Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much fish, writing these here notes whilst listening to the second movement of the Mahler sixth. There is some controversy as to what the second movement should actually be, because Mahler himself changed his mind a few time – is it the Scherzo or the adagio. The majority of recordings and performances place the scherzo second and the adagio third, which, for me, is the only way the symphony works. I’ve heard it the other way and having the adagio second is simply too soon in a four-movement symphony. The thinking is that the scherzo is similar to the first movement, but it’s not at all similar, but it is a scherzo. The adagio placed third is where it does its job and is emotionally perfect – it never ceases to “get” me and is, for me, one of the greatest slow movements ever written. Anyway, I love this symphony more than any other Mahler symphony. Earlier, I did manage to watch two motion pictures. The first motion picture was entitled Poltergeist, the one and only genuine original version. I watched it mostly to get the bad taste that the insipid remake left. And boy does it work. Spielberg knows structure and that’s what the remake completely misses from frame one. In the original, we start out pulling back from a TV showing a sign-off before going to snow. Dad is asleep in a chair, while the dog begins to roam the house, eating anything he sees along the way. So, we get some fun laughs right out of the gate. Then we meet the youngest child, Carol Ann, who comes downstairs, sits in front of the TV and starts talking to it. Dad awakens, and as Carol Ann gets louder and louder, sister and brother wake up, along with mom, who all watch this strange occurrence. That’s the opening scene. So, we’ve met the family at the center of the film, we’ve laughed, and then we’ve seen something very weird. Then we get a classic Spielberg neighborhood scene with a big laugh in it and we’re off and running. I won’t rehash what happens, but the big reveal of WHY what’s happening is happening doesn’t happen until the last twenty minutes. In the remake, that information is imparted right up front and that’s a total fail in terms of structure. We love the family, we love the dog, we CARE. And that’s why everything that follows works so well. As I mentioned, I saw the film at the Paramount in Hollywood, the 8:00 show the day it opened. The audience reaction was incredible – big laughs, big screams, and everyone with the film every step of the way. Like all great movies, it takes the time to set everything up slowly in the first twenty minutes or so, something no movies really do today – some do, like Taken, which establishes a lot before the actual plot kicks in. Orphan does it, too, and if I’m remembering ME3GAN correctly, it does, too. Also, the Jerry Goldsmith score is a major component of why everything works so well. The movie cost a paltry ten million dollars (as did E.T.). The effects are still great, even now. The direction is superb, too – Tobe Hooper is the credited director, but there is not a frame of the film that doesn’t have Spielberg’s handprint on it – I’m sure he contributed heavily to the storyboards, and he was on the set every day. There’s a promotional short made during production and in it you see Spielberg in charge and Mr. Hooper sitting in a chair. Some of the actors say that Hooper directed them, and some say Spielberg did. Add to that an absolutely perfect cast. The parents are so relatable as played by Jobeth Williams and Craig T. Nelson, neither of whom were that well known. All three kids are great – Heather O’Rourke as Carol Ann, Oliver Robins as Robbie, and Dominique Dunne as Dana. Beatrice Straight is great as a paranormal expert, and whoever had the incredible foresight to bring Zelda Rubinstein in and then actually cast her, is a genius. She’s just great. There are so many earned scares and screams in the final twenty minutes, one after another. It holds up wonderfully and the new transfer is terrific.
And now, the adagio is reaching its gorgeous climax – I have played this section of the adagio over and over and over again. The main tune is so beautiful, achingly so. The second motion picture was entitled Shampoo, starring Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, Goldie Hawn, Lee Grant, and Jack Warden. I saw it when it came out in 1975 and enjoyed it, as did most folks. I’ve only seen it once since then and then last night. For me, all these years later, I don’t find it all that enjoyable anymore. It meanders, the plot is almost non-existent, and it seemed almost like a confessional for Beatty, who was well known for doing exactly what the lead character does – beds every woman he can. The ending is affecting, sort of, and there are wonderful performances from everyone, which is what really keeps it alive. It’s just one of those films, I think, that was very much of its time (even though it takes place in 1968), that has, at least for me, hasn’t stood the test of time as many other 1970s movies. That was the evening.
Once again, for the fourth day in a row I only got five hours of sleep. That really has to change and tonight I will be in bed by two at the very latest. Once up, I answered e-mails, did a quick errand, came back home, and ordered the chopped Eyetalian salad from CPK. That arrived thirty minutes later. For the first time, they didn’t include the two dressings that I always get. Thankfully, the one that was there was very full and so it turned out fine. After that, I did a few things on the computer, then began my viewing. Later, I had some low-fat cottage cheese for a snack, along with some cantaloupe chunks. That was the food for the day. Then I watched the other movie and after it was over I dozed off for about twenty minutes. And here we are.
Today, I’ll try to be up by eleven at the latest, I’ll do whatever needs doing, I’ll try to do a show order and start writing the commentary, and then I’m meeting Marshall Harvey for an early supper somewhere fun. After that, I’ll come home and watch, listen, and relax.
The rest of the week is more of the same, I have the important call with Social Security on Wednesday, a work session on Thursday, and definitely another visit to Don Cuco at some point.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up by eleven at the latest, do whatever needs doing, do a show order and start writing commentary, have an early supper, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite performances of Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, Goldie Hawn, Lee Grant, and Jack Warden. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy that the scherzo was second and the adagio was third.