Darlings, Look At All These Production Sketches By Vincente Minnelli!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Along With Cecil Beaton, The Screen Never Before Or Since Has Had Such Great Artistry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   

 

Girls, I know this is more an exhibition than a post, but I just had to show you some of these great Minnelli sketches, as he does not get enough credit for his artistry.  And I am not talking about the biggies like "Meet Me In St. Louis," or "Gigi."  I am also talking about the little-known films everyone forgets he directed, like 1955's "The Cobweb," and 1956's "Tea And Sympathy."

       Certainly, by this time he has had his share of retrospectives and exhibitions, but I think it is time again for a Minnelli Renaissance, as there are now whole generations out there who don't know who the hell he is or was.  And LIZA just turned 80 for, God's sake. So, girls get to the nearest DVD store, stock up on Minnelli films, and have a binge festival.  Perfect for Gay Pride.

And cheaper than a college--even community college--course in Art History!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Girls, Join Us Tonight At 8PM, As The Sven Squad Presents The 1999 Film, "Idle Hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                     From what I have gathered, this seems to be a campy spoof of the 1924 silent film, "The Hands Of Orlac," or its American remake in 1935, "Mad Love" with Peter Lorre.  Both involve hand surgery gone awry when one or both of the hands become evil at the owner's expense.

                                       Having seen the trailer, this looks like one boy gets his hand possessed, and cannot stop it, even with his other hand, from doing evil.  It could be a camp blast, dolls, and appearing in this film is a rather young Jessica Alba.  

                                          Certainly, this film is better suited to the humorous tone of the squad than last month, when they had the temerity to show "Rosemary's Baby."  A mistake that, hopefully will not be made again.  Same with "The Bad Seed."

                                              All of us here in our Bay Ridge enclave are more curious than excited.  But the potential for laughs seems unlimited.

                                               How did I miss this film in 1999?   

                                                 See you tonight at 8PM, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                       

Girls, You Really Should See 1945's "Yolanda And The Thief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                        Before getting to the brilliance of this shot, let me say that, along with George Cukor, Vincente Minnelli was the gayest of gay movie directors.  So, if you want to view iconic gay movies this month, I would start with anything by these two.

                         "Yolanda And The Thief" is hardly mentioned by anyone, and there are reasons.  It was not a critical or box-office success.  It ended the movie career of Lucille Bremer, who had been so good in 1944's "Meet Me In St. Louis--"ultimate Minnelli!!!!!--and it almost ruined Fread Astaire's cinematic credence.

                               But look at that superb color composition.   The black and white floor--almost Cecil Beaton--contrasting with Lucille Bremer's yellow dress, and Fred Astaire's cream white pants and pale blue blazer.  We should all be so elegant at all times, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              Not even Minnelli's artistry could save this, as was the case with 1951's "An American In Paris," which mistakenly won the Oscar for Best Picture, and, aside from the visuals, is a pretty boring film, save for the big dance number.

                               'Yolanda' deserves a look for any number of interesting shots, but the story of a South American girl seeking her guardian angel is a bit silly.

                                  Again, if watching gay movies this month, and desiring sophistication beyond "Valley Of The Dolls," look no further than the work of Vincente Minnellli!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Want To Go To "Brigadoon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                  "I want to live in a carnival city, with laughter and love everywhere."                                                               ---Barbra Streisand, "Have I Stayed Too Long At The Fair?"

                                  Especially after what I recently recounted, girls.  Not just Brigadoon, but Oz or Wonderland; I am not picky.

                                  But imagine a void in the nothingness opening into a gigantic hole, leading one into a magical, musical village.  I mean, look at the color composition of Vincente Minnelli in that photo.  All these shades of blue, contrasting with Cyd Charise's red.  Oh, my God!!!!!!!! Who wouldn't want to go there????????????????????????????????

                                    I know I am pining, girls, but sometimes things get so overbearing one wishes for a magical place to retreat to.  I have my books, and some movies.  I am thinking of going on a Vincente Minnelli binge, as I have seen less of his movies than more.  And there are some black and white films of his I never knew he directed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      So, forgive me girls, if I wax rhapsodic for a magical place.

                                      Even if, like Dorothy, it is right where I happen to be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So Far, It Has Been A Sad June!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                         It all began on June 1, darlings.  I went to the computer, all set to play 'Sgt. Pepper,' as it was the 59th anniversary of the release of that classic album.  The date also would have been--note that--the 72nd birthday of my friend and former co-worker, Suzanne.  Imagine my shock when I found an email from her current spouse, informing me she had passed away from duodenal cancer on May 6.

                           What will haunt me forever were her last words to me.  She emailed me from the hospital, where she was planning on having some sort of surgery to deal with the cancer.  Her very last words to me were, "I am so frightened."

                             I heard nothing after that, so I figured she was busy, dealing with the cancer, going to doctors, getting treatments, etc.  Instead, she went very fast.  It must have been too late.

                            I would have liked to visit, but Suzanne lived in upstate New York, the Lake George area, which would have been difficult.

                             But that is not all.  Everything comes in threes, right?   Well, shortly after hearing about Suzanne, I heard that another friend and former coworker of mine, Sara, passed away in March.  David and I went to a memorial and reception for her in Manhattan.  It was fun seeing and reconnecting with folks I had not seen in years, but the warmth and niceness of Sara, as a worker and a person shall be missed.  And I will not neglect to tell all, her cause of death was the same as Suzanne's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               Today we the icing on the cake.

                               We ran into a neighbor of ours, who has this lovely mixed German Shepard named Indy, short for Indiana Jones.  I had not seen Indy in a long time, so we asked about him.  She sadly informed us he passed at the end of April.  My father's birthday was April 30.  And--get this--he died exactly the same way as Suzanne and Sara.  Yes, dogs can get cancer.

                                    I am grief stricken for all, in such a rapid span of time.  I shall cherish the memories of all here, with a special neighborhood remembrance to Indy.

                                      As one of my friends would say, "May their memory be a blessing."

                                    Indeed, darlings, indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From "Schmigadoon" To "Brigadoon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                           When I reviewed "Schmigadoon," I referred to it being like the stage version of a Technicolor MGM Vincente Minnelli musical.  Well, guess what, girls?  The 1954--my birth year--film version of "Brigadoon" was exactly that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             Just look at the superb color composition in this photograph!  The contrasts of color in the brown ground and the blue and pinkish sky!!!!!!!!!  And the darkness of Kelly's color coordinated costume and the brightness of Cyd Charisse's (yes, that is her!) yellow dress.  Only Minnelli could have achieved this.  "Brigadoon" may not the perfection of "Meet Me In St. Louis," for those interested in the Minnelli canon, it is worth seeing.

                              I have never seen it, and, girls, how I want to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              How many of us, before Donna McKechnie, wanted to dance like Cyd Charisse?  And wear dresses like that?  I know I did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              I think "Brigadoon' is underrated in the Minnelli canon, and deserves a secnond look.

                              And now, thanks to "Schmigadoon," it will!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How About Those TONY Awards, Girls???????????????????????????????

                            The first thing I have got to say, darlings, is what the hell was Sarah Paulson wearing???????????  Many of the gowns worn by female nominees were designed by the likes of Christian Siriano, but Paulson looked like she stepped into a clearance bin and came out with the wrong two halves of two separate outfits.  Say, what???????????

                              The second thing is how could that grotesque CREATURE known as Lea Michele have the NERVE to show her face on the TONYS?  And looking like she just came from a performance of "CHESS" in that black, vampiric dress. Face it, Lea, you are DONE on Broadway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              What else didn't I like?  (Don't worry; there will be some things I did like!!!!!!!!!!!)

                                Nathan Lane was so obviously pissed he did not win for "Death Of A Salesman."  I guess TONY voters saw what I saw--a hard working actor overreaching to achieve a role that was a bit beyond his grasp.

                                   Rachel Ziegler--The tribute to "A Chorus Line" was a disgrace.  Actually, there was a better tribute in how the "Ragtime" number was staged, with the actors seeming to come up from the ground in a single line formation.   This had more of the heart of "A Chorus Line" than Ziegler blaring out "What I Did For Love," a song about choices made and regrets or determination to go on, which should be sung wistfully, not like a wailing banshee!  Within the tri-state area are actors who at some point have done the show. Couldn't some have been collected to end the evening with "One?"  That would have been the perfect ending to the TONYS.

                                      Speaking of wailing, Marla Mindelle's wailing spot on impersonation of Celine Dion, and the naughtiness of the "Titanique" number, was just what the TONYS needed, even if it and they did not win.

                                    I did not like the smug looks coming from Christopher Abbott, even if he did not win.  His Biff was played like a present day alpha hetero; Abbott may be gay, but with his smugness, who would want him?????????????????

                                    Nathan Lane--Again, to placate his ego, he was allowed to run up the stairs and be the first to hold the TONY for Best Revival Of A Play?  While Joe Mantello, the direcftor, quietly sat back????????????  Oh, come now, Nathan, aren't we getting a little too Bari Weiss for our own britches????????

                                     Now, for what I DID like..

                                     To her credit, PINK did not disgrace herself.  I did not like her desecration of Mary Martin in the opening number, but she more than made up for it with her Roxie Hart in the "Chicago" tribute.  I mean, Fosse's choreography is a bitch.  I should know, because LIZA and I are the last of the belters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       Caissie Levy, Shoshanna Bean and Joshua Henry were the classiest recipients whose speeches were moving and filled with graciousness.   Unlike that punk whose name I am not going to mention, from "The Lost Boys."  Enjoy it while you can, kid.  Because your next achievement of note will probably be getting caught for subway surfing!

                                          Damn, I am SUCH a bitch!  Well, that is why I am The Raving

 Queen!!!!!!!!!!

                                          I adored the dress Lesley Manville wore.  I wonder who designed it?????????????????????

                                         As the evening edged toward Best Musical, I was really worried.  Would "The Lost Boys" take it?  Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and I was so happy "Schmigadoon" won!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Girls, if you watched the TONYS, you saw how colorful and heartneing it is.  I urge those of you having not seen it, and want to see a REAL musical, to see this TONY winner!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          One last caveat.  The women are allowed to dress stylishly.  Men in tuxes are nice, but how about a little flamboyance allowed?  A good portion of the TONY constituency, the NYC theatrical community, and its patrons are GAY, so why not let the TONYS go GAY?  Especially since they are aried on Pride Month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           So, that is my take on The 79th Annual TONY Awards.

                                            I cannot WAIT for "Evita" next season.  Not because I want to see it, but because--

                                             I am anxious to hear what PATTI has to say!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!