Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much fish, listening to a couple of potential Kritzerland releases – we’re finally coming back with some fun projects – and, of course, it is late and therefore I must pull an Evelyn Wood and speed write to the finish line or, at the very least, the Finnish line. So, yesterday was yesterday aka Sunday, a day of rest. I got nine and a half hours of sleep, got up, answered e-mails, Giamela’s sandwich had arrived a few minutes before me getting up, ate it – sorry to say it was nowhere near as good as the first time – I really get disappointed when there’s no consistency – I did some organizing and began figuring out our rehearsal schedule for this week and Saturday, listed a couple of fun items on eBay, dozed off for about an hour, then watched Rear Window, which I hadn’t seen in about five or six years. Rear Window remains one of the best directed films in the history of cinema. No Oscar wins from the four nominations – but it was the year of On the Waterfront, A Star is Born, The High and the Mighty, The Country Girl, Sabrina and while those and others hold up very well, none have the technical or cinematic expertise of Rear Window, which, is essence, is all filmed in one location (James Stewart’s apartment) and from his point of view save for a handful of shots. It is a lesson in visual storytelling, but it also happens to have a brilliant screenplay by John Michael Hayes (he and Hitchcock were both nominated). The bottom line is it’s a perfect movie with a perfect cast. Stewart is great, as always, Grace Kelly has never been more beautiful than here, Wendell Corey is fine in his couple of scenes, and Raymond Burr is great as the is he or isn’t he killer. Of course, Thelma Ritter is her usual hilarious self, and Hayes gives her some of the best dialogue. The set is beyond brilliant and all the actors playing the denizens of the apartment complex are wonderful. I do remember seeing this in a movie theater – I would have been six and I’m sure it was the Lido – in fact, let’s see if I’m right. Hold tight, even though I’m speed writing these here notes. Yep, Saturday December 11, 1954, a mere three days after I was no longer six but seven. The companion feature was Down Three Dark Streets, but I doubt I stayed for that. I vividly remember the final sequence from back then and how enamored I was of Miss Grace Kelly. Two decades later I was lucky enough to see Rear Window at the old Academy Award Theater on Melrose circa 1972-ish, a special event with Mr. Hitchcock in attendance speaking about the film. All those years later and the audience gasped at the key moment in the film and squirmed in their seats, just as Hitchcock intended. It also got huge laughs throughout. It was an afternoon to remember, and as I left the theater, I found myself standing within inches of Mr. Hitchcock and only wished I’d told him how much I loved his films. It all holds up beautifully, and it really is as good as it gets – just watch the opening shot – one take – in which you meet the denizens of the apartment complex, then Stewart, a thermometer telling you it’s HOT out, Mr. Stewart’s profession, how he broke his leg and why he’s in a wheel chair – one shot without one word of dialogue.
After the movie, I listened to some music and here we are.
Today, I’ll be up by eleven, I have to run one errand, then I’ll eat something light and fun, I’ll send our cast the schedule for this week, I’ll do some prep work, and then I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
The rest of the week is rehearsing, a meeting and meal or two, talking to my neurologist, and doing whatever needs doing.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up by eleven, do one errand, come home, eat, send out a rehearsal schedule, do prep work, then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite movies in terms of direction – those that are perfectly realized from start to finish, especially visually in terms of storytelling. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, always happy to see a perfect movie.