Posted by bk @ 08/17/2003 09:20 AM PST

Good Sunday morning to you all!

JRand52, Thanks for the Bollywood suggestion... I will look up this film called PAKEEZAH. What is it about? Tell me more!

I ended up ordering GUMNAAM and a compliation dvd of musical scenes from the 1960s.

Posted by MBarnum @ 08/17/2003 09:26 AM PST

By any chance does anyone in the Los Angeles area know TJ Edwards I am trying to get in touch with him. Looking for an email address.

He worked on the Laser Disc edition of STAR! He used to also work at the Martin Beck theater as I believe the backstage doorman.

If you have any information click on my name and send it to me.

Thanks

Posted by Michael @ 08/17/2003 09:26 AM PST

bk- I don't use aol, so I don't get the anti-popup stuff they use. If I sign up for one, then the company I sign up with will send their version of them, so it's pretty much useless.

Poll: What song is currently stuck in your head?

Posted by Sarah @ 08/17/2003 09:34 AM PST

GUMNAAM sounds like a movie about periodontic warfare.

Posted by Jay @ 08/17/2003 09:36 AM PST

Oh my Lord...school starts in a week...I was completely clueless...I don't wanna go...*sniff sob sniff* I'll have HHW withdrawal...

Posted by Sarah @ 08/17/2003 09:37 AM PST

"La Matinata" by Leoncavallo. Aren't you sorry you asked?

Posted by Jay @ 08/17/2003 09:37 AM PST

Did DR MBarnum receive that Indian film yet, or is he still

Waiting For GUMNAAM ?

Posted by Noel @ 08/17/2003 09:41 AM PST

Let's see if we can make it to 100 today without my constant cheerleading.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 08/17/2003 09:58 AM PST

WEL: if you're retiring your pop-poms, can I have them? :)

Posted by Emily @ 08/17/2003 10:00 AM PST

I just wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude to everyone who posted or emailed me their words of support and sympathy yesterday over the loss of my beloved Jack. He was a 9 year old Pembroke Welsh Corgi and was a loyal and lovable companion. These past couple of months, we have been battling symptoms of what we would discover to be a brain tumor. Sadly, yesterday morning the symptoms began to worsen and it became clear that I had no other choice but to let him go. A heartbreaking, but necessary decision. Again, I truly appreciate the outpouring of good will I received from this site and it reminds me how powerful the internet can be and was an amazing site HainesHisWay.com has become.

Donald

Posted by Donald Feltham @ 08/17/2003 10:13 AM PST

Yes, Donald, condolences on the passing of my namesake. And yes it was a difficult, but CORRECT decision. Hopefully all of us would have the strength to do so in the same situation.

Autumn Memory - our first Shar-pei 1996-1998.

MBarnum...Pakeezah...well, you see, a nautch girl is born to delight others, such is her destiny, but she preferred to die a thousand deaths than to live as a body without a soul... So there you are. A young dancer-prostitute falls in love with a rich young man. His family won't accept her so she runs away, gives birth, and dies. Her daughter is given to an aunt who immediately sets her up as the premiere Nautch Girl of the town. A stranger leaves her a note when she is sleeping on a train telling her she has lovely feet. She becomes obsessed with finding him. Of course he is the nephew of the old man who caused her mother such unhappiness.

There are about six songs - the most beautiful of which is called CHALTE-CHALTE. The color and widescreen is great. And you can get it for $9.99 at www.nehaflix.com

Anyone interested in this movie can read more about it by clicking on my name. Its production was a soap opera in itself, and I heartily recommend it to anyone interested in Bolly Movies.

So....it is Sunday...remember when Sunday meant Ed Sullivan, Bonanza, and What's My Line?

What was everyone's favorite prime time panel show, and who was your favorite panel member and moderator?

I like Garry Moore on I'VE GOT A SECRET and John Daly of WHAT'S MY LINE which was my favorite panel, although Polly Bergen on TO TELL THE TRUTH and her co-hort Peggy Cass were terrific as well.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 08/17/2003 10:27 AM PST

Sarah - the song stuck in my head now...is Chalte-Chalte.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 08/17/2003 10:28 AM PST

I don't remember Polly Bergen on TO TELL THE TRUTH. I do, however, remember Kitty Carlisle, and she and Peggy Cass were among my favorite panelists, as was Bennett Cerf on WHAT'S MY LINE. (An erudite game show panelist? My, my, times were different then.) Though before my time, I've seen clips of Dorothy Kilgallen on WHAT'S MY LINE and I think she must have been one of those people people loved to hate.

Posted by Jay @ 08/17/2003 10:44 AM PST

Sorry to have been errant and truant yesterday, and even truant and errant, but indeed I had a good reason for my absence. I went up to the Poconos to see DR Jason and DR Don in "The Scarlet Pimpernel." (After all, isn't that what a good den mother should do?) And I don't mind saying, in fact, I'm quite happy to say, our boys done did us proud! Both Jason and Don were in fine order and the show did sparkle because of their performances. DR Don's portrayal of the villianous Chauvelin was indeed quite wicked, and DR Jason played the charming and debonair Ozzy most charmingly. What a treat it was for me to see it!

And while I was there, I had the pleasure, the sheer delight, to sample one of DR Laura's tasty brownies that she had sent to Jason and Don. Aren't they the lucky ones to be the recipients of such delectable morsels!

Posted by The Den Mother @ 08/17/2003 10:45 AM PST

Sarah: Theme to "Love, American Style." Don't ask.

Jrand: "Match Game," of course; and the inimitable Charles Nelson Reilly.

Topic: Which film score would you nominate as the all-time WORST? I'm talking a score so bad that it pretty much ruins the movie. My nominee is the score for "Ladyhawke" an otherwise decent if not extraordinary mid-80s medieval fantasy flick starring Rutger Hauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, and a miscast (imo) Matthew Broderick. Secondary roles go to the stellar John Wood and Leo McKern, and the film looks great and has an interesting plot. But the HORRENDOUS score (cheesy, fully-synthesized awfulness courtesy of The Alan Parsons Project) ruins the film at every turn. It's like you're watching this movie, and everytime you start to lose yourself in it and enjoy yourself, a little yapping dog comes up to you and pees all over your leg.

Conversely, what film score do you think is the BEST thing about the movie? My vote in this category goes to "Vertigo." I know many of you will disagree vehemently and say it's a "masterpiece," but I have seen "Vertigo" fully three times now and it has not grown on me. I find the so-called dramatic moments laughable (and am not alone; one of the times I saw it was with an audience, and there was plenty of laughter in the wrong places). However, I love Bernard Herrmann's score and own it on CD.

So, your opinions as to Best and Worst Film Scores?

Posted by Lulu @ 08/17/2003 10:49 AM PST

DR Donald, I join the others in extending my heartfelt sympathies to you for your great loss. Jack was fortunate to have you in his life.

Posted by Susan @ 08/17/2003 10:58 AM PST

Song that wouldn't leave my brain this morning was FOOL ON THE HILL by Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66. Listened to it while showering and it would not go away. I finally had to put something in the CD player to make it go away.

Favorite moderator would have to be John Daley. His overly long and complicated explanations to the panel on What's My Line would just crack me up! Least favorite moderator would be Bud Collyer...comes across as insincere most of the time and he often seemed like he was going to loose his temper...made me nervous!

All this talk of game shows reminds me that I need to start taping the old shows from Game Show Network again!

Posted by MBarnum @ 08/17/2003 11:09 AM PST

Oh my celebrities onstage AND in the audience...the crowd must have been agog!

Film score that ruined the film....Van Alexander's score to I SAW WHAT YOU DID...it was a television sitcom score for a thriller flick! What was William Castle thinking?

And conversely George Melachrino wrote an original score for a 1956 sci-fi flick called THE GAMMA PEOPLE which could have served a much better film, although said movie was okay.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 08/17/2003 11:12 AM PST

I hate to tell you what song is stuck in my head. For reasons that will become clear when you read Kritzer three, the song is Dominique by The Singing Nun. If there has ever been a stupider song than this I have yet to hear it.

I don't know about "best" but Mr. Hugo Friedhofer's score to The Best Years of Our Lives is brilliant and works brilliantly in the film. Same with Mr. Jerry Goldsmith's Chinatown - short, but brilliant. Same with Mr. Herrmann's Vertigo and North by Northwest. And I always must mention Mr. Laurance Rosenthal's masterpiece of a score to The Miracle Worker.

Worst - too many to list.

MBarnum, where did you find the sixties Bollywood collection - that sounds right up my street.

Posted by bk @ 08/17/2003 11:19 AM PST

The Game Show Network, at least on the weekends and maybe all through the week, shows both To Tell The Truth and What's My Line on late at night like around 1:00 AM. They also show Beat the Clock or did. It's very interesting to watch these shows and very calming...no hyped-up theme song, no screaming, overwrought contestants...very gentle, easy repartee and wit and civility. And the smoking, wow!

Posted by Charles Pogue @ 08/17/2003 11:35 AM PST

I have the theme jingle to the VH1 show "I Love the Eighties" stuck in my head. Stupid techno-rock music. The only good thing that came out of the 80's was me. :)

Posted by Sarah @ 08/17/2003 11:39 AM PST

And Maya and Hapgood and Emily and Lulu I think...and...I believe that's it.

Posted by Sarah @ 08/17/2003 11:40 AM PST

A Request!
I can't find Jason's (and Don's) address up in Buck's County. If anyone has it handy, could they please e-mail it to me. Thanks.

Favorite prime time panel show: I've Got A Secret. I loved Bill Cullen and Betsy Palmer (before she gave birth to the bad Jason).

Best score ever: Without a doubt, Lawrence of Arabia. Don't get me wrong, it is a good film, but it became a great film because of the score.

Worst score ever: Gee, that would be tough, but probably just about any film that used just a synthesizer for the score would be on the list.

Stuck in my head: ”Fill the World with Love” from Goodbye, Mr. Chips.

Posted by TCB @ 08/17/2003 11:43 AM PST

Charles Osgood did an item on "CBS Sunday Morning" this AM on top ten annoying songs which stick in your head (eg "It's a Small World"). His personal number one was "I Remember It Well" from Gigi. I happen to love that song and don't mind it sticking in my head - which it is right now.
Just read that "Freddy vs Jason" came in #1 for the weekend. 36 million! Maybe all the civilized people should just pack up and move to the Poconos. We could start a gigantic dinner theater (and show classic movies on Monday nights).

Posted by Panni @ 08/17/2003 11:50 AM PST

Just read TCB's posting re Lawrence of Arabia. I know what you mean about that score making a great film greater. I wrote a film for Turner a while back which was good (not, of course, in the Lawrence of Arabia league, but pretty good.) It had many flying squences (the movie was about Amelia Earhart) which could have been deadly DULL. George S. Clinton wrote a score for the movie which really reminded me of Ravel's Bolero -- and it really worked. Gave the film an excitement and drive that was fabulous.

Posted by Panni @ 08/17/2003 11:58 AM PST

And while everyone is being cheered toward 100 posts today, do give a thought for me as I stand here bearing the entire weight of the world upon my shoulders.

Posted by Atlas @ 08/17/2003 12:00 PM PST

BK the DVD of 60s muscial Bollywood numbers is called BOLLYWOOD FLASHBACK #2 (HITS OF THE 60S). I found it at Indiaplaza.com. Free shipping too! On Nehiflix.com there are some compilation DVDs called Revival (volume 1, volume 2, etc.) which appear to be musical numbers from the 50s and 60s as far as I can tell.

My obsession now is to get the 1965 Bollywood film TARZAN AND KING KONG! Don't know if it is available on DVD or not, but if it is I am gonna find it!!!

Charles P: Yes, I liked it when Game Show Network had Sunday Night Black and White on in the early evenings. I would spend those 3 hours watching Beat the Clock, To Tell the Truth, etc. whilst irnoning my work clothes for the following week. Now that they aren't on at that time I go to work all wrinkly.

Posted by Mbarnum @ 08/17/2003 12:01 PM PST

Atlas, just shrug it off.

Posted by Ayn Rand @ 08/17/2003 12:01 PM PST

The L.A. Times reviewer of "Freddy vs. Jason" said, regarding the grotesque violence in the film, "For just what kind of film is the MPAA saving its NC-17 rating if not this one?"

Posted by Jay @ 08/17/2003 12:03 PM PST

Would that be Charles Atlas? See buddy, you missed out on your chance. You could have run for governor of California back in your day, and I am sure that everyone would have voted for you - well, except maybe that guy that kicked sand in your face.

Posted by Ahnold @ 08/17/2003 12:07 PM PST

The theme that's in my head, I know not where it's from. Some "popular" piece of classical music, a scherzo of some sort. The second through seventh notes are sixteenth notes, but I doubt anyone can identify it from that.

I really dislike The Third Man's omnipresent zither music. Drives me crazy, destroys my enjoyment of a highly-regarded film.

A score that's better than the film (although the film's not too shabby) is Cool Hand Luke, by Lalo Schifrin.

Today I'm straining to create the number for the bridesmaids, which they'll direct to the bride. It starts out with traditional advice, and moves on to wedding night advice. Having never attended a shower, I'm at a loss as to what this advice might be. (However, this hasn't stopped me from writing showers before. There are two shower scenes in a musical I wrote the book to, plus the song "I Hate Showers.")

Posted by Noel @ 08/17/2003 12:16 PM PST

Sarah--thank you mucho for the compliment! I've seen just about all of I Love the 80's on VHI. I don't know...I guess it's a nostalgia thing. Cause God knows the hairdos were bad, the clothes were bad, some (but not all) of the music was bad and on Broadway...well, let's not even get into that. But the 80's did have great cartoons. I was all about the Rainbow Brite and My Little Pony and Jem and She-Ra.

After having read DR Panni's post, I now have Maurice Chevalier and Hermione Gingold strutting around in my head singing I Remember it Well. But like she said, there are definitely worse songs to have stuck in your head!

As for film scores, I guess I'm not very knowledgeable about them. Gone With the Wind is the best, IMO.

Posted by Maya @ 08/17/2003 12:27 PM PST

Would that be Charles Atlas? See buddy, you missed out on your chance. You could have run for governor of California back in your day, and I am sure that everyone would have voted for you - well, except maybe that guy that kicked sand in your face.

Posted by Ahnold @ 08/17/2003 12:27 PM PST

Dear Reader Ahnold--

Can you please explain why you were the only major candidate for governor of the state of California who refused to respond to the L.A. Times' questions about how the state's budgetary crisis might be solved?

Posted by Jay @ 08/17/2003 12:36 PM PST

Sarah: I came out of the '70s, but thanks anyway. :)

RE: "everything was bad in the '80s"...you guys do realize that 10-15 years from now people will say the same thing about the first decade of the 21st century, right? And in 2025 they'll make fun of the 'teens, etc. Times change and for some reason we consistently feel the need to belittle the decade or two just prior to our own. It's really weird and I wonder if there is any prevailing sociological explanation for it?

Thanks for the responses to my topic, but please allow me to point out that it's not "best score/worst score," but rather best score of an otherwise lackluster film (ie, the score was the best thing about the film) and worst score in an otherwise good film (ie, the score pretty much ruins something that you could have otherwise enjoyed).

Methinks we're not doing too bad, postwise, for a Sunday.

Posted by Lulu @ 08/17/2003 12:46 PM PST

I wasn't too sure, so I figured it'd be easier to flatter you. I LOVE the 70's.

And I do like the 80's but it didn't seem to produce much as a decade besides shoulder pads, which died down as well, thanks the Lord.

Posted by Sarah @ 08/17/2003 12:52 PM PST

Lulu--you are absolutely right about "decade belittling." Do you wanna know something weird that I have started to notice?

It used to be I would watch a movie from the 80's and giggle about how "80's" everything looks. Well, I've started doing the same thing with the 90's now. Especially movies from the early 90's. Is it sad that movies so relatively recent should begin to look dated, lol?

Posted by Maya @ 08/17/2003 12:55 PM PST

Hey...what's so bad about shoulder pads??

Posted by Joan Crawford @ 08/17/2003 12:57 PM PST

On the other hand, at some point in the future, people will look back to now as "good old days."

Posted by Jay @ 08/17/2003 01:06 PM PST

Things produced in the '80s:

Sarah
Maya
Hapgood
The Internet
The fall of the Berlin wall and end of the Cold War
Compact Discs
The Chunnel (underwater tunnel which connects London to Paris, greatly reducing the amount of time to travel between the two world capitals)
Les Miserables
Halley's Comet
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day observed for the first time
First artificial heart transplant takes place

Of course, this list could be balanced by such things as the Challenger disaster, the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, and Milli Vanilli...but you get my point. You could hardly say that "nothing came out of the '80s." :)

Posted by Lulu @ 08/17/2003 01:08 PM PST

I'd better post now because I have to leave soon to take my niece to a Seattle Storm women's basketball game. I won't be back in time for tonight's chat. Darn.

Anyway, what song do I have stuck in my head? Last weekend I saw (twice) a local children's theater production of RAGS and it was great. The kids were mostly in their teens and the girl who played Rebecca is the daughter of a good friend of mine, so I'm a bit biased. However, she was still pretty darned good. I've listened to a bunch of different CDs during this last week but no matter what, I end up having RAGS songs going through my head when I'm not listening to a CD. Usually it's "Yankee Boy" and "Blame It On the Summer Night." Right now it's "Brand New World." It was great to finally see a live production of this show. I've loved the CD since I first got it and there certainly have been changes in the show since it was recorded. "Brand New World" is sung by Rebecca and David at the beginning of the CD, but in the show that I saw, Rebecca and Bella sing the song near the middle of the first act. David does sing a little bit, but not as much as Bella. Also, in the show Ben sings "Yankee Boy" at the very beginning but on the CD Nathan sings it at the beginning of the second act. Watching the show (and only knowing the show from the CD) I never felt like any of the changes were awkward or forced. Again, it was quite an enjoyable evening.

As for good film scores in not so good movies and vice versa (or even verce visa) I hate to admit it but I don't always notice the music in the background... unless it's real obvious and then it becomes distracting. I'm not a particular fan of instrumental music in general. I like vocal music (and musicals), so I don't even own very many film scores. Although my favorite is the remastered Star Wars (episodes 4, 5 & 6) scores with the very special holographic discs. Those were worth getting just for the discs. I did listen to them all, but only once or twice.

Posted by George @ 08/17/2003 01:10 PM PST

Lulu, you're awesome. I wish you could be my sociology teacher ;)

Posted by Maya @ 08/17/2003 01:10 PM PST

I take back my comment Lulu :)

Everyone go listen to "I Can Only Imagine" by MercyMe. It's a religous song, but they're like, playing it on the rap stations around DC, its SO GORGEOUS.

We need a new and interesting topic to discuss amongst ourselves.

Posted by Sarah @ 08/17/2003 01:12 PM PST

Favorite 80's movies, anyone?

Mine are Labyrinth and Legend.

Posted by Maya @ 08/17/2003 01:21 PM PST

When Harry Met Sally
Goonies :)
Ferris Bueller (My first crush...Matthew Broderick was so cute)
Dirty Dancing
Pretty in Pink
16 Candles
The Breakfast Club

Posted by Sarah @ 08/17/2003 01:33 PM PST

Here's something to add to your list of good things to come out of the 80s: ME!

Posted by Sandra @ 08/17/2003 01:49 PM PST

Favorite 80s movies: TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, THE RIGHT STUFF, RAGING BULL, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, SOPHIE'S CHOICE.

I watched FAR FROM HEAVEN today. I had seen it at the movies, but did anyone else find the DVD transfer too dark? The colors were lush just like in the theater, but the movie just was too dark. For a minute, I felt like the lamps in my TV were going out. Just like Spielberg's transfer of MINORITY REPORT hurt my eyes to watch because it was so washed out (artistic decision of his that I just did not find appealing in such a long movie), this too made a wonderful movie a bit less interesting because I was bothered by the transfer.

Posted by Matt H. @ 08/17/2003 01:57 PM PST

I'd like to remind everyone that there's a new entry up of Juliana's Journal. If you haven't read it yet.. you simply (and complexly) must!

Posted by Craig @ 08/17/2003 02:01 PM PST

Forgive those of us down under for the Bazza McK movies. Despite the talents of BH (& Dame E) they were both dreadful and only did well in BH's memory!I was a movie goer at the time and my sister's husband (also at the time!)was in the movie business - "The Adventures Of B McK" did better than "B McK Holds His Own" which was a box officer loser. Cultural Cringe for Australians - a minority of whom could be identified as being represented (in English eyes) as representatives of the Australian tourist abroad. - Much like Sondheim's Americans in "Sunday".

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 08/17/2003 02:05 PM PST

I also came out of the 80s! You can add me to the (hopefully good) list... :)

Posted by Emily @ 08/17/2003 02:14 PM PST

Yes, I was remiss; Dear Readers Sandra and Emily both came out of the '80s as well, reason enough to worship that decade.

Some fave '80s movies:

1980: The Shining
1981: Raiders of the Lost Ark
1982: Victor/Victoria
1983: Monty Python's Meaning of Life
1984: Broadway Danny Rose
1985: After Hours
1986: Hannah and Her Sisters
1987: Raising Arizona
1988: The Naked Gun
1989: When Harry Met Sally

Posted by Lulu @ 08/17/2003 02:18 PM PST

Sarah,

"I Can Only Imagine", by Mercy Me, has been around for a while, and won several Dove awards last year. (That's sort of the Christian Grammy's.)

George,

It sounds like you were watching a "modified" version of RAGS. I have performed in the show before (as Saul, the Terrence Mann role), so I am fairly familiar with the show. As I recall, "Yankee Boy" was actually removed, and special permission has to be requested to re-interpolate it. I'm wondering if your production used "If We Ever Meet Again", which didn't make the cast recording, but was recorded by Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley on their "Duets" CD?

Not much time to write right now, but maybe later I'll share some of our "blackout" adventures...

Posted by Dave @ 08/17/2003 02:42 PM PST

Re best scores, could Chariots of Fire have had the impact that it did, if not for the score (yes, it was synthesized) by Vangelis?

Posted by S. Woody White @ 08/17/2003 02:46 PM PST

I love country music. I lived in Oklahoma for 8 years, so I'm stayin' true to my roots :)

I'm blasting it REALLY LOUD right now, and driving my family crazy. So my question: Are there any fellow country fans here? And I don't mean like Dolly Parton country, I mean like Garth Brooks country. I used to live a mile away from him...

Posted by Sarah @ 08/17/2003 03:04 PM PST

Chariots of Fire - since I hated both film and score, I thought they deserved each other.

And no one has mentioned three of the best eighties movies (that decade seems better in retrospect, given the nineties) -

Once Upon a Time in America
My Life as a Dog
and
Ran.

Also, I'll throw in The King of Comedy for good measure, and even though it's fashionable not to like it, Body Heat.

Posted by bk @ 08/17/2003 03:07 PM PST

BK: Would you believe I haven't seen any of those five films?

Sarah: I've liked some country songs I've heard, and I absolutely love Patsy Cline, but in general I can't honestly say it's one of my favorite genres.

Posted by Lulu @ 08/17/2003 03:18 PM PST

Thought I shared something with all you wonderful people out there in the dark.

I received an email today from Gail Edwards who for tv fans will be best remembered for her regular television roles on Blossom, Full House, Family Man and It's A Living (aka Making a Living)

And to a true Kimlet for her role as Tura an S & M Leather Queen in Bruce's play The Good One for which she won a Dramalogue Award for her performance.

I thought I share what she had to say about the Good One

I came across the video of The Good One that you sent me. I almost pitched it, since it didn't have anything on it-----but like every good rat pack I had to MAKE SURE before I pitched it----so I ran it WAY forward and there, low and behold, was the show!

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you, thank you. I HOWLED! You are such a good writer. I had such fun with Tura.

If you like to see the webpage for Bruce's The Good One click on my name. And while you're there take a look around at the other parts of the site.

Posted by Michael @ 08/17/2003 03:30 PM PST

Matt H wrote:
I watched FAR FROM HEAVEN today. I had seen it at the movies, but did anyone else find the DVD transfer too dark? The colors were lush just like in the theater, but the movie just was too dark. For a minute, I felt like the lamps in my TV were going out. Just like Spielberg's transfer of MINORITY REPORT hurt my eyes to watch because it was so washed out (artistic decision of his that I just did not find appealing in such a long movie), this too made a wonderful movie a bit less interesting because I was bothered by the transfer.

I rented the dvd of FAR FROM HEAVEN when it first came out. I had not seen it in the movie theatre. But I agree on dvd the color was horrible. So dark. It hurt my eyes. But I just assumed it was the same in the theatre.

Jennifer

Posted by Jennifer @ 08/17/2003 03:33 PM PST

I can't believe I forgot When Harry Met Sally and the great Woody Allen movies of the 80's! I love Broadway Danny Rose and The Purple Rose of Cairo, among others. I really need to see Hannah and Her Sisters. And Ran was great too.

Michael--checked out the website. The play sounds fun! BK, have you written any other plays since The Good One?

Posted by Maya @ 08/17/2003 03:37 PM PST

DR Jay -- Matinata is not such a bad tune to have stuck in your head. I'd much prefer it to something referenced as "religious rap" or most of what I hear passed off as music today.

Favorite TV Game Show -- Well, even though I agree that Bud Collier was pretty wooden and unappealing, I did like "Beat The Clock" a lot. I remember watching for what seemed like months, before someone was able to catch 2 swinging boutonierres, suspended from overhead on strings, in the top of a cut-out top hat which was on the contestants head. Oh, the suspense.

My other show from that period, but which really doesn't fit a category, is one called "You Asked For It" hosted by Art Smith. It went to some wonderful locations to satisfy viewers requests and questions.

And the best of all was a cheesy, locally produced "talent show" that was on the air on saturday mornings. It was called "Rocket To Stardom" and it originated from the Oldsmobile dealership in Long Beach that was owned by Bud & Betty Yeakel. The whole thing was a scam to get parents to come there, with the hopes that they would buy a car while they were waiting for little Suzy or Billy to go on the air. Of course, no kid was ever turned away (you wouldn't want to lose a car sale!!), no matter how bad they were. It was great.

Posted by MusicGuy @ 08/17/2003 03:45 PM PST

Woah MAJOR lull. NLA here at HHW! (oh, a bk reference)

What we need is WEL and his pom-poms.

Posted by Sarah @ 08/17/2003 04:39 PM PST

I don't know from the Long Beach Yaekel Brothers, but they did shoot Rocket to Stardom at the Yaekel Brothers Oldsmobile dealership that was smack dab next door to the Wiltern Theater (both mentioned in both Kritzer books). Maybe they shot it both places. After seeing a film at the Wiltern, I distinctly remember watching them shoot Rocket to Stardom next door.

Chat in forty count them forty minutes. Be there or be round. NO low jeans or thongs. For those who attend I will have my all-new rant about women's fashions.

Posted by bk @ 08/17/2003 05:20 PM PST

I have a new "I hate my brother's girlfriend and him as well with an undying passion that couldn't be put out if you tried" rant for chat as well...

There will be mucho cursing going on, be prepared.

Posted by Sarah @ 08/17/2003 05:22 PM PST

What I REALLY said was, No...WIRE...HANGERS!

Posted by Joan Crawford @ 08/17/2003 05:31 PM PST

Chat in twenty minutes. Let's see if we can have twenty posts in twenty minutes. That would be exciting, wouldn't it? On your mark bakalor, get set, go!

Posted by bk @ 08/17/2003 05:41 PM PST

Well, that didn't work. Shame. It could have been ever so much fun, but all of you seem to be napping. Well, you've now got nine minutes to make nine posts, or we will be bitch-slapping each and every one of you.

Posted by bk @ 08/17/2003 05:52 PM PST

Gee, Nine Posts in Nine Minutes -- OY, the pressure! I'm back from a summer of travel. Phew, almost got caught up in the blackout.

Posted by Angela @ 08/17/2003 05:56 PM PST

I'm unable to chat on my desktop computer on my very own desk, because the chat page does not load. There's no blanks to fill in my name or anything. There is one of those Windows icons that tells you there's supposed to be a picture, but isn't: a little colored square, triangle and circle in a box.

Now I feel guilty about using the word "colored." To someone else's computer I go.

Posted by Noel @ 08/17/2003 05:58 PM PST

The chat room appears to be closed.

C'mon BK - open up! The people demand it! :)

Posted by Emily @ 08/17/2003 06:01 PM PST

I went to chat room and it was CLOSED -- are we off?

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 08/17/2003 06:02 PM PST

Chat is open. Be there or be round.

Posted by bk @ 08/17/2003 06:02 PM PST

Chat is alive and sparkling...the ladies seem to be holding their own in numbers with the men...maybe even outnumbering them 7 to 6 right now.

It's NEVER too late! Go take a peek and say Hi!

Posted by Ron PUlliam @ 08/17/2003 06:58 PM PST

DM...es iz a shandeh far di kinder!  Genug iz genug.

Posted by Shik-yingel @ 08/17/2003 07:52 PM PST

*kicks them in the shins*

There you go, Let It Loose Bruce, shins have been kicked. Goodnight!

Posted by Sarah @ 08/17/2003 09:18 PM PST

Well, we've got seventy-six posts, now where are the fershluganah trombones.

Sorry I had to get a little snippy in chat, but we have our little situation back with us, and despite my repeated attempts to get someone to say his name, he wouldn't until I got really angry. I'm afraid anyone who doesn't reveal who they are in chat from now on will be booted from the room. I'm sorry to have to do it, but we are dealing with someone who is very deranged here and, as I've said before, it involves a dear reader who I will protect at all costs.

Mr. Yiddish up there is the problem.

Posted by bk @ 08/17/2003 09:33 PM PST

Goodness, 76 posts on a Sunday? Surely this is some kind of record!

Chat was a lot of fun (and long--only just ended 10 minutes ago).

Being the night-owl that I am, I am going to go and watch a movie my friend lent me called The Pillow Book. She bought it because Ewan McGregor lives up to that "Must have one obligatory nude scene" clause that must be in his contract. But it looks like a pretty good film.

Posted by Maya aka My-Oh-Maya @ 08/17/2003 09:35 PM PST

Well, we can carry on posting all the livelong night, Maya.

You know, it occurs to me - since genug iz genug means "enough is enough" maybe our Uncouth Interloper is Donna Summers or Barbra Streisand or both.

Posted by bk @ 08/17/2003 09:41 PM PST

Chiming in late as usual, I'm surprised no one mentioned probably the biggest grosser among the 80s movies, "E.T." I was very impressed with it when I was eleven, but now when I watch it, I'm reminded of Oscar Levant's comment about the original "King Kong": ". . . a Max Steiner concert, illustrated by pictures."

(Incidentally, does anyone know the exact Levant quote, and its origin? I just found half a dozen different wordings of it floating around on the web.)

I really love Williams' score, of course, but I'd give anything (even a full adult admission) to hear it in the movie "for the first time" again, if you know what I mean.

Another electronic score that almost ruins a very good movie is "The Princess Bride." I guess the idea there was to carry over the anachronistic/storybook-like "Columbo reading the fairy tale to Kevin Arnold" feeling to the music. But electronics in ANY period-set movie just sound cheap to me. Those swashbuckling scenes cried out for something at least RESEMBLING Korngold. Can anyone think of a movie where it's worked? I don't mean just an orchestra with an electronics section, but a completely-electronic score in a period piece.

A few mediocre movies that are almost redeemed by their music -- but not quite -- are Spielberg's "1941" and "Always" (Mr. Williams again) and "Krull," which has one of my all-time favorite James Horner scores.

Posted by Sigerson Holmes @ 08/17/2003 11:24 PM PST

Hi, long time listener, first time caller here from Australia. So it's a rather expensive long distance call - i'll keep it short.

From just school studies of the film, I humbly believe that Vangelis' score to Blade Runner is awkward and not in line with a some of the intentions of the film. For example, other than the establishing shot, the film's camera angles places the audience very much in the world created, yet when one of the hovercraft thingies (the technical term) takes off, the musical is ethereal and splendorous, almost as if "Wow, look at this cool car.", rather than presenting it as everyday-ness (sorry, getting towards the end of the day... getting a bit tired). In my humble opinion, I just don't this serves the intention very well at this moment, and I cringe whenever I hear it. Otherwise I really enjoy the film.

Posted by Tyson @ 08/17/2003 11:46 PM PST

Oh my God! I am not alone. I do hope new reader Tyson is not one of my ex students. No! Can not be. That one would not be able to construct a sentence. Welcome Tyson. (A sense of Oz humour is detected in the first line).
Then again, my School is one of those that teaches(!!!) "Blade Runner" as a film text in Year 11.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 08/18/2003 12:10 AM PST

Hello.

It's late. It's early.

Tomorrow/today will be catch up day for me. Until then...

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 08/18/2003 12:31 AM PST

Actually, we study Blade Runner under the elective "In The Wild" for HSC, together with Brave New World - I find it very interesting to write essays in the elective because I really enjoy the texts.

Erm.. theatre.. Well, the title for "Brave New World" is taken from Miranda's dialogue in The Tempest. Do I pass?

Posted by Tyson @ 08/18/2003 12:35 AM PST

Welcome, Dear Reader Tyson!

Posted by Lulu @ 08/18/2003 03:37 AM PST

DR Sigerson Holmes: How sad is it that I've never seen "E.T."? I've just never had the opportunity to watch it. I think I'll try to do that today.

Heyheyhey Tyson, welcome to the cookie jar. What flavor are YOU?

Posted by Sarah @ 08/18/2003 04:05 AM PST

I kind of have the residual taste of choc-chip in my mouth right now, complemented by the sombre tones of flat coca-cola (hey, someones gotta finish the bottle). But thanks for that very kind inquiry!

As for other things, I type, ferret-like, from a town near Sydney, Australia. I'm 17 (almost 18) and have about 6 weeks of high school left, which is a terribly scary thought. I have a cradled love of theatre, mostly musical, that I exercise through community theatre. I've done the high-school roles such as Seymour (LSoH), Marcelous (Music Man), and the incredible Lewis from the australian play "Summer of the Aliens" (does anyone know it?). I am also a poor rehearsal pianist, currently playing keyboard for "Atlantis the Musical", and original musical (www.atlantisthemusical.com - hope this doesn't disobey any unwritten comment laws). I am also the ashamed composer for a mini-musical, "Maths The Musical" (www4.tpg.com.au/users/tysona/maths/index.html), and have written and directed a private eye radio play spoof. So yeah - just general 17 year old stuff really. Nice to finally release my supressed voice upon Bruce and his Kimlets.

Posted by Tyson @ 08/18/2003 04:24 AM PST

DR Holmes - The score for THE PRINCESS BRIDE was not meant to be an anachronistic or ironic take on the story-tellling: there was literally no budget. For a film that looks this good, it's hard to believe that, yes, indeed, it was filmed with virtually no budget, and on the fly. The moments when I do like the score very, very much are when Mark Knopfler's guitar takes solo flight.
But, the film would have been much better served with an orchestral score.

Posted by td @ 08/18/2003 05:44 AM PST

Welcome, Tyson, to this unique and endearing little world.

Posted by Matt H. @ 08/18/2003 06:08 AM PST

E.T. is a cute little movie whose popularity is way out of proportion to its quality.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 08/18/2003 06:16 AM PST

And that, DR WEL, (as esteemed BK is wont to say) is what makes a horserace.

I think one of the dangers of strong fact statements about anything in the arts, is that it is all perception, and much of a personal enjoyment of either a film or a play is linked to emotional factors of that moment. When did we see it? With whom did we go? What was going on in our lives at that moment? All of these things play in to a final assessment of a work.

So, of course WEL's comment and rating of ET is absolutely accurate For his point of reference. And it's hard to think that we could be talking about the same little strip of film, when I say that to me, ET is one of the most emotionally rich marriages of image, story, music, etc.

Ain't horse races fun??!?!!

Posted by MusicGuy @ 08/18/2003 07:06 AM PST

Welcome, Dear Reader Tyson!

Posted by Laura @ 08/18/2003 07:44 AM PST

eight more posts to go!

c'mon everyone break out the pom-poms :)

Posted by Emily @ 08/18/2003 07:46 AM PST

Oh no! My pom-poms broke! Darn you Emily! :-) But, I'm making a last ditch effort to get to 100!

Yes, Dave, the kids show of RAGS that I saw used "If We Ever Meet Again." Near the beginning of the first act (on the boat before they land) and a reprise near the beginning of the second act.

Posted by George @ 08/18/2003 08:00 AM PST

Welcome Tyson - finally Tom has a local Kimlet to contact!

Michael - how are you feeling?

Jason - hos da mountains??

Susan - hopws our resident Den Mother?

Sarah - still waiting for your .wav file

Jonathan - sent the forms back to you in June. Did you receive them, and have they been sent on?

Re ET - so much was madfe of the film and its subtexts when it came out. But for me, the story comes down to how lvoe conquers all. A fairy tale perhaps, but a well told one.

Unfortunately, my son (now 11) will not watch it - still too scary for him.

Then there's always "Toy Story" and its derivatives, including the latest fish tale from Pixar.

Posted by Phil @ 08/18/2003 08:28 AM PST

Welcome Tyson - finally Tom has a local Kimlet to contact!

Michael - how are you feeling?

Jason - how's da mountains??

Susan - how's our resident Den Mother?

Sarah - still waiting for your .wav file

Jonathan - sent the forms back to you in June. Did you receive them, and have they been sent on?

Re ET - so much was madfe of the film and its subtexts when it came out. But for me, the story comes down to how lvoe conquers all. A fairy tale perhaps, but a well told one.

Unfortunately, my son (now 11) will not watch it - still too scary for him.

Then there's always "Toy Story" and its derivatives, including the latest fish tale from Pixar.

Posted by Phil @ 08/18/2003 08:29 AM PST

Welcome Tyson - finally Tom has a local Kimlet to contact!

Michael - how are you feeling?

Jason - how's da mountains??

Susan - how's our resident Den Mother?

Sarah - still waiting for your .wav file

Jonathan - sent the forms back to you in June. Did you receive them, and have they been sent on?

Re ET - so much was made of the film and its subtexts when it came out. But for me, the story comes down to how lvoe conquers all. A fairy tale perhaps, but a well told one.

Unfortunately, my son (now 11) will not watch it - still too scary for him.

Then there's always "Toy Story" and its derivatives, including the latest fish tale from Pixar.

Posted by Phil @ 08/18/2003 08:32 AM PST

Welcome Tyson - now Tom has someone "local" to talk to!

Michael - how's your recovery going?

Jason - How's life back in PA?

Sarah - still waiting for your .wav file

Susan - time to plan another H/K get together!

Jonathan S - did you receive the forms I sent you in June, and have they been sent on to BK?

As for "ET", I remember all the articles re subplots and the like, but for me it is an old fashioned "love conquers all" film, and as that it is a very well told story. "Toy Story" had a similar line, also done very well. Not so for "Finding Nemo" and other derivatives from Pixar and others (although Ellen D was a hilarious)

Unfortunately, my son (now 11) still won't watch ET - too scary!

Posted by Phil @ 08/18/2003 08:46 AM PST

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Posted by Sanjay @ 09/17/2003 12:05 PM PST