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July 28, 2007:

BRYLCREEM

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, I do believe it’s Saturday and I do believe I don’t have one thing planned for today and I do believe that makes me very happy. I’ve finished proofing the book, the revised Brain script has been sent to those who needed it, we’re almost finished staffing the show, contracts are signed, and I can, for at least today, stop and smell the roses or the coffee or the Brylcreem. Do they still make Brylcreem? Does anyone still wear Brylcreem? Does a little dab still do ya? Wasn’t Brylcreem one of the most memorable ad jingles ever? Can anyone still sing it? I know I can. Brylcreem, a little dab’ll do ya, Brylcreem, you look so debonair, Brylcreem, the gals’ll all pursue ya, they love to run their fingers through your hair. Have you ever run your fingers through Brylcreem’d hair? Not something you ever want to do. Do you know that we had Brylcreem in our house when I was but a week sprig of a twig of a tad of a lad of a youth? And do you know, that even though it’s probably been fifty years since I’ve seen a tube of Brylcreem, when I say the name I can still smell it as if it were on my hair. Does anyone else have that sort of olfactory memory bank? Where was I? Oh, yes, it’s Saturday with nary a thing to do, except, hopefully pick up some envelopes that are a little overdue. Speaking of overdue, yesterday wasn’t such a bad day at all. For example, I got up, filled out some papers, signed a contract, wrote some checks, did some errands, picked up not enough mail, finished proofing a book, and answered a ton of e-mails and had a couple of telephonic conversations. The day flew by very fast, like a gazelle in a bustier. Finally, it was time to toddle off to a screening of a new documentary.

Last night, I attended a private screening of a new documentary entitled Becoming John Ford, which our very own Mr. Nick Redman produced and directed for Fox. The documentary, commissioned by Fox, is feature length (running approximately ninety-four minutes) and covers John Ford’s years at Fox during the reign of Darryl F. Zanuck, from Ford’s silent films right through to My Darling Clementine. Unlike most DVD supplements or “documentaries,” Mr. Redman has done the thing that no one seems to be able to do – he has a point, a point of view, structure, and a story to tell. He injects a lot of style into it, which some will love, and which some won’t (those who like these sorts of things in the Laurent Bozeareau style, which I loathe). The film is shot in black-and-white, and it looks swell. It’s also filmed in Academy ratio, which works perfectly as all Ford’s Fox films were in that ratio. Julie Kirgo put together actual words of Ford and Zanuck, culled from a variety of sources, and they are spoken by directors Ron Shelton (as Zanuck) and Walter Hill (as Ford). Those sections are really compelling – to hear their own words, which give you a perfect picture of two incredibly creative and strong immovable personalities working together to make some of the most artful films in the history of cinema. There are, of course, the obligatory talking heads, although Mr. Redman tries to be creative when shooting them. But, talking heads are talking heads and if I had any criticism (which I don’t really) it’s that I’d have liked less of the two academics – critic Joe McBride, and someone else whose name I can’t remember. Rudy Behlmer is along for the ride, and his contribution doesn’t really bring anything to the table, but they’re all at least fun, with none of the pretense and pedantic behavior of the Professor Drew Caspers of this world. Where this film wildly succeeds is in the two main talking heads – Peter Fonda and writer Lem Dobbs, and it’s because they both had some sort of real connection to Mr. Ford. That’s where this film goes to magical places – and it’s surprisingly touching, with Mr. Fonda recounting his memories of watching his father film under Mr. Ford’s guidance, and Mr. Dobbs recounting a story about the day he met Mr. Ford. The pace is good, and Mr. Redman should be very proud of his work here, as should Miss Kirgo, his editor Vinnie (yes, we all have our Vinnies), and his cameraman. I’m not sure when this will be out (it’s part of a major Fox Ford set), but after suffering through countless amateur night “documentaries” with pretentious “A film by” credits for untalented hacks, this one’s a pleasure.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because if we don’t I may just have to start singing the Brylcreem song.

I clicked, but I sang it anyway. Today, I shall try to sleep in a little, then I’ve got exactly on envelope to post, and that’s it. I may take a nice drive, I do have to get Milla’s CD up on amazon and CD Baby (only about ten minutes work), and then I shall watch as many motion pictures on DVD as I can.

Tomorrow, I do have a few things to do, but they’re minor and I should be able to have most of the day to myself. Monday is a different story, with non-stop work from morning till evening. The rest of the week is the same, and then, of course, I’ll be winging my way to New York a week from tomorrow. I hope to be seeing many hainsies/kimlets whilst I’m there.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, relax and smell the roses and the coffee and, of course, the Brylcreem. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your all-time favorite ad jingles – not slogans, but actual songs or sung catchphrases? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I endeavor to find out if I can go buy some Brylcreem, just to see if it smells the same as it did fifty years ago.

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