Well, dear readers, there is still some residual stuffed-up-ness but I am feeling ever so much better now. I think five days of ten-hours of blessed sleep has really helped get me back in the swing of things and you know what they say – it don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing – doo wa, doo wa, doo wa, doo wa, doo wa, doo wa, doo wa. Has anyone realized that doo wa spelled backwards is aw ood? Just asking. Anyway, I’m feeling lots better save for the endless supply of mucus and phlegm that seems to enjoy hanging on. Speaking of hanging on, the pest man came and gave another lethal dose to the return of the carpenter ants. His bosses had precise instructions for what he had to do and do that he did. Hopefully that will rid me of these meddlesome pests once and for all.
Otherwise, the holiday day was a nice one. I got up at nine, answered e-mails, and did some work on the computer. Then I went and had a salad for my main meal o’ the day. I also picked up a couple of packages that arrived by UPS, so that was nice. I had a short meeting with a film director, worked out our business, had a couple of long telephonic conversations, then pest man came and did his business. After that, I listened to some music. Then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I had myself an Otto Preminger double bill on DVD – Daisy Kenyon and Whirlpool, two of his 1940s films. I have always thought Preminger was a great director – he’s pretty much overlooked these days, but I must say I like almost all of his films through Bunny Lake is Missing, and I even like parts of the ones that came after. I’ve only seen Daisy Kenyon once before, when the DVD first came out, and I had no memory of it at all, so it was like watching it for the first time. Although it carries the Fox Noir banner, it’s really kind of a potboiler but has the look of noir. It’s a love triangle story, fairly frank for its day. It’s wonderfully put together and Joan Crawford, Dana Andrews, and Henry Fonda are great as the triangle. A terrific supporting cast, too, and a wonderful David Raksin score, all wrapped up in a tight little ninety-nine minute package.
Then I watched the second motion picture on DVD, which was entitled Whirlpool. I’d only seen Whirlpool once before, but I remembered some of it as I watched it for the second time. It’s a definite noir, featuring kleptomania, hypnosis, jealousy, psychiatry, and, of course, murder. The cast is faboo – with lovely Gene Tierney, Richard Conte, Charles Bickford, Jose Ferrer, and others. Again, the look of the film is great, and it has yet another great Raksin score. It’s a little silly today, but back then there wasn’t much about psychiatry and hypnosis was fairly exotic. I do love watching these kinds of films – they never get tiresome to me and, in fact, I began a third Preminger, Fallen Angel, which I’ll finish this very evening.
After that, it was some more work on the computer and that was that. I went the entire day without taking one of my medicines – that was good, I think. Tonight, I will take the nose spray (Afrin), and I will take the Mucinex, and I’ll probably swig the last of the NyQuil. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I really must get a good night’s beauty sleep.
Today, I have a luncheon with Barry Pearl, Nick Santa Maria, and Alet Taylor at Langer’s Delicatessen – I cannot wait to have a proper pastrami sandwich and a couple of potato pancakes. And their pickles. And whatever else is on the table. I will, of course, have a full report. Upon my return, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, I will continue writing the contextual commentary and hopefully finish it, and I’ll relax.
The rest of the week is meetings and meals and meetings and meals. I have lunches almost every day. On Friday, the steam cleaners are coming to steam clean my living room couch and armchair, which haven’t been cleaned since I bought them nine years ago, and which really need it. I also have to have the piano tuned. Don’t really know what the weekend holds yet.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, have a fun luncheon, I must hopefully pick up some packages, I must do some banking, I must write the contextual commentary, and I must relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your all-time favorite films of Mr. Otto Preminger – take a look at his filmography – it may just surprise you how many great films he’s made. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to be back in the swing of things because it don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.