"Beaches" Gets Beached!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    This will be another post that may have spoilers, so let me say first if you have never seen the 1988 film "Beaches," with Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey, skip this post, but see the film, and avoid this musical!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      The "Playbill" cover says more about the show than may be realized.  The musical is at its best when the focus is on the children--Little CeCe, played by Samantha Schwartz, and Little Bertie, played by Zeya Grace.  They are wonderful, and it is interesting how they move throughout the show as figures of memory.  Because when Jessica Vosk and Kelly Barrett take over, they are so lackluster.

                                         What prompted Lonny Price to get involved in this mess?  The Sondheim alum, and forever original cast member of "Merrily We Roll Along," uses the children in a "Follies-esque" way, but the unexciting book and even worse music and lyrics make this a disappointment.

                                           The biggest disappointment is the end, which should have given audiences who are so inclined--like me--a good catharsis.  If I recall the 1988 film correctly Hillary (the Barbara Hershey character; why the name change here I could not tell you) dies with CeCe at her side, holding hands.  Tears were shed over this moment. But the show denies the audience this; when Bertie gets sick, cancer is unmentioned.  If the audience blinks, they will miss Bertie's passing, which is so anit-climatic, rushing too soon into a not so moving rendition of the moving "Wind Beneath My Wings." 

                                              "Beaches" might have been the entertaining tearjerker it is capable of being had it been better cast, scored, and more attention paid to the key emotional aspects.   Like the song in "Gigi" says, "Thank Heaven For Little Girls."

                                                   Because when they are on stage, the two little girls transform "Beaches" into what might have been.  Pity it was not.

I Would Like Some Answers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           After seeing "Fried Green Tomatoes" yesterday, I found myself asking questions I have not asked in years.  There will be extensive plots aspects mentioned, so if you have not seen the film or read the book, skip this post.

                           The film is beautiful and heartbreaking, well-crafted cinematically and heartbreaking at the same time.  The line that haunts me most from yesterday is when Sipsie (Cicely Tyson) is comforting the grieving Idgie (Mary Stuart Masterson) and says to her, "You know, Miss Ruth was a lady.  And a lady...always knows.... when to leave."  I sobbed over that one.

                             It is also one of the best cast films I have seen.

                                This is not THE question I want answered but as I recall, when Idgie turns to the window and tells the story of the lake, doesn't Sipsie "help Ruth along" with an injection?  This viewing I was not sure.  It has been years, maybe decades since I saw this.

                                   Speaking as a gay man from a current time, it is no question to me that Idgie and Ruth had a loving lesbian relationship.  A lot better than straight couples.  This was the South in the Twenties and Thirties, it was a small town, and everyone knew.  Had this been two men, they would have been killed, tarred and feathered and castrated.  And I offer this theory via another gay couple's film.

                                                                     

                    That film was "Brokeback Mountain," made fourteen years after "Fried Green Tomatoes" in 2005, taking place in Wyoming.  It is the early Sixties, I believe and while both Ennis and Jack are married to women, it is clear their love is real.

                     Midway through the film there is a scene when Ennis is a child.  He and his father take a walk, and he shows the boy this abandoned house, which used to be a ranch.  He said years ago two men who were cowboys lived on their own, had their own ranch--but they lived as a couple!  They were out of range of the town, but it knew, and one night they were attacked and killed.  I remember being appalled at this but also wondering why the father was telling this young boy, far from puberty, about this? Did he sense his son was a burgeoning gay man?  Like "Fried Green Tomatoes," this film is beautiful and heartbreaking, but I have never forgotten this part.  It makes me uncomfortable.

                          I may be naive, but I still want to know why Idgie and Ruth were able to "get away with it," and those two men, as well as Ennis and Jack, could not.  Today, thankfully, David and I live as comfortably--he is the Ruth to my Idgie--and we have never had a problem.  Yet back then we might have and I would have had to fight.

                          During childhood I recall my cousins had an uncle on their father's side, who lived in Belmar, New Jersey, near his sister and her husband.  The uncle ran a flower shop, was not married, but had a "companion." though they did not live together.  When the uncle's time came, the "companion" took care of him.

                           When I was old enough to understand, I wondered.  Was not living together a choice, or imposed by the time?  I suppose I will never know, but at least they were open enough to be there for each other.  Which is what I love about Idgie and Ruth.

                              To sum up, tell me why women can get away (or could?) with it, easier than men?

                             And I still want to wear all the outfits from "The Devil Wears Prada 2."

                           I would even wear some of Ruth's dresses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Two Most Perfect Movies For Mother's Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           "The Bad Seed," 1956--Oh, my God, darlings, when Nancy Kelly's hysteria ratchets up after realizing she has a homicidal child, she sets new screen heights for hysteria, that did not even come close to anything else until Veronica Cartwright came along in "The Children's Hour" in 1961.

                              Darlings, even the alcohol ridden Mrs. Daigle, the wonderful Eileen Heckart, had Rhoda's number--well, sort of.  She had all the pieces assembled, but not in the proper place.  And that Monica Breedlove, the garrulous Evelyn Varden.  I still maintain the picture should have lasted long enough to have Rhoda push her from the roof!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                This film is a mother's nightmarish delight.  Having a missing child is a tragedy, but a murderous one is something to fear.  How long before she kills you?  And once puberty and hormones would have set in that becomes a frightening reality.

                                 Yes, girls, this film is perfect for Mother's Day, reminding us also of the importance of morning coffee and facial treatment.

                                                                 

                          Mildred Pierce," 1945--My mother's name was Mildred--she hated it--and when I first heard of this film, I briefly was calling her Mildred Pierce.  Until I had seen the film.  This is another film where a mother has a nasty daughter, though, with Joan Crawford, take your pick.  She had one here, in "Strait-Jacket" and in "Berserk!"   But "Mildred Pierce" is the best.  Ann Blyth, as daughter Veda advances to murder on her nineteenth birthday, only to get hauled off to prison.  On her birthday; can you imagine?  Her line about the dress being cheap is spot on: I mean, what would ANNA have said?  Everyone has Veda's number, but Mildred.  Even at the end, I was never sure she figured it out yet.  I always said it was too bad Kay died; she might have given Veda the comeuppance she needed.  But Joan is at her masochistic self-sacrificing best, and Eve Arden's acidity is along for the ride, and Zachary Scott cuts a dashing figure as Monty.  Oh, hons, it is such fun, especially with Ann Blyth livening things up as Veda.  And wait till you see the nightclub sequence.

                          So, take your pick, darlings!!!!!!!!  Each one is guaranteed to ensure a delightful Mother's Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           Happy, happy, all you mothers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                

Gojira Wishes All Mothers A Happy Mother's Day By Standing Next To The Statue Of Liberty, Showing He Is On The Side Of America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                         This publicity shot from his forthcoming film is just too precious, as Gojira shows his love for Mom, and the American way.  He is a true patriot and hero.  He is so modest he never told us.

                          I know he wishes Sister Camille D'Arienzo a Happy Mother's Day.  Many of us have looked to her over the years for maternal wisdom.  She and Gojira have a special bond.

                          Today we are all going to a screening of "Fried Green Tomatoes."  I have not seen it in years, and I love the film, but for those who know, I dread that early scene which transitions the film from a feel-good film to something else, but special.

                             However, you celebrate and honor your mother, have a happy and healthy one, dears.

                             And stay tuned for some perfect Mother's Day film selections!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, Join Us Tonight At 8PM, As "Svengoolie" Presents "First Men In The Moon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                           This is the film version of a 1901 novel by H.G. Wells of the same title.  I have seen the trailer and, though made in 1964, it suggests a Technicolor version of Georges Melies.

                                            The spaceship is antiquated, the color is like an old movie, and the cast is filled with stalwarts like Lionel Jeffries, Martha Hyder and Valentine Dyall.  Remember him as Jethro, Elizabeth Selwyn's acolyte in "The City Of The Dead"/Horror Hotel?"

                                              The special effects are by the great Ray Harryhausen, and that is special enough for me, darlings!!!!!!!!!!  This was when things were done for real, not like today's artificial CGI.

                                               Having never seen this film, I cannot promise artistic thrills, but the visuals should be stunning.  And I am sure The Sven Squad will be on hand..

                                                So, join David, me, Baby Gojira and Company for this special viewing tonight!

                                                And God help us next week, when The Sven Squad airs "Rosemary's Baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Girls, It Is Every Bit As Good As Could Be Hoped, And I Cannot Get Over Not Being Disappointed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                   
                                                                                   

                              Still and all, I learned several important things from "The Devil Wears Prada 2."

                              1. NEVER shop at Kohl's!!!!!!!!!!!!!                                                                                                                2. Do NOT give away CHANEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!                                                                          3.."May the bridges I burn light my way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                             Gabriela Hearst...Tom Ford...Dries Van Noten....CHANEL...Schiaparelli...Catherine Holstein....the names and faces of designers and celebrities was almost too much to take in, while concentrating on the Divine MERYL, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tuccci.

                                 Everyone looks so gorgeous and cute after 20 years--has it really been twenty years, darlings?  Yes, it has, and don't we all look fabulous? -but then as devotees of this film and its ideas, why shouldn't we?  At least that's what we tell ourselves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  I think ANNA sees the whole thing as a hoot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   Speaking for myself, girls, I saw this as a microcosm of my fast-paced life.  My God, up early, shower quickly, gulp down coffee, then off to an event, doctor appointment, movie or show!!!!!!!!!!!!  I really have to squeeze in time to write this blog; on a good morning, I just take my coffee to the desk and write!!!!!!!!!!!!  It is evening right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      So, now you know what I go through girls!!!!!!!!  Bul like the characters in the film, I would not trade it for anything!  And that includes my David!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        This is is the film all us girls and queens have been waiting for!

                                         Guys who do NOT see this, start questioning your sexuality!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                                

Have You Heard About The "Trad Wife" Movement!???????????????????????????????

                                        To think I was made aware of this on the TV show "Elsbeth," which we watch for pleasure on Thursday nights.  The "Trad Wife" movement is simply dreadful.  It is a group of women and their neanderthal husbands who want to live life as it was in 1950's America!  Girls, I kid you not!!!!!!!!! Can you believe this???????????????

                                           Not since Marabel Morgan's "Total Woman" movement in 1973--which netted Joyce Maynard her second cover story in "The New York Times" Magazine--" in which she seemed to be an advocate--has there emanated such media nonsense.  Why would any adult woman in her right mind want to go back to that time?  Even Joyce seems to have moved on, living life as an individual, though I do not fault her for her pie crusts.  They are difficult to make.  My mother said that only her friend, Dotty Kramer--oh, what a character!!!!!!--could make really good pie crusts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              This "Trad Wife" thing is total garbage, and phony as hell, as demonstrated well on last night's episode of "Elsbeth," where the guru of non-liberation was blithely hauled off to prison for murder.  It was great that a murder took place on this show--it almost always does--but the "Trad Wife" advocate should have been the victim.  But then, I guess, there would have been no story. Maybe there should be one, or a documentary about how this movement could spell damage for America.

                                                  Are we generating a group of Blondie Boopadoops?????????????

                                                  In this case, I was glad for this episode of "Elsbeth" to open my eyes.

                                                   This could destroy the fabric of America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!