having trouble concentrating on writing these here notes, frankly. My mind is a million other places. But, I shall endeavor to continue to the best of my ability. Last night, I went to the Gardenia with my friend Miss Barbara Deutsch to see my friend Miss Linda Purl do her club act. It was a lovely evening, and Miss Purl was in fine voice, sexy, beautiful, and she did a great job. For the new incarnation of her act that we’re working on, there will be substantial changes, and seeing the show last night just bolstered that. The jernt was jammed, and there were some fun people there, such as Miss Carole Cook and her ever lovin’ Tom Troupe, Miss Ann Turkel, Mr. Tom Bosley, Mr. Stephen (Bish) Bishop, Mr. Bruce Davison, and many others, all of whom had a splendidly splendid time. Isn’t that exciting? Isn’t that just too too?
Yesterday, I managed to watch two count them two motion pictures on DVD. The first motion picture on DVD was entitled The Devil Is A Woman, another von Sternberg/Dietrich film. It’s a visual feast, like all von Sternberg films, and one can’t help thinking that the relationship between Miss Dietrich’s character and Mr. Lionel Atwill’s character is somewhat personal and reflective of Miss Dietrich and Mr. von Sternberg. Mr. Atwill, in fact, is a dead ringer for Mr. von Sternberg. His performance is wonderful, and Miss Dietrich is flamboyant, pouty, sexy, and outrageous. Cesar Romero is suave as her would-be swain. The region 2 DVD is another fantastic transfer. I then watched the second motion picture on DVD, which was entitled 7 Men From Now, a film of Budd Boetticher, starring Mr. Randolph Scott, Miss Gail Russell, Mr. Lee Marvin, and Mr. John Larch. 7 Men From Now has never been available on home video before, and has been out of circulation for years because it was owned by Mr. John Wayne’s company, Batjac. Now, thanks to Batjac’s deal with Paramount, it’s finally out. It’s a wonderful picture – tense, taut, crisp, to the point, and quite memorable. I love Randolph Scott, and he’s his usual stoic and wonderful self here. Gail Russell turns in a terrific performance as a conflicted wife, and Lee Marvin just about walks away with the film. Boetticher was a great director and 7 Men From Now is one of his best. It’s so great to see a director who is simple – who knows where to put the camera and how to tell his story. The film runs a brisk 78 minutes, but it is packed to the gills with story, characters, and incident. The transfer is very nice, and there is a fifty minute documentary on the film and Mr. Boetticher, as well as a few other extras. At ten bucks, the DVD is well worth picking up, and any fan of good oaters will really enjoy it.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because, after all, it’s the Christmas season and it’s the jolly good thing to do.
All right, hold your hats and hallelujah because I’ll be hornswoggled if we don’t have us two count them two birthdays to celebrate. So, quick, let’s put on two pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, let’s break out double portions of cheese slices and ham chunks, let’s dance the Hora and the Fan Dance, because today is the birthday of our very own dear reader PennyO and our very own dear reader Dan the Man. So, let’s give a doubly big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to dear readers PennyO and Dan the Man. On the count of three: One, two, three – A DOUBLY BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO DEAR READERS PENNYO AND DAN THE MAN!!!
Today I must finish doing Christmas cards, I must do some errands, do a bit of grocery shopping, do a bit of writing (I hope!), and watch a DVD or three. I may even burn a log in the fireplace. In the evening, I may be having dinner with a friend – I’ll know in the late afternoon.
My goodness, I’m feeling Christmas cheer right now. I’m rolling out the holly and wearing tinsel upon my hair. I’m saying “Ho, ho, ho” to every passerby I pass by. I’m wearing red and green, not necessarily in that order.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, try to focus because at the moment my mind is in a million different places, I must drive about in my motor car, I must go hither and thither and perhaps even yon in my quest to spread Christmas cheer. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite wines? I have tried to appreciate wine, but I can’t stand the taste. So, I’d like to know what your favorites are, why you like them, and what they taste like. Also, what are your favorite whines? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst we all say “Ho, ho, ho” in honor of the Christmas season and the Hollywood Hookers.