Well, dear readers, it is late and I am still sitting here like so much fish, not having written a word of these here notes because I had to fix something and I decided to get it out of the way and it took a bit longer than I thought it would. And so, without further ado, not that we’ve had any ado up to this point, here are the notes in all their naked glory. Can notes have naked glory? Nude notes? I’m liking the idea of unclad notes, aren’t you? After all, if people can let it all hang out, nudity-wise, why can’t notes? Why can’t these here notes just lose their inhibition and just show themselves as they are? In other news, I reek of garlic and I’ll tell you why and it has nothing to do with naked/nude notes. I reek of garlic because yesterday I had a treat meal because the day before had been non-stop and I felt I deserved a damn fine meal. So, I had the Smokehouse delivered via Door Dash. I knew it was a chancy thing to do, because it’s a fifteen-minute drive, but it was fine – another ten minutes would have rendered everything tepid, so it got here just in time – ooh, a Jule Styne/Comden and Green reference. Anyway, you see where this is going, don’t you? I had my beloved fish and chips and they were mighty fine, and I also had the half-order of garlic cheese bread, hence the reeking of garlic. So, I currently reek of garlic and am writing notes in all their naked, unclad glory. Wait! By George and by gum and buy bonds, I’ve got it! The First Nudie Notes. I think we’re onto something here. Here is the photographic proof of the food.
Yesterday was a weird little day of fixing things from the day before. First of all, I only got three hours of sleep and could not fall back asleep. I did some stuff on the computer and answered e-mails, and finally I went back to bed and slept three more hours, so six hours total but it sure didn’t feel like it. Then I scheduled the food deliver, which wasn’t available until after four – it got here at four-thirty. Whilst waiting, I finished Pillow Talk. It’s a fun, breezy film and the running gag of Thelma Ritter drunk in the elevator made me laugh out loud, as did Doris’s re-decoration of Rock’s apartment – pure Ross Hunter, I must say. It’s glossy and of course could never be made today. But back then the winky winky of it all was quite daring.
Then food arrived and I ate every single morsel of it. They gave me plenty of their yummilicious tartar sauce, too, just as I’d requested, but the fact is I never went into the second cup. Then I was quite full.
I had a telephonic conversation with Hartley Powers, who’s handling all the technical stuff for our Kritzerland show. We’ll be doing some more testing, the next test is to make sure the YouTube thing will work properly. And we discussed doing some promo stuff to keep the word out so people don’t forget and so more people will actually see that we’re doing this. Then I sat on my couch like so much fish again and watched the first hour of my favorite Jacques Tati movie, Playtime, via the Criterion Blu-ray. The first time I saw the transfer I was very happy with the clarity – the film was shot in 70mm but in the 1.85 ratio rather than scope. I’d assumed it was off some 70mm element, but I read a review that said Criterion says it’s from a 35mm print down. I’m not at all sure why they would do that for a 70mm element. Now, there are a lot of 70mm films on Blu-ray that are from 35mm reduction negatives – Exodus, for example – but when there’s a new 70mm thing why not use it. Criterion has never been known to cheap out, so I’m a bit baffled by it. But I couldn’t find anything on the packaging that actually said what it was from. Anyway, the film isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but the sheer audaciousness of its vision is simply amazing. Great visual gags, no plot, a set that is absolutely mind-boggling and a fantastic use of color. The first half of the film is basically almost all gray with occasional splashes of color. In the region 2 BFI Blu-ray, which some dolts actually prefer, the entire film has a greenish tint and it’s just so wrong. Anyway, I was delighted for the hour I watched.
After that, I made a decision to switch out one of the songs in our show. Neither the singer or I was thrilled with it – it was good on paper but not in reality. And I’d had an idea for another song that I thought would really carry some emotional weight, and happily the singer knew it and we made the switch and the track is already done. Then I got involved in fixing some stuff, and then I was finally ready to write The First Nudie Notes.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’m hoping the hardcover will arrive so I can place my order, the starting at two o’clock we have the Kritzerland rehearsals. I’ll try to eat something prior to that, otherwise I won’t be able to eat until six. But I don’t know what I want yet. Something here would be best, but I’m not feeling the pasta thing. I could make tuna, but I have no rolls or bread here and I’d have to go buy some. So, maybe I’ll just do Taco Bell or McDonald’s – that would probably be easiest. I’ll also hopefully pick up some packages. After the rehearsals, which I’m very much looking forward to, then I’ll finish Playtime and move onto something else, movie-wise.
The rest of the week is praying for miracles and working on the Kritzerland show and doing all our testing so we can hopefully pull this off sans glitches. And of course, I’ll do whatever else needs doing.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up when I’m up, I’m hoping the hardcover will arrive so I can place my order, I’ll eat, hopefully pick up packages, then we have our Kritzerland rehearsals, after which I’ll finish Playtime and watch something else and then listen. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite Rock Hudson, Doris Day, and Tony Randall movies? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, having finally finished The First Nudie Notes.