Well, dear readers, I have nothing to say at the moment, and yet I am going to say nothing with élan and esprit, not necessarily in that order. I am going to say nothing loudly and clearly in a deep, orotund tone. I will proclaim nothing and proclaim it to the hills and the hills will be alive with the sound of nothing. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, today’s notes will contain nothing. Oh, I shall talk about this and that and also that and this but essentially I shall say nothing. And why not? Damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead with nothing. For example, I shall speak of yesterday but that is only because yesterday was yesterday and yesterday I there was something and it is only now that there is nothing. So, yesterday was something, specifically a day. I got very little sleep the night before on account of waking up ninety minutes after having fallen asleep. I eventually got a few hours. I then had to have meetings with my set and costume designer. Costumes were first, and I just spoke specifically about what I thought the look should be for each character and the designer put me on tape – I never get to specific because I like to see what people bring to the table and many of her first instincts were very close to what I felt was right. We discussed colors and styles and I think she’s going to do very well. I then met with the set designer – I really think he’s terrific and we’re very much on the same wavelength. We went through every set piece and look for the show, and simplified certain things so that the show won’t really have anything cumbersome about it. I love the look of a black box into which set pieces come and go, with most of the color and pizzazz being supplied by costumes and lights. I think the set is going to be fantastic and I couldn’t be happier with this collaboration. I then came back to the Valley, picked up a couple of packages, and then came home. I spent at least an hour on the phone regarding the Alice and Emily recording, trying to work out details, and trying not to let the attitude of the venue annoy me too much. There will have to be two important conversations early on Monday and hopefully then everyone will be on the same page. After all that, I finally got some foodstuffs and sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched two count them two motion pictures on DVD, both of which I somehow had never seen before and both of which starred Mr. Ronald Reagan. Well, blow me over with a taquito if both films weren’t terrifically entertaining and excellent. The first motion picture on DVD was entitled King’s Row. Of course, I was very familiar with the marvelous music of Mr. Korngold, but that’s all I really knew about the film. It’s kind of a precursor to Peyton Place, and interestingly I can’t imagine that Miss Grace Metalious wasn’t influenced by this book and film, since there’s a character named Peyton Graves. While on the surface the town of King’s Row is all decorum and manners, there are dark secrets, high drama, and tensions that run throughout. The novel, of course, didn’t have to shirk away from incest, homosexuality, and other such controversial issues, but the film still must have packed a wallop back then. The only downside is some of Robert Cummings’ dialogue, which even a Saint would find platitudinous and florid. But I liked Mr. Cummings’ earnestness and freshness. Ann Sheridan is terrific, Claude Rains is his always-great self, Charles Coburn is completely hate-worthy, and every cast member acquits him or herself very well. The revelation for me was Ronald Reagan, who was just wonderful as the happy-go-lucky then down-on-his-luck Drake – and his classic line, “Randy! Where’s the rest of me?” is indeed a classic. The photography of James Wong Howe was brilliantly brilliant, and director Sam Wood kept the pace moving right along, even at 127 minutes. The writer did a pretty damn good job of skirting the controversial issues. The transfer is very nice – not perfect, but very nice. I then watched the second motion picture on DVD, which was entitled Storm Warning, also starring Mr. Reagan, Miss Doris Day, and Miss Ginger Rogers. This tight little noirish film had me from the beginning scene in the bus – and it just moves like firecrackers, with excellent direction by Stuart Heisler. The actors are all turn in fine performances and I’d have to say I found the film to be a little gem. Transfer is again very nice – not perfect, but very nice.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I’ve just expended an awful lot of words and sentences saying nothing.
I said so much nothing in that last section that I now REALLY have nothing to say. Oh, I could say that I will be attending the Ray Courts Hollywood Collector’s Show in the Bank of Bur. Oh, I could say that I have other things to do, as well. Oh, I could say many things, but I shan’t because I have nothing to say.
Tomorrow, I may have something to say. I may even have a rant for tomorrow, depending on what happens today. I must say, though, that I feel a rant comin’ on.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, jog, attend a memorabilia show, eat, pick up a package or three and try to find an hour or two to relax and smell the coffee or the roses or the Cheez-Its. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite knock-knock jokes, and let’s also make this a general joke day – give us any recent ones or classics. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, even if they, like the notes, are about nothing.