Well, dear readers, how can it be Thursday already? How can it be November already? How can 2007 almost be over already? I gotta tell you. Of course, after last Monday, I was supposed to have this week off, but I have hardly had this week off, as every day has been jam-packed with things to do and disasters to avert and annoying people to deal with. To counterbalance the annoyances, I continue to get wonderful compliments about the fundraiser, so that’s nice. And people seem to be liking the new book, so that’s nice, too. But, it’s these confounded annoyances and there have been way too many of them this year and I’d like to kick these annoyances in the nether regions, I’d like to pummel them into oblivion, I’d like to take these annoyances and fling them from the highest turret. Speaking of the highest turret, yesterday was a day filled with said annoyances – so many of them that I thought I would go mad. For example, I got up. That was annoying. I then packaged up a large number of CDs and took them to the postal office and shipped them. When I got home, the annoyances began piling up, one after another. It was unbelievable. Instead of relaxing and having the day off, I had to deal with all of it. After a while, I wanted to fling MYSELF off the highest turret. In an attempt to put myself in a better mood, I went to Popeye’s and got two chicken breasts. Only they only gave me one chicken breast and a thigh. I do not like dark meat and I do not like thighs (on chickens, anyway), so once I realized it was a thigh and dark meat that I’d just bitten into, I almost vomited on the ground and hence did not lighten my mood of doom. Have you ever had a mood of doom? It’s not hard, since mood IS doom spelled backwards. I finally just stopped answering the phone and reading e-mails. I finally just sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I managed to watch two count them two motion pictures on DVD. The first motion picture on DVD was entitled Big Hand For A Little Lady, a film of Fielder Cook. I remember enjoying it quite a bit when I saw it on its initial release, but it’s not really very good – just an overlong shaggy dog story. But, with a cast like this, it still has its moments. Joanne Woodward, Henry Fonda, Robert Middleton, Jason Robards, Jr., Kevin McCarthy, Paul Ford, Charles Bickford and others keep things moving right along, but ultimately it’s just too slight and it wears out its welcome long before its ending. The transfer starts off decently, but about halfway through, gets very brown, something that’s baffling. I then watched the second motion picture on DVD, which was entitled Up The Down Staircase. I was a huge fan of Bel Kaufman’s novel, and didn’t see how they’d make a decent film of it, given the novel’s conceit of its story being told through letters, memos, suggestion box notes, etc. But, the filmmakers did an amazing job and it’s a wonderful movie. I saw it the day it opened, and went back many times. I owned at least three different prints of it over the years. I hadn’t seen it in quite some time, as the VHS version had terrible brown color and I couldn’t stomach watching it. I’m happy to say that the new DVD transfer is very good – not perfect, but mostly excellent. The film remains as wonderful today as it was back then, thanks to the sharp screenplay, the lovely and simple direction of Robert Mulligan, and the central performance of Sandy Dennis, really her finest hour on the screen. She’s funny, touching, and endearingly endearing. The other performances are also top-notch, most especially Patrick Bedford’s Paul Barringer – it’s surprising that Mr. Bedford never really did much else on the screen (he did do the national tour of 1776), because he’s just great in this film. The supporting cast also has a treasure trove of brilliant character people like Eileen Heckart, Jean Stapleton, Ruth White, Roy Poole, Sorrell Booke, Francis Sternhagen and many others. The students were all newbies, and they are excellent, too, especially the heartbreaking performance of Ellen O’Mara as Alice Blake, the ugly duckling who has a crush on Mr. Bedford’s callous English teacher. The scene where he calls her into his classroom and corrects the grammar and spelling of a love letter she’s left him is chilling and heartbreaking. The film is filled with touching moments, and there’s one at the end that never fails to get to me. If you’ve never seen this film, do not hesitate to get the DVD. Also, a special call out to the great score by Fred Karlin.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I want to go to bed and forget about all these annoyances that I’d still like to kick in the nether regions.
Today I must once again deal with stuff I’d much rather not deal with, but I’ll do my best and also try to find time to just forget about all the crap and enjoy myself. Then I’ll be having an early supper with Miss Julie Reiber – she’s done with Wicked as of Friday night, and will be heading back to New York, and we have stuff to discuss before she leaves. The fact that these producers are not letting her take over the role of Elphaba when Miss Espinoza leaves is baffling because I cannot imagine anyone doing the role better. Producers – can’t live with ’em can’t live with ’em.
Tomorrow I’ll be playing a rabbi in a short film directed by David Wechter’s son, Zach. I only have two short speeches, which I’ll do my best to memorize.
Saturday night I’ll be seeing Little Fish, starring Alice Ripley, Greg Jbara, and Chad Kimball. I’m hoping I can have Saturday and Sunday off and that there will be no annoyances over the weekend.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, ship a couple more packages, deal with stuff (or not), and then sup with Miss Reiber. Today’s topic of discussion: I’m a sucker for films and TV shows that take place in school. So, what are your all-time favorite films and TV shows about school and teachers and students? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and if any annoyances come my way they shall feel the back of my boot in the nether regions.