"Hell's Bells!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Christ On A Bicycle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                            I have not heard that expression in ages, but I used to hear it often, as a child, used by my parents' generation whenever they got frustrated.

                              One day, I did or said something to my mother, and she had just had it, so she shouted this at me!  I began laughing, because as soon as she said it, what came to me was the image of Judy Garland in the house up in the cyclone, and instead of Miss Gulch appearing on her bike, it was......Christ!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              But that is just me.  The phrase is of British origin, but I know not where or how.  But whenever I think of it, I want to burst out laughing.

                                I always thought Jesus had a sense of humor, so I think he would get a kick out of it.  He would have to have a sense of humor, with all the craziness going on down below!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 Go for a bike ride, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Election Day And Happy Gojira Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        And Gojira would like all of you to get out there and vote!

                                       It is the first Tuesday in November, so that means Election Day.

                                       But--On this day in 1954, seventy-two years ago, and fifteen days before yours truly was born, an art house in Los Angeles introduced the original 1954 "Gojira" film.  Unfortunately, it took 50 years for viewers to see it, thanks to Joseph E. Levine and his dumb idea of cutting it, Americanizing it and having Raymond Burr as some sort of patsy.  And then the name was changed to Godzilla!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Make no mistake, darlings, the name is Gojira and we have Baby Gojira living with us.  Both wish everyone a Happy Election Day and urge you to get out and vote.

                                            I would not be surprised if Gojira, who is so thoughtful, is working the polls today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, Did You Know Yesterday Would Have Been Betsy Palmer's 100th Birthday??????????????????????????????

                                 No one has ever said, "Kill her, Mommy! Kill her!" like Betsy Palmer.  I can say this because I am having such fun with Linda Cardellini as the young Pam Voorhees, whom I could easily see morphing into Palmer.  The adaptation, however, is something else, and that is not a compliment, but I will discuss all that at length, once I have finished the entire series.

                                   How could Betsy have guessed a piece of junk like "Friday The 13th" would have become a cult classic, and Mrs. Voorhees turn out to be her signature role?  Such are the ways of show biz careers.

                                       Wouldn't we all have loved to wear that white fisherman's sweater yesterday to honor Miss Palmer.  I know I would have.

                                          So, a happy 100th birthday to Betsy Palmer, and another 100 years of entertainment from Mrs. Voorhees.

                                           "...what you did to him!  Look what you DID to him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                          Don't you just love it, darlings???????????????????????

Happy All Souls Day, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            Yesterday was All Saints Day, honoring Bernadette, The Fatima Children, St. Francis, and future saints like Pope Leo and Sister Camille D'Arienzo.

                              Today, we honor those having gone before us--parents, friends, associates, and others in our pasts.

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                                I apologize for not posting yesterday, but it was a frantic day, and I had to witness something excruciating, which I will examine on this blog in the very near future.

                                  Meanwhile, a Happy All Saints And All Souls Day!

                                 Starting November on a positive note!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And So We Come To November!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Darlings, if you think 2026 has gone fast, wait for these next six weeks.  Today is All Saints Day, tomorrow is All Souls Day, my birthday is coming up, as well as Musical Theater Week and later Thanksgiving.  Then comes December and the holidays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             Gird your loins or whatever, darlings.  Things speed up now like a silent movie played at the wrong speed.

                                              But we are looking forward to a lot of excitement.  First and foremost, I hope "Svengoolie" improves his line up for this month.  How dare he show "The Wizard Of Oz.?"  Cheapening one of the great cinematic achievements of the 20th century!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                  I expect to post more movie reviews this month, thanks to You Tube and Criterion.

                                                  And books!  Oh, my God, I will never reach 100 this year!  I feel like such a failure.  And the "The New York Times" list will be coming out, and I may have to read what is on their fiction list.  Where is time?  I need it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                    I also have to pick out an ANNA WINTOUR restaurant for my birthday celebration with David.

                                                    Help me get through November, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!  It will be some month!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Halloween, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               What a day!  Not only is it Halloween, but the end of October, and then comes November with the marathon, Musical Theater Week, my birthday and others.

                                 So, a Happy Halloween to all, and what an October, what with Philly, seeing old friends and new, and the huge number of unseen movies watched and recorded this month, though I have yet to post on "Parasite."  Tonight we may watch "Crystal Lake, " because I want to see how the young Pamela Voorhees handles things, and if she gets her hands on that slut, Claudette!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    If you are Trick or Treating, girls, have fun, but be careful/

                                   Have fun, but safe Halloween, darlings, and see you next month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Film Really Speaks To 1975 Los Angeles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  Even after fifty years, "Shampoo" can still serve as a reminder to Easterners why we prefer living in the jungle of New York City than the smog ridden, politically laden infestation that is Los Angeles.

                                     Warren Beatty plays George, a straight (!!!!!!!!!!) hairdresser who screws anyone female in sight.  George has no plans or alternatives; he talks about opening a salon of his own but never follows through on it.  He will never be Sally Hershberger.

                                        Much of this film, wonderfully directed by Hal Ashby, consists of shots of Beatty on his motor bike, racing through Oriental-like hills and houses of Los Angeles. I am convinced Beatty was playing himself, circa 1975.  I cannot imagine how Annette Benning managed to tame him!!!!!!!!!!!  I know Carly Simon had him, but let me admit I never did, nor did I want to!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            Goldie Hawn as Jill and Julie Christie as Jackie are two of his conquests, and neither one has looked better than in this film.  First, when one is Julie Christie, how can one not look good?  Wouldn't we all like to look like Julie Chrisite, darlings?????????  And Goldie Hawn here reminds those who might forget what a marvelous comic actress she was.  Daughter Kate Hudson never came close!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                There is even a one scene appearance by a pre-"Star Wars" Carrie Fisher, who plays Lorna, daughter of Felicia (Lee Grant).  She gets the best line in the film--"Do you want to fuck?"

                                                   Cycle riding, fornicating and parties is what "Shampoo" adds up to in a dismal picture of Los Angeles, albeit tinged with humor.

                                                     I enjoyed every minute of it.  But one thing I could not believe.

                                                      Good an actress as Lee Grant is, and as fine is she is this film, SHE beat out Ronnee Blakley and Lily Tomlin in "Nashville???????????"  How???????????

                                                          One of many things I cannot forgive the MPAAS for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!