Well, dear readers, I am listening to some Francis Poulenc because that’s what came up in iTunes. I did not choose it; it just came up. Happily, I like Francis Poulenc. Are these already the most boring notes ever written? Who gives a flying Wallenda if I’m listening to Francis Poulenc? Certainly, I don’t, which is why I’ve switched to Franz Schrecker. Once one switches to the glorious music of Franz Schrecker then one is suddenly energized and inspired so even though these may already be the most boring notes ever written, they are now boring with energy and inspiration, not necessarily in that order. I literally have no clew as to what the HELL I’m talking about, and time is marching on whilst I sit here like so much fish writing the most energized and inspiring boring notes ever. Well, I could tell you that I did watch two count them two motion pictures last night. And, in fact, I did tell you. The first motion picture was entitled Taken, starring Mr. Liam Neeson. I take it out every five or six years and watch it. It’s not a great movie, but Mr. Neeson is very good in it and boy does it move along at a good clip – sans end credits, it’s eighty-five minutes, seventy-five of which are non-stop action. The Blu-ray still looks very good all these years later and as silly as it is I enjoyed it. Then I watched the polar opposite kind of movie, Vera Cruz, starring Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster, directed by Robert Aldrich. It’s a strange little film that I’ve always enjoyed. I think it was influential on other filmmakers, especially Sergio Leone. It’s hard to know who we’re supposed to care about until the very end, and that’s a real problem for a 1954 western. The ending is abrupt, but in the end, the two stars are terrific and the big supporting cast is tops, with the likes of Cesar Romero, Jack Elam, Charles Buchinsky (later Bronson), George Macready, Ernest Borgnine, Morris Ankrum, Denise Darcel, and fiery Sarita Montiel. A great score by Hugo Friedhofer is definitely helpful. This Blu-ray was released in 2011 but uses the DVD transfer done in 2003, which was a travesty. Clearly from some kind of IP or printing negative, the color is decent but not perfect, and the opticals have zero detail, and the production footage isn’t much better. There is no excuse for it and the film deserves a new transfer treated with TLC from the camera negative, because it should and could look spectacular. It’s certainly worth seeing if you’re in the mood for something a little different. I did love that it started with a standard disclaimer that the views expressed in the extras and commentaries belonged to those expressing them and not the studio. Only there were no extras or commentaries. Oops. I once owned a 16mm IB Technicolor print that really was lovely. Sarita Montiel was very interesting in the film, so I looked her up and what a fascinating life she had – she only did three American films – Vera Cruz, Serenade, and Run of the Arrow. She was a huge star in Spain, both in films and recordings. I must seek out some of those other films. She also wrote two memoirs, and if those are available in English, I’ll try to get those, too.
Yesterday was a biding my time kind of day. I got a tiny bit over eight hours of sleep, got up, answered e-mails, chose a few more songs, then I picked up a package, then was too impatient to go sit and eat somewhere, so I just got Taco Bell, which I hadn’t had in seven or eight months – it was fun to have it again and certainly well within my daily calorie amount.
After that, I did stuff on the computer, a little work at the piano, had a telephonic conversation, then watched the two motion pictures, ascertained that the Tonight’s the Night Blu-rays will, in fact, arrive this morning at eleven-thirty, and then I listened to music and began writing the most energized and inspiring boring notes ever.
Today, I’ll be up no later than eleven, I’ll take possession of the Blu-rays and then drive them out to the storage place, and I’ll also have the extra signed wraps, too, along with the Indiegogo addresses. I have to pull a couple of boxes of CDs and hopefully I’ll find those easily. Then I’ll hopefully pick up some packages and perhaps an important envelope or two, I’ll eat something within my calorie count range, and then it’s choosing more songs, doing whatever needs doing, and then I can watch, listen, and relax.
The rest of the week is more of the same. I should be getting the Tonight’s the Night sheet music folios and hopefully we’ll have the CDs by the end of the week so we can get the rest of the Indiegogo perks out. That will be a big load off, frankly. I also have to figure out what our next two releases will be. Then we have the long, long weekend, and we’ll be in a new month and celebrate July fourth with our very own safe and silent fireworks.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up no later than eleven, take possession of Blu-rays, drive them out to storage so they can begin shipping, pull two boxes of CDs, hopefully pick up packages and some important envelopes, eat, choose more songs, do whatever else needs doing, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films of Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to be done writing the most energized and inspiring boring notes ever.