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January 31, 2009:

THE LAST OF JANUARY

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, I must write these here notes in a hurry for she of the Evil Eye will be here all too soon. First of all, how can this be the last day of January? Why do you know what that means? That means that tomorrow will be the first day of February, you know, the month with that unseemly extra “R” that no one pronounces. I enjoyed most of January and I’m hoping to enjoy even more of February. Speaking of February, yesterday was a perfectly fine day. I got a good night’s sleep, revised some pages, then did the long jog, which I enjoyed as it was such a beautifully beautiful day. I then wrote a little over three pages. Then I took a nice break, satisfied a little craving I had for an Islands hamburger and fries, picked up a couple of packages, then came back home. I then wrote a little over four more pages. After that, I sat on my couch like so much fish.

Last night, I watched the first episode of a classic television show and a motion picture on DVD. The TV show was The Prisoner, and the episode was entitled Arrival. It’s really the only episode I ever remember seeing, so I’m looking forward to watching the other sixteen episodes. I’m a big fan of the recently deceased Patrick McGoohan and I really enjoyed the episode. The quality of the image in this 40th anniversary set was not as good as I was hoping for. I think I read there may be a better-looking version in another region, like the UK. I then watched a motion picture on DVD entitled Goodbye, Mr. Chips, starring Mr. Peter O’Toole and Miss Petula Clark. I must confess it was my first time seeing the film all the way through (I also confess that I walked out after an hour when the film was first released). The good news is that Mr. O’Toole gives a wonderful performance and, in a much smaller role, Michael Redgrave shines, as always. But thanks to director Herb Ross, the film feels flabby and drawn out, and Leslie Bricusse’s score meanders too much, although John Williams’ lush arrangements are terrific. Nobody loves Petula Clark more than I, but she’s just too low key in the film, and they’ve given her the most unflattering costumes and hairstyles. Of course, she sings gloriously, so that part is fine. Mr. Ross discovered long lenses and diffusion and none of that helps this film one or even two whits. The fact is that he just wasn’t a very good film director, despite his many films, some of which work okay and many of which don’t. But Goodbye, Mr. Chips, his first effort, was his classroom in film and it shows. All that said, the film has nice things in it and is enjoyable. It’s too long by at least thirty minutes (the original Goodbye, Mr. Chips ran 114 minutes, this runs 150 something minutes). The sound on the DVD is very disappointing, with no punch or life. Now, you all know that I basically loathe Warner Bros.’ transfers, 90% of which get the color wrong – brown, ugly, and lifeless, which is what they seem to think movies use to look like (they didn’t). So, it’s nice to report that the Chips transfer has perfect color, so now we know they can do it if they put their mind to it. Or, maybe it’s as simple as the element used for the transfer just happened to have perfect color and all the other elements they use are off fading elements or brownish elements – or maybe, just maybe, they’ve finally wised up. I’d like to hope for the latter, but it seems doubtful.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below for it is the last of January – The Last Of January – wasn’t that a Herb Ross film?

Today, I shall do an early long jog, and then I’m not sure what’s happening. Originally, my editor asked if we could do a ten o’clock session, so I freed up that time and was willing to work for three hours. But the story changed and now he wants to start at one, but I don’t want to start at one because I’ll have to be gone all morning anyway, and then I’d be gone until four and I don’t want to not write today – I’ve got to finish the chapter I’m on and move on to a new chapter so that I’m ready to give muse Margaret new pages tomorrow. So, we may push the editing session to sometime next week.

Otherwise, I’ll come home around twelve-thirty, write, and then have the rest of the day to myself, which is what I really want. And that goes for tomorrow, too.

Say, I have an idea – let’s put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, let’s break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, let’s dance the Hora or the old-fashioned waltz, because today is the birthday of dear reader Michael Shayne. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to dear reader Michael Shayne. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO DEAR READER MICHAEL SHAYNE!!!

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the long jog, write, eat something light and amusing, and then watch a DVD or three. Today’s topic of discussion: We love Miss Petula Clark – what are your all-time favorite Petula Clark songs? And what are your favorite Peter O’Toole films? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, as we bid a fond farewell to the last of January.

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