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July 17, 2021:

TAKING THE FIFTH

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much fish, listening to the eighth symphony of Malcolm Arnold. He wrote nine and the ninth is about to begin. I’ve always been a fan of his film scores, especially The Bridge on the River Kwai, Trapeze, The Lion, David Copperfield and lots of others. I actually didn’t become aware of his classical work until the 1970s, thanks to a series of Arnold Conducts Arnold albums on Lyrita, all of which were finally released on CD. There are a few complete cycles of the symphonies, but the best is the one I’m listening to – originally on Conifer, then issued in a box by Sony, and then reissued by Decca. Conducted by Vernon Handley, these are marvelous performances in excellent sound. The Sony box was, I believe, eleven CDs and has all the symphonies and tons of other music. One of my favorite Arnold pieces, which shows how musically humorous he could be, is entitled A Grand, Grand Overture, for orchestra and vacuum cleaner. I think there are a few performances of it on the Tube of You. The symphonies are wonderful – some are tuneful and light, some moodier and dark. Arnold apparently had mental issues and spent time in institutions. I’d like to read more about his life. I think my favorite of the symphonies is his fifth, which is just a wonderful work. That got me to thinking how many of my favorite symphonies by various composers is their fifth – Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Sibelius, Vaughan Williams to name four right off the top of my head. Anyway, it was really nice to hear the symphonies again and if you can find either the Sony or Decca issues, grab ‘em. Prior to that, I did manage to watch two motion pictures. The first, on DVD, was entitled The Blue Gardenia, a film of Fritz Lang starring Anne Baxter, Ann Southern, Richard Conte, and bad boy Raymond Burr. It’s certainly not my favorite Lang film, but it does have good atmosphere and is excellently directed. I’ve only seen it once before, more than twenty years ago. Also in it were Jeff Donnell, who is cute as a button (it’s a female), Nat King Cole, who sings the title song in a jazz club, and George Reeves as a detective. Then I watched what is certainly one of my most watched films of the past twenty years, in fact, pretty much the only film of the past twenty years that I’ve watched six times now. Hard to believe it’s twenty years old this year. I first saw it and wrote about it back in April of 2002 when the DVD came out. While I didn’t know quite what to make of it on that first viewing, I do know that I thought it was great. The second viewing, which happened one day after the first, was able to clarify for me things that were confusing. Once you figure out what the conceit of the film is, then things begin to make sense. The film is, of course, David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive and I loved it every bit as much the sixth time as I did the first two. Every viewing makes me notice new things. I’ve written about it way too much, so I won’t bore you again, other than to say it’s simply the best film of the past twenty years by quite a wide margin, and it contains a performance for the ages by Naomi Watts, who should not only have been nominated for an Oscar but should have won. There have been other fine female performances since then, but none of them come close to hers because she is asked to basically do two completely different performances – one for the first two-thirds, and one for the final third. The film runs almost two-and-a-half hours but never seems like it. For me, it’s Lynch’s best film – his direction is brilliant. And the cast is simply perfect. It was Ann Miller’s final film. If you’ve never seen it, I highly recommend you do – just know that it will confuse the HELL out of you the first time, but when you understand the film’s structure, it all makes Lynchian sense. The Criterion Blu-ray is really good.

Yesterday was certainly a day. I got eight hours of sleep (I had difficulty falling asleep – didn’t do so until five). Once up, I had lots of e-mails to answer, found out why the CDs of Tonight’s the Night haven’t arrived – the stamper broke, and they had to get a new one. I’m now told it will be next week, probably Wednesday. I picked up a package (the publisher sent me bookmarks, post cards, and other stuff for Some Days Are Murder), had Taco Bell for a quick and easy meal, did stuff on the computer, set our time for today’s work session, and then watched the movies and listened to Malcolm Arnold. One slight irritation for the past couple of days is a very slightly soreness in my throat – but only slight and only on the right side. I’m not sick at all, so I’m wondering if it’s my allergies and clearing my throat of phlegm constantly that’s caused it. Send some excellent vibes and xylophones that it’s gone with the wind today.

Today, I’ll be up by eleven at the latest. Our work session is at noon, and I can’t imagine it will take over an hour. Then I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, I’ll decide what to do about food – I’m thinking I may eat out later in the afternoon because I have to be at the theater at six-thirty to rehearse a cast replacement for the final two weeks of the playlet run. She’s prepared, so it should be pretty easy, and she’s watched the actress she’s replacing quite a bit. There’s almost no blocking to speak of – just enter, sit, stand twice and sit again (it’s amazing how those two simple bits garner a big laugh), then exit. After that, I’ll probably come home, or maybe I’ll stay and watch our playlet for the final performance of our original actress. We shall see. And then I can listen and relax once I’m back home.

Tomorrow is a ME day, just watching and relaxing and I don’t care who knows it. Then next week is very busy with planning the Group Rep cabaret, starting rehearsals for the Kritzerland show, which I’m very much looking forward to, finally getting the rest of the Indiegogo stuff on its merry way, and I’ll watch our new actress do the playlet.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up by eleven, have a work session, hopefully pick up packages, eat, rehearse our new actress, then either watch our playlet or mosey on home. Today’s topic of discussion: What movies have you seen the most times? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, fascinated that several of my most favorite symphonies are various composers’ fifth symphony.

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