Well, dear readers, NOW it’s Friday. NOW it’s no longer Thursday. And has anyone noticed that October is almost over? Holy moley on rye, this month has flown by, like a gazelle wearing jazz pants. Being Friday, perhaps we should all eat ribs. I have no idea what that means, but now I want ribs. I REALLY want ribs. And maybe I’ll damn well go somewhere and have a half-rack of ribs. Ribs on Friday – that’s the title of my next novel. In any case, it’s Friday and I am now craving ribs. I wonder if there’s an all night rib place?
Yesterday was a wacky little day. I was up at eight-thirty, the helper arrived at nine and we began the cleanup and organization of the garage. All in all, it only took ninety minutes and now everything is in its place and it looks ever so much better out there now. After that, I answered e-mails then went and had a bacon cheeseburger and no fries or onion rings. After that, I picked up no packages, then I came home. My pal David Wechter came by – he’s doing a big project of recording a lot of songs he’s written over the years, and he asked if Guy Haines would sing three or four of the demos. And then one song in particular he wants to do a bigger production on, so we talked about that, and I’ll let him hear some singers.
After that, the piano man came back and this time hopefully he has addressed the problem the piano has had in a way that will work. He’s tried a handful of other solutions that work in the short term, but then the problem comes back. This time we have high hopes that the problem is done for good. So far, it’s still fine. By that time the day was done and done was the day, so I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I finished watching The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, a motion picture written, produced, and directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. It is a film I dearly love for a whole slew of reasons. It’s funny, charming, moving, and dramatic, and it features absolutely superb performances from Roger Livesy, Deborah Kerr (in three roles), and Anton Walbrook. Mr. Walbrook has a monologue in this film that goes on for quite a few minutes and it is breathtaking – some of the finest screen acting I’ve ever seen and so beautifully written. It’s a two hour and forty minute film that never seems long. And it’s so beautifully designed and photographed, and the direction is so brilliant and elegant, and the music so perfect – it’s just a magical viewing experience. I’ve never seen Colonel Blimp in 35mm but I did run Mr. Martin Scorsese’s personal IB Tech 16mm print and it was pretty gorgeous. The Criterion DVD was absolutely horrid – all yellow and disgusting. Then a DVD came out in Europe that was much better, color-wise, but still crappy looking. The film underwent a large digital restoration last year, funded by various foundations and that is what was used for this new region B Blu and Ray. And I’m happy to report the result is beyond spectacular and if you watch the before and after demonstration in the special features, you will know what a miracle this is. It is a stunner and looks absolutely radiant with perfect color – in fact, it looks just like an IB Tech print would look. I’m just going to say that this is HIGHLY recommended by the likes of me and is worth buying an all-region Blu and Ray player for. I was going to finish The Curse of Frankenstein after that, but that is such a sorry-looking mess that compared to Colonel Blimp, a film made fourteen years prior, that it looked like a bad VHS tape and I shut it off.
Then I sent out my eBlast – but only after I got a wicked little idea and after asking Michael Sterling if he thought it was a good idea and if it would work well at The Federal, I decided to do it. So, we will be premiering episode one of Outside The Box, season two at our November Kritzerland show. So, for anyone in the area who’s reading these here notes, you’ll want to make your reservation now. I’ve invited Mr. Hal Linden, who stars, and I’m really hoping he can come.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get as much beauty sleep as possible.
Today, I have someone coming over in the morning to get some stuff, then I’ll perhaps jog, then I’ll perhaps eat, hopefully pick up some packages and an important envelope, write liner notes, and then I’ll be attending a little Home Theatre Forum event – a Q&A with Mr. Nick Redman of Twilight Time. I think it will be fun to meet a few of the HTF regulars.
The weekend is for liner notes, casting (so difficult for these two episodes – and actually it won’t be once I set one person for each – the rest is easy after that), I’ll jog, I’ll eat, I’ll relax and on Monday we’ll announce the East Coast Singer’s Christmas album.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, eat, hopefully pick up some packages and an important envelope, write, and then attend an event. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/video player? I’ll start – CD, who can remember anymore? Blu and Ray – I’ll finish The Curse of Frankenstein and move on to something fun. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland where I shall dream of ribs on Friday.