haines his way

10/01/2002:
"THE OCTOBER COUNTRY"

Well, dear readers, I survived another endless day. The piece we’ve been working on is just about finished, and I’ve already started viewing the tapes for the next bit. The weather here in Los Angeles, California has turned chilly (at least in the evenings), chilly enough that I had to turn on the heat last night. I love turning on the heat, don’t you, dear readers. And the heat appreciates being turned on, too. But why doesn’t the heat reciprocate? Why, for example, doesn’t the heat turn me on? I mean, here I turn the heat on and the heat just sits there like so much fish leaving me in the off position. What the hell am I talking about?
In any case, here I am bright and early, trying to get these here notes done before I have to be on my merry way. I can’t even think of anything to write about, frankly. But do I want to write about anything frankly – perhaps I’d rather be a bit oblique and obtuse or even obtuse and oblique. I ean, my brain is already fried and it’s only Tuesday. Has anyone noticed that I typed “I ean”? What does that ean? “I ean”. What happened to the fershluganah “m”? This is what happens when one tries to type at seven in the morning after having just gotten up. One occasionally misses a letter and writes “I ean”. However, I shall do my best not to mistype anything else for the duration of these here notes.
Has anyone noticed that today is October 1st? I have – but just barely and only because I looked at the date thingee on my computer. So, happy October everyone. Sadly, September was a bit slow here at haineshisway.com, stats-wise. Part of that problem was the stats thing screwed up three of our busiest days and didn’t count them, but even if it had it would have been our slowest month since March. Now, we simply cannot have that, so we must now make October our best month ever. We must rally ‘round the flag, boys and girls, and we must do, do, do (that is three dos) what we must and we must do it well. Our path is clear and our head’s our high. I woke up with a bit of a sore throat today and we cannot have that either – it just came totally out of nowhere. I am now popping zinc mercilessly because I shan’t be sick when I come to New York.
Today I shall be lunching with my pal, Penny Peyser, who I’ve asked to help cast the upcoming film we’ll be doing. We shall be lunching at a lovely coffee shop, Cable’s. Today’s notes are starting to feel like a laundry list – I’m doing this, then I’m doing that, then I’m doing this, then I’m doing that. How boring. What we need is a pick-me-up. I ean, we just can’t keep going along being all boring and making people yawn, now can we?
I feel this new paragraph will be filled with razz-ma-tazz and all that jazz – oh, a Kander and Ebb reference. I feel this new paragraph will be as perky as a pickled herring in sour cream. I feel this paragraph will be stylin’ and happening. I feel this paragraph will be sweet. In short, I feel this paragraph will kick butt cheeks.
There, that’s what we needed, a pick-me-up. Now that we’ve had it, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below so we can continue to find new ways to be dazzlingly deft and delightful.

I already feel that this section is dazzlingly deft and delightful and I haven’t even finished this sentence yet. It’s all in the attitude, that’s what I say. I ean, if you’ve got the attitude then you can’t help but be dazzlingly deft and delightful. My eyes feel very tired and are quite red right now. I feel logey and I need to get energized so I can view more tapes without nodding off completely. Speaking of work, I do think that I got my pal Jason Graae a little acting gig on this show (pending his availability, as we don’t know exactly when it would shoot). Isn’t that exciting? Isn’t that just too too?

I had nothing further to write, so I went away for a few minutes and am now back. However, I still have nothing further to write. How can I be dazzlingly deft and delightful if I am out of things to write? Tomorrow I shall have things to write. Of course, I’d write more if you’d all post more. With the exception of a few days last week (especially Friday, when it was like old times around here) things have been pretty sparse, post-wise. I ean, how can we be the most popular site on all the Internet with all this errant and truant behavior. If this continues, then I shall have to be errant and truant and then we will have chaos and disorder and then where will we be? We must all pull our weight here at haineshisway.com. Of course, since I haven’t been able to do a spot of exercise in three weeks, I have plenty of weight to pull. Let us all post until the cows come home and be dazzlingly deft and delightful.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must put on clothing and get in my automobile and drive west to Woodland Hills. And when I get there I would like to log on to the computer and see posts. That is my fervent prayer because let’s face it love is a many splendored thing. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite dazzlingly deft and delightfully dizzy film comedies? I’ll start – The Lady Eve, Sullivan’s Travels, Some Like it Hot, Bringing up Baby, Bachelor Flat (quite dated and silly, but I’ve always loved Frank Tashlin and I’ve always had a special place in my heart for this film and its wonderful cast of Terry-Thomas, Richard Beymer and Tuesday Weld – plus it has one of the earliest (maybe the first) film score written by John(ny) Williams), To Be or Not To Be (the Lubitsch version), The Major and the Minor (very underrated Wilder), and many others. Your turn. And, as always, talk about whatever comes to mind. We must be diverse. We must be happy posters. We must have discourse and declamations. We must be droll and daffy and ducky. Go to it. Thus I say and say no more.

Replies: 41 Unseemly Comments

Some of my favorite delightfully daffy film comedies:
"Sherlock, Jr." : Buster Keaton at his best.
"Bedazzled" : Exquisitely profound silliness with Peter Cook and Dudley Moore.
"Best in Show" : Fantastic improv film, consistently hilarious. Michael McKean, in particular, subtly underplays his character and gives a performance that I think is Oscar-worthy (naturally, he got nil recognition for it).
All of the Marx Brothers' Paramount pics, plus their first two for MGM ("A Night at the Opera" and "A Day at the Races").
"Flash Gordon" (1980): Dino D.'s big-budget attempt to cash in on the success of "Superman" wasn't intended as a comedy, but that's how it works best.
And yes, I've also quite enjoyed a number of the films that BK mentioned.
-Lulu
Posted by Lulu @ 10/01/2002 07:45 AM PST

Well Some Like It Hot is way up there. I am fond of Seven Year Itch in a cheesy kind of way, and any of the Marx Brothers.
Why are there so few zany-type comedians these days? Is Nathan Lane the only clown left?
Posted by Philip Crosby @ 10/01/2002 08:18 AM PST

Some of my favorite crazy comedies are
"Make Mine Mink" - this film was the basis of 70 GIRLS 70 but the musical's book is not at all as funny as the film
"Miss Tatlock's Millions" a late 40s comedy with Monty Wooley and Ilka Chase that still has be laughing just thinking about it
"The Closet" - a recent French comedy that got great reviews and did no business
***
On to a different topic. I read in today's New York Times that there is a posibility of a new movie version of GUYS AND DOLLS with Vin Diesel and Nicole Kidman!!!!! The Marlon Brando version was desecration enough to this classic. Since Jo Sullivan Loesser protects her late husband's works with a vengence (except for the Politicly-Corrected-For-the-90s-but-still-set-in-the-60s 1995 Broadway revisal of HOW TO SUCCEED) let's all hope that she puts a stop to this fiasco before it gets started.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 10/01/2002 09:33 AM PST

An unlikely-to-be-on-man-lists-film:
"What's Up, Doc?" is delightfully silly and fun and filled with moments of comic zaniness, and it also has a great tour de force performance by Madeline Kahn (her film debut?).
My favorite gag is in the hotel lobby with Mabel Albertson, a wealthy matron who has a fortune in jewels in one of the scotch plaid bags that every guest seems to carry and around which so much merriment ensues. The sequence that sends me is when one of the bad guys keeps tripping Albertson to keep her from getting on an elevator.

Another is inside a banquet hall when Kahn enters the hall insisting she is THE Eunice Burns, only to be dragged out, heels leaving scuff marks on the hall floor.
"The More the Merrier"
"You Can't Take it With You"
"Some Like it Hot"
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/01/2002 09:39 AM PST

And, of course, "Young Frankenstein" and "Blazing Saddles" and "The Producers" and "The Twelve Chairs."
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/01/2002 09:41 AM PST

Oooh, yes, yes...thanks to RP, also have to add "Young Frankenstein," and "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" too, just because.
Posted by Lulu @ 10/01/2002 10:07 AM PST

The usual suspects, of course: The Producers, The Marx Brothers in (almost) anything, but especially Duck Soup and A Night at the Opera. And I've always been quite tickled by "S.O.B." It's not a great film, but it has some fall-down-funny moments. Richard Mulligan was a superb physical comedian. And Robert Preston as a Dr. Feelgood--oh, come on, Robert Preston as ANYTHING--is delightful.
Posted by Pam @ 10/01/2002 10:43 AM PST

I must be going crazy. I'm positive I left a post -- I remember typing about Monty Python and the migrating coconuts. But I don't see the post here.
Posted by Laura @ 10/01/2002 10:44 AM PST

Hello, all. Sorry I've been one of the errant and truant the past few days. I've been reading all the unseemly comments, just not posting. -I'm in one of the frustrating periods where I'm trying to get a hold of a bunch of people, but no one seems to be picking up their phone nor returning phone calls and e-mails.
-Whew! Much better, thanks for letting me vent.
As for silly movies, I, too, love "What's Up Doc?". It's one of the few movies where if it's on TV, I will make the time to sit down and watch it.
For guaranteed smiles, I usually turn to "Waiting for Guffman" and/or "Best in Show".
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 10/01/2002 11:47 AM PST

Hello, all. Sorry I've been one of the errant and truant the past few days. I've been reading all the unseemly comments, just not posting. -I'm in one of the frustrating periods where I'm trying to get a hold of a bunch of people, but no one seems to be picking up their phone nor returning phone calls and e-mails.
-Whew! Much better, thanks for letting me vent.
As for silly movies, I, too, love "What's Up Doc?". It's one of the few movies where if it's on TV, I will make the time to sit down and watch it.
For guaranteed smiles, I usually turn to "Waiting for Guffman" and/or "Best in Show".
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 10/01/2002 11:47 AM PST

Hmmm... How did that happen. I didn't mean to post twice... I know I only hit the button once.
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 10/01/2002 11:49 AM PST

When I'm feeling terribly urbane, I get my jollies watching "The Meaning of Life" -- I LOVE that film (and the songs -- Every Sperm is Sacred and The Galaxy Song. I like other Monty Python, as well.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/01/2002 12:07 PM PST

One I forgot above --- "The Dinner Game", a truly funny French comedy from three or four years ago.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 10/01/2002 12:14 PM PST

Oy. I knew I was gonna get flack for last night's post. I did not mean to imply or insinuate or even blatantly state that New York is the only place to be for theatre people or non-theatre people or any other sort of people. Nor did I mean to make anyone think that I am ridiculing Annie Morrison or anyone else for leaving New York City to raise their children elsewhere. I understand that New York is not for everyone and I am not trying to tell anyone that it should be. I do happen to know however that Annie is and has been anxious to get back to New York to do theatre...especially after last night. THAT was the reason for my statements. I did not mean to insult...put down...or demean anyone who participates in regional or community theatre work. I find it to be very noble and plan to do a great deal of it myself as regional theatre will be the bread and butter of my career.
MEA CULPA! MEA CULPA!!
Posted by Jason @ 10/01/2002 01:07 PM PST

And lest I forget about the work of Woody Allen, "Sleepers" is the height of farcical silliness.
And I'm pretty fond of "What's Up, Tiger Lily", too!
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/01/2002 01:07 PM PST

Thanks, Jason...you sent me scrambling to catch up on what I missed.
WHAT A NIGHT YOU HAD! MAN!
I was not offended. Of course, folks in Sarasota might have taken issue with you over their theater being a waste of time for someone with talent...but we all know what you meant (I think). It's so seldom one sees an Original Revival Recording of a show in Sarasota...or Louisville...or almost anywhere, for that matter. There are exceptions (Paper Mill Playhouse, for one).
I like the energy and enthusiasm in your report!
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/01/2002 01:16 PM PST

As Dame Edna would say "spooky". Ron has just given you my list.
"Young Frankenstein" and "What's Up Doc" I still find wonderfully funny. (I also have a weakness for "Airplane" released here as "Flying High". I did enjoy "The Closet" which did reasonable well here in the art house cinemas and of course "La Cage"
Yes Phillip. Nathan does seem to be the only one left.
Posted by Tom Guest (from OZ) @ 10/01/2002 02:44 PM PST

Make that "reasonably". My proof reading skills need work.
Must also add "Waiting For Guffman" and "Best In Show" which I would not have discovered if not for this site. I have yet to catch up with "This Is Spinal Tap" (I have read the DVD has great "in character" comments).
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 10/01/2002 02:58 PM PST

Well, in light of the need to get
our stats up, I shall come out
of my usual state of lurk-dom
and post today. Favorite
comedies that I can think of
right now, in no particular
order -
Noises Off
Bringing Up Baby
Waiting For Gufffman
Eddie Izzard - Dress to Kill
Bill Cosby - Himself.
Now, the last two are
technically films of stand up
comedy shows...I hope that
still counts.
About the Guys And Dolls thing
that William E. mentioned...say
it isn't so. I had the misfortune
to see XXX...Vin Diesel simply
cannot act
Posted by Ann @ 10/01/2002 03:05 PM PST

A few off the top of my head:
Bananas
Take The Money and Run
Miss Grant Takes Richmond
The Long, Long Trailer
The Tall Guy
Seems Like Old Times
Posted by steveg @ 10/01/2002 03:20 PM PST

Ann -- de-lurking -- said a mouthful.
But you expected acting from someone calling himself "Vin Diesel"?
Oy!
: ) (I'm kidding).
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/01/2002 03:34 PM PST

Ann, we are glad you have come out of lurkdom.
Folks, we have had a few days now of under 100F degree weather here in the Arizona desert. And it is glorious!!!!
Posted by Laura @ 10/01/2002 03:43 PM PST

Dear reader Ann:
Please tell us you walked into the wrong theatre at your local multiplex by accident and that you really were destined for some highbrow piece of cinematic art and not XXX.
Posted by jay @ 10/01/2002 03:44 PM PST

According to what the Times said, Diesel was told by a producer that he could name any project he wants and he said he loved musicals and always wanted to do GUYS AND DOLLS and would ask Nicolle to do it with him. Hopefully they won't let them have the rights, but if it goes any further a letter writing campaign might be in order.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 10/01/2002 03:58 PM PST

Well...what if the big lug-alah can sing?
Wouldn't THAT be a kick!
In the 1955 movie, Brando neither sang nor acted...so if Diesel could sing, it wouldn't be as bad as the Brando version! Kidman's voice is better than Simmons', although I'm not saying Nicole will EVER be a Jean Simmons. She has qualities, though.
They'd need to surround the two performers with a dynamite cast, though...REAL musical talent.
And we know THAT won't happen....
...sigh......
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/01/2002 04:23 PM PST

There is one film I've enjoyed where Vin Diesel proved a competant actor, at least in the voice area. The film was the animated "Iron Giant," where he played the title character. I admit this isn't on the same level as "Hamlet," but it isn't "Porky's", and voice acting takes some skill. Creating a character with only one's voice, making an audience care about a monstrous mechanical lunk, is not the easiest task. While "XXX" may not have shown Mr. Diesel's acting chops to their best advantage, I believe the man deserves some credit.
And his singing can always be dubbed.
Posted by S. Woody White @ 10/01/2002 05:34 PM PST

Perhaps those chops are merely musclebound!
: )
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/01/2002 06:18 PM PST

As far as revival cast recordings go, wasn't the recent "Do I Hear a Waltz" recording based on the Pasadena Playhouse production? Does anyone around here know? BK?
Posted by S. Woody White @ 10/01/2002 06:39 PM PST

Jay - Alas, I wish I could say
such a thing...but I willingly
went into the theater with the
intent watching XXX. I'd heard
nothing about it beforehand,
and a friend was paying for me
to avoid having to see it by
himself. I beg the theatre
gods' forgiveness for my folly.
Incidentally..I'm not sure which
was more painful, the horrible
lines he was given to work
with, or how he delivered
them. Even more off topic...no
part of XXX could compare with
the ghastly spectre that was
Spiderman...oy...
Posted by Ann @ 10/01/2002 09:27 PM PST

"Waiting for Guffman," "The Jerk," and "Airplane!" are wonderful bits of silly comedy, always sure to bring a smile to my face.
I, for one, do not enjoy turning my heat on, because that means my utility bill goes up, which my meager student budget really does not enjoy.
Posted by Jed @ 10/01/2002 09:29 PM PST

Jay - Alas, I wish I could say
such a thing...but I willingly
went into the theater with the
intent watching XXX. I'd heard
nothing about it beforehand,
and a friend was paying for me
to avoid having to see it by
himself. I beg the theatre
gods' forgiveness for my folly.
Incidentally..I'm not sure which
was more painful, the horrible
lines he was given to work
with, or how he delivered
them. Even more off topic...no
part of XXX could compare with
the ghastly spectre that was
Spiderman...oy...
Posted by Ann @ 10/01/2002 09:30 PM PST

hmm...don't remember hitting
the button twice...
Posted by Ann @ 10/01/2002 09:31 PM PST

My picks for the most "dazzingly deft and delightfully dizzying" film comedies:
BRINGING UP BABY - Everytime I see this film, the more I appreciate the fine supporting cast.
MY FAVORITE WIFE - Prefer this Dunne/Grant pairing over "The Awful Truth."
THE BACHELOR AND THE BOBBY SOXER - Cary Grant rules!
I WAS A MALE WAR BRIDE - Ann Sheridan and Cary Grant. Who'd've thunk!
MY MAN GODFREY - Again, some wonderful supporting players.
THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER - All around good fun. Wacky characters.
THE MORE THE MERRIER - The ever delightful and conflicted Jean Arthur.
THE MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK - Preston Sturges, Betty Hutton and Eddie Bracken all at high pitch. Love it.
THE GAY DIVORCEE - Wonderful script and supporting actors.
THE MAIN EVENT - I like this better than "What's Up Doc?" The characters are more accessible. Fun interplay between Ryan O'Neal and La Streisand.
MAN'S FAVORITE SPORT - When I saw this, I thought Paula Prentiss was wonderfully funny and unique. Rock Hudson seemed at ease in the role and very funny. Again, great support.
That Touch of Mink - Delightful. Good script. Audrey Meadows and Gig Young. Doris wonderfully funny. Grant a good foil.
SUNDAY IN NEW YORK - The players were well cast with a good script that made you think.
SOME LIKE IT HOT - Supreme.
TRADING PLACES - Dan Aykroyd was loose man! Love those comeuppance stories!
HER ALIBI - IMHO, this is as close as they've come to Cary Grant's film comedies. Selleck, Paulina, clever writing, good directing, and great art and production design. The supporting characters all had a back story that was hinted at enough to add texture.
Posted by Donna - Cabaret West @ 10/01/2002 09:42 PM PST

S. Woody White: Yes, the Pasadena Do I Hear a Waltz was recorded, produced by my very own self. What do you think of that? I've been enjoying all these posts amidst the madness of the day, on top of which I am fighting whatever it is I'm coming down with - am fairly miserable right now.
Posted by bk @ 10/01/2002 10:10 PM PST

Aww, BK. I hope you feel better real quick!! Sending you good vibes right now!!!!
Laura
Posted by Laura @ 10/01/2002 11:12 PM PST

Chicken Soup!
If you haven't got any, get some Chinese egg drop soup delivered!
You're working yourself too hard, with stress, and you've been exposed to too many people with their nasty germs.
Now you've got the crud! Can you work with the crud????
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/01/2002 11:15 PM PST

Note to Donna@CabaretWest --
I hear the Cinegrill is still closed. What gives?
Posted by Laura @ 10/01/2002 11:17 PM PST

Eh?
Posted by Lemont @ 10/01/2002 11:34 PM PST

Answer to Laura:
Just found out today The Cinegrill won't open until 2003. Don't make any reservations!
Posted by Donna - Cabaret West @ 10/02/2002 12:02 AM PST

BK being ill is not allowed. Not even aloud. It should simply just not happen. Try sniffing some eucalyptus oil.
A record number of posts in the next few days should help. Let's get to it absentees and lurkers.
Posted by Tom Guest @ 10/02/2002 01:35 AM PST

Re: Vin Diesel
He should be seen naked or not at all. IMHO, of course. :-)
Posted by Philip Crosby @ 10/02/2002 06:32 AM PST

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