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June 19, 2021:

JOHNNY AND THE ANIMALS

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much fish, listening to disc two of La Giocanda, but this time starring Maria Callas. I enjoyed the first one I heard, but it’s really not a patch on the butt cheeks of this one. This was made one year later – the earlier one I heard was the opera’s first stereo recording and it was excellent 1958 stereo, but this one is better in that regard, too. This is the one I’ll be returning to. But just prior to starting disc two, I’m afraid I went down a Johnny Carson and animals rabbit hole on the Tube of You. Nobody did that stuff better than Johnny Carson – impeccable timing and reactions and they were always the most fun bits because they were so unpredictable. I was laughing out loud the entire time. And prior to that, I managed to watch one motion picture on Blu and Ray and two ballets on one DVD. The motion picture was The Wheeler Dealers, starring James Garner and Lee Remick and just about every great character actor working back then. I saw it at a sneak preview and the audience laughed a lot and I enjoyed it, certainly, and saw it again when it was released. Part of that enjoyment was just how great Garner was at this sort of comedy and great Remick was at it, too, not to mention indescribably beautiful. I haven’t seen it since then, but I got the Blu-ray when it came out but never watched it until now. Garner and Remick are still charming and funny and fun. The film would probably make people’s heads explode today. They used to make this kind of comedy all the time – there were always ten or more a year. They wouldn’t know how to do it today – they’d have somebody sitting on the toilet because that’s what today’s comic filmmakers find funny. Note to today’s comic filmmakers: It’s not funny and it will never be funny. Obviously, the film posits that all that women really want is to be a wife and have kids and take care of their men. It’s a shame, because for most of the film, Remick is strong-willed and minded and trying to make it in a man’s business world. The direction is uninspired (Arthur Hiller) but gets the job done, but as with a surprising number of these kinds of comedies, it goes on for ten minutes too long. The scope transfer is certainly decent – color’s not perfect, but it’s not that far off. The ballet DVD was comprised of two ballets by Igor Stravinsky. The first is the one I was interested to see, The Firebird. The Firebird was probably the second piece of classical music I heard, and, of course, by Ormandy in mono. I’ve never heard the complete ballet, just the oft performed and recorded suite. I didn’t love the ballet – mostly I didn’t love the choreography and I certainly didn’t care for the as usual inept camera direction by – what else is new – Ross MacGibbon.

The companion piece was Stravinsky’s Les Noces, choreographed by Nijinski. I found it entirely insufferable musically and the choreography, for me, was like watching a high school gym class go through its morning exercises – I kept waiting for everyone to do a six-count burpee. Not one I ever need to see again, and almost entirely made worse by Mr. MacGibbon, whose editing is never in the right place at the right time – he’ll be on a tight shot of the ensemble, and completely miss the exit of the two lead dancers. I mean, it really doesn’t get worse. I do hate to keep picking on him, but then again, he deserves it.

Yesterday was a talking day. I was up at ten-thirty after just about eight hours of sleep. Then I had to shower and get ready for this podcast thing I had to do. That began at one o’clock. The lady whose podcast it is lives in England, so we had to find a time that worked for both of us. I had a lot of fun doing it, we covered a large amount of territory, not just The Partridge Family, and shockingly, we gabbed for over two-and-a-half hours. I’ll have a link to it prior to its airing and will, of course, share it.

After that, I was quite exhausted from all that gabbing, and I rested my voice for the rest of the day and evening. I went and picked up some packages, came home and made a big wedge salad again – thousand island dressing, bacon, bleu cheese crumbles, and tomatoes. It was excellent. Then I watched the Blu-ray and DVD, then listened to music. Later in the evening, I made a couple of tortillas with cheese, guacamole, a tiny bit of sour cream, and bacon. They were pretty good and a nice, low-cal, low-carb snack. The rest you know.

Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, and it’s a ME day save for choosing some songs. I’ll do whatever needs doing, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, I’ll eat, but mostly I will rest my voice and conserve my energy and, of course, I’ll watch, listen, and relax.

Tomorrow is more of the same. If my voice is back strong, I’ll probably sing through the Nothing in Common score, but not full out. Monday, more of the same and mostly resting my voice. And then, on Tuesday we do our private reading here in the home environment and I’m very much looking forward to it.

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, do whatever needs doing, choose snogs and also songs, hopefully pick up some packages, eat, rest my voice and conserve my energy, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films of Mr. James Garner and Miss Lee Remick? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have watched Johnny and the animals, because who doesn’t need to laugh out loud in this day and age?

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