haines his way

11/30/2002:
"THE SATURDAY SHUFFLE"

Well, dear readers, the cleaning lady is here and she is giving me the evil eye and additionally she’s giving Luckie the evil eye, too, so we both have to skeedaddle out of here. Luckiely, I have answered all of your excellent questions, but unluckiely I haven’t had time to do the trivia question.
Last night I watched the brand spanking new DVD of The Producers with Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder. It looks great, sounds great (I don’t much care for the 5.1 remix, but the mono sounds just fine and dandy and also dandy and fine). There’s one of those annoying Laurent Bouzareau, or whatever the hell his name is, documentaries, but it does have some fun stuff with Mel and the gang. The film remains hilarious when it’s hilarious and strained when it’s strained (I’ve never loved the last ten minutes or so), but it’s such a wonderful example of a comedy that knows what it’s doing and why it’s funny that it’s just breathtaking to watch it take the chances it takes. Zero and Gene are both wonderful in it, as are the rest of the cast.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? I also picked up The Thief of Bagdhad (same old transfer from the laserdisc, which is a bloody shame), The Children’s Hour (ditto), Legend of the Lost (bad movie, but a guilty pleasure – it looks pretty good, too), and most importantly A Kiss Before Dying, the first version with Robert Wagner and Joanne Woodward, from the novel by Ira Levin. There’s no real way to film the novel successfully, but this version is not bad, with the exception of the awful musical score, which is comprised of variations on the awful title song (yes, Virginia, the lyric “a kiss before dying”). The director, Gerd Oswald, was always underappreciated (his work on The Outer Limits was the best of anyone who worked on that show) and it’s a lovely enhanced transfer to boot. If you haven’t read the book, find a copy and read it before viewing the movie. It’s one of the great first novels in the thriller genre.
Has anyone noticed that I am just shuffling along on a Saturday? Just meandering along, just moseying along. Has anyone ever done the Soupy Shuffle? It's very close to the Saturday shuffle only with soup. What the hell am I talking about?
Well, perhaps we ought to click on the Unseemly Button below because the cleaning lady’s evil eye is working overtime right now.

Well, shall we get right to the answers to your excellent questions? We shall and we shall.
Jrand55 asks when I produced the CD of Ronald Stein’s filmmusic, Not of this Earth did I work from original materials, the film soundtrack itself or a combination. How much music was recorded for Attack of the 50ft. Woman, which is included on the CD? We worked from Mr. Stein’s own personal tapes (given to us by his widow, Harlene) which were in excellent condition. I don’t recall how much more of 50ft. Woman there was, but what’s on the album are the choice bits.
JMK asks have I ever been to Wisconsin and if so did I survive? I do believe I was in Wisconsin, Eau Claire to be precise. It was in 1967, I was doing a little tour of a play called Do You Know the Milky Way with a group called The Bishop’s Company. I’d taken two months off of college to do it, and we played all over the United States of America. In each town, there was always a family who put us up. The reason I remember Eau Claire is because there was a teenage daughter in the family I stayed with, very pretty and we chatted for several hours after the play. She wanted to be an actress and she dreamed of coming to Hollywood one day. I never saw her or talked to her again after that night, but I always remembered her name. Several years later, I went to see Aloha Bobby and Rose with Paul LeMat, and by gum and by golly if the female lead in the film wasn’t being played by that very same Eau Claire girl – Dianne Hull. Oh, and yes, I survived.
William E. Lurie asks who cooked my Thanksgiving turkey and what other dishes would we be partaking of. He asked that prior to Thursday’s notes, but if anyone missed the menu, it’s in yesterday’s notes and Thursday’s posts.
Matthew asks where all the manuscripts for film scores end up after they are used? Well, nowadays I think they take care of that sort of thing, but many classic film score manuscripts were destroyed as a matter of course in the old days – which is why people like John Morgan and Bill Stromberg (who restore film scores for Marco Polo) labor mightily to preserve what’s been lost. If a performer is playing a role in a professional show, does that performer have the right to record his/her songs from the show – is that in the contract. If you’re talking about a cast recording of an Equity show, normally there is what they call a cast album rider in the contract which guarantees each cast member the right to record. I remember when I agreed to do john and jen that one of the reasons I agreed was that Michele Pawk was playing the role originated by Carolee Carmello. However, there was a big brouhaha and Carolee (who was excellent) ended up doing the recording, despite the fact that Michele was actually playing the show.
Allan asks how long a copyright lasts and if people can keep renewing copyrights until the cows come home. If I recall correctly, copyright lasts 28 years and was renewable once for another 28 years. But, something has changed in the last couple of years so it’s a bit different now – and I’m just not sure what the change was/is. When I was at Varese Sarabande, Allan remembers seeing some reference to a Judy Kuhn album called Great Ladies of the Stage – what happened to it. Allan has the album right, but is just a teensy bit off on the singer, which was/is Judy Kaye not Judy Kuhn. We did a “great ladies of the stage” and then a followup, “great ladies of the screen”.
Tom from Oz asks if I’ve ever had to escape or run for my life from a natural occurance? Not really – although I’ve been through my share of earthquakes. If I had to rescue something from my home (other than Luckie) what would be the item I would try to take to safety. I really don’t know. I’d say some painting or something, but really if it’s just one item I don’t know. Thankfully all my memorabilia is in storage and hopefully safe and sound.
Jose asks if I keep my own personal archive of all the recordings I’ve produced, the films I’ve been in, the commercials, etc. Well, I certainly have copies of all the CDs I’ve done over the years, and I certainly have copies of all the films I’ve written and directed. I don’t have copies of every TV show I’ve guested on or even every film I’ve appeared in. I have quite a few, mind you, but not all. I’ve only got three or four of the hundred or more commercials I’ve done. Have I ever had deep-fried turkey? No, but I once had broiled egypt. We don’t allow groaning here at haineshisway.com. Did I ever work with Mary Martin? I wish.
Laura asks what are my favorite Forbidden Broadway bits? I’ve never been a huge fan of the series, but I did like Teeny Todd and the Mandy Patinkin thing, and I could watch Christine Pedi do Liza all day long.
George asks what is my least favorite traditional Thanksgiving dish? I don’t really have a least favorite traditional dish, I like it all. What’s my most favorite dish? If it’s made well, stuffing.
Jed asks if I prefer dark or white meat in turkey. White, always. Do I prefer wet or dry stuffing? Well, dry, unless by wet you mean with gravy, in which case I like both. Jellied cranberries or the lumpen kind? The lumpen kind.
Michael Shayne asks have I ever been up for a role where it got down to me and one other person and the other person got the role? Several times. It was between my friend Mike Lembeck and I to play Mackenzie Phillips’ boyfriend/husband on One Day at a Time. He got it, damn his eyes, although it was very close and right down to the wire. On the other hand it happened the other way around several times, too, where I got the part. Have I ever turned down a role that I later regretted turning down or did I choose correctly in turning it down. Only twice in my acting career did I turn down film or TV work – one was an episode of Baretta, simply because I’d heard nothing but horror stories about Robert Blake and how he loved to improvise and be nasty to everyone, and I just felt it wasn’t worth the aggravation, and I never regretted that decision for one second. I also turned down a rather substantial role in a teen comedy called The Seniors, directed by Dobie Gillis’s Rod Amateau. It was a fun part and I would have done it, but they insisted that I show my actual real-life butt cheeks and I refused and turned it down. What well known song would I choose to be the theme from Bruce Kimmel’s life? Too difficult to choose, but my novel Benjamin Kritzer has several that I would be perfectly comfy with (and so does its sequel). What do I think of songs that were not songs to begin with, like several movie themes – Love Story, The Godfather, Dr. Zhivago. There have been some okay ones, but usually I find the lyrics strained and trite. I recently heard Claudine Longet do Rosemary’s Baby with lyrics and it was totally ludicrous.
Craig has his usual mini-plethora of questions: Have I seen the animated film Ice Age. I watched the first ten minutes, but haven’t had the time to watch the rest, but I shall. It’s well-known that Ira Gershwin wrote “dummy” lyrics to many of the Gershwin songs – do I use that methodology? No – to expend all that effort on dummy lyrics is silly to me – I just write the lyric and it takes the time it takes. If I can’t come up with a line, I just hum until I do. If I could cast myself in a remake of any movie what would it be and what role would I take on? Although I’m probably a bit long in the tooth for it now, I would absolutely love to play the Danny Kaye role in The Court Jester. How about a TV show? Well, I suppose I’d like to play Laurie Partridge’s boyfriend – oh, wait a minute, I did. Is there a song that will always bring a smile to my face whenever I hear it. Too many to list here – but yes. Again, see my novel, which is filled with them. Is there a song that I absolutely have to turn off when it’s played because it’s too painful? Well, in a way, Not a Day Goes By is one of those – very difficult for me to listen to that one for various reasons.
Kerry asks what are my five favorite advertising icons? Oh, I always loved the little Coppertone girl getting her bathing suit pulled down by the dog. I like Bob’s Big Boy, I like any Coca-Cola classic ad with a beautiful gal in it, I like Chiquita Banana, and quite a few others.
Td asks what my feelings are regarding fate, predestiny, synchronicity and esp. I believe in all of them, some more strongly than others. I especially believe in synchronicity and fate. I’ve had an experience or two with esp, so I sort of accept that it exists – I don’t really know from predestiny.
Sandra asks if I’ve ever had a horrid dream (she had had one when she asked the question) and then stayed awake the rest of the night because I didn’t want to have another. I’ve certainly had my share of horrid dreams (some related within past notes) but no, I’ve never stayed awake all night so I wouldn’t have another.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must go hither and thither and also yon, I must do errands, I must write, I must do the Saturday shuffle, I must eat foodstuffs as permitted by Eileen and Chet Atkins and I must watch the DVDs. I promise we’ll have a trivia contest next week and it will be a doozy. Don’t forget, tomorrow is our next live chat – be there or be square. In fact, be there or be round. Be there or be rectangular for all I care, just be there because our chats are more fun than a barrelful of wombats. Today’s topic of discussion: What is currently in you CD player and what’s in your DVD or video player? And, of course, feel free to discuss any other old thing that might come up.

Replies: 38 Unseemly Comments

Only 8 days until BK's birthday. Still time to get your pointy hats, colored tights and pantaloons.
Posted by The count @ 11/30/2002 10:10 AM PST

One, count 'em, one posts.
Pardon Monsieur Bruce le Kimmel, mais si Luckie n'est pas un chat, qu'est-ce que c'est que Luckie? Euh? Well, my dear friend, Luckie is a toutou. Isn't that just too too?
Posted by William F. Orr @ 11/30/2002 10:37 AM PST

Thank you for answering my questions re:50 FT WOMAN score. Yes you are right, Mr BK - those are the choice bits.
In my CD player - the Flower Drum Song SOUNDTRACK from the movie with a couple of the actors and a couple of ghost singers.
In my DVD player HOUSEBOAT with Cary and Sophia. And up next HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD.
A KISS BEFORE DYING with Robert Wagner and Joanne Woodward is a terrif movie. I only have the video, but it's fun. Woodward's father owns a copper mine and she drives a copper-colored '56 T-Bird! Virginia Leith (The Brain That Wouldn't Die) and Jeffrey Hunter are nice to watch, too...as are Mary Astor and George Macready.
We had an airplane extravaganza last night watching JULIE with Doris Day landing an airplane, THE CROWDED SKY with Anne Francis calming the passengers as the plane goes down, AIRPORT with too many stars, and AIRPORT '75 with Karen Black bringing in the plane. Whewwwwwwwwww!!
Hope everyone is having a great weekend. See ya in the chat!
Posted by Jrand55 @ 11/30/2002 10:59 AM PST

For those of you (in the U.S.) who chatted with Donna Lynne Champlin last week or read BK's wonderful interview with her, the Stephen King Movie That Dare Not Speak Its Name is on FLIX tonight. The imdb says Donna plays the Babysitter (uncredited).
Also, I failed to note one of the hilights of my Thanksgiving. Joe happened to flip the Channel to the Macy's Parade just as our own, our very own Kerry Butler sang "You Can't Stop the Beat" (with some other people, i.e., the rest of the cast minus Harvey).
Then we stayed on to watch the hula girls--and boys(!)-- dance around half naked in subfreezing weather.
Posted by William F. Orr @ 11/30/2002 11:29 AM PST

DVD Player: Sunset Blvd and The Producers.
CD Player Car' The Lord of the Rings Book unabridged.
CD Player Computer: Li'l Abner Encore Concert
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 11/30/2002 11:40 AM PST

For td: I posted this earlier today on yesterday's notes in response to your last question:
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 11:41 AM PST

Since we talked so much
about Some Like It Hot
yesterday, my cd player is jiggy
with SUGAR, which has a very
annoying hollow sound!!!
It seems that the recording
took place in a tunnel, and they
didn't bother improving the
quality when they did the
transfer to cd....
The stint with Tony Roberts
and Robert Morse for the
opening of My Favorite
Broadway #1 is WUNDEBAR,
so many years after......
Très bien, William, très bien!
A toutou in a tutu is a circus
act, right?
Posted by François @ 11/30/2002 11:46 AM PST

In the DVD player - the concert of Les Miz - I know, I know, but I got it on sale in a supermarket ... so that's alright then.
In the car DVD player - the new Joni Mitchell double CD Travelogue - her old songs rearranged with full orchestra - gawjus.
And Mandy Patinkin sings Sondheim - why, oh why, oh why does he have to go over the top like he does? Can someone not tell him?? You think it's all under control and he's singing along nicely, then suddenly Wham! off he goes on one of his shouting and screaming binges. It's particularly bad on Broadway Baby.
And Jodie Gillies, who I'm presuming is Aussie, as it came courtesy of young Tom from Oz.
In the home CD, Michel Legrand's Le Passe-Muraille, which came courtesy of young Francois. I'm trying, oh how I'm trying, but I'm afraid it's not doing much for me. I can't see how this became a Broadway musical.
Posted by Allan @ 11/30/2002 11:57 AM PST

Of course that should have been 'In the car CD player'. I don't have a DVD player in my car - it would be kinda dangerous, I think...
Posted by Allan @ 11/30/2002 11:59 AM PST

On my DVD player, the DTS soundtrack to "Titanic." Standing by: DVD of "Sunset Boulevard."
On my CD player: Warlow, Warlow, Phantom of the Opera, Warlow, Mostly Sondheim, Studs Lonigan, Big, The Racers,Home Alone 2, and thanks to someone in Oz, another Warlow (sample songs from various shows).
In my VHS: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," season 7 (current season).
Re: "Love in the Afternoon" -- how much our tastes vary. I've always found this movie interesting, but definitively unfunny and a bit sad. Gary Cooper -- moreso than Fred Astaire a year earlier -- seemed way too old for Hepburn, and did not cut a romantic figure, IMO.
Different strokes, though. I howl when I'm watching SLIH. Lemmon's Daphne is one of the GREAT screen performances.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 11/30/2002 12:12 PM PST

In the car cd player: Guy Haines
In the house cd player: uh, dunno. I rarely listen to music in the house.
In the VCR -- dunno. Don't watch it.
Off Topic -- I need to trim back my catnip garden before it freezes out here. Anyone have a cat? E-mail me your address, and you can have some nice home-grown catnip for your kitty's Christmas present.
Posted by Laura @ 11/30/2002 12:34 PM PST

Oh, yes, oh, yes!
Sorry, Tom from Oz,....... but my
cd player is also jiggy with the
gawjus -- to quote young Allan
( or is it Allan Young ?!) -- voice
of Jodie Gillies....
Those Aussie artists have
wonderful pipes..
Allan, postal services are
obviously very slow: nothing
yet! Will let you know.
Posted by François @ 11/30/2002 12:36 PM PST

Yup,
Cooper was way too old for Hepburn, so was Bogart in "Sabrina". But no older than alot of current leading men compared to their leading ladies. Cooper and Bogart weren't just two old guys. They were Cooper and Bogart
It didn't matter. And both films hinged on the endings that brought them together smashingly. If you think the endings for both of these films don't work, then it's simply "Different strokes".
Lemmon's Daphne is one of the GREAT screen performances, as you say. And I am able to watch it, and invariably say "Isn't that great?", and still not laugh.
Posted by mark rothman @ 11/30/2002 12:49 PM PST

Poor Guy Haines!
That must be quite
uncomfortable to be in a car cd
player!
Stop artist abuse, please!
Posted by François @ 11/30/2002 12:52 PM PST

I WANT catnip, I want catnip!
Posted by Miss Vickie @ 11/30/2002 12:53 PM PST

Les Mis has a lot to be thanked for in my book. (Can't remember the page or chapter). The OZ version gave us Jodie Gillies and Anthony Warlow as public names and faces. The wonderful Philip Quast was also in the cast and the very popular (here) Marina Prior(More of later for those who wait). I love the concert version of Les Mis and I do not think it is a guilty pleasure to buy the Cd or video at all.
In my CD player - some very rare and strange Barbra from a very thoughtful friend. Some Michael Ball (I know many of you can't see why!)but he is cute. Dvd player: Colm Wilkinson & Patti Lupone concert which I found somewhat disappointing.
The varese Judy Kuhn/Kaye Cd? Show Music listed it incorrectly as an album due from Kuhn rather than Kaye. Oh for another Kuhn album.
I know I should look up amazon and yesterday's notes but can someone let me know if the Green gables musical CD is still available and should I purchase.
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 11/30/2002 01:05 PM PST

That Legend of the Lost...is that the movie with John Wayne and Sophia Loren AND Rosanno Brazzi?
Is THAT on DVD? OMG - saw it at the drive-in when I was little and did not understand a word either of them said...could just barely understand the duke. What is that movie about?
Posted by Jrand55 @ 11/30/2002 01:16 PM PST

Also in CD player - Jerry Herman's "Parade". First played yesterday but it all does sound familiar.
To the Patinkin comment. I still buy all the Cds and still get disappointed that he does not "bring it down". Kidadults very nearly got there. I still like his take on "Younger Than Springtime".
Posted by Tom Guest (from OZ) @ 11/30/2002 01:27 PM PST

Tom - I have the London cast Anne of Green Gables - comin' your way! Thanks also for clearing up the Kuhn/Kaye confusion. I was sure I'd seen it listed as Kuhn, and thought I'd gone doo-lally.
Posted by Allan @ 11/30/2002 01:47 PM PST

To help BK with his answer to
Allan: I believe that the current
copyright law protects the
rights through the
author/composer/whatever's
life plus 75 years.
DVD player: currently have
Waiting For Guffman in
there, after watching Eddie
Izzard: Dress to Kill last
night. For those who have not
discovered Izzard, he is one
funny fellow, IMO (again with
the internet lingo!)
VCR: Eddie Izzard: Definite
Article
CDs: Merrily We Roll Along
revival (produced by one
Mr. BK) and The Wurst of
P.D.Q. Bach
Ah, I just LOVE
these long weekends!!!
Posted by Jed @ 11/30/2002 02:13 PM PST

Michael: When was the Encores L'IL ABNER released? I thought it was one of the shows that didn't get recorded.
Ray's sister was over for leftover turkey (actually turkey soup and turkey salad) and we had some time to kill so we decided to watch a DVD. I suggested FIRST NUDIE MUSICAL. She loved it and laughed as much as we did. One thing never mentioned regarding the film: In the "Hello Honey" number, is the lady in the red curly wig Penny Marshall doing an unbilled cameo? It certainly looks like her.
In DVD: FIRST NUDIE MUSICAL
In VHS: Last night's Muppett Xmas special which we will watch without commercials tonight
In CD: Lost of Xmas music. For the rest of the month we put away the show albums for holiday music (except "Mrs. Santa Claus," "Here's Love," et. al.).
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 11/30/2002 03:26 PM PST

Francois wrote yesterday:
I would NEVER have dared to correct BK's spelling!!!
Thank you Jennifer!
Je Chante Sous la Pluie,
Je danse sous la Pluie.........
Ha ha, who me? I would never correct BK's spelling? But seriously, I liked his attempt at French. It was tres jolie.
Btw, it must be almost Christmas because the malls are overflowing with people. I have never seen so many people. How is it that I always forget how many people are at the malls at this time of year, until I go every year and say "OMG, there are too many people at the mall!"
Posted by Jennifer @ 11/30/2002 03:34 PM PST

On the DVD: PRIEST, also in the middle of HARRY POTTER the first.
Any lucky one catching the 4-track stereo festival at the American Cinematheque this week?
In about a half-hour they are showing JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH in glorious 4-track CinemaScope at the Egyptian. Last evening a rare RARE screening of Preminger's PORGY AND BESS. Allegedly the last 4-track print around of P&G.
To my great chagrin I'm missing them all. :(
However, LAMCA is showing RASPUTIN AND THE EMPRESS, rare MGM, on Tues. and I hope to be there.
Posted by Ross Care @ 11/30/2002 03:35 PM PST

No, the lady in the red wig was/is a real dancer. I, too, have missed all these stereo showings at the American Cinematheque. However, I've seen the Porgy and Bess print several times as it's owned by a friend of mine.
In my CD player, Jerry Goldsmith's wonderful score to The Prize (a true jewel - get it), in the DVD player, Serpico, which I shall watch momentarily.
Posted by bk @ 11/30/2002 04:07 PM PST

Ah, Ross Care...how nice to see you posting again.
Would that such wonders as 4-track stereo prints of movies were available up here in the Bay area. Still, we do have SW: Attack of the Clones playing at IMAX (or, we did. Not sure about now). I wish we could get a fully remastered soundtrack from Porgy and Bess -- what a magnificent job they did on that -- Andre Previn and Ken Darby heading up the music team -- and those glorious singers!!!
This has been a terribly low-key day for me. Just no energy level to speak of. Lolling in bed until practically noon, then lounging around sipping coffee and watching TV (and there's NOTHING on). I did catch a wonderful travelogue piece called "Visions of Greece" on one of the local PBS stations airing it as part of their fund drive. For a $175 pledge, I could have gotten the program on DVD! For a quarter of that, I got the 5-DVD Lord of the Rings set with Argonath bookends.
Of course, local PBS is well worth supporting, I agree...but I already support one and there are three local stations I'd love to be able to support.
There are 276 days until MY birthday, for what it's worth to anyone! :-Þ
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 11/30/2002 04:09 PM PST

Only 23 days until William F. Orr's Birthday
Posted by Someone Who Knows @ 11/30/2002 04:22 PM PST

Ron,
I'll care for your Bday if you
care for my catnip....
Miou -- ( Learned that from
some French alley cat! Boy, he
was cute! )
Posted by Miss Vickie @ 11/30/2002 04:55 PM PST

Hello All Y'All,
I worked today, so no lolling for me.
DVD player: "The World Of Henry Orient" which I saved for Thanksgiving. It is such a charming movie, and New York looks so beautiful. New York looks so beautiful in SO many movies!
CD player in the car: "Gershwin Overtures" which has a great "overture" (actually a compilation of bits of the score) from "Damsel in Distress" and the whole funhouse sequence for "Stiff Upper Lip." Fantastic arranging!
CD player at work: Christmas CD's (Ella Fitzgerald currently with The Andrews Sisters and Bing Crosby next in line).
Posted by Kerry @ 11/30/2002 05:00 PM PST

Dear Reader My Mom and I are making matzo ball soup in honor of Chanukah, but since we're not Jewish, we don't know if we're doing it right. Maybe we should go ask our neighbor Noah Goldstein and his Korean mail-order bride Yoo-Mee Goldstein. There are cars parked all up and down the street. They must be having a Chanukah "do".
Posted by Sandra @ 11/30/2002 05:05 PM PST

We just gave my dad some of the soup. He says that it's "quite edible, but nothing special." From him, that is a compliment.
He takes after his father. Dear Reader Kerry knows what I'm talking about.
Posted by Sandra @ 11/30/2002 05:16 PM PST

William Laurie
You are right about Li'l Abner. If you get my drift :-)
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 11/30/2002 05:32 PM PST

That should be William Lurie. Sorry!!!!
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 11/30/2002 05:33 PM PST

Where does one find these "unreleased" CDs?
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 11/30/2002 06:15 PM PST

First things first, Mark: the four films that I find un-funny on your list would be the ones that I find to be clever rather than funny.
Rewatching SOME LIKE IT HOT last night, I found, once again, to my surprise, that it kept my laughing right on through to the perfect closing line. I think it contains one of MM's better performances, but, I'd still go with her Lorelie Lee or her Cherie, or her wicked turn in NIAGRA, or her cry for the mustangs in THE MISFITS, or just call it all a tie. But, I think it is Lemmon's finest two hours, closely followed by THAT'S LIFE and THE APARTMENT. On the other hand, it is my second favorite Tony Curtis performance, the tops in my book being his "Great Leslie" in Blake Edwards' THE GREAT RACE. One other thing that I enjoyed in last night's viewing is how perfectly cast (and ensemble as well) the movie is cast - right down to the flirty bellhop. And one of the points of SOME LIKE IT HOT is that Joe learns and grows through his experiences - he uses people (mostly women - even Daphne) throughout the movie, opportunist that he is until that moment, when completely de-masculined, he can kiss Sugar with all the passion in the world, and mean it.
..and if I said that I think that Woody Allen has only made one enjoyable movie following MANHATTAN, you can easily judge which films on your list I don't find all that funny.
And, in my dvd player:
SUNSET BLVD.
SOME LIKE IT HOT
MICHAEL BALL LIVE AT THE ALBER HALL
STAR WARS II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES (and, yes, I like it, I really, really like it).
Nothing in the car cd player, I had the car washed yesterday, and cleared out all the cds this morning.
Home cd player:
CENTER STAGE (Michael Ball), STAGE AND SCREEN (Michael Ball), CHRISTMAS (Michael Ball), CHRISTMAS (Elaine Page), JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS (Nancy LaMott), JACQUES BREL is alive and well...(Film Soundtrack), SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (Deluxe film Soundtrack), HAINES HIS WAY (Guy Haines) - duh!, LORD OF THE RINGS - FELLOWSHIP OF THE RINGS (Original Soundtrack), BLOOD BROTHERS (Original New Zealand Cast) - thanks to a fellow Hainsie, you ol' OZ guy, you!
And one of these days, all 101 slots in the cd player will hold a cd.
Posted by td @ 11/30/2002 06:29 PM PST

101 slots in the cd player
?!?!?!?
WHAT's that ? A dalmatian?
Boy, jukeboxes are in again?
Digital ones, i guess !....
Posted by François @ 11/30/2002 07:33 PM PST

I read that The Producers' DVD has an hour long documentary, deleted scenes, a photo gallery and a trailer. Sounds good.
Posted by Brandon @ 11/30/2002 07:35 PM PST

Tom From OZ
Ben trying to email you, but they are being bounced back. Help!
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 12/01/2002 05:44 AM PST

td,
It was never my intention to take a crap on "Some Like It Hot"
In my previous posts, I said many complementary things about it. Especially about the performances. But when it's celebrated as the funniest movie ever made, and I don't laugh when I see it, I find it worth commenting about. Obviously, I'm outnumbered, but I think my opinion is worth something because I have spent the better part of my adult life fearlessly presenting sitcoms and plays to live audiences, with an unfailing instinct about what makes them laugh. That doesn't mean I've always succeeded. But when I've failed, I knew I was going to fail. Fortunately, that didn't happen very often, and involved circumstances mostly beyond my control.
So I am as bewildered as you are as to why this movie doesn't make me laugh, when it makes the American Film Institute roar. But I think I've made a reasonable case for why.
Joe's growth doesn't happen until
the very end, and maybe MM was even better in "Bus Stop", but she was so vulnerable in this that I couldn't enjoy it when she was taken advantage of by people we're supposed to like.
Woody Allen made a lot of people laugh with Broadway Danny Rose. So there's what to be said for subjectivity. As there were only two Woody Allen movies on my list, that still leaves two movies unaccounted for.
Yes, "SLIH" is perfectly cast, perfectly shot, in many ways perfect. But there is something in the story dynamic that makes it cold. Some, including me,like
it warm.
Posted by mark rothman @ 12/01/2002 08:18 AM PST

Ask BK: Got a question? Ask Bruce Kimmel...

© Copyright 2001-2003 Bruce Kimmel.
All Rights Reserved. Site design by hijinks design.