Elia Kazan’s The Last Tycoon is on TV as I write. The movie, filmed in 1976, is packed withvenerable actors, Jeanne Moreau, Robert Mitchum, Ray Milland, Tony Curtis, Dana Andrews. Angelica Huston and a young Teresa Russel—an under-appreciated gem of … Continue reading
(Picture from here.) I will pretty much watch anything with Cary Grant in it. There are a lot of reasons for this. He has a charm and grace that is always worth watching. He speaks well. Moves beautifully. Most … Continue reading
I have a number of thing to say today. One, before I lay out my crossword frustrations, I want to do a modified “Six Degrees …” of my background films (that is, films and TV series I run while I … Continue reading
Often when I sit down to write my blog, I have no clue about what I am going to say in 600 or so words. Waiting for the biscuits and the duck egg omelet to be made by the husband, … Continue reading
(Picture from here.) Television was different when I was a kid growing up in California. It was early days. There wasn’t the vast backlog of material available that there is now. But there was the same need to fill dead … Continue reading
You can’t tell me that the smoke from our Oregon fires that spread to New York City didn’t circumnavigate the globe and return to Oregon! Sunset last night was the color of a neon tomato. A melange of smoke, marine … Continue reading
This morning I am immersed in the Twentieth century, during which I have spent more than half of my life (so far). A part of me wishes I knew more about (and cared more about) current popular culture, but I … Continue reading
(Picture from here.) This is regarding the original 1962 film with Angela Lansbury and Frank Sinatra. The later remake sort of answers the question, “what if we rebooted The Manchurian Candidate without any of the understanding, humor, and themes of … Continue reading
(Picture from here.) A little context. Iron Man, the first entry of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, came out in the USA in May. Hancock, Will Smith’s superhero movie, came out in July that same year. No one knew at that … Continue reading
I am watching “Death in Venice” (Luchino Visconti, 1971). Dirk Bogarde is enjoying a feature spot on the Criterion Channel—11 movies, including those of his stunningly dark characters in “The Servant” and “The Night Porter”. I am old enough to … Continue reading
