Well, dear readers, I am trying to think of something pithy for this opening sentence and yet here I am with an opening sentence sans pith. There is simply no pith in sight or even in site. I hate when the opening sentence doesn’t have pith, don’t you? Frankly, the opening sentence didn’t even have vinegar – on good days we, of course, have pith and vinegar, but today we have come a cropper. In fact, I’m going to predict that there will be no pith and vinegar in these here notes. And I’m jiggy with that. Speaking of jiggy, yesterday was a day that rolled along trippingly on the tongue, just like Gary, Indiana. I got a good night’s sleep after a hard day’s night, got up, did some work on the musical I’m mentoring, then did some errands and whatnot. Then I did some more work, then I made myself a halibut filet. Have you ever made yourself a halibut filet? Do people still recognize you? In any case, the night before I’d dreamed I was making a halibut filet and the dream came true. I got myself a little halibut filet and I put that little halibut filet in a glass dish, seasoned it, but some butter on it, and then baked it to within an inch of its life. I haven’t made halibut in ten years, and I always forget how much I love it, especially prepared the way I prepared it. And it was ever so yummilicious. I had some cheesy potatoes with it, and a bagel. It was a perfectly perfect meal, and, in fact, my only meal o’ the day. I then did more work, and then finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I managed to watch three count them three motion pictures on DVD. The first motion picture on DVD was entitled Sidney Sheldon’s Bloodline, starring Miss Audrey Hepburn, Mr. Ben Gazzara, Mr. James Mason, Mr. Omar Sharif, and many others. The last time I saw Bloodline was a month before its release, when Paramount screened it for me and I made a deal for its soundtrack to be released for Varese Sarabande. I did think that it was a dreadfully dreadful motion picture back then, but I got this region 2 DVD because some of those late 70s/early 80s films seem a whole lot better now than they did then. Unfortunately, Sidney Sheldon’s Bloodline isn’t one of them. It’s as dreadfully dreadful today as it was back then. The screenplay is horridly horrid, and none of the good actors have a chance. It’s not even campy fun. It just goes on its merry way, being completely incomprehensible the entire time. The globe hopping from scene to scene is unintentionally hilarious, and you never know why anyone is doing anything – a complete mess from start to finish. The score by Ennio Morricone is not one of his greats, and one can only imagine what Audrey’s usual composer, Henry Mancini, would have done with it. The director is the usually reliable Terence Young, with whom Audrey did Wait Until Dark. The one upside was the transfer – simply put, one of the best color transfers I’ve ever seen on DVD. If anyone needs to know what perfect color on film looks like, this DVD will show it to you.
I then watched the second motion picture on DVD, which was entitled Fear Is The Key, a motion picture from 1972ish, starring Barry Newman, Suzy Kendall, and John Vernon. It’s based on an Alistair MacLean novel, and I actually enjoyed the film very much. It’s not great or anything, but it does move right along, and despite an overlong first third, it all pretty much works the way it wants to in that early 70s sort of way. The scope transfer is fine, and the film has a terrific early 70s score by Roy Budd. I then watched the third motion picture on DVD, which was entitled Red Sun, starring Mr. Charles Bronson, Mr. Alain Delon, and Mr. Toshiro Mifune. I’ve always wanted to see this film, but I’ve avoided it like the plague on home video because it’s a public domain title and there are terrible-looking copies everywhere, none of which is in the proper screen ratio of 1:85 – until now. What an odd little film – and, since I’m a fan of odd little films, I really sort of took to it. Again, nothing earth shattering, no art here, but well-paced and well directed (Terence Young once again), and the cast is splendidly splendid, especially the rapport between Bronson and Mifune. Also along for the ride are Capucine and Ursula Andress. The transfer isn’t as bad as the public domain copies that are full frame, but it’s not great either. The color is fine, but however they transferred it, or whatever their source was, there’s a slight jerkiness to the entire transfer that is very annoying to watch. That said, I’m glad I saw it, and maybe some day we’ll get a really top-notch transfer. The film has an interesting score by Maurice Jarre, too.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below and maybe we’ll have some pith and vinegar in the next section.
Nope, no pith and vinegar anywhere. Today, I have a work session in the morning, and then I’m going to Hollywood High School to be a judge for some theater students (I don’t really know much about it – but I’m sure it will be short and sweet and fun), then to sup. I also have a few errands to do, but don’t know exactly how to fit them in yet.
Tomorrow, I’m breakfasting with the lovelier than lovely Miss Lauren Rubin, and then have a bunch of stuff to do. I still haven’t chosen my selections for Saturday’s signing, and I must do that sooner than later.
For such a busy birthday month has anyone noticed we actually haven’t had any birthdays yet? Just asking.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, have a work session, judge, and sup, and also try to work in a few errands. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s bad casting day, which we haven’t done in a ‘coon’s age. So, let’s hear your worst possible casting ideas for the haineshisway.com revival of Bye Bye Birdie. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, even though there was no pith and vinegar in these here notes.