Well, dear readers, I think I’m supposed to be relaxing this weekend, and yet I shall not have any time to do so. Yes, things change and the best of intentions sometimes go awry or, at the very least, awholewheat. As those who are regular followers of these here notes know I was intending to not do much this weekend. And then, through circumstances that just happen sometimes, I find that I will be doing quite a bit this weekend. Oh, I’ll still find a few moments here and there, but overall I have to do things on both weekend days now. But, before we go there, let’s go here – here meaning yesterday. I know you all love my litany of daily doings, and I have become quite used to mentioning them, so here goes. Yesterday, for example, I woke up much too early, tried to go back to sleep, couldn’t, watched a bit of a movie, tried to go back to sleep, couldn’t, and then finally got up, nosed around the Internet and then jogged. I then shipped all the packages that needed shipping, and then I picked up all the packages that needed picking up. I then had a lunch meeting with a singer who has asked me to help her put together a show and direct said show. I was really on the fence about it but she seemed to really want to go on this journey and I ultimately said yes. So, we’ll be starting on the early phases of her show over the next few weeks. After that, I went to the home environment of Mr. Grant Geissman. He managed to get five of the short stories into book form, formatted correctly and we printed those out – we still have two stories to go, but when Mr. Geissman gets tired or bleary-eyed and vaguely discontented, then it is best to just stop for the day. It’s grand fun to see this stuff looking like a book. We’re up to page 125 thus far, and I think the book will come in slightly less than 200 pages. I’ve already proofed two of the stories and found a few little widows and orphans and bad breaks, and some spacing anomalies, and I even found a couple of things my proofers missed, so that’s good. After that, I came home and sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched two count them two motion pictures on DVD. The first motion picture on DVD was entitled The Naked Spur, a film of Anthony Mann starring Mr. James Stewart, Mr. Robert Ryan, Miss Janet Leigh, and Mr. Ralph Meeker, along with Mr. Millard Mitchell. The Naked Spur is one of several motion pictures that Mr. Mann and Mr. Stewart did together (others are Winchester 73, The Far Country, The Man From Laramie, and several others), and it’s probably the best of the bunch. It’s a quick-paced and highly dramatic oater, with terrific performances by everyone and beautiful direction by Mr. Mann. Sadly, the transfer from Warners is fairly disgraceful. While the color is fairly accurate (I know it’s heresy to say, but it’s more accurate than the much-lauded The Searchers DVD, which has color that’s completely wrong), I’m afraid the image is so soft that it’s basically out-of-focus for the entire length of the film. It’s been said that the transfer was done from a problematic and incorrectly printed element – if I’d seen this thing in the telecine room and if I cared about my product, I would have stopped the release of this title and ordered a correctly printed element. The element used is obviously in good shape and it would not have cost that much to get a new internegative for a better transfer. But, they didn’t, Blanche, they didn’t. And the excuse given is that it’s only a minor “cult” film and didn’t deserve it. Well, that, of course, is utter hogwash. It’s a major film from a great director starring a beloved movie star and a great supporting cast. And, I’m afraid, this is the transfer we’re going to have to live with for years. Blechhh. I then watched the second motion picture on DVD, which was entitled A Haunting We Will Go, starring Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy. The movies they made for Fox are generally not considered their best, and Fox’s first box set, for me, was a bit of a bust – I just got really bored with the films and ultimately got rid of the set. Now, I know the three films in this new set are considered even worse, so I’m happy to say that I actually sort of enjoyed A Haunting We Will Go. No, it’s not very good, nowhere near their best, but it’s rather like a Stooges comedy – very low budget, but with some fun clowning from the boys. The transfer is really good – sharp and very pleasing.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Isn’t she of the Evil Eye going to be here soon? Quick Watson, the Unseemly Button.
Has anyone noticed that intentions have gone awry or even asourdough? Here is why: Today I have to meet with my music person so he can tape and transcribe the new ballad for The Brain From Planet X. Then I must spend the rest of the day carefully proofing the rest of the book (the first five stories), because Sunday I’ll now be spending several hours with Mr. Geissman – first, formatting the final two stories, then entering the corrections for the first five. So, you see, not much relaxation in store for the likes of me.
Well, I suppose it’s Saturday, so I may as well give you an Unseemly Trivia Contest question in multiple parts. This one will be all over the map because I feel we haven’t had a trivia question that was all over the map in quite some time. So, here it be:
This theatrical season was fascinating. It had several notable flop plays and musicals, several of which played less than a handful of performances. It did yield a few hit shows, however. Many of the season’s hits were revivals. So, let’s look at a few things. One huge flop play was written by its star (along with another writer). In the cast was an actor who would go on to co-create and write for a very successful television situation comedy. Also in the cast was a young actor who would go on to co-star in a beloved film musical, taken from a beloved stage musical (in which he did not appear on Broadway). Also in the cast was someone who would go on to win a Tony Award for a performance in a musical. Moving on from there – this season also had two huge flop musicals which were both directed by the same person – someone not really known for directing musicals. That person was also represented by a flop play – giving said person three major flops in one season. Moving on from there – this season also had another huge flop musical which was the only directing credit for its director, who was better known for doing something else. Are you with me so far? So:
Name the huge flop play and it’s star/co-author.
Name the actor in the flop play who would go on to co-create and write for a hit TV situation comedy.
Name the young actor who would go on to co-star in a beloved film musical of a beloved stage musical which said actor did not appear in on Broadway.
Name the cast member who would go on to win a Tony Award for a performance in a musical.
Name the director who had three huge flops (two musicals and a play) during this one season, and name the flops.
Name the huge flop musical that was directed by a one-time-only director, name the director, and tell us what the director was better known for doing.
Whew – this contest question is so convoluted that it just gave me a big ol’ headache. Remember: DO NOT POST YOUR ANSWERS TO THE SITE. Send them to me at bruce@haineshisway.com. Good luck to one and all and also all and one.
Now wait just a darned minute. Hold your hats and hallelujah, I do believe we’d better put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, we’d all better break out the cheese slices and ham chunks, and we’d all better dance the Hora and the box-step and we’d all better do all of that TWICE, because we’ve got us two count them two birthdays to celebrate today – our very own Jrand and our very own way-too-busy dear reader Jose. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer for deux to our very own Jrand and our very own way-too-busy dear reader Jose. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER FOR DEUX TO OUR VERY OWN JRAND AND OUR VERY OWN WAY-TOO-BUSY DEAR READER JOSE!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, leave the home environment for a few hours, jog, work with my musical person, proof, eat, and, at some point, sit on my couch like so much fish. Today’s topic of discussion: Name the following – what was the first color motion picture you can remember seeing? What was the first Cinemascope picture you can remember seeing? The first VistaVision picture? The first film in stereophonic sound? The first roadshow film you ever saw? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst we ponder intentions gone awry.