Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much fish, listening to Mark Lawrence’s wonderful soundtrack score for David and Lisa, a movie I absolutely loved when it came out in 1962. Oops, actually it only played one week in 1962 in late December for Oscar consideration at the El Rey theater. I wasn’t even aware of it then. It opened in February of 1963 at the Fine Arts and I’m pretty sure I went on opening day after school. I saw it over and over again, maybe fifteen times during its long run there. It was the same story with The Miracle Worker, which opened at the Fine Arts in May of 1962 and which I also saw at least fifteen times (maybe more) there, including once with dear reader Jeanne. On the soundtrack LP you get the complete score, which is fairly short, so they pad it out with its two main themes done in jazz with Victor Feldman, and even back then I fell in love with those versions, too. I loved anything with vibes back then. We had substandard CD releases until Intrada finally got hold of the first-generation stereo tapes and released it on a CD coupled with The Collector by Maurice Jarre. Find it if you can, although someone’s probably put it on YouTube. Otherwise, I did watch a motion picture last night, in fact, two motion pictures. The first was a documentary entitled Kids For Cash, about two judges who profited from jailing young teens for not very serious infractions of the law – and I mean incarcerating them for four to six years, which was and is outrageous. Thank goodness, a justice group in Pennsylvania, where this happened, were able to get several of them released because they were all denied legal representation, which was outrageous, too. I watched it all on the news when it was happening. And as I watched, I realized I’d seen it before, but it was every bit as powerful this time around and every bit as infuriating. Both judges are serving very long jail terms. I searched and found I’d watched it back in 2015. Then I watched a motion picture, one of those American Film Theater things, none of which I saw back in the 1970s when they were done, this one being The Man in the Glass Booth, from the book and play by Robert Shaw, starring Maximillian Schell and some other fine actors, including Lawrence Pressman, who’d done the play on Broadway. I knew nothing about it. Mr. Schell was nominated for an Oscar and he’s terrific in it – nothing subtle about his performance – his choices are in your face but work well, I thought. It’s very brightly lit, which may be an issue with the transfer as every scene is overly bright. There are two major twists to the story and it’s really compelling and I was mesmerized throughout. I’ve saved a few more of these American Film Theater things – Rhinoceros, Jacques Brel, and A Delicate Balance. Looking forward to watching them. By the time I finished, it was time to write these here notes, but I got a telephonic conversation that ran long. And I hadn’t eaten anything since one in the afternoon, so I just ordered some California Roll as a snack. I was going to have an onion roll with butter, but one bite convinced me it would be a mistake. Hopefully, the snack will be here just as I finish and post these here notes.
Earlier, I got eight hours of sleep, got up, answered a lot of e-mails, ordered the small Marco’s Pizza I like, that arrived, and I ate it all up, then I did some work on the computer, and finally finished the show order – it was tricky, but I think it came out well and will work well. Then I watched the movies and here we are.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, I’ll definitely mosey on over to the mail place and see what’s what, I think I may either go somewhere and have a sit-down meal or I’ll go somewhere and bring something home – no DoorDashing today. After that, I’ll start organizing the show commentary and then I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow is more of the same, then next week is very busy with a LOT of stuff happening. We’ve decided to announce the Drat auditions in December but not do them until after the first of the year. Still no set or lighting designer and that’s a bit frightening, frankly.
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, go to the mail place, eat, either at a restaurant or here, organize show commentary, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films from what is for me the best year for films ever – 1962. Google “list of films from 1962” for a complete list. It’s pretty incredible. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have listened to the soundtrack of David and Lisa, which now makes me want to see both it and The Miracle Worker again, a Fine Arts double bill if ever there was one.