A Visit To The Cemetery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                    

                                    I did it, darlings. From August 11 to 13 David and I were in New Brunswick, New Jersey, where we stayed at The Heldrich Hotel, our room overlooking the State Theater on Livingston Avenue, the site of many moviegoing memories of my youth.

                                    The old town sure has changed.  At times I felt like I was in the world of David Lynch, because when darkness falls, the town still gets a bit sinister.  I would not go walking around here at night, even though things have vastly improved from the 1950's and 1960's.  And yes, both Rutgers University, and Johnson And Johnson Headquarters, still hold the town together.

                                     The purpose of this trip was not so much nostalgia, though it did figure in, but to read over my parents' grave the following passage from Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights--"

                                     "I lingered round them, under that benign sky, watched the moths fluttering among the heath and harebells, listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass, and wondered how any one could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers in that quiet earth."

                                        That is how the novel ends, and it being so beautiful--hey, this is Emily Bronte, and in my opinion the greatest novel in the English language! --I felt, once my parents were both interred it would be the most appropriate passage to read over their graves.  But I had to wait a long time, because my father outlived my mother by 39 years, and, for reasons too complicated to go into, I was not permitted to do this at the original interment.  It took eight years, but there I am reading Bronte over my parents' graves.

                                          I was glad I did it, as there was a feeling of peace and completion.  And dinner with my former classmate, Neil, helped immensely.  To think we first knew each other when we were fifteen and fourteen, respectively, and look where we are now.  Back then I was unable to imagine being this age, and its actuality at times seems startling.

                                           The hotel bar had strange hours, so I was not able to have a Sea Breeze.  But, hey the summer is not yet over, so there is still time.

                                             Meanwhile, out in Piscataway, under a tree and near a gate beyond which trucks and cars pass by constantly as reminders of life, my parents now sleep soundly, being quiet sleepers now sleeping at last in the quiet of the earth.  Thank you, Emily!  I did it!

                                                 So now I feel my parents can rest in peace, and I feel clear, having done what I intended in the first place.

                                                 Yes, darlings, sometimes the wait is worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      

Theater Is Not So Ephemeral Anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  It used to be, darlings.  When I was a child, I enviously grilled my parents' friends, who were lucky enough to see the original productions of "Annie Get Your Gun," "My Fair Lady," even Stephen Sonndheim's "Follies."

                                     Now most on here know that is Donna McKechnie in one of her classic poses from the 1975 musical "A Chorus Line," in which she originated the role of Cassie.

                                       Youngsters may well envy me for seeing that and other original productions.  But, girls, did you know some of this can be seen on YouTube?  Not only Donna dancing solo, but the entire show, both on Broadway and at The Hollywood Bowl.  Thirty-nine years apart, but still "A Chorus Line."  And that goes for other musicals as well.

                                           Like I said, theater is not just ephemera anymore.  So, if there is a performance you may have missed, look it up.  It just might be there, and while it is not like seeing it live, one can get an idea of what the original experience must have been like.

                                              Take it from me, darlings, it is pretty thrilling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             I will be offline for a while this week, because this is the time when we are going out to my respective hometowns of New Brunswick and Highland Park, New Jersey.  We are staying at The Heldridge Hotel in New Brunswick, where most of my classmates stayed for our reunion three years ago, and is across from the State Theater, which filled my early movie life, and is now a live cultural center.  Who could have known?

                                We will see familiar surroundings, hopefully meet up with a former HP friend of mine, but, most importantly, we are going to Resurrection Cemetery in Piscataway, NJ, where my parents are both buried, so I can read over their graves the last passage in Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights."

                                  I knew I wanted to do this, eight years before, when we buried my father, but I did not think to bring a copy of the book, and I would not have been permitted to do so, then.

                                   So, this trip will be fraught with emotionality.

                                    We will be back on Thursday.  I will give you a full report then, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!

Three Is The Charm, With "Three Women!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                  Darlings, you simply have to see this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  When "Three Women" came out, in 1977, it was called Robert Altman's "Persona."  The latter is a 1966 Ingmar Bergman film in which two women through the course of the film switch personalities.  But on my third viewing of "Three Women"--and I hope to have many more-- I find that while there are similarities to Bergman it is not simply a redo.

                                        Sissy Spacek delivers the best performance as Pinky Rose, who goes from being a childlike woman to a gun toting' mama, sexy as all get out, who emerges as the kind of woman Shelley Duvall's Millie Lammoreaux desperately wants to be, but fails on all counts.  The kind of woman who thinks serving pigs in a blanket is sophisticated, and that the best dinner recipes come from the back of Campbell's soup cans.  Are you kidding me?

                                              Janice Rule as a pregnant Willie Hart, paints murals on drained swimming pools in the area, and it this artwork that gives the film its most fascinating imagery and uses the paintings and water to transition into other areas of the plot.  Pinky's transition is triggered by a horrible event, which Millie is the cause of, but has no clue to that at all.

                                                     Girls, you have got to see Sissy at the pistol range, with her pink halter top outfit; this is the best moment in the film.  Willie has a baby and the women ban together to deliver the child and some frontier justice.  Sissy Spacek seems to transition back to a child but watch out for those eyes.  She is fierce.   Shelley Duvall seems to morph into a shell of her former self, while Willie ends up owning the place.

                                                        The plot is fascinating, but so are the endless displays of imagery and color passing before the viewer's eye.  And wait till you see the Dodge City theme park (the film takes place in Palm Springs, CA) with its miniature golf course.

                                                              Altman based this film on a dream he had, but the images of double personae, such as the twins, or Spacek and Duvall pressed against a window looking out, suggest a splitting and transition of personalities that morph throughout the film.  Will these stay permanent at the end?  That is up to the viewer to decide.

                                                                I can tell you that this is Altman's best--and most minimalist film--since "Nashville.:

                                                                 It makes me want to wear Spacek's pink halter outfit and paint the walls of drained swimming pools!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          

Darlings, What Could Be Lovelier Than A Summer Full Of Perenials??????????????????????????????

                            I just love the name "perennial," because it holds out the possibility to extending Summer beyond its end point, which, for all intents and purposes, is after Labor Day.  And we are edging closer to that dreaded day, when the magic stops.

                                But his colorful floral array will alleviate any end of Summer anxiety.  You know, girls, how big I am on color, so this display was just perfect.  Imagine awakening to this every day.

                                 Florals may not be "groundbreaking," as MERYL STREP says in "The Devil Wears Prada," but they do add something to the Summer season.

                                  So, anyone suffering end of Summer blues, gather yourself as many perennials as you can!

                                  It will make you feel so much better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, Join Us Tonight At 8PM, As "Svengoolie" Airs "Man-Made Monster!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                       The title of this movie has fascinated me since I was a child and always made me want to see it.  It is one of the few things "Svengoolie" is offering this month I would like to see.  However, as we are going to a birthday party today, we may not be home in time to watch it.

                                         But, girls, don't let that stop you.  You are all invited to see this film, and encouraged to, because this was Lon Chaney Jr.'s debut foray into horror films.  This was his first for Universal, before doing the picture that would become his signature role, "The Wolf Man."

                                           Of course, the story has overtones of "Frankenstein;" being that he is rejuvenated with electricity.   Does it make him stronger, or evil?  Only by watching can one find out.

                                              Darlings, if you are able, I urge you to tune in.  I may not be able to, so enjoy this rare treat from "Svengoolie;" this film is hardly shown anywhere to the point where I thought it was lost.  And I hope The Squad is with Svengoolie tonight.

                                                So, tune it tonight, girls!  I will be thinking of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

The First Truly Great Film By Robert Altman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              This was the film where Altman started formulating his style--and foreshadowed "Nashville."  With the help of top cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond, the danger and beauty of snowcapped Western mountains overlooking a desolate frontier mining town is beautifully captured in "McCabe And Mrs. Miller."  The beauty and elemental danger of snow is vividly shown, especially at the climax.  But the most memorable aspect is Altman filtering Leonard Cohen songs--especially "The Stranger" and "Sisters Of Mercy" onto the soundtrack, demonstrating his special skill at integrating film and music and that would culminate four years later in "Nashville.

                                                   Warren Beatty and Julie Christie play the titular characters--he a gambler con businessman, and she the madame of a group of prostitutes.  One of those gals happens to be Shelley Duvall, who Altman and Zsigmond photography several times, and whose singular peculiarity one cannot keep one's eyes off of.  Along for the ride are also Keith Carradine, Michael Murphy and Bert Remsen.  Plus, in a minor role Joan Tewksbury, all of whom would go on to "Nashville."  Tewkesbury wrote the screenplay for that 1975 gem.

                                                       Zsigmond's interior lighting gives the film a 19th Century aura, and a final shot of Julie Christie captures all the beauty of this actress.  She doesn't even have to do anything to look beautiful.  I wish I could say the same!  But then, I don't look like Julie Christie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Who among us does?

                                                            Rene Aubernjonois gives a touching and vulnerable performance as the observer of all the action.

                                                             For those studying Robert Altman, seeing this film is key to understanding the director's work.  Looking back, as one of my age can, I can see how here he was setting in motion the stylistic techniques that would make him the master, like no other.

                                                                 Sadly, there are no directors of this caliber today.  But seeing such work preserved, and available to the public and cinephiles is extremely comforting.

                                                                   After seeing this film, the West will never be the same!!!!!!!!!!!!!