haines his way

06/25/2002:
"THE SHIPPING NEWS"

Well, dear readers, I finally finished watching Mr. Robert Altman’s film, Gosford Park, which I ultimately enjoyed. I say “ultimately” because, as is so frequent these days, I was led down the garden path on this film, promotion-wise. Once I understood what the film really was, then I found it enjoyable, albeit twenty minutes too long (the film runs 138 minutes). So, why was I led down the garden path? Because this film was being sold as a fizzy Agatha Christie thing, almost as a sendup of the genre, and it is anything but that. They do films like this such a disservice when they do that – I mean, I sat there for half the film waiting for my fizzy Agatha Christie sendup, and then it finally occurred to me I was never going to get it. I went back, started over and then enjoyed the film that was actually presented. Plain and simple or, to put it a different way, simple and plain, it’s Upstairs Downstairs, basically a soap opera, and quite a melancholy one at that. Of course it has grand bits of fun and humor, but they are hardly the driving force of the film. Sure, if you pick out only those for the trailer and only emphasize the mystery, then it just might seem like a fizzy Agatha Christie sendup. By the way (BTW, in Internet lingo), in case you think I’m totally off-base here, I happened to watch half the film again with Mr. Robert Altman’s commentary on, and practically the first thing out of his mouth were the following things: Upstairs Downstairs and soap opera. There are other people present during Mr. Altman’s commentary track, but strangely they are not identified on the packaging. I believe the art director is one of them, and I’m pretty sure one of the others is Mr. Bob Balaban, who comes off sounding a right twit. In fact, practically every time he speaks, Mr. Altman says something back, and usually tersely. In any case, I thought the actors were all splendid, every one of them. I especially was taken with Jeremy Northam (an actor new to me) as Ivor Novello. I will again comment on Mr. Patrick Doyle’s wonderful score and Mr. Novello’s lovely songs which, blasphemous as it may seem, I prefer to Mr. Noel Coward’s.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? In case anyone missed my post yesterday, all the books and CDs have been shipped and should be to you shortly. Any orders subsequent to yesterday will most likely go out the day they’re received. So, if you enjoy the DVD or book, tell your friends, tell your neighbors, tell the man in the street or the trees in the park and get them over here to haineshisway.com, or to amazon or barnesandnoble.com (Benjamin Kritzer is now available for order at Barnes and Noble online, but strangely not at amazon yet – the DVD is available at both, plus in stores everywhere). Well, that was a self-serving bit of self-promotion, wasn’t it? How unseemly. Continuing along these unseemly lines, if you enjoy the DVD you should go to amazon and post your “review”. If you enjoy the book you should go to barnesandnoble.com and post your “review”.
Well, we have several High Winners and one Highest Winner in our handy-dandy Unseemly Trivia Contest. But we’ll get to that in a moment. First we must all do the dreary Unseemly Button thing. O, tis a drear drear thing we must do. To push the drear Unseemly Button – perhaps we should eat a cheese slice whilst doing it – after all, a cheese slice a day helps the Unseemly Button go down.

I had occasion to hear a private recording of the Encores! version of Li’l Abner. What a lot of fun – I happen to know that several producers have been interested in a revival of Abner, but they all want to futz with the book and the estate of the authors won’t allow it. Well, if you listen to the laughs issuing forth during this performance, the book is still hilarious, even the dated bits. Just listening to it, I can tell that the Abner of Burke Moses is problematic – he’s not laid back enough or innocent enough. Alice Ripley is overplaying Daisy Mae a bit, but I think she’d be wonderful in a production of the show with a really good director (plus she’s a dead ringer for the cartoon character). Dana Ivey and Dick Latessa as Mammy and Pappy Yoakum are great-sounding, as is Michael Mulhearn as Earthquake McGoon. David Ogden Stiers as General Bullmoose is hilarious and nails every single laugh, which are many. The strangest performance is Lea DeLaria as Marryin’ Sam. I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad idea, but for some reason, at least audio-wise, it doesn’t work. I should think Lee Wilkof would be a fine Marryin’ Sam. Or Kevin Chamberlin. In any case, the score sounds as great as always, and it’s fun to hear some of the reprises that aren’t on the recording.
What am I, Ken Mandelbaum all of a sudden? As I mentioned, we have winners in our Unseemly Trivia Contest, so let’s recap the question and give the answer.
Some years ago there was a dancer who danced in one of the most exciting dance numbers ever done in a Broadway musical. Directly after that show, said dancer took part in a ground-breaking show, a show which would go on to be very successful and have a long run - a show which, for various reasons, was totally unique. The cast of that show also included someone who would go on to star in a hugely successful television series.
Name the dancer, the ground-breaking show, and the actor who went on to star in a hugely successful television series. And remember, I added the clue that the show pretty much was the end of the dancer’s budding career.
And the answer:
The dancer: Margo Sappington (dancing in Turkey Lurkey Time from Promises, Promises, to the right of Donna McKechnie – Baayork Lee was to the left)
The ground-breaking show: Oh, Calcutta!
The actor: As it turns out, there are two answers here, either of which were acceptable – Bill Macy, who went on to star in Maude with Bea Arthur, and Alan Rachins, who went on to appear in LA Law.
Congratulations to High Winners freedunit, William E. Lurie, Michael Shayne and Paul Fairie. And our handy-dandy electronic hat has chosen our Highest Winner completely at random – Mr. William E. Lurie.
Tomorrow, as most of you may remember, is Ask BK Day, so get your excellent questions ready, because I am ready, willing and able to answer them. And don’t forget, if you’re in the LA area or have friends who are, come to our DVD signing at Laserblazer in Westwood, Friday night at seven, or to the Hollywood Memorabilia show on Saturday and Sunday at the Beverly Garland Hotel on Vineland (just north of Ventura Blvd.) in North Hollywood, where you can meet and greet our very own Susan Gordon who will be sitting next to our very own me.
Well, dear readers, I have things to do, places to go, people to see. I have more packages to ship (several orders came in this morning), and business to attend to. I must, in short, take the day, sieze the day, grab the day and make every minute count. I shall eat rice pudding and then do the rice pudding dance and then I shall laugh and laugh and be witty and gay all the livelong day and night. I shall put on my tails and walk up and down my street holding a martini glass with Diet Coke in it. I shall sit at the piano and play the songs of Meltz and Ernest whilst eating a ham chunk. What the hell am I talking about? Today’s topic of discussion: As long as we were mentioning Dame Agatha Christie – what are your favorite films based on her wonderful books? I’ll start: Witness for the Prosecution (what a great movie that is), Death on the Nile, Murder on the Orient Express, Murder At The Gallop (the best of the Margaret Rutherford series, in my opinion (IMO, in Internet lingo), And Then There Were None and a few others. And while we’re at it, what are your favorite Christie books. Mine, without doubt, is The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, and I’m quite fond of And Then There Were None and The ABC Murders.

Replies: 51 Unseemly Comments

Just in time...
Posted by Robert Armin @ 06/25/2002 09:25 AM PST

Yes, Robert -- I see you were saved from certain peril by the positively poignant post!
Posted by Craig @ 06/25/2002 09:29 AM PST

As for Agatha Christie, BK has -- once again -- usurped most of my choices. I wasn't fond of the recent TV version of Roger Ackroyd as it is one story that works better on the page. And Then There Were None is, I believe, the third title of that most excellent book. The first two titles are now highly politically incorrect.
As I mentioned some time ago, my memory is such that I can reread an Agatha Christie with abolutely so idea who the killer is (except for the very best books -- Ackroyd, Orient Express and And Then There Were None). I saw a rare Sydney Greenstreet/Peter Lorre movie recently called The Verdict with a locked door murder in it. Of course, the solution to most locked door mysteries is usually the same, but it was fun to watch none the less.
Posted by Robert Armin @ 06/25/2002 09:45 AM PST

I'm not a great fan of Agatha Christie, or of mysteries in general. But I LOVE "Murder on the Orient Express" because it positively exudes (exudes, do you hear?) the "joy of performance." Makes me want to climb on the train and join the party they all seem to be having.
Posted by Pam @ 06/25/2002 09:47 AM PST

My favorite Agatha Christie movie:
Best made: Ten Little Indians
Favorite: Evil Under the Sun
My favorie Christie novel:
The one with the murder in it.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 06/25/2002 09:54 AM PST

I missed yesterday, and so I have a discussion phase shift here.
TV Musicals. All those minimusicals on The Carol Burnette Show. My favorite is Come to Me, My Melancholy Dane. There is also a take-off on Judy-Mickey movies which I don't recall very well, except the version of "The Boy Next Door":
When his chest is bare
I can count every hair.
He has two.
And yes, I was impressed by the Playboy Mansion anecdotes. Imagine our very own BK moving in the stratosphere of the elite like that--and playing Frogger. I mean, how could you ever forget Mercy Humpe after that?
That and the Origin of Easter were my two treats yesterday in a day of mostly Moe-making news. Sometimes I want to move permanently onto this Web Site and abandon my Real Life. But only sometimes, only one Moe time when I have the Moe better blues.
Posted by William F. Orr @ 06/25/2002 10:25 AM PST

I think that is a fine idea, William F. Orr - we should rent apartments here at haineshisway.com - for temporary stays or for long visits. Yes, I think that is a fine idea.
On a different note (C#) our Nudie Musical amazon.com sales rank is 222, an amazing number when you think there are over 18,000 DVDs or whatever.
On a different note (Ab) our haineshisway.com post rank is six, a paltry and putrid number. I do know it is early, but you know what they say - the early bird catches the worm.
Posted by bk @ 06/25/2002 11:51 AM PST

Back to copraphilia, BK. If you were to rent out apartments here on HHW, given the color scheme, I can only assume they would be Brownstones??
Posted by Craig @ 06/25/2002 12:04 PM PST

...and poops on the postman.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 06/25/2002 12:05 PM PST

Well, I saw "Something's Afoot" recently. Does that count as an Agatha Christie? There was a song about her, anyway.
Posted by Laura @ 06/25/2002 12:09 PM PST

BK, how about listing the song titles that come on your bonus CD with First Nudie Musical. I figured out the film songs, but are there titles for the documentary music tracks?
Posted by Robert Armin @ 06/25/2002 12:30 PM PST

Burnett.
Posted by Carol @ 06/25/2002 12:41 PM PST

BK - Interesting trivia question. But tell me, what ended Margo Sappington's career?
Posted by Phil @ 06/25/2002 01:06 PM PST

A guess: She stopped dancing and choreographing?
Posted by freedunit @ 06/25/2002 01:10 PM PST

Margo stopped performing but she has been a successful cheographer for the last quarter of a century. The Atlanta Ballet did her THE INDIGO GIRLS PROJECT last October.
Posted by Robert Armin @ 06/25/2002 01:13 PM PST

Find a bio of Margo at
http://www.ppc.edu/college/playhouse/2001-02Season/premieres.html
Oh! Calcutta was a minor sidelight of her career.
Posted by Robert Armin @ 06/25/2002 01:16 PM PST

O.K. Revised guess: She stopped dancing, but continues to choreograph. I hope her work has improved since Doonesbury.
Posted by freedunit @ 06/25/2002 01:17 PM PST

Anyone remember the movie Agatha starring Vanessa Regrave and Dustin Hoffman? It tries to explain what happened to her during her mysterious disappearance.
I also enjoy Murder on the Orient Express. Loved the music score, the costumes and Albert Finney's eccentric unrecongizable performance. As good as Ingrid Bergman was in the film IMHO it wasn't Oscar worthy. I like Lauren Bacall's alot better.
Some of the worse ones were the laterday ones with Peter Ustinov. The least being Appointment With Death. The only Christie film I guessed before the murder. Not sure but might have to do with the direction of Michael Winner who did Death Wish and several other Charles Bronso films, The Sentinel, Scorpio more. He might have beem out of his element here.
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 06/25/2002 01:19 PM PST

I remember as a child refusing to see Agatha because of Vanessa’s infamous performance at the A.M.P.A.S. awards. I love Paddy Chayefsky!
Posted by freedunit @ 06/25/2002 01:26 PM PST

Most shockingly the original British title of the book that became the film And Then There Was None was called Ten Little Nig!!!
This was story was made into movies the most of all Christie stories!
And Then There Were None (1945)Ten Little Indians (1959) (TV)
Ten Little Indians (1966)
And Then There Were None (1974)
Ten Little Indians (1989)
Desyat negrityat (1987)(Russian)
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 06/25/2002 01:29 PM PST

I hinted at the title earlier, but chose not to repeat it here. Thanks for being less politically correct, Michael.
Posted by Robert Armin @ 06/25/2002 01:32 PM PST

If we all took up residence on this site I guess we would all be sitting on the BRUCE CURB. Yes indeedy,wouldn't that be just too too.
Posted by Arnold M. Brockman @ 06/25/2002 01:39 PM PST

And a TOOT Too!!!
Posted by Arnold M. Brockman @ 06/25/2002 01:41 PM PST

Yes, the original Christie title for "And Then There Were None" was "Ten Little Niggers."
That appellation was commonly used by the Raj to refer to the natives of India.
It was changed to "10 Little Indians" for its transatlantic appearance to avoid being considered insensitive, I suppose...at that time, anyway.
In actuality, I don't know how actual "Indians" (natives of India, that is) refer to themselves, but whatever it is, that's what the book should reflect "10 Little 'Whatevers'" -- all in reference, of course, to colorful china figures representative of the inhabitants of India. There is absolutely nothing in the plot of the story that is defamatory to natives of any country.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 06/25/2002 01:58 PM PST

Perhaps it should be left alone as "And Then There Were None," but the play still goes by "10 Little Indians."
Maybe "10 Little Lladros" would be satisfactory?
Or "10 Little Royal Doulton Figurines"?
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 06/25/2002 02:00 PM PST

How about a mystery about petits fours? Ten Little Cakes…
Posted by freedunit @ 06/25/2002 02:11 PM PST

I am also a fan of the Dustin Hoffman movie "Agatha". I enjoyed Hoffman's performances back then. I have not really enjoyed much that he has made since.
My favourite movies have already been mentioned - hard to think of any that BK didn't mention first up! I did make the tourist trip to see "The Mousetrap" and found it very disappointing. Too obvious and very tired - the show not me! (and that was back in 1973). I have vague recollections of a nursery rhyme about "Ten Little Indians" (or whatever). "Ten little "Indians" all in a row" etc. I would assume that the rhyme was from England.
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 06/25/2002 03:12 PM PST

I just went throught the list of BK productions to check of my collection. 58 of them. I must have financed a few lunches for him. I am still longing to hear the unreleased productions. And no I don't think I financed lunch packages.
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 06/25/2002 03:21 PM PST

How about this, dear readers? As of two hours ago, our sales rank at amazon got even better, and for the first time we cracked the Top 200, which is like being on the Billboard Chart. We were at 185. It seems to change often, but at least we did it and I'm thrilled. Here's another amusing story - I just went over to see how our DVD is selling at Dave's Video and they told me it's been doing quite well - they also told me that they had at that very minute received an order for one from one Hugh Hefner. Isn't that exciting? Isn't that too too? I was, in fact, going to send one over there, but he beat me to the punch. Have you ever been beaten to the punch? I hate that. Then there is no more punch and you have to seek other liquid refreshment. Damn them, damn them all to hell.
Posted by bk @ 06/25/2002 04:04 PM PST

Oops, amend that - we are now number 176! I want to crack 150 now! We are on a roll. We are on an onion roll and by golly and by gum I want to crack 150! But I shall be happy with 176 because I am not a glutton. Nor do I eat mutton. I do occasionally click the Unseemly Button. And soon I'll be listening to Sutton in Thoroughly Modern Millie. Isn't that silly?
Posted by bk @ 06/25/2002 04:08 PM PST

Yes, and that last seems too Foster silly.
Congratulations on 176, and may your number be ever-diminishing, but always positive.
Posted by freedunit @ 06/25/2002 04:14 PM PST

Does Foster Sutton's "Millie" remind anyone else of Antonia Ellis' "Maisie" in "The Boy Friend"?
In general appearance with the bobbed hair?
It struck me dumb, yes, it even struck me silly,
What was Maisie doing in "Thoroughly Modern Millie"?
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 06/25/2002 04:22 PM PST

So. I picked up a copy of Into the Woods (the new cast) and have listened to half of it. So far, color me not impressed (anyone wishing to tell me what color that is, please do so). Laura Benanti (sp?) is great, but so far everything else about the performances are extremely lacking. Now maybe the Original Cast Recording is so embeded in my mind, but it seems the new recording just lacks the bewilderment. The CD also sounds a bit rushed as if they didn't want it to jump to 2 cds, so they hurried everyone along. I'll let you know how the second half is...
Posted by Craig @ 06/25/2002 04:26 PM PST

Hmmm...Best Agatha Movie in my book, or screenplay, is "Murder On the Orient Express." Gorgeous from start to finish, or start to end, as the train never visited Finland.
My favorite Agatha Christie books may not be that well known. They are "N or M" and "By the Pricking Of My Thumbs," starring those intrepid detectives Tommy and Tuppence Beresford! Ah, how easily they are forgotten. Tommy and Tuppence were the leads in a spy novel ("The Secret Adversary", 1922) and series of short stories ("Partners in Crime," 1929) early in Agatha's career, before she was Damed. They were left alone for some time, but in 1941 reappeared in "N or M," another spy story. What was particularly intersting was how they had aged naturally over the years, something Hercule and Jane would never have bothered to do. Later in her career, they reappeared in "By the Pricking Of My Thumbs," 1968, again aging responsably. Sorry to say, I wasn't as impressed with their final appearance in 1973, "Postern of Fate," but that's me, I suppose. Part of what made Tommy and Tuppence so wonderful was how they clearly loved each other through their long lives together. And I can't help wishing Dame Agatha had been able to write a final T & T book, perhaps as they could have passed on the torch to their grandchildren.
I do recommend the "official" Agatha Christie site, www.agathachristie.com , as it appears to be chock full of information (without giving everything away, of course!).
Posted by S. Woody White @ 06/25/2002 05:50 PM PST

Favorite Agatha Christie films:
"Witness for the Prosecution" - Who knew Marlene would turn out to be the devoted one, Tyrone would be the cad and sweet Ruta Lee the other woman! Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester were the best! Credit has to go to Billy Wilder also.
"Murder on the Orient Express" - Loved the music, cinematography, costumes, acting, except I had some trouble with Albert Finney's portrayal. I felt he played it a bit too broadly, almost cartoonish, and it was off-putting.
"Death on the Nile" - Again, the music, cinematography, costumes, acting, setting. This was the type of film and roles Bette Davis should've played more of in her later years.
Favorite Christie books: It's been some time since I read them but two that come to mind are "The ABC Murders" and "Cards on the Table."
Note: I was introduced to Agatha Christie by my father who, while I was laid up after major surgery, brought her books home from the public library for me to read. In six weeks or so, I read all the Agatha Christie books the library had (which was considerable). The Hercule Poirot books were my favorites.
BBC TV series: Perfect casting in Joan Hickson as Miss Marple and David Suchet as Hercule Poirot.
The movie "Agatha": One of my favorite films. I believe when it came out, the reviews, especially about Hoffman, weren't very good. But I loved everything about this film--the superlative acting (especially Vanessa Redgrave), the script, the atmosphere, when Dustin danced with Vanessa. Just everything.
Little known item: In 1999, there was a musical called "Vanishing Point" that played at one of L.A.'s small theaters for a short time. Aimee Semple McPherson, Agatha Christie and Amelia Earhart are brought together on a tropical island. All of them have one thing in common--they disappeared under mysterious circumstances. I never saw the play but the premise was intriguing.
TO S. WOODY WHITE: Thanks for the Christie link. I don't know why, but I never thought to look her up on the web.
Posted by Donna - Cabaret West @ 06/25/2002 08:57 PM PST

At least Sutton Foster’s wig is twenties-style, unlike so much of the rest of the show. With that bob and those teeth, she reminded me of a feral Mary Tyler Moore. Those biters could belong to a wolf in Into the Woods. Foster should have cut her hair, as Paul Huntley wanted her to do, rather than wearing a bobbed wig for Thoroughly Modern Millie. Foster is very talented; she can act, she can sing, and she can dance. However, she is not a great big musical-comedy star. She may have been genuinely overwhelmed, but in accepting both her Drama Desk and Antoinette Perry awards, not only did she seem to expect to receive them, but she barely registered as being there.
As for Into the Woods, it is not as good as the imperfect original. It as if Lapine got the physical production right this time, but lost the magical, talented first cast somewhere in the woods. Laura Benanti is wonderful and greater things await her elsewhere. I liked Stephen DeRosa. John McMartin is his usual charismatic, uniquely daft self and very good. Still, I preferred Tom Aldredge as the Mysterious Man and Narrator. The rest of the cast fall short of their predecessors. Vanessa L. Williams is a beautiful, talented star, but she is still not acting. Williams has so much going for her that she should really learn the craft; she should do what Sally Field did and go back to class.
Posted by freedunit @ 06/25/2002 09:25 PM PST

I want to tell you all that I really love Perversion.
That is, I really love Bruce's Perversion.
I guess that should be, I really love Bruce's "Perversion".
If you don't know Bruce's "Perversion", then run, don't walk, to the Broadway Radio Show and listen to the song as performed by the delicious Diane Kanova. It is a classic equal to Lainie Kazan's "South of My Border, North of My Garter" from Lust in the Dust.
It has really whet my appetite for the arrival of The First Nudie Musical. In fact, my appetite is so whet that it is positively shoaking.
Posted by William F. Orr @ 06/25/2002 09:42 PM PST

Official TFNM DVD stats:
Unseemly usage of the word
"unseemly": only one that I
caught
Mentions of Meltz & Ernest:
pleasantly surprised to find 1
"Lays there like so much fish,"
"Hunk of fish," "Slab of
salmon," etc.: at least 3
Total times on the DVD
(movie, documentary,
commentary tracks) that Cindy
Williams says "stunt cock": far
too many to count!!!
More to come after ridiculous
numbers of viewings...
Posted by Jed @ 06/25/2002 10:57 PM PST

Lea DeLaria was good in Encores! Li’l Abner, and I am not surprised her performance did not transfer to audio recording. How was Julie Newmar as Stupefyin’ Jones? By the way (BTW), the book used for Encores! Li’l Abner was a truncated concert adaptation, of course. Additional book-futzing should not be allowed.
Posted by freedunit @ 06/25/2002 11:13 PM PST

Jed, I have not had the opportunity to view The First Nudie Musical DVD. Does Cindy Williams mention other trick birds?
Posted by freedunit @ 06/26/2002 06:03 AM PST

Did someone say they needed a stunt cock?
Posted by Rocky Rhodes the Rhode Island Red Rooster @ 06/26/2002 06:10 AM PST

Rocky, you union?
Posted by freedunit @ 06/26/2002 06:20 AM PST

Well, I am SAG/AFTRA, but I haven't worked since "Chicken Run" and my agent didn't negotiate anything on the back end for that!
Posted by Rocky Rhodes the Rhode Island Red Rooster @ 06/26/2002 06:53 AM PST

WOW.. Bruce! You will just be tickled pink, red, blue or whatever color you like to be tickled to know that when I logged onto Amazon.com, and looked up TFNM, the folks at amazon offered the following combo purchase:
Buy The First Nudie Musical(Special Edition) with Citizen Kane (Special Edition) DVD today! Total List Price: $54.97 Buy Together Today: $43.98
Bruce.. did you ever think TFNM would be "bundled" together with Orson Welles masterpiece? We could merge the movies together and have Citizen Nudie Musical Kane. Instead of dancing dildos, there could be dancing sleds. But at all costs, let us not see a latter day naked Orson!
Posted by Craig @ 06/26/2002 07:38 AM PST

Isn't this just THE week for raunchy double-entendres!!!
Must be the summer heat!
Stunt cocks...dancing dildos...package size assessment...catty comments about performers we don't care for...all in all, I'd saw we're having one hell of a fun week!!
: )
A Nudie Citizen Kane sounds fun -- it needs to be cast with attractive people, of course.
I saw we base it on Martha Stewart -- a little gender switcheroony -- and Ms. Martha is the central figure from her early years when she developed her iciness, the evolution of her empire, the standard cast of characters who helped her get there being cast adrift after bitch fights, and a revelation that Martha's big dream is to do her show completely in the nude and she wants a bevy of young studly guest chefs in various segments, but the chefs become concerned when Martha wants each to share his breaded mozzarella stick recipe for deep fryer!
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 06/26/2002 08:34 AM PST

Read that as "I say we base..." vice "saw" -- typos are my bane.
Of course, there is so much more to be considered here -- all the interesting people from whom Martha gets her ideas...the New England eccentricities she could reveal, especially at harvest time. She could have a mistress AND a boyfriend, a few ex-husbands, several children AND the Imclone scandal all to deal with, leading to many dreamy nude ballets, etc.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 06/26/2002 08:38 AM PST

Read that as "I say we base..." vice "saw" -- typos are my bane.
Of course, there is so much more to be considered here -- all the interesting people from whom Martha gets her ideas...the New England eccentricities she could reveal, especially at harvest time. She could have a mistress AND a boyfriend, a few ex-husbands, several children AND the Imclone scandal all to deal with, leading to many dreamy nude ballets, etc.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 06/26/2002 08:39 AM PST

Am having computer troubles this morning -- my fingers keep doing stupid things.
Posted by Ron @ 06/26/2002 08:40 AM PST

I didn't have a chance to post earlier. I seemed to have missed so much.
Agatha Christie: I love her stuff. MOST of the time, I can remember who the murderer was if I happen to reread a book (not knowing I've already read it).
I love all the books, although the Miss Marple and Poirot books are my faves.
Movies. I loved the series with Margaret Rutherford. Not so much for the mysteries as for Margaret Rutherford. "Murder At the Gallop" was probably the best of them. I do not remember the title, but I do love the one about the theatre company (with Ron Moody)-- mainly for the cahnce to hear her recite (Oh crud. I just lost it. Cannot think of the title. Getting senile can be soooo annoying.)
I LOVED " Murder on the Orient Express." I knew I was going to love it as soon as I heard the score start and saw the gold and black art deco letters against a pink satin background. Good story. Great cast. Richard Rodney Bennett's score is one of the best.
Also "Evil Under the Sun" and"Death on the Nile." The casts and costumes alone make them worthwhile. The score of "Evil Under the Sun" (using all Cole Porter songs) was wonderful. Great arrangements. I wish a soundtrack were available.
"The Mirror Cracked" could have been good but wasn't. Liz Taylor wasn't quite as bad as she can be, but was still awful. She was very heavy then, and the one scene where she lies on top of Rock Hudson is very funny (and looks very uncomfortable), and it wasn't meant to be.
Like everyone else, I love "Witness for the Prosecution." The twists in that really work. Dietrich is wonderful, and it's so great to watch Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester play off each other. Using those characters could have been a great series.
I also loved the Series on PBS (or A & E--- whichever it was. I can't remember anything today. As Lily Tomlin would say, "My mind is like Teflon; nothing sticks to it.") about Miss Marple.
If any of you know the piece to which I refer recited by Margaret Rutherford, please let me know. I can remember the lady known as Lou, me and Dan were whooping it up, etc. but not the title. I think it's time to go back on the Gingko Biloba!
Posted by Kerry @ 06/26/2002 09:08 AM PST

Kerry: The original soundtrack for "Evil Under the Sun" was issued a couple of years ago on drg (12615).
There were a couple of track name miscues, but all the music is there -- all that glorious Cole Porter, orchestrated by Angela Morley and conducted by John Lanchberry.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 06/26/2002 09:13 AM PST

Ron, thanks so much. I see your fingers are working again!
Posted by Kerry @ 06/26/2002 09:18 AM PST

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