Haines Logo Text
Column Archive
March 7, 2013:

THE PRICE OF TRAVEL, AND JERRY VALE

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, March is already flying by, like a gazelle singing the hits of Jerry Vale. Does anyone still sing the hits of Jerry Vale? He was quite popular with the populace, you know. Did you know that Jerry Vale’s real name is Genarro Luigi Vitaliano? More importantly, did you know Jerry Vale is alive and well and eighty. Why the HELL am I talking about Jerry Vale? Don’t I have notes to write? I do and I shall, not necessarily in that order. I have to say that I did many things yesterday, none of which involved Jerry Vale or Genarro Luigi Vitaliano. For example, I got up quite late because I really needed some good sleep and by gum and by golly and buy bonds I got it. Then I answered e-mails and did some work on the computer. Then I had two count them two tuna sandwiches (apparently I’m on the tuna sandwich diet), after which I picked up a few packages at the mail place. I did some errands and whatnot and suddenly the day was over, which is what happens when you get a late start.

I had quite a few telephonic conversations, too, and the helper came by pick up invoices. I also booked my trip to Washington, DC. I could not believe how expensive flights are right now – Jet Blue is close to one thousand bucks to fly to Washington, DC. Usually when fares get this ridiculous people stop traveling and then fares come right back down. But people, being the silly folk they are, are apparently flying more than ever, happy to pay such outrageous prices. It took me quite a while to book this trip. Jet Blue was the first choice but their only flight to Washington, DC is a red-eye and I won’t do that. Then I moved on to United. They had plenty of flights at around the same price. What they didn’t have on one single flight going or coming was an aisle seat. I couldn’t believe it, really. Not one fershluganah aisle seat. So, I moved on to American Airlines. There I found a flight going that I liked but I wanted to come back early on Saturday morning and the only flight back that’s direct with no stops was at five – that gets me back at seven, effectively losing me an entire day. But, I booked it. At the point where I was to choose my seat, I saw the only way I was going to get what I wanted was to do an upgrade, which was conveniently offered to me at just that point. It was reasonable and I grabbed it and I’m up front in aisle seats both ways and in priority check-in and getting through security. If I were paying for any of this I would not travel. I’m basically through traveling, unless I’m working and it’s part of the deal, or if I finally decide to journey to Europe at some point.

After that endless experience, I paid some bills that needed paying and had a few more telephonic conversations, after which I sat on my couch like so much fish.

Last night, I watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled Westworld. Never a great film, but a fun one – now pretty dated in look and writing, but the concept is solid and there’s probably a fun remake waiting to happen. What’s really fascinating about the film is that writer/director Michael Crichton let his large supporting cast do what they wanted – I’m talking specifically about everyone playing a machine, none of whom have a clue that’s what they’re playing. Then you watch Yul Brynner, a terrific actor, who knows exactly what he’s playing and he’s just great. His movements are just what you’d think they’d be for an electronic device – he’s very subtle about it, but it’s really perfect. There’s a good score by Fred Karlin. This transfer has brought out the usual people on the Blu-ray boards – now, they haven’t actually seen the disc, but based on comparison and ill-taken screen captures they have decreed that the French Blu-ray of this title is more accurate in terms of color. Well, no. The French Blu-ray is taken from a fading internegative and is brown. The new transfer from Warners is completely accurate in color and look – the film was shot in 1973, has tons of opticals, and looks just as it should. Nudie Musical was shot on the same film stock and was processed at the same lab and I know what that looks like. I’ve also seen both French disc and the Warners disc and am in a position to judge. But these smart guy know-it-alls, who have no experience with anything in terms of film, can’t be told anything and they just get uppity and offensive. The posted screen captures do not look like what’s actually on view in motion and the selective shots are not representative of anything. But now people who’ve actually seen it are coming in and saying it looks great, which it does. Great meaning it replicates what Westworld has always looked like. Note to smart guy know-it-alls: Go away. You’re doing no one any good, and you look completely inane. If you like Westworld, this Blu-ray is going to make you happy.

I then watched another motion picture on Blu and Ray, a little programmer entitled Strangers In the Night, which is notable only for being one of director Anthony Mann’s early films. It’s very well directed, the actors are B actors but fine. The story is initially intriguing but devolves quickly. But at fifty-six minutes, it’s a pleasant diversion. The transfer is okay, better than it has any right to be, really.

Then I watched the complete broadcast of the 1967 Tony Awards, which someone posted on Facebook. Of course, I, like most people, have seen all the musical numbers from that show, but the show is historically interesting since it was the first Tony broadcast on TV. I was on the road at the time and remember watching it in Cincinnati and going nuts for Wilkommen and the other numbers. Seeing the entire show makes you realize just how low these Tony broadcasts have sunk – the endless pandering to the lowest common denominator of an audience. The first broadcast gets everything right – it’s simple, it’s fast, there is no BS, no acceptance speech runs longer than twenty seconds, with most considerably under that – it’s REFRESHING not to hear inane actors thank their “team” and everyone else under the sun. These amazing actors, authors and creators just say thank you and get off. Shockingly, there was no award for composer/lyricist of book writer of a musical that year. Pretty nutty. It was really fun to see it and boy was it loaded with wonderful people.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get as much beauty sleep as possible.

Today, a carpenter will be coming at ten-thirty to walk the house, see what needs to be done, after which he’ll submit an estimate to the proper folks and hopefully work can start very soon. Then I have a lunch, which I’m looking forward to, then hopefully I’ll pick up some packages, finish casting, finish choosing songs, gather music, and then relax.

Tomorrow, I’m having a dinner out, and Saturday I’m seeing a show entitled Panama Hattie, and Sunday who the HELL knows what’s happening – certainly not I. Next week we will either announce two titles on Monday morning, or we’ll wait till later in the week or even the following Monday – it all depends on how things play out with one of the titles.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, show the carpenter what’s what, I must lunch, I must hopefully pick up packages, I must finish casting, choosing songs, I must gather music and I must relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite books and films based on the books of Michael Crichton? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have booked my flight and happy that Jerry Vale is still with us.

Search BK's Notes Archive:
 
© 2001 - 2024 by Bruce Kimmel. All Rights Reserved