Well, dear readers, so many interesting performers have died in the last week. Two I especially enjoyed were Karl Malden and Harve Presnell. The first time I took notice of Karl Malden was during one of my favorite childhood movies, The Great Imposter, which I saw over and over again (and why isn’t this film on DVD after all these years). I just liked his quality and his realism, and then soon thereafter I saw him again in the film of Gypsy as Herbie and I became a lifelong fan. I caught up with many of his 1950s appearances and continued to enjoy his work, especially in Streets Of San Francisco. He was a good good guy, he was a great bad guy, but whether good or bad, there was always something human about him. I met him only once and I don’t even know why he was there, but when we had our LA launch party for the little label I created, founded, and ran for a year back in 2000, Mr. Malden attended and he was very sweet when I was introduced to him. And what a run he had – ninety-seven years old. I discovered Harve Presnell the year after I saw The Great Impostor when I attended my very first original musical comedy at the Biltmore Theater – the national tour of The Unsinkable Molly Brown, starring Tammy Grimes and Mr. Presnell. I wrote about seeing the show in my book Kritzer Time – it was an incredible experience for me. I loved the show, I loved Miss Grimes, and I loved Mr. Presnell, who, at the time, was a big bear of a man with an incredible theater-filling voice (no body mics). A couple of years later I went to a sneak preview of the film of Molly Brown – it was a much different Harve Presnell in the film. He’d lost about fifty pounds, his teeth were capped and pretty and it took some getting used to. But that voice was still that voice and was amazing. I thought he was going to have a huge career but, for whatever reasons, it was not to be. However, he kept working, did a lot of Annie performances as Daddy Warbucks, was in the Annie sequel, Annie Warbucks, and had some later-in-life movie exposure, especially his wonderful turn in Fargo. But my memories of him will always be his performance as Leadville Johnny Brown – I saw a few other people do the role, including Bruce Yarnell, but on one had Harve Presnell’s quality or talent.
The first day of July was quite nice. I got up, did a lot of work on the computer, entering fixes for the new book, and then I did the long jog, after which I did a few errands and whatnot, after which I grabbed a bite to eat, after which I went to Costco, since I was out of water and Diet Coke and Fruity Snacks. By the time I got home the day was over, so I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled Kill Bill, Volume One, a film by the thief of movies, Quentin Tarantino. I’m not really much of a Tarantino fan but I do enjoy Kill Bill, Volume One (Volume Two not so much, but I’m going to give it another chance, maybe this evening). Although the film is cadged from many other better films, it’s pace is furious and the story is fun, the violence is so over the top as to be Monty Python-esque. Uma Thurman is excellent as The Bride, and everyone else seems to having a fine old time, especially Sonny Chiba, who is wonderful. The photography is excellent, and since Mr. Tarantino is also the thief of movie music, his selections from other films by Morricone, Bacalov, Ortolani, and Herrmann, work fine. The Blu-Ray is quite good, with good, punchy sound.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I really must get my beauty sleep because workers will be here bright and early to wake the neighborhood with their hammering and yammering.
Today, I shall endeavor to do the long jog, and then I’ll be having a telephonic conversation with muse Margaret to go over some fixes I’m not sure about – I always trust her judgment on that stuff and will do whatever she feels is right. And then Grant Geissman and I will get together and begin the book design early next week. Very exciting.
I think I shall eat a very small meal today, as I’ve been eating too much food lately and have probably gained a pound or three, which I don’t mind doing, but I have an agreement with myself that if that happens I will lose said pounds immediately.
Tomorrow begins our very long weekend and I hope you’ll be around to celebrate the 4th of July with our annual haineshisway.com fireworks and merriment and mirth and laughter and legs.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the long jog, I must do errands and whatnot, I must eat a light meal, and then watch a couple of motion pictures. Today’s topic of discussion: We haven’t done this in a while and it’s a topic I always enjoy – what was the very first musical you ever saw? Where was it, who was in it, and what did you think of it? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and let’s remember our favorite performances of Herbie and Leadville Johnny Brown.