Well, dear readers, this week has flown by, like a gazelle playing Twister. I am writing these here notes quite late, because I just didn’t feel like starting them earlier, thanks to someone who completely sucked the life out of the latter half of my day yesterday – but that’s all we’re going to say about THAT because it’s Friday, TGIF, and not only is it Friday, it’s Friday the 13th. Ooh, scary. Beware of black cats and white mice and green frogs, especially green frogs. Do not walk under any ladders today or you will have a three hundred pound Albanian woman fall on you. Speaking of a three hundred pound Albanian woman (and who wasn’t), yesterday was a rather strange day. I got up and did the long jog, at which point I came back to some unnecessary drama, but that’s all we’re going to say about THAT. I then began finishing the conforming of the Nudie Musical script, which took much longer than I thought it would, since I had to revise a bunch of stuff that was still only sketched out, but I think it all came out okay, and David will go through that stuff now and smooth it out further. I think I finished all the additional lyrics and now I’ll give it a once over before printing out copies for our informal reading next week. I’m still gathering actors – some of the people I’d asked have commitments on that night, so I’m still casting about for a few of the leads. I had several long telephonic calls, then finally got some food. We put the new Kritzerland booklet to bed, so that’s all going to the printer today. I also approved the master and that’s going directly to the pressing plant. Then I finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on DVD entitled The Honey Pot, a film written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, inspired by Volpone. I’d never seen the film when it came out, as it had a rather dreary trailer, so I was anxious to finally catch up with it. I found the first two-thirds of the film yawn inducing, despite all the good actors (Rex Harrison, Susan Hayward, Cliff Robertson, Maggie Smith, Capucine, Edie Adams, Adolfo Celi and others), and a lively John Addison score. I kept waiting for the trademark Mankiewicz wit, but it was in short supply, at least for me. And then suddenly at around the eighty-minute mark, things perked up considerably and for the next forty minutes I was entranced and engaged only to have the whole thing evaporate in the last five minutes. One of the reasons the forty minutes is suddenly so good is completely due to the playing of Maggie Smith, truly one of the great actresses – I have never seen her be less than fantastic, and she’s at her best here – subtle, beautiful, and so much fun to watch, and Harrison in this section of the film is terrific. Miss Hayward, who I always enjoy, here employs perhaps the worst attempt at a Southern accent that I’ve ever heard. I’ve always found Capucine interesting and always enjoy seeing her. Mr. Robertson is very good, and Miss Adams looks very pretty. And I’m a big fan of Adolfo Celi and it’s fun to see him having fun. The transfer is acceptable, with accurate color but sort of a layer of grime over the whole print – take away the grimy look and it would have been a great transfer. I’m glad I finally saw it, though, and I may rerun that twenty minutes.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? After the movie, I listened to a whole slew of CDs, all of which were wonderful. They included import compilations of Quincy Jones, Lalo Schifrin, Cal Tjader, and a Jimmy Webb compilation by a German big band – all on the Verve label from overseas.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because it’s Friday the 13th in 3D and things may start popping out of your computer screen at any moment.
Today, I shall do the long jog, and then I shall begin proofing the new novel. I wanted to have a few days away from it and now I have. Tonight I have a two or three hour rehearsal with Mr. Sean McDermott, to assemble his interim act. We’ll see how that goes. We also have a rehearsal on Sunday.
Tomorrow is the Hollywood Collector’s Show, and I’ll be hanging out there for a few hours. It is also Valentine’s Day – I don’t know if I have any plans to do anything to celebrate Valentine’s Day – we’ll see how that goes.
Next week is a busy week, with meetings (some very important), and our informal reading, plus a few lunchs and a few dinners and whatnot. I find it almost impossible to believe that we’re just about in the middle of February. Amazing.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the long jog, proof a novel, eat, and then rehearse with Mr. Sean McDermott. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/video player? I’ll start – CD, assorted compilations and a few soundtracks. DVD, next up will be some of those Troy Donahue movies. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, before a three hundred pound Albanian woman falls on you.