Still Magical! Still Enchanting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          When the film version of "Oliver!" was first released in December 1968, the critics went crazy over it.  One said it was the best musical they had ever seen; "TIME Magazine" did s big story on it, stating it was the Best Picture Of The Year.  And it won that at the Oscars and five other awards!!!!!!!!!!!

                           But time has not been kind to "Oliver!"  I tired watching it on television, and it just does not work.  Like "The Sound Of Music " and "My Fair Lady"--also Best Picture winners--"Oliver!" cannot work anywhere but on the big screen.

                              At 14, I was so consumed with the film's hype that I pleaded with my parents to take me to see the film in New York City.  This was in the days when big films played reserved seat engagements and did not get out to the suburban hinterlands for two years.  So, my parents took me to see "Oliver!" in early 1969, and I was awestruck by its beauty, as well as the darkness of Dickens, which I was already familiar with.

                               The film finally reached the Albany Theatre in New Brunswick in 1970, and I saw it again, and was awed by its magic.  But when "Oliver!" began turning up on television, I could not watch it, because it did not work, which is why I think the film courted disfavor over time.  The other thing was having no genuine stars, because this film was exceptionally cast for character's sake, rather than star name value, and so much the better.

                                  Now, if you look closely at the poster, notice something.  The two characters most prominently displayed are Nancy and Oliver.  They were played by Shani Wallis and Mark Lester, respectively, and, ironically, they are the only cast members still alive.  Wallis is 91, Lester may be in his sixties, but they are all that survive.

                                 On June 21 of this year, I saw "Oliver!" on the screen for the first time in 56 years.  And I was right; the screen is where it belongs.  You MUST see this on the screen, darlings!!!!!!!!!!

                                    Ron Moody was Oscar nominated as Best Actor for his role as Fagin.  As was Jack Wild as Best Supporting Actor for his memorable portrayal of The Artful Dodge.  But it is Shani Wallis who should have received a Supporting Actress nomination for her Nancy.  She is the greatest of all Nancys.  Also, Oliver Reed's performance as Bill Sikes is chilling, not just because he was a good actor, not because he was director Carol Reed's nephew, but because, to this day, I remain convinced he was not acting.  What is on screen is not only Bill Skikes, but the real Oliver Reed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       The film has two of the most exquisite musical numbers ever filmed, and they both come in the second half It opens with the lyrical "Who Will Buy?" which begins softly, poetically and lyrically, with exquisite camerawork, and builds to a crescendo of musical bliss.  Onna White's choreography is some of the best I have seen captured on film.   The other number is "Ooom-Pah-Pah," which Carol Reed made a brilliant decision with.  On stage, the number opens the second act and is used as a showcase for Nancy and the ensemble.  But Reed had the brilliant sense to switch this number to near the end--the last in the film--where Nancy creates a commotion in the bar, distracting everyone with the song, so she can escape with Oliver to Mr. Brownlow, waiting atop London Bridge. Every time I see the escape sequence in this version, and it is because of Wallis' performance, I always wish Nancy here would have gotten away.  She too could have had a better life than what was dealt.

                                        Nevertheless, "Oliver!" is a better film than is sometimes recognized today.  Should the opportunity arise, darlings, I cannot urge you enough to see this on the screen.

                                         And would you believe this?  It was not until I had reached my twenties, I realized Nancy was a prostitute.

Announcing My Film Project!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

                          As this cataract thing looms, darlings, and I get older, while I have seen many movies--more than some in their lifetimes--and have sat through multiple viewings of film I cherish, after seeing celebrities visit The Criterion Closet, I thought it time to create one of my own.  So many important movies I have NEVER seen.

                         But it won't be easy.  Because I am listing different categories and some films may be on more than one list.  I can tell you one film that well; most of you on here will know what that film is.

                           I have two definitive categories.  Gay Films and Art Films.  Not everyone's choice will be on here; in fact, if readers would like to share their picks you are welcome to comment.

                            I am also pondering two other categories--New York Films and Hitchcock.

                            And I am limiting the list to ten, because, well, this could go on forever.

                            This will take some time because I have to acquire certain films, watch them, and then write about them.   I would like to do it in sequence, but since some of the films are already in my collection, I may have to do it as I go along and then list everything in the last post.

                              Let me know what you think of this, girls, and any suggestions you may have.  

                              I may write about those suggestions separately.

                                

                          

Welcome To July, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         The seventh month is almost always the most exciting, as it is the peak of the summer.  And this year proves to be more exciting than the rest.

                                           First, there is the 250th Anniversary of the United States.  Hey, I remember the Bicentennial back in 1976.  At that time, I never thought about 250; it was in a vast, faraway time.  And yet here we are.

                                             I have so much reading and writing to do I can barely think straight.  And I have something to share with you all, which may impact my July.

                                               Late last November, I got a letter from my current eye doctor, saying he would be giving up his practice in Manhattan, and operating out of his hometown in Teaneck, NJ.  He offered me that option, but face it, girls, Bay Ridge to Teaneck by public transit would take a whole day!  Instead, though originally scheduled for February of this year, he offered me the option of a visit in December.  I chose that, because it would give me one last visit with him, and that went fine.

                                                   This meant six months later, in June, I would have to find a new eye doctor.  So, I went to my PCP, who always gives great referrals, and he gave me one, connected to NYU Langone, which I am a part of, as a patient.   Well, I went, and all I will say is it reminded me of what my dear reader, Mistress Maddie, said to me about Tory Burch--"Run for the hills!"  Cold, opinionated and giving me mixed messages--do I need cataract surgery? do I not? --till my mind was exploding, and I wanted to get out of there instantly, because I did not feel at all comfortable with this woman.

                                                           Here is the kicker.  Last weekend, we stayed at The Algonquin, which I will get to chronicling, and we saw our friends, Dan and Norma.  I recounted my experience to Norma, and she said she had a similar experience with an eye doctor.  When she got home, she emailed us.  It turned out her doctor was the same as mine.  We are on the same page when it comes to medical treatment, so, if this wasn't a sign to avoid this woman, I don't know what is.

                                                             Needless to say, after Norma's confirmation, I am not going back to this woman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                   I see my PCP on July 7, and I will tell him this, and ask for another referral.  Should that not work out, I will go to David's eye doctor, here in Bay Ridge.

                                                                     Did you ever see "The Twilight Zone" episode, "Time Enough At Last?"  Burgess Meredith plays a bank clerk who is an omnivorous reader.  He survives a nuclear explosion by hiding in the bank vault, so he can read.  He emerges into a world where he has every book at his disposal and time to read them.  He begins, but at some point, his glasses fall off, and break.  He cannot read without them, and now he is trapped in a world where he cannot read.

                                                                           This story represents my greatest fear about cataract surgery.  For all that this woman seemed to say I needed it, I can honestly say in the last several years my vision has been as good as back in grade school.  I read without my glasses, and I wear glasses for distance--movies and shows and such.  I have no overt symptoms.  My father did not have it till he was in his eighties.

                                                                   I am afraid the cataract surgery will render me like Burgess Meredith, which would traumatize me if I could never read again.  And don't try to tell me about audio books; much of the stuff I read is not on there, and the experience just is not the same.

                                                                        So yes, girls, July is an exciting but fraught filled month.  Added to that on the 22nd I am having a colonoscopy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                          Anyone out there who has or knows about cataract surgery, please feel free to comment.

                                                                            The eyes are the windows of the soul.  But I do not want the shades lowered on my windows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!