Well, dear readers, the saga continues. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, the saga continues and my day shall be filled with saga items. If you missed any of the goings on over the weekend, I’m afraid you’ll have to actually read the notes because I shan’t be going over old terrain again – I just wish to move on and do whatever needs to be done to put this sorry episode behind me as quickly and as painlessly as possible. Yesterday, I went to the police station and picked up a copy of the report I filed. I’ll need that for the DMV and it’s just good to have it in case any other agencies need it. I then came back home and jogged, because I thought I’d get it over with before it go too hot. That was at ten. It was already ninety-five degrees, however. I did the full jog, then collapsed on my couch like so much fish. I answered some e-mails, then walked over to the store where the wallet event occurred. Unfortunately, there was no new news. I looked behind the counter again, looked in my car again, and then called the bank and had them make the block on the ATM cards permanent – I’ll be getting new ATM cards by Friday, the first step in attempting to replace everything. I then had to just let it all go, otherwise I would have just had a needlessly upsetting day, so let it go I did (not the only thing I’ll be letting go of this week, which is suddenly looking like D-Day around these here parts). I’m still keeping all digits crossed for a miracle of miracles – we shall see what we shall see. I went to Gelson’s and got a few little things to eat, and I just sat down and watched some motion pictures.
Yesterday, I managed to watch three count them three motion pictures on DVD. The first motion picture on DVD was entitled Jet Pilot, a film of Josef von Sternberg, produced by Howard Hughes, starring Mr. John Wayne and Miss Janet Leigh. What a deliriously bizarre and surreal film it is, too. It’s a guilty pleasure, frankly, and I always enjoy seeing it. The screenplay is by Jules Furthman and there’s some very amusing things in it. The film proper was shot in 1951, but it wasn’t unleashed on the public until 1957, thanks to the incessant meddling of Mr. Hughes, who kept reshooting the aerial sequences. The film is indescribable, but if you give yourself over to it, it’s so weird that it’s quite enjoyable. The new anamorphic transfer looks swell. Interestingly, the film was projected at 1:85 in 1957, despite the fact that the majority of it was shot in 1:33 in 1951. So, some shots are really oddly framed, but most of it looks fine. I then watched the second motion picture on DVD, the new Special Edition of Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls. I first saw the film at a sneak preview in Westwood. It was weirdly entertaining and I was already a fan of Mr. Meyer. But, I was never fanatical or a cultist about it. For me, Valley of the Dolls is much more fun and camp than Beyond, but Beyond has an incredible cult following. Watching it again, I almost kept shutting it off – it’s really risible, and though some of that’s on purpose, a lot isn’t, and I just kept getting irritated by it. The transfer is fine, if a bit dark and murky. I then watched the third motion picture on DVD, which was entitled You’re In The Navy Now. I’d never even heard of this film, frankly, but since it stars Gary Cooper, I took a chance on it. And guess what? It’s a thoroughly fun film from start to finish. I really enjoyed all of it quite a bit. And the cast. Every time a new character showed up I couldn’t believe who I was seeing in the role. In addition to the always-splendid Mr. Cooper, we have the beautiful Jane Greer, John McIntire, Ed Begley, Ray Collins, Eddie Albert, Harry Von Zell, Richard Erdman, Harvey Lembeck, Jack Warden, Lee Marvin, Charles Bushinsky (aka Charles Bronson), Jack Webb, and on and on. Director Henry Hathaway keeps the whole film moving along briskly and it was a treat. Transfer is excellent.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Well, I hope I’m not Ebert, who’s all over the extras on Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls, and whose face looks like it’s made out of wax – whatever work he’s had done (and he’s had plenty), he couldn’t look more dead. It literally looks like someone molded his face out of wax – that his skin has been applied like Jiminy Glick’s. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below so that the saga can continue in the next section.
I forgot to mention that I also watched some of the new Sergeant Bilko set. I watched the original unaired and formerly lost presentation pilot. It’s basically what became the first episode, only much rougher and a few minutes longer. Interestingly, Jack Warden was in the pilot playing the role later assumed by Allan Melvin when the show went to series. Also, Paul Ford wasn’t in the pilot – thank heavens they got him for the show. What a great show it was, and Phil Silvers’ timing is so much fun to watch. I’ll be watching more episodes this week.
Today, however, I must call the DMV, I must call the Social Security department, I must call one of the credit rating groups (once you give them the info they pass it on to the others), and I must go to the post office to let them know what’s happened and to make sure they’re on the lookout for anyone who tries to put in a change of address for me. I think that will cover today’s calls, then tomorrow I’ll deal with the less-important stuff like the DGA, SAG, AFTRA, auto club, NARAS, Staples, Vons, etc. I’ll try to take care of everything pretty early (including the ubiquitous jog) and then I’ll pop over to the editing room around noon or one and I’ll stay until four or five. Then I have to attend a little banquet. I’m just going to try and keep my spirits up and positive, because I know it’s going to be difficult making all these calls and dealing with all those voice prompts I’m going to have to listen to ad nauseum and also nauseum ad.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, attend to all of the above and get through it as effortlessly as possible, and then I must do whatever else needs to be done. Today’s topic of discussion: Service comedies are a staple of the stage and film – what are your all-time favorite service comedies? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and do keep sending excellent vibes and xylophones for a miracle of miracles vis a vis the missing wallet.