Posted by Brandon @ 11/29/2002 11:03 AM PST

In addition to family, health, and friends....I am thankful to live in the time of the DVD and CD. No longer at the mercy of the television programmers, I can watch what I want when I want to....listen to music I enjoy...and in general entertain myself.

Happy day after to all. Do what you must.

Tonight on TCM is the original Russian version of SOLARIS which is available on DVD - but perhaps I will try it out first. It comes on at 9:50 EST.

Posted by Jrand55 @ 11/29/2002 11:22 AM PST

Solaris - 9:30 pm EST - TCM don't miss the first 20 minutes because of me. *-(

Posted by Jrand55 @ 11/29/2002 11:26 AM PST

Today, I am thankful that I survived this morning.

Posted by Laura @ 11/29/2002 11:26 AM PST

I plan to see the new Solaris, this weekend. I haven't seen the original but I can already tell by the reviews of this new one by Soderbergh, that it probably has very little to do with the Russian version. A big hint is the running time seeing as this new one is about 90 minutes and the original is about 160. I will probably rent the Russian version soon after I watch this new one. And after all the disputes about the film showing George Clooney's behind and giving it an R rating the MPAA finally rated it PG-13 for appeal. I don't see what the appeal is because I don't think any teenagers would want to watch this seeing as it is supposed to be very slow moving but I will not argue. I'm also going to see 8 Crazy Nights, this weekend. Any other people have plans for the weekend?

Posted by Brandon @ 11/29/2002 11:27 AM PST

Hey, you guys! I got my learner's permit today. My mom gave me my first driving lesson.

Posted by Sandra @ 11/29/2002 11:28 AM PST

Oh, and Dear Reader Kerry- I'll probably run into you some day.

Posted by Sandra @ 11/29/2002 11:29 AM PST

I'm thankful that I saw SOME LIKE IT HOT last night. I miss the bite and the cynicism that the film has, but, love Styne's tunes. Tony Curtis is a gem;not a stage actor, yet, but, he is game and incredibly gifted.

Posted by td @ 11/29/2002 11:55 AM PST

Congratulations on getting your learner's permit Sandra. And, I have never seen Some Like It Hot, but The American Film Institute called it the funniest film ever made. I guess I should probably rent it then.

Posted by Brandon @ 11/29/2002 12:01 PM PST

I am trully thankful for BK
posting something in French
AT LAST and enabling me to
understand what's going on
on this site!

Zis izz zit !!

Posted by François @ 11/29/2002 12:14 PM PST

Oh, ... and I also wanted to
thank heaven for little girls, but
Maurice beat me to it! Darn!

-- zank evenn fer littel girlzz --
for those of us who dig French,
oeuf curse!!

Posted by François @ 11/29/2002 12:19 PM PST

Me again!!

td, who plays Sugar in this
Certains L'Aiment Chaud
production?

Cynicism, you "want"
cynicism? It's all around us!
TV sitcoms are full of it!

Posted by François @ 11/29/2002 12:24 PM PST

Only 9 days until BK's birthday.

Posted by The count @ 11/29/2002 12:32 PM PST

TD:

How about a little more a review of Some Like It Hot? I interested in knowing what songs they used and what differences there are from the Broadway, 1st tour and the London version.

Posted by Michael Shayne @ 11/29/2002 12:40 PM PST

I'm sorry, Laura, but Huh?

Why wouldn't/shouldn't you have "survived this morning"??????

I'm thankful I have today off...and the rest of the weekend, too.

I'm thankful I've got my "Holiday" shopping done.

I'm thankful I've paid all my monthly bills.

I'm thankful I've paid off my credit card, including the fare for my roundtrip ticket home next month.

I'm thankful that I've seen "La Boheme" and "Mostly Sondheim" and can say each was superb!

I'm thankful BK was patrolling rec.movies.music the day after the Oscars and jumped to my defense in a posting about my impressions...and then suggested I visit here.

I'm thankful my mom is in good health, and that I am in good health and that my aging kitty is active and well thanks to veterinary medicine.

I'm also thankful I do not have a coconut cake in my kitchen...calling my name moment by moment....

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 11/29/2002 01:10 PM PST

Happy Chanukah, Happy Holidays and Happy Day-After-Thanksgiving. It is I, one of the errant and truant. I was on Long Island from Tuesday afternoon until now (4:15pm NYC time). I am grateful that I was able to spend Thanksgiving w/my partner and family and we had a great time. I will go back and read the archives later today/tonight so I may catch up!

Congrats Sandra on your permit acquistion :-) Although it's only a permit, so Dear Reader Laura (AKA Mom) will still have to be in the car when you drive, correct?

Posted by Ben @ 11/29/2002 01:16 PM PST

I am grateful for my family...my friends...this website...my job...and the fact that I am able to pay my rent every month and still be able to eat once in a while. Oh! And I am also grateful that Dear Reader Laura is the one teaching Dear Reader Sandra how to drive and not me. ;-) Congratulations on getting your learner's permit Sandra. I remember what a huge big deal that was for me...and now I live in a city where I fear for my life every time I think about driving. Haha!!

Posted by Jason @ 11/29/2002 01:16 PM PST

Oh yes...Happy Chanukah to all those who celebrate!

Posted by Jason @ 11/29/2002 01:18 PM PST

I am thankful that Guy Haines started this here website and that he allows Bruce to post every day and Donald to have new shows every week.

I am thankful that Phoebie, our dog, has mostly outgrown the puppy stage and I don't have to be afraid of what I am going to find when I come home any more.

I am thankful that I am able to see almost every show playing in NYC at a discount thanks to various websites, mailing lists and TKTS discounts.

I am thankful that after several bad relationships over the years I am finally in a good one.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

By the way, I saw the out-of-town tryout of SOME LIKE IT HOT when it was still called SUGAR. I thought the (real) women were much better than the men and I loved the set. A week later they fired the set designer and had a different set for Broadway!

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 11/29/2002 01:37 PM PST

Am I the only one who does not think "Some Like It Hot" is even among the top 50 funniest movies of all time.
I am a huge Billy Wilder fan.
And "Some Like It Hot" is a very good movie. But, more than anything else, it is clever.
Extremely clever, and well-made.
It is a film I admire greatly.
But it never has convulsed me. It isn't even Wilder's funniest film.
And repeat viewing doesn't help.
To me, the really funny movies are funny every time I see them, and usually have the ability to move me emotionally besides making me laugh out loud.
To illustrate where I'm coming from, herewith my approximate top 10 funniest movies:

1- The Miracle of Morgan's Creek

2- Broadway Danny Rose

3- To Be Or Not To Be (NOT the Mel Brooks version)

4- The Americanization of Emily

5- The Palm Beach Story

6- The Twentieth Century

7- City Lights

8- Defending Your Life

9- A Fish Called Wanda

10- (A tie) The Court Jester
and Zelig

Posted by mark rothman @ 11/29/2002 01:55 PM PST

I'm thankful Bruce is going to French school to learn to spell "pluie" and "parapluie" :)

Seriously though, happy holidays to everyone!

Posted by Jennifer @ 11/29/2002 02:27 PM PST

Now that I know why Dear Reader Laura is thankful to survive this morning (having added two and two, that is), I'm also grateful Dear Reader Sandra was able to make it possible.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 11/29/2002 03:02 PM PST

I would NEVER have dared to
correct BK's spelling!!!

Thank you Jennifer!

Je Chante Sous la Pluie,
Je danse sous la Pluie.........

Posted by François @ 11/29/2002 03:09 PM PST

I am thankful for the fun in our lives - much helped by HHW. I am indeed grateful for the talents of Mr Sondheim and others who have given so much enjoyment to others. I am grateful for John Bucchino's songs too.
It is election day in our state today - DVD night will be get me through. I will probably watch the Colm Wilkinson DVD I have just borrowed - the one with Patti Lu One Note. (just said that for Jason to react)
I am also grateful that I get to hear Barbara and Barbra and the "stable" of BK talent.

Posted by Tom Guest (from OZ) @ 11/29/2002 03:17 PM PST

Happiness is knowing there are friends out there who are loyal and supportive though you may never get to meet them. HHW has given us all more faith in what is truly a beautiful world.
Sorry forgot to emntion i am thankful for having heard the talent of Judy Kay. (OK Francois).

Posted by Tom from OZ @ 11/29/2002 03:21 PM PST

Happiness is knowing there are friends out there who are loyal and supportive though you may never get to meet them. HHW has given us all more faith in what is truly a beautiful world.
Sorry forgot to emntion i am thankful for having heard the talent of Judy Kay. (OK Francois).

Posted by Tom from OZ @ 11/29/2002 03:21 PM PST

enmtion? mention! I am thankful that I don't really have sleepless nights worrying over my proof reading skills etc.

Posted by Tom from OZ @ 11/29/2002 03:22 PM PST

Tom,

Judy is upset because "her"
Kay is Kaye, like in "kaye sera
sera".....

"enmtion" is mention spelled
with emotion....

Speaking of "Que Sera Sera",
-- you gonna get the link there,
wait! -- Daniel Gélin, who was
in "The Man Who Knew Too
Much", just passed away, at 84
I believe....

So, i'm thankful I'm alive and
well........

Posted by François @ 11/29/2002 03:31 PM PST

Mark - the pellet with the poison is in the chalice from the palace, the vessel with the pessel has the brew that is true.....remember that!
No wait....there's been a change.....

Posted by Jrand @ 11/29/2002 03:41 PM PST

Pestle, that is....

Posted by Non Speller55 @ 11/29/2002 03:42 PM PST

Dear Reader Laura and others who might be interested --

THE CINEGRILL in Hollywood will reopen in March 2003 as (hold onto your chapeaux) FEINSTEIN'S AT THE CINEGRILL. That's right. THE Michael Feinstein will be lending his name to the place and will also appear there 4 times a year.

OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS---There's a REALLY BIG cabaret show coming up on Sunday afternoon, December 8, at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. It'll be from 2 to 5 p.m. and will feature 24 performers with surprise guests. The show will honor J.D. KESSLER (Manager of The Cinegrill) and TOM ROLLA (Owner/Manager of The Gardenia) for their contributions to the cabaret scene in L.A. Read all about the show planned at this link on the Cabaret West website
http://cabaretwest.org/Cabaret%20festival.htm

Au revoir!

Posted by Donna - Cabaret West @ 11/29/2002 04:24 PM PST

Well, the Christmas season is officially upon us. Mother-in-law has begun the annual "Please come for Christmas -- I never get to see you" speech.

Posted by Laura @ 11/29/2002 04:26 PM PST

Thank you Francois. O Kaye.

Posted by Tom from OZ @ 11/29/2002 04:29 PM PST

Kiss Me, Kaye!

I'll be thankful...

Posted by François @ 11/29/2002 04:58 PM PST

If Michael Feinstein is taking over the Cinegrill prepare to pay a lot of money when you go there. His cabaret in NYC is one of the most expensive places in town. You end up paying more for a sixty minute floor show than you would pay for the best seats at a Broadway musical. It's true that some of the best talent plays there (well not always - he's featured Susan Lucci twice), but still it is unfair to those whose entertainment budget is not unlimited but who would like to see some of these acts.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 11/29/2002 05:46 PM PST

BK:

Are you going to NYC to for your birthday? For fun? For Business? Or all three?

When you do and if you have a chance to speak with Miss Dorothy Loudon give her all our best at HHW for a speedy recovery.

Posted by Michael Shayne @ 11/29/2002 05:49 PM PST

Now, here is the irony. Oh, yes, there is irony and here it is - today, the very day that I titled these here notes The French Turn, I received a package from amazon.com. What does that have to do with the price of a wombat - well, I'll tell you what - the package was from amazon.com France. Isn't that irony? I, BK, received a package from amazon France - a DVD of Francois Truffaut's Fahrenheit 451 in the PAL format (which the new DVD player will play) - a special edition enhanced for widescreen TVs).

I a jiggy with all these posts, dear readers. These are fine post-Thanksgiving posts. It has been raining on and off today, which I am enjoying. I also picked up quite a few of next week's DVD releases which I'll tell you about in tomorrow's notes.

Posted by bk @ 11/29/2002 06:18 PM PST

City Lights and A Fish Called Wanda are great comedies. As for Fahrenheit 451, I saw it in the summer but hardly remember anything about it.

Posted by Brandon @ 11/29/2002 06:29 PM PST

I'm grateful I'm here. And that we're all here.

Posted by Kerry @ 11/29/2002 07:08 PM PST

Let me first address Mark's comment about SOME LIKE IT HOT, the film, before shedding more light on the production I saw last night.
Personally, I have always found Wilder's biting, sarcastic, cynical and darkly humored screenplay (with I.A.L. Diamond) to be one of the funniest, wittiest and most enjoyable comedies ever created. It would most definitely be a desert island dvd for me. Even though it ends with the line, "Nobody's perfect," I find everything about the film to be as near as perfect as a comedy is going to get. Out of curiousity, though, Mark, just what is it that you don't find funny about it? I've seen your list, and at least four of your films I fail to find the humor in, but I'm in complete agreement with you on AMERICANIZATION, probably the most underappreciated films of the 1960s.

Francois, the juenne fille portraying Sugar Kane is Jodi Carmeli, and she is much more than very good. She never tries to imitate MM, and creates a lovely character.

Michael, I'm not familiar at all with any other incarnation of SUGAR, quelle surprise! But, I'm not gonna lie. I have an lp around here somewhere of the OBC, which someone bought for me at a flea market, still shrink-wrapped. The only songs I knew before last night were "The Beauty That Drives a Man Mad," and "Penniless Bums." I knew the interpolated songs, "Runnin' Wild," "I Fall in Love to Easily" and the dropped, then returned, "The People in My Life." So, in all honesty, I cannot compare B'way to London to current tour.
This much I will say: I sure do miss the "bite" of Wilder/Diamond's screenplay. The characters in SOME LIKE IT HOT (the musical) are all too damned NICE. There's not an opportunist in the pack! The show plays like a tribute to the movie, which sometimes is good and is sometimes bad. The good stuff - a nifty monochromatic design that is followed through on until reaching Florida near the end of Act One, using "Runnin' Wild" as Sugar's musical introduction. Also, keping the Osgood role relatively the same size as Joe E. Lewis' in the film rather than creating a star vehicle for Tony C. The misjudgments: few, but the interpolation of "I Fall in Love Too Easily" just doesn't cut it, unless you've got Sinatra or Judy Kuhn singing it, since what Mr. Curtis does with it can hardly be called "singing." There is brilliant, sheer brilliant use of tap dance throughout. My major problem was not with any of the cast, but with Mr. Peter Stone's book.
Email me, I'll send you a list of the songs used, if you like.

And, I too, am thankful that we all share Haineshisway.com!

Posted by td @ 11/29/2002 08:27 PM PST

td,

Many thanks for the info!

Jodi Car(a)meli ?
She must be swet indeed...

Saw that show in L.A., back in
1974, and the stars were Cyril
Ritchard, Larry Kert, Robert
Morse and Harry Tonto who
was great as the gangster
who could tap like a
machinegun....

1974! Boy, that was yesterday!

Posted by François @ 11/29/2002 08:40 PM PST

Jodi is SO sweet that I ... ate
one of the "es". No swet!

Posted by François @ 11/29/2002 08:42 PM PST

Sorry! Last name is wrong; it
was Steve Condos...

Old age!!!!!

Posted by François @ 11/29/2002 08:51 PM PST

Oui, Francois, you gorgeous frenchman, you - it's a Miss Jodi Carmeli, sans "a."
from her bio:
...comes straight from Broadway where she played Maureen and Mrs. Cohen in RENT. B.A. - Theatre Arts, University of Minnesota. She's played The Star to Be in ANNIE, toured Europe as Sandy in GREASE, and was a vocalist winner on Star Search.

Posted by td @ 11/29/2002 09:09 PM PST

What I'm thankful for today...

-That I got to sleep in yesterday until noon.

-That I let myself sleep in until 10:30 today - I was "supposed" to get up at 9:00, but that wasn't going to happen... And I still got all my stuff done today that I was supposed to get before rehearsal this afternoon.

-And I'm thankful that my rehearsals from now on won't start until at least 11:00. No more getting up extra early just to deal with the morning rush hour traffic.

-And I'm thankful that my new niece is just as much a night owl as I am. Lately, she's even been helping me type my late night postings.

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 11/29/2002 09:20 PM PST

Francois, you named everyone but Sugar Kane herself, who was played by my old pal Leland Palmer. I thought it a terrific production. I think Osgood was Gale Gordon who was wonderful.

Posted by bk @ 11/29/2002 09:47 PM PST

td,

You write "gorgeous" because
you've never seen me........

Well, then Jodi was here in
Paris, three years ago, in the
touring company of Grease...
and i missed her... and she
was three years younger!!!!

Posted by François @ 11/29/2002 09:50 PM PST

Well, just to let you all know just how much adoration I have for Wilder's film, here's a very old link:

http://www.dvdlaunch.com/somelikeithotse.html

Posted by td @ 11/29/2002 09:50 PM PST

Francois, whether I've seen you, or not, vous etes gorgeous. You might even be gorgeousness personified. Because, it is not, mon ami, what the eyes behold, but rather what the heart surmises.

Posted by td @ 11/29/2002 09:52 PM PST

BK,

Thank you !
I have to confess that I could
NOT remember her name...

I"m also trying to remember
who played the lady in charge
of the orchestra -- in the play --
she's well-known but her
name escapes me!!!!

Posted by François @ 11/29/2002 09:54 PM PST

td,

I'm blushing, I'm
blushing.....but when I read
"here's a very old link", I
thought you were mentioning
me again.....

BK, I'm thinking of Virginia
Martin ; could that have been
her?

Posted by François @ 11/29/2002 09:59 PM PST

Francois, perchance, are you the missing link? Smile, darn ya, smile!

Posted by td @ 11/29/2002 10:36 PM PST

Touring Company

Robert Morse (OBC, Larry Kert, Gale Gordon, Leland Palmer, Virginia Martin, Joe Ross, Steve Condos

Posted by Michael Shayne @ 11/30/2002 04:27 AM PST

In re: Jodi Carmeli

Her bio states:

"...She's played The Star to Be in ANNIE, toured Europe as Sandy in GREASE, ..."

I first read that as "toured Europe as Sandy in ANNIE." That would be much more interesting.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 11/30/2002 05:24 AM PST

As I recall, Cyril Ritchard directed and starred in the national tour of Sugar when it opened in Los Angeles in August of 1974 (having created the role of Osgood on Broadway). Unfortunately, Ritchard had a heart attack and had to suddenly withdraw from the show (he didn't die for several more years). Gale Gordon was immediately called in to replace him as Osgood. Ritchard did play a few performances in L.A., but I'm not sure how many. Gower Champion was given credit for the original direction and choreography, but Ritchard and Denny Martin Flinn were the tour director and choreographer of record.

Posted by Robert Armin @ 11/30/2002 05:36 AM PST

Well yes, here I am, up and at 'em on the Right Coast, posting on yesterday's notes at 8:30 in the morning our time, hoping everyone checks the previous day first.

This year's Thanksgiving did a phase shift. My Joe has a stye, and his eye was almost completely swollen shut, and so he slept most of Thanksgiving Day and we had nothing but sandwiches. (Pastrami, corned beef, and lacy Swiss on Hungarian onion rolls) For dessert, he had a crème brûlée, and I had a caramel pumpkin bread pudding. We love our baker.

Yesterday, I took him to the doctor to get antibiotics for his stye, and we stopped by his sister Diane's to see Mom, who lives there in a room we made out of the old one-car garage.

Mom told us that Diane and her girls had been out shopping since 6:00 am, and we sat around talking about how crazy anyone must be to shop on such a day, when the TV traffic report was telling us alternate routes to avoid the malls.

But the girls all burst in about one o'clock, and my favorite niece Laura of Green Gables was all aglow because,

1. At twelve-and-a-half years of age she had been allowed to buy the one thing she really wanted for Christmas: War and Peace, unabridged, or as she called it "Warnpees".

2. She saw Seven Brides for Seven Brothers last night on channel 13 and was all agog at the dancing.

3. She caught the first part of the miniseries of Anne of Green Gables after that, but wasn't allowed to stay up till four to see the whole thing.

So imagine her reaction, when I pulled out the CD for the musical of Anne of Green Gables! And then a strong hint to her mother that next year's summer vacation should include Prince Edward Island, where the show plays every summer.

Getting home, I made Joe and me the dinner I had planned for Thanksgiving: fillet mignon with shrimp, broccoli, creamed onions, and potatoes "au rotten", as we call them. And two Dove bars for dessert. The chocolate bar, not the soap.

And I am thankful that Jason has been cast in the rôle of the Starving Actor in the Garret, and not me. I played the part of the Starving Student in the Garret for a long time, but I don't think I would be suited to it now.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 11/30/2002 05:45 AM PST

td,

To me, there is a difference between a movie that is "fun", and one that is "funny"
What's not funny to me about "Some Like It Hot" is simply that it doesn't make me laugh. I indicated before that it is an tremendously admirable movie, and probably contains MM's greatest performance, which can consistently bowl me over.
If I had to analyze why it doesn't make me laugh, I'd say it has to do with caring about the characters. With maybe one or two exceptions, the movies on my list have enough of a reality base and provide you with enough of a desire to care about the characters that it's easier to laugh out loud when something amusing happens.
The only one I care about in "Some Like It Hot" is MM. Her performance is so textured and believable that my heart goes out to her. And all Curtis(and to a lesser extent, Lemmon) do to her are terrible things. They are not particularly likeable, and the way they treat MM makes me actively dislike them.
I think that's why I don't laugh. Wilder's biting cynicism, which I've always enjoyed, added to the humor and made me laugh consistently in "Love In The Afternoon"(which could easily replace almost any of the films on my list)and "Sabrina" because all the characters were inherently likeable.
I'm curious--which of the 4 movies on my list did you not have that much regard for?

Posted by mark rothman @ 11/30/2002 08:38 AM PST

Hi,
I don´t know what I can write, I´m from Germany an my Germany is not the best, I know.
But I read so much about Jodi Carmeli. I saw her a long time in Berlin and the rest of Germany. She ist wonderful and beautyful and I miss her so much. I lost her adresses and can´t wirite her, i can kill me for it. What is she doing now?
Has anybody pics where Jodi is on, please send it to me it would be so wounderful: magic.con@gmx.de Thanx so much!!!!

Posted by Kai @ 07/05/2003 11:12 AM PST