Well, dear readers, this week continues to fly by like a gazelle in a sports bra. I gotta tell you, just when I think it’s Wednesday, it’s Thursday. It boggles my already boggled mind. Aren’t there times when you just want to stop and smell the roses or the coffee or the new mown hay? Can you buy new mown hay at the store? Frankly, I’d like some new mown hay, wouldn’t you? I don’t think any of us have nearly enough new mown hay. Of course, if we hated new mown hay and went on about how we hated new mown hay, then we’d have new moan hay. But hey, enough about new mown/moan hay. I’m feeling that the beginning of these here notes are just a little arch. Speaking of a little arch, yesterday was a very sweet day. For example, I woke up. That was sweet. Then I toddled off for an early hainsies/kimlets pancake fest at Du-Par’s, here in the City of Studio. In attendance were the always provocative MBarnum and MusicGuy, and the only sometimes provocative Cason and Miss Karen – and myself to boot. We had quite a sparkling time, with much merriment and mirth and laughter and legs. And kissing. Oh, so much kissing. Everyone was kissing. It was nauseating, actually. I have never seen so much kissing. In fact, people were looking askance. In any case, I had a short stack, MBarnum had some crazy thing like corned beef hash, Cason had some crazy thing like steel cut oatmeal brulee, MusicGuy had some crazy thing like bacon and eggs, and I cannot remember what Miss Karen had, because there was so much kissing going on. After that, I came back home briefly, did some proofing, then toddled off to a work session with Miss Alet Taylor. The first thing we did upon seeing each other was kiss each other hello. We then did some fun work, and then I came back home, where I proofed some more, as well as did some errands and jog – the latter was quite painful. After that, I toddled off to Art’s Deli, where I met up with Mr. Cason Murphy and Miss Joanna Erdos. Yes, there was kissing. There was also an excellent hot and lean pastrami sandwich – I felt hot and lean after I ate it. Cason had a baked potato, and Miss Erdos had a salad and french fries. Miss Erdos is my vice president of the alumni association, and Mr. Murphy has been chosen to sit on our board as Secretary. We’re trying to figure out who else we want on our board, and we’re also beginning to make very early plans for the benefit we want to do at the end of October. Save the date, baby, because we have a hell of an idea for a show, and if we can pull it off, it will be something very special, with a cast filled with everyone’s favorite Broadway performers. We are just beginning to put out feelers to raise the money for the show – we’re pretty certain the LACC Foundation will put up a good chunk, and since its tax deductible, we’re hoping to get some local businesses to donate, too. We’re very excited. After that, I came home and sat on my couch, bemoaning the fact that I hadn’t any new mown hay.
Last night, I watched two count them two motion pictures on DVD. The first motion picture on DVD was entitled Notes On A Scandal, starring Miss Judi Dench and Miss Cate Blanchett. I’d been told how good the film was, which always worries me, but I’m happy to report that it’s one of the best films of the last decade – who would have thought? It’s literate, it’s wonderfully acted, well directed without any sops to being “now” (no whooshing noises when the camera pans, no doors closing sounding like a disaster film), with no CGI or digital color manipulation. How refreshing. And, on top of that, a perfectly paced film running a scant eighty-nine minutes (ninety-three with the end credits). Add to that a terrific score by Philip Glass, maybe the best American score since John Williams’ AI, and you get a total winner. I’m going to watch it again this weekend, something I haven’t done with a film in ages. The transfer is nice, and the score sounds great. I then watched the second motion picture on DVD, which was entitled Lost Horizon (the musical from 1973). Yes, we went from the sublime to the ridiculous. As many of you know, Mr. Bacharach’s score to Lost Horizon is a very guilty pleasure of mine. But the film is a lumpen and leaden mess from start to finish. Back when it was released, it was critically reviled by all and audiences hated every minute of it and the film died a quick death. Of course, as is always the case, it has developed a small cult over the years, as most of these awful films do. To read these defenses of this misbegotten piece of tripe is funnier than the film itself. But, I am of the opinion that it didn’t have to be this way – that there could have been a decent film made. Let’s pretend it had a better screenplay, and had been directed by someone who actually understood what a musical is, say Stanley Donen. Let’s say it actually had a choreographer, perhaps someone like Michael Bennett or Ron Field. Let’s say they’d actually cast actors who could do a musical. But, they didn’t, Blanche, they didn’t. Instead, you’ve got Charles Jarrot, one of the worst directors in the history of the cinema, you’ve got awful sets, you’ve got a cast of people who, to put it kindly, should not be in the film, and you’ve got some really awful lyrics by Hal David. The one thing you can’t take away, however, is the score – the MUSIC by Mr. Bacharach is wonderful – tuneful, catchy, dramatic, and beautiful – not just the songs, but the background score (lovingly orchestrated by the great Shuken and Hayes). Occasionally, Mr. David doesn’t get in the way, such as with the title song, and I Might Frighten Her Away and even The World Is A Circle. But then you’ve got The Things I Will Not Miss (a great tune with terrible lyrics), Reflections, and the nadir of the film, Question Me An Answer. The version I watched is the short version. After the film’s roadshow bombed, it was immediately shortened by twenty minutes – missing were the fertility dance section of Living Together, Growing Together, I Come To You, If I Could Go Back, and Where Knowledge Ends, as well as a short reprise of one song I can’t remember, probably Living Together, Growing Together, that was sung by George Kennedy and Sally Kellerman. The transfer on the DVDR was spectacular – the best I’ve ever seen this film look on home video or cable.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because this section is really long and I’d like to see if I can smell some new mown hay in the next section.
Today’s work session has been cancelled, so I do believe I get to spend most of the day proofing the book – perhaps I can even finish it. I do have some errands to run and run them I shall.
Tomorrow, of course, is the Ray Courts show, and I shall be there bright and early. I’ll see if I can sneak any photographs while I’m there, especially if there’s kissing and/or new mown hay.
Quick, we’d better put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, we’d better break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, we’d better dance the Hora and the shimmy, because today is the birthday of dear reader Jennifer. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com cheer to dear reader Jennifer. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO DEAR READER JENNIFER!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, jog, proof, drive about in my motor car, and perhaps watch a DVD or three. Today’s topic of discussion: Let’s say we’re doing a haineshisway.com remake of the musical film of Lost Horizon. Let’s say we keep the score. Of people working today, who would you have write the screenplay, who would you cast in all the leading roles, and who would direct and choreograph. Then do the same exercise, but in the year 1973. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, as we all attempt to kiss the new mown hay.