Well, dear readers, I am currently operating on four hours of sleep. Of course, four hours of sleep is not thrilled that I’m operating, what with my not being a surgeon or doctor, but that is the way it goes sometimes. I’m performing an appendectomy in the key of F#. I’ll let you know how it all turns out. Meanwhile, I really must write these notes in a hurry because I really must hie myself to the bedroom environment for sleep. I had intended to sleep in yesterday, but instead I found myself up at seven having bad allergy problems. I took an allergy pill, answered some e-mails then went back to bed, where I wasn’t really able to fall asleep again, and instead lay there like a dead herring in the moonlight. I got out of bed at ten-ish and proceeded with my day. I did some work on the computer, then went and had some foodstuffs, after which I picked up one small package. I set some appointments for the next week, and then I toddled off to attend a meeting at LACC. Several industry professionals were asked their opinions and advice on the curriculum of the Theatre Academy. I gather that this sort of meeting is now required because the state is looking at everything arts-wise in community college and bean counting. The meeting lasted a bit over two hours. It was nice to see several faculty members I hadn’t seen in a while. I then got on the Hollywood Freeway to go home in prime rush hour traffic, but surprise of surprises there wasn’t any traffic at all and I was home in ten minutes. That was faboo (oobaf, spelled backwards). I went to Gelson’s and bought some tortillas and then I came home, made a couple of small quesadilla things and then sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched two count them two motion pictures on DVD. The first motion picture was entitled The Mountain, starring Spencer Tracy, Robert Wagner, with a special guest appearance by The Mountain. I really liked this film when I saw it back in early 1957 – it was suspenseful and I loved the mountain climbing scenes and never forgot them. About twenty years ago I tried to watch some of the film on TV but the opening was so slow I wondered what I ever saw in the film. But it was fun seeing it in its entirety after all these years. Mr. Spencer Tracy is always great, and the scenery was very nice. But, truth be told, it’s really not a very good film, although it’s very well directed by Edward Dmytryk. The mountain climbing scenes are very well done and still suspenseful. But the Robert Wagner character is so disgusting and reprehensible that you just want to literally kill him for the entire film. It becomes so irritating that you begin to not like Spencer Tracy’s character for not braining Mr. Wagner repeatedly. The transfer is quite nice, with excellent color.
I then watched the second motion picture on DVD, which was entitled The Hypnotic Eye, a film starring Miss Allison Hayes, Merry Anders, and a special guest appearance by The Hypnotic Eye. It’s an occasionally nasty little film, poorly written and rather idiotic, that does have a certain charm. The hypnosis scenes toward the end of the film, where Mr. Jacques Bergerac is actually attempting to hypnotize the VIEWER are hilarious. If you like a good self-mutilation film, this might be up your proverbial alley. I saw this when I was much younger and I do remember thinking the opening scene was quite horrifying and I don’t know that I ever saw it to the end until last evening. The transfer is really quite good (it’s one of those Warner Archive things). One little interesting bit of trivia about this film is that the role of a doctor is played by one Fred Demara. For those with good memories, Ferdinand Waldo Demara aka Fred Demara was also known as The Great Imposter, and yes, the film with Tony Curtis is all about Mr. Demara, who looks nothing like Mr. Curtis.
After that, I listened to some music. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I am operating on four hours of sleep, and, of course, I am told that I’m a smooth operator.
Today, I have to prep our new release for announcement, and hopefully I’ll also be hearing and approving its master. Other than that, I have to do some errands and whatnot, I have to eat, I have to hopefully pick up some packages and an important envelope, and I must try to relax whilst beginning to choose material for our next Gardenia show – which is called By Strouse. I’m sure I’ll watch some motion pictures in the evening.
Tomorrow, the helper returns and we have a huge amount of work to catch up on, most of which will be done by her – but a lot of stuff to go over and get her back up to speed because the Pirates CDs could be here by Monday. I’m supposed to go to a little film reunion that David Wechter is having, but I’m not sure I’ll be done by then. We shall see. Sunday, I’ll be with Mr. Grant Geissman finishing up all the book stuff so that it can go off to the publishers on Monday or Tuesday.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, prep a release, hopefully hear a master, do errands and whatnot, hopefully pick up packages and an important envelope, choose material, eat, and watch motion pictures. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/video player? I’ll start – CD, lots of soundtracks and upcoming Kritzerland projects. DVD, a whole plethora of Warner Archive titles, including Tea and Sympathy, The Night Digger, Two Weeks In Another Town, Beyond A Reasonable Doubt, Rancho Notorious, and others. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall undoubtedly be a smooth operator.