"Death Valley," On AHS, Started So Strongly, Then Petered Out. Where Do We Go, Now?????????????????????????

                                            I was buoyed by the black-and-white opening, last week, on "Death Valley," on "American Horror Story," with its blending of "The Wizard Of  Oz" and "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind."  Not to mention spot on portrayals by Lily Rabe, Sarah Paulson and Neal McDonough, as, respectively, Amelia Earhart, Mamie Eisenhower, (who my family always said looked like Aunt Kathleen, and it was true!) and her husband, President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

                                        The black-and-white technique was brilliant.  Was this some recreation of Roswell????????????????????

                                          No sooner is the viewer  settled into this, then the screen blinds one with color and a group of young actors, destined to go nowhere (even Kaia Gerber, who is Cindy Crawford's daughter, but not much of an actress) are out on some dumb adolescent road trip--like, who cares?--and are attacked--or are they?--by alien tentacles.  Again, who cares???????????????

                                             If this is to be the rubric of "Death Valley," I say stop right now,  and wish to go back to "Red Tide."  Things were getting interesting just as the survivors hit L.A., and more gold  could  have been mined from this.

                                               Alas, I don't write the show.  Just this blog.

Unfortunately, Some Films Don't Hold Up From Childhood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       This 1948 film was a favorite of mine as a kid, but after seeing it this past Saturday night, I am declaring this my last viewing.  The film is so ridiculous and flawed.

                                        The monsters are more interesting than Abbott and Costello, but they have to stoop to their  low level of humor, and look  none  too happy about it.  Especially Bela Lugosi, who, in his final characterization as Dracula, looks old and tired, and not happy with his comic bits.  Same with Lon Chaney, Jr. as The Wolf Man, and Glenn Strange as Frankenstein.  They deserved better.

                                        Lenore Aubert gives the most interesting performance as Dr. Sandra Mornay, an ambitious female scientist, with a price on her head.  I would like to know her back story.  Since it is so soon after the war,  the camps, perhaps???????????????????????????????????

                                         This film I found insulting.  If intending to be Universal's farewell to the monster genre, it was a dishonor.  And flawed.

                                           The cartoon scenes  of Lugosi changing from a bat to Dracula look fake.

                                           Dracula and The Wolfman go over a  terrace,  seemingly plunging to their deaths,  when aficionados know  only a silver bullet can  kill a werewolf, and a vampire by driving a stake through his heart, or dying in the sunlight.

                                              Same with Doctor Mornay.  Transformed into a vampire, plunging out the window might muss her hair, but not kill  her.

                                                  As for Frankenstein, where did Dracula get this  toy gizmo to revive  him,  and how many other times has the  Monster survived fire????????????????

                                                    What never bothered me as a kid, rankles me now.  I am almost sorry I did watch it.

                                                      Sometimes, childhood illusions are better retained.

Welcome Back, Celia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      Whether, after the "Aladdin" fiasco, this turns out to be good or bad, the curtain rose this evening on Celia Keenan-Bolger returning to her TONY Award Winning role in "To Kill A Mockingbird."

                                         For  those who missed Celia the first time, this is a special chance.  If, like me, you are uncomfortable about setting foot in the theater, but want to see Celia, I suggest you buy a standing room ticket.  You will be near the least amount of people, and able to bask in her glorious work.

                                          I am telling you, darlings, I am almost tempted.  But I have had this theatrical privilege.  I want those who haven't to get a chance.

                                             Stay safe,  Celia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Darlings, This Was The Literary Day Of The Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                       

                                 Not within memory can I recall a day when two blockbuster books by blockbuster authors came out simultaneously.  Are they fighting it out?  I wonder.

                                 Of course,  girls, I went  to Three Lives, and bought them immediately.  Now, you have to remember, I just finished reading Anthony Doerr's book, "Cloud Cuckoo Land."  It is a MUST.  I will have more to say another time, but it is not to be missed. The combination of unlikely generic material, plus brilliant narrative structure makes it a standout.

                                  But will  it make  my Book  Of The Year?  Will these two?  It is  anyone's guess at this point, but I am up to my neck in book reading, and loving every minute of  it.  

                                    Of course, I won't hold a thing back, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                   

Today Is Both A Happy And Sad Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            Before getting to matters at hand,  I want to wish a belated Happy Birthday to Julie Andrews, who turned 86, yesterday.  Ever since 1965, and that iconic twirl and voice, Jules has owned the role of Maria Von  Trapp, and will continue to be, no matter where or when "The  Sound Of  Music" is viewed.

                                                 Today, however is the Feast Of The  Guardian Angels. Not the famous NYC street organization, founded by Mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa, but the celestial being assigned to all Roman Catholics, during their time on Earth.  I have to give thanks to mine, for getting me to the path I am on now.  It makes me blush, looking back on aspects of  my youth, including my adolescent bullying, over what my Guardian Angel  had to witness, and I hope, when my time comes, I am forgiven.  Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  He/She got me out of some rough situations, at times!!!!!!!!!

                                                     This day also marks a sad anniversary.   A year ago, our beloved canine friend, Chloe, a gorgeous  Golden Retriever, passed away, and we still miss her dearly.  And will always remember.

                                                                           

                                                 Rest In Peace, Chloe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Join Us Tomorrow Night, When Svengoolie Presents "Abbott And Costello Meet Frankenstein!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                        And not just Frankie, but Dracula, The Wolf Man, The Invisible Man, not to mention Lenore Aubert and Jane Randolph, two real Forties gals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          I believe this was the last time Bela Lugosi played Dracula, and Lon Chaney, Jr. The Wolf  Man.  The Frankenstein Monster was played by Glenn Strange, who injured his back during filming, so when you see the monster throw someone through a window, it is actually Lon  Chaney, Jr., in the Frankenstein costume and make-up, filling in for Strange, as a favor.

                                             It seems like  I have not  seen this  since I was a kid.  So  join David,  Baby Gojira,  Pippin, and Kerwyn  for fun and laughs!  And Vincent Price as The Invisible Man; perhaps this was his first foray into horror.

                                             See you tomorrow night,  dolls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can You Believe We Are Starting The Tenth Month???????????????????????????????

                                     I wanted to start this ghoulish month hopefully, because, despite the macabre connotations, I am anticipating a lot of fun.  First, I am immersed in  Anthony Doerr's  newest novel, "Cloud Cuckoo Land," and while only a third of the way through, I can safely say it is a strong contender. Grab yourselves a copy, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      I  would love to finish it by Tuesday, because that is the day I head to Three Lives to pick up this year's literary double header--"The Lincoln Highway," by Amor Towles, and "Crossroads," by Jonathan Franzen.  Did you know his breakthrough novel, "The Corrections," is now 20 years old??????????  Where does the time go?????????????

                                        Still determined to see "Dear Evan Hansen" on film,  and maybe even "Halloween Kills," with Jamie Lee Curtis still playing Laurie Strode, some 40 years later!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            Not to mention  Svengoolie's "Frankenstein Fest" this month, our animal friends, my beloved David facing a procedure which has me  worried, but that is me, not David, and, hopefully, some fun surprises.

                                              Alas, no Halloween candy for this diabetic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              So welcome to October,  everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                         

                                        "Fly Me To The Moon," darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!