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July 9, 2007:

BEWITCHED, BOTHERED, AND BEWILDERED

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, the longest Fourth of July weekend ever is over, and I, for one, am bewitched, bothered, and bewildered, not necessarily in that order. I’m bewitched because I had a somewhat relaxing weekend and this week will, I hope, bring good things (with a little help from excellent vibes and xylophones). I’m bothered because it’s already the 9th of July. I mean, say what? This month is flying by like a gazelle in an Edsel. I’m bewildered because there is so much to do in so little time and my brain is doing all it can to keep up. So you see, I’m not only bewitched and bothered, but also bewildered (the three B’s – well, four if you count me). Speaking of the three B’s, yesterday was a day in which I just sashayed around the home environment, relaxing and doing a not very much at all. Oh, I’d mosey here and I’d mosey there, but never very far from my couch where I was sitting like so much fish for much of the day. I got up quite scandalously late, packaged up some packages for shipping, then I had some luncheon at Marie Callender’s, and then I came home where I attended to a few e-mails and whatnot. But the couch was calling and there I sat like so much fish.

Yesterday, I watched two count them two motion pictures on DVD. The first motion picture on DVD was entitled The Giant Behemoth. It’s part of the Warners cult camp classics series, but again, there’s nothing camp about the film at all. It’s the only film in all of the four sets that I really didn’t get any enjoyment out of. It takes forever to get to Mr. Behemoth, and once you do it’s not very exciting. The stop motion work seems primitive even for 1960. It features a no-star cast and is directed in a lackluster way be Eugene Lourie. The transfer has some weirdnesses and isn’t as good as the other films in the four box sets. I then watched the second motion picture on DVD, which was entitled Von Ryan’s Express, starring Mr. Frank Sinatra. I’d actually never seen the film before, and I rather enjoyed it. It’s a fun little war film, directed by the underrated Mark Robson. Why it’s been afforded a two-disc special edition is not clear to me, as I didn’t find it to be a classic motion picture entertainment, just a good one. It takes a while to get going, but once it does it barrels right along, aided by a good Jerry Goldsmith score. Mr. Sinatra is okay, Trevor Howard is always a pleasure to watch, and Edwin Mulhare steals several scenes when he has to impersonate a German officer. The transfer is a bit of a bust for a special edition, especially as they’re implying it’s a restoration of some sort. Well, it’s too dark, it’s muddy and fairly ugly-looking.

I did take a nice drive into the Wood of Holly between films, and did a little trading at Amoeba, where I was given a really generous amount for some ancient laserdiscs. I was able to get quite a few CDs and a handful of DVDs, so now I’ve got some listening and watching to do.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because frankly I’m bewitched, bothered, and bewildered why I’m still in this section.

Today – today will be a day and then some, and then the evening will be an evening and then some. I must get up early, I must ship a whole slew of packages, some at the post office and a couple at Fed Ex. I don’t know what time the Milla CDs will arrive, but if they arrive in time for me to get them packaged, I’ll attempt to go back to the post office. However, given the performance of the pressing plant the last few weeks, I’m not holding my breath. If they don’t arrive, I’m afraid I shall have to be quite miffed, oh, yes, I’m afraid I shall have to be quite miffed. I’m not sure if I’m rehearsing with Joan because she left a message yesterday asking if we could work in the evening. I told her no, and I told her that every rehearsal from now on has to be locked in stone, and that it isn’t me who’s getting up on stage in two weeks with an all-new show and that I recommended that we work every day and that she put aside everything else to concentrate on the show – something that apparently is very difficult for her to do, which is why she still doesn’t remember staging and lyrics. She’s a very hard worker, but is easily distracted. And that is not good. So, I’ll await to see if we’ll have a rehearsal today or not.

If we don’t, it’s not like I don’t have a million other things to do, including trying to finish staffing The Brain, seeing casting ideas from my casting director (we’re actually offering the role of Fred to someone today – I’m not going to say who just yet, and I truly doubt it will get further than this guy’s manager, but he’s perfect casting, I know him, and, you know, stranger things have happened. I also have to prepare for our general meeting of the alumni association this evening. I have no idea if two or two hundred people are coming, but I’ve promised everyone a short and sweet meeting. After the meeting, I’ll be supping with our very own Cason Murphy and his very own ever-lovin’ Heather. I haven’t decided where said meal will take place.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, ship packages, do a million things, maybe rehearse, and have a general meeting followed by a specific meal. Today’s topic of discussion: Mr. Sinatra has given some fine film performances along with some not-so-fine film performances, and he’s also wrapped his velvet voice around some amazing tunes and not so amazing tunes. So, what are your all-time favorite Sinatra film performances, and your least favorite Sinatra film performances, and what are your all-time favorite Sinatra vocals, and your least favorite songs he’s recorded? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we? If we do I shall be bewitched. If we don’t I shall be both bothered and bewildered, not necessarily in that order.

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