Well, dear readers, I must say I have to give props to Apple. I ask you, where else on all the Internet can you read such a sentence? Nowhere, that’s where. Yes, Virginia, I have to give props to Apple. Some of the props I’m giving to Apple are some wooden arrows, a feather duster, and a martini glass. I do hope Apple is appreciative. If anyone has a clew as to what the HELL I’m going on about, they should keep it to themselves. As most of you know, I sent my ailing computer to Apple on Wednesday. They received it on Thursday morning and their time prognosis is always seven to ten days. So, imagine my surprise when I got the computer back yesterday at noon. One day. Now, that’s a turnaround. They replaced the hard drive and the thing fired up so fast it was grand seeing it. Vinnie came over to clone the external hard drive but we couldn’t do it because the e-mail with the serial number of our bootable backup program had somehow been lost during all the problems. So, Vinnie left and ten minutes later I got an e-mail with the serial number. He’s coming today to do the clone. Even using the external drive right now, it’s so great to type on my own computer, and everything is working very fast and wonderfully. But that wasn’t the only nice thing that happened yesterday. I also got to see TPunk and Rodzinski again, this time for an early luncheon at Marie Callendar’s. I also met the DVD authoring guy and handed over the Kevin Spirtas master so he can get to work. After that, I came home and did a lot of stuff around the home environment, did a few errands, and that was finally that. Isn’t that exciting? Isn’t that just too too?
Last night, I watched a motion picture on DVD entitled Dangerous Moves, a foreign film from Switzerland which, I’m told, is very close to Kritzerland. It’s a film about the Cold War and chess, not necessarily in that order. It’s an interesting little film with a very good performance from the always excellent Michel Piccoli. Also in attendance in small, thankless roles are Leslie Caron and Liv Ullman. In any case, it’s a bit hard to believe that this film took the Oscar for best foreign film of 1985. It’s just not that good. I then watched a second motion picture on DVD, which was entitled Shoot The Piano Player, un film de Francois Truffaut, starring Charles Aznavour. It’s adapted from a hard-boiled paperback original by David Goodis, called Down There. I know people fall all over themselves about Shoot The Piano Player, but it’s never been one of my favorites, Truffaut-wise. There’s nothing wrong with it, really, but it’s very arch at times and filled with Truffaut’s playing with cinema just because it’s fun for him to do so – unfortunately, not always in service of telling a story. The score by Georges Delerue is wonderful, as is the luscious black-and-white photography of Raoul Coutard. Criterion has done a lovely job with the transfer, and the DVD has lots of extras.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below whilst I give some more props to Apple, namely a plastic Jesus and a snuff box.
Today I don’t have many plans, which is good since I’d like to relax and smell the roses or the coffee or the toothpaste. Oh, I have to ship about five packages, I have to hopefully pick up a package or three, and I must try to catch up on my DVD viewing.
Since it’s Saturday, that must mean it’s time for an Unseemly Trivia Contest – however, if we don’t have more players I’m going to put it on sabbatical again. So, here’s today’s question:
This huge flop musical was adapted from a book, which had also previously been made into a film. It was presented by someone who had been very successful in another medium earlier in that decade. In the cast of the flop musical was someone who would go on to become a notable choreographer and director. Also in the cast was the offspring of a well-known motion picture star. Interestingly, said well-known motion picture star was also appearing on Broadway that same season in a successful show. Also in the cast was someone whose greatest notoriety would be from appearing in a classic television commercial with a classic one-liner. So:
Name the flop musical and the book it was adapted from.
Name the presenter and identify the other medium in which said presenter had been very successful.
Name the cast member who would go on to become a notable choreographer and director.
Name the cast member who was an offspring of a well-known motion picture star, name the motion picture star, and name the show in which the motion picture star was appearing that season.
Name the cast member whose greatest notoriety would be from appearing in a classic commercial, name the character said cast member played in the commericial, and quote the famous one-liner from the commercial.
Remember, DO NOT POST YOUR ANSWERS TO THE SITE. Send them to me at bruce@haineshisway.com. You have until Monday at midnight my time to submit your answers.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, jog, eat reasonably, do errands, watch a DVD or three, and whatever else needs doing. Today’s topic of discussion: What is your all-time favorite flop musical score, and what is your all-time favorite song from a flop musical? For me, the latter would be Here’s That Rainy Day from Carnival of Flanders. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and I, for one, will be sending more props to Apple, such as a Singer Sewing Machine and a tin of talcum powder.