Introducing Gay Film #6--1956's "The Bad Seed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                          Oh, girls, I am telling you, this is hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         The thing about "The Bad Seed," darlins, is that the film has to be looked at in several ways.  First, as the 1950's shocker it genuinely was, because back then the idea of a seemingly innocent child committing murder was inconceivable.  Unlike today, when it is now commonplace.

                                           Theater Queens can look at it from the perspective of a stage play being put on film in a highly theatricalized style, with the key members of its Broadway cast.

                                            Then there is the Gay Way to look at it, which ratchets up the histrionics, with such stalwarts as Nancy Kely, Eileen Heckart and Joan Croydon, as repressed lesbian spinster Miss Fern to guide you.  And once Nancy Kelly drops the glass, early on, we are off and running.  How do you like her dresses; that blouse with her initials sewn on, and the striped thing she wears when Miss Fern comes?  Oh, and when she drinks the coffee?  Girls, don't we all want to be like Nancy Kelly as Christine Penmark?  Of course, if you were dealing with a homicidal child, you would be hysterical too!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                 Eileen Heckart registers as sympathetic camp, because her pathos is genuine.  I always wince at the line "It's a pleasure to stay drunk when your little boy has been killed."  Ain't it the truth?????????????

                                                    Now, Joan Croydon as Miss Fern is something else.  I have no doubt she carries in her pocket book a paperback copy of Radclyffe Hall's "The Well Of Loneliness," which has been well thumbed.  When running a private school and living in a small town, what chance does a repressed lesbian have??????????????

                                                    This film teaches gays the importance of histrionics which are going to be needed when confronting one's adversaries.  And there is no better film to learn from than 1956's "The Bad Seed."

                                                   As for Patty McCormack as Rhoda, well, has there ever been such a child, before or since?

                                                  And let's forget Henry Jones as Leroy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   Of course, the film can be viewed on its own as pure entertainment!

                                                   But where is the fun in that, darlings????????????????

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All Small Towns Offer Is Sex, And Hanging Out At The Local Luncheonette!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           Believe me, darlings, I know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Not that sex is limited to small towns.  It is what its citizenry is limited to.  But if one moves to the city, the possibilities are endless.

                                           Few films exemplify this better than Peter Bogdanovich's masterpiece, 1971's "The Last Picture Show."  What fascinated me about this viewing was the character I expected to spend the rest of his life in town--Duane Jackson (Jeff Bridges) -- is the one who actually leaves town and makes a life of his own.  You just never know, darlings.

                                            From the first to last tracking shots, influenced by Welles' "Touch Of Evil," this film chronicles the misery, beauty and ennui in such a dismal environment as Anarene, Texas.    And with pros like Ben Johnson, Ellen Burstyn, and Cloris Leachman to serve as guides, the acting meter cannot get better.  Take note; this is the only good film performance Cybill Shepherd gave, not because she was young, but because the character fit her limited range to a tee.  But you have to give her credit.  When Bogdanovich's Selznickian attempt to make her into another Jennifer Jones tanked, she licked her wounds, rallied and returned to TV, where she was discovered to have a surprisingly comic range.  More power to her.  But one can see here how Bogandanovich might have been entranced with her.

                                            As for Bridges and Bottoms, who were young and promising, what happened to them, especially Bottoms?  I could not dismiss from this viewing that there some subliminal homosexual feelings between Duane (Bridges) and Sonny (Bottoms) that impeded their growth toward stable relationships with women.

                                               Robert Surtees, one of the last great cinematographers, is responsible for making beauty out of isolation.  And Verna Fields is the one who edited it all superbly.

                                                 This film is underrated in the cinema canon because of Bogdanovich's plunge.  It should stand on its own, and does, as a masterwork.

                                                     Just think, when I first saw this film in my hometown at 16, I thought I might end up as Genieve, (Eileen Brennan).

                                                      See what can happen, girls!????????????????????????????

                                                     Now listen to me and experience the splendors and pleasures of a true film masterpiece!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Got News For You, Kid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Joyce Maynard Beat You To It First! And She Was Younger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        Not only that, but she had a pedigree of educated parents, and then had a relationship with J.D. Salinger that rocked the literary world

                                           Last night on his Saturday evening show, "On Stage," Frank Dilella, resident phony who fancies himself a member of the theater community--only no one else does--had this Tik Tok loser on his program, and what a bunch of bull.  All the memoir tricks were pulled--maudlin, self-pity, addictive parents, self-addiction, and while he has never been on a Broadway stage--I doubt if he has even seen a Broadway show--fancies himself a member of the Broadway community.

                                             Girls, the kid is as phony as a cigar store Indian.  Remember "A Million Little Pieces," by James Frey?  When it came out, in 2003, it was thought to be the last word on addiction.  I read it.  Only it was revealed later Frey fabricated the whole thing.  Sure, it could read as a good novel about addiction, but why not market it that way?  Phony slob!  No one will read you again

                                               The same could be said of Chris Olsen.  Kid, quit while you are ahead.  Go back to whatever suburban burg you are from and take a dance class in the studio above the town grocery store.

                                                The Island Of Failed Performers, darling!

Girls, I Really Don't Encourage Anyone To Watch This!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     The reasoning behind this 1966 film was the same as for "The Ghost And Mr. Chicken."  Because Don Knotts was so popular on "The Andy Griffith Show," Hollywood figured he could carry a film.  Well, dolls, we all saw how that went!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         "The Munsters" with its superb comedic cast and atmospheric look was enormously popular, and Hollywood thought they could carry a film.  They could not, but in this case I would say it was not their fault, but the scriptwriter's.  Also, the idea that a half hour sitcom, while hilarious, cannot be expanded into a two-hour feature.

                                               So, I encourage my girls to stay away from this one.  I will let you know what we watch tomorrow.  However, for true "Musters" devotees who have never seen this film, be my guest!  But I guarantee you will not return to it again.

                                              When will artists learn when to let things be?

                                               You hear that, Zoe Kazan????????????????

This Film Foreshadowed Both "Nashville" And "Network!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                   I would bet you dollars and donuts, girls, that before Robert Altman and Paddy Chaeyefsky created their masterworks, at some point prior, they had seen this 1957 film, directed by Elia Kazan.

                                      I had heard of "A Face In The Crowd" for years, but had no idea until yesterday, when I finally saw it, of its impact.

                                      Andy Griffith gives the performance of his life.  Forget Sheriff Taylor of Mayberry, he should have followed this path, maybe becoming a great actor and not a sitcom icon.  Patricia Neal is as usual brilliant, and the title comes from her character's radio program, which showcases unknown people.  Griffith is both game and fool enough to allow it to propel him to extremes.

                                         They are supported by Walter Matthau, Lois Nettleton, and, in her film debut, a young Lee Remick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            This is one of the best screen examinations of the corruption of fame.  Be careful what you wish for, darlings!  The ending is haunting, and the final shot masterful.  I could not stop thinking about this film for hours.  The amazing thing was how it was overlooked when it came out--no Oscars or critics' awards!  Was it ahead of its time?  Or was America just as dumb as I suspect it always was?  Think about that one, girls!

                                                  Speaking of Andy Griffith and what he does here, it made me think of one other show cast member.

                                                   What if Frances Bavier had done "The Killing Of Sister George?"

                                                      Now, that would have been a hoot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cathy Ames Or Scarlett O'Hara? You Tell Me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                         

                            Girls, I have not yet seen the Florence Pugh 2026 "East Of Eden," but I am not satisfied with how Zoe Kanzan--what nerve!!!!!!!!!!--had the temerity to soften Cathy's narrative impact to bring her story into the Me-Too movement, where it does not belong.

                             Cathy Ames, the Eve of John Steinbeck's "East Of Eden" is the most evil woman in American literature.  A while back, I wrote a post asking what the worst thing was Cathy did.  I said it was driving her Latin teacher, James Grew, a failed seminarian, to suicide by sexual manipulation, which he both wanted but felt guilty over, leading him to kill himself.  She did this when she was only 14.

                             I know Florence Pugh is the acting toast of the moment as Cathy, but is her Cathy really Steinbeck's or Kazan's?  It will be interesting to find out.

                               Now, as to Scarlett O'Hara, she is both pure Margaret Mitchell and pure Vivien Leigh.  The worst thing she does is marry her sister's beau, Frank Kennedy.  But then she did it to keep a roof over everyone's heads. and, girls, let's face it, with Sue's pinched look, had Frank not come along, she would have been an old maid anyway.

                                  No, Scarlett is not even on the same level as Cathy Ames; the latter is actually closer to Veda Pierce.  Now, the word bitch is very overused, and with the women I have mentioned has been used extensively.  But Cathy, by Steinbeck, is by far the worst.

                                   I can't tell you mor about Pugh, until I see it.  But my expectations are not high!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How Could I Have Missed "Klute?" After All These Years???????????????????????

                          "Klute" was a big surprise, because it is not just one, but three, movies.  It is first an exposition of New York City in the Seventies, when the city was at its worst.  It takes the viewer inside the life of a professional call girl, circa 1971, and it is also a film noir mystery.

                         And it is Jane Fonda's show.  As Bree Daniel, she commands the screen every time she is on it, which is quite a bit, for the good of this film.  The film also exposes American suburban hypocrisy, because not only is the antagonist foreshadowed, I spotted him right from the start. His is played by Charles Cioffi, and the monologue he has with Fonda near the end is a masterwork in acting, and line delivery.

                         It is also a taut screenplay, written by Andy Lewis and David E. Lewis.  Who the hell are they, and how did they get this far?  Did they ever write anything else?

                          The film starts at a suburban party where the workers of a corporation are gathered and bemoaning the disappearance of the hostess' husband. Tom Gruneman on a New York business trip awhile back.  Did something happen to him?  Was there another woman?  He is asked by his boss, Peter Cable, to go to New York and investigate.  And once we get to New York, darlings, we see all aspects of life there, and I know my 16-year-old self would have been fascinated The city was drawing me in, even then.

                              What follows is a detailed maze of sexual intrigue, led by the brilliance of Fonda, but supported, in turn, by a surprisingly sexy performance by Donald Sutherland.  I have never, under any circumstances, thought this man sexy, but director Alan J. Pakula taps something dark and lurking within him.  It is one of his best performances as well.

                                  Had I seen "Klute" in 1971, it would not have stopped me from coming to New York but might have given me more of an insight into what I might be in for.  No, girls, none of my experiences matched Bree's, but we all have our stories to tell about New York, don't we, darlings?

                                    Few movies dissect New York City as sharply as "Klute."

                                    But, girls, please--not that Jane Fonda hairstyle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!