To Begin The Day With A Laugh Riot, Start With "Liza Vs. Carol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                           I am surprised no one out there has told me about this.  I discovered this the other day on YouTube.  It is a series of brilliantly edited clips of Liza on Larry King, and Carol on, of all things, Martha Stewart, arranged to appear as though talking to one another!

                          It is really camp, in the best sense of the words, darlings!  I had a laugh riot, watching it, and, if I can bring it up for you on here, I will.  If not, go straight to YouTube, and laugh your head off.

                           And, believe me, I wouldn't be surprised if Carol steps in for Bette one night!

                          She could still do eight shows a week!  I am not sure  I could!

                          Here it is, darlings!  Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, I Swear I Am Telling The Truth, I Thought I Saw Patience And Fortitude Mugging For The Camera!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 I was glad that is all they did, because I walked into "Ex Libris," Frederick Wiseman's documentary of The New York Public Library, at the Film Forum, with relatively jaundiced eyes.

                                  This is because what I had been expecting to see was one of two films.  The first was a kiss-your-ass lovefest, which would have made me puke, not to mention, Patience and Fortitude might have stepped down from their perches, and pooped all over the 42nd Street Branch, the Mother Ship of NYPL.  The second was a hatchet job, featuring players I know, which would have brought sadistic delight to my face, as one knowing what I now.

                                    Amazingly, the film turned out to be surprisingly non-biased.  I will say I do not think the length was necessary; a board meeting scene could have been trimmed here and there, because, with no intermission, my back, let alone my girdle, was killing me, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    What made me happy was the people used whom I knew were some of the best people there.  Like LPA's Evan Leslie, with his tall, personable presence, and a true caring about his home base, LPA.  I loved Jonathan Hiam's close-up; this guy, big in LPA's Music Division, has true star quality.  I mean, I am talking Frederic March!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      And Miriam Tulaio, whom I  worked with years before in Books To Remember, and is just as warm, engaging, and caring about people and books as anyone I know.  I would love to have tea with her, and discuss the new Jennifer Egan, which comes out this week.

                                      This film was shot over a twelve week period in 2015, which explains why I saw some people, like Mary Lee Kennedy, who are no longer there.  I was gratified, however not to see those I did not want to see!  Wisemann knew whom and whom not to use!

                                        All in all, darlings, this film should be seen.  It could be Wiseman's last, and maybe, but I hope not, NYPL's last hurrah.

                                         I still know where the bodies are buried!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Cannot Believe I Have Never Seen This Before!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  I had no idea I was in for a such a bitchfest, when we stayed to see Bette Davis' 1940 movie, "The Letter," which was her 43rd movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   This shot is impressive enough, but, girls, in this film I saw something I never thought I would see.

                                     Gladys Cooper comes very close to stealing 1942's "Now, Voyager," away from Bette.  Her famous fall down the stairs does, but, for the most part, she holds her own with Davis.

                                       "The Letter" offers something rarely seen in a Davis film--the star getting her comeuppance, as well as killed.  And the picture stolen completely from under her, by Hollywood's premiere Eurasian bitch, Gale Sondergaard, just a Swedish girl from Minnesota, with exotic looks!

                                          As Mrs. Hammond, wife of the husband Bette kills, when he spurns her adulterous advances,  Sondergaard barely moves, says a word, or blinks an eye.  But the implacable evil and sense of righteous revenge she projects throughout, not to mention having the best costumes and jewelry in the film, makes her a standout.

                                          Oh, my God, when Bette opens the door, and the knife is gone, I knew who took it.  I could not wait for the big Bette-Gale showdown!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           Despite the way I am describing it, this is a straightforward, serious treatment of a W. Somerset Maugham story.  The novelty of seeing someone actually steal a movie from Bette Davis doing so little, so brilliantly, is as shocking as the story itself.

                                             Davis, of course was Oscar nominated, but Sondergaard, who had won four years before, as Best Supporting Actress, in "Anthony Adverse" (beating out Bonita Granville in "These Three!!!!!!!!!!!!") should have been nominated, as well.  I wonder if she was seen for Mrs. Danvers, when "Rebecca" was being cast?  Not that I would exchange Judith Anderson, but Sondergaard here demonstrates she has the mojo for that role, as well.

                                              She is truly the reason to see "The Letter!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                               What a memorable Yom Kippur!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not Enough Can Be Said About This Film!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               When I found out that "Mildred Pierce" was going to be shown at the Film Forum, on what was Yom Kippur, I thought it the perfect holiday offering!  So, my equally movie mad, non-Jewish friend, Chris, and I, set out on this cinematic pilgrimage, which had a fair share of people gathered for this screening.  And why not?  The film is just about perfect.

                                 Not only did Joan deserve the Oscar she won, but so did everyone in it.

                                 The opening scene, in the night club, with Veda Ann Borg, as Miriam Ellis, singing "You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby," foreshadows not only the tale to come, but pops up several more times, whenever Mildred's daughter, Veda, is around!

                                   Veda, the venal daughter, is Ann Blyth's signature performance, and, darlings, if you love bitches, this is the one for you!  Barely out of pinafores, she is a grafter and schemer, but I always felt she was just a poor, misunderstood girl, who had goals.  She just went about attaining them horribly.  And, as she learned all too well, not everyone was as foolish as her mother.  Even Monty (the great Zachary Scott) had her number.

                                    This film brought my goals and nightclub ambitions to the fore.  I wanted to wear the outfits Veda and Miriam wear at the club, where they sing.  I still want to.

                                     Many may ask, what is my favorite moment?  In a film made up of so many, it is impossible, but, for me, I would have to say it is when Veda refers to Mrs. Biederhoff (the great Lee Patrick) as "distinctly middle class!"  I always applaud, at that one!

                                       And, of course, Veda goes to prison.  So, it is the perfect atonement film for Yom Kippur!

                                       This film was so good, it even worked when Carol Burnett parodied it as "Mildred Fierce!"  Remember Mildred's Fat Burgers?

                                        The dresses are exquisite, JoAnn Marlowe makes a moving and campy impact (in the tropics number) as Kay, the doomed daughter, and the camerawork is stunningly noir. The music, of course, is one of Max Steiner's best scores!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          What a perfect movie afternoon!

What A Wonderful Discovery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 Short, and, if not quite sweet, then poetic, insightful, and illuminating.  One of the many discoveries made during my Brat Pack project is the revelation of writers I had dismissed, or never heard of.  Jacqueline Woodson is in the second category; her path lies more with poetry and children, which do not cross my path.  But she manages to skillfully fuse the two, in her first novel, "Another Brooklyn," a story of four girls growing up, then apart, in 1970's Bushwick.

                                  August, Sylvia, Angela and Gigi are best friends during their girlhood years.  Woodson shows the importance of emotional bonding at that age, and how, though most share the notion it will last forever, Life shows that it really doesn't.

                                   The novel is not sad or depressing, just revelatory written in gorgeous, almost poetic prose that manages to encapsulate incidents in ways it might other writers pages to convey.  Which is why, despite this book's brevity, it is wonderfully effective.

                                      Woodson may be done with these four girls, but I am not done with Woodson.  I want to hear more from her.

                                         The modern New York writers, unlike the Brat Pack, are more willing to venture outside Manhattan.  And that can be refreshing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can You Believe, Darlings, It Is Now October?????????????????????

                                       Julie Andrews turns 82 today, and, sometime this month, our beloved Sister Camille turns 80!

                                       October also means a visit to the dentist, which I dread, and the possibility of cooler, cozier weather.

                                         The SVU season has been kicked in, and more is expected from "American Horror Story:  Cult!"  I am telling you, I am feeling like Sarah Paulson, as Ally, right now; I am beginning to see clown imagery in the most unusual places.

                                          October is the month I first saw "A Chorus Line."

                                           And, of course, Halloween tops things off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           So, everyone have a great October, and let's see what transpires on here!

                                           One never knows, do one???????????????????

Septemeber Is History, Now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             "Thirty days hath September," so the saying goes, but, yesterday, girls, I hath no time to write.  I had to whiz into Manhattan, with the trains not running right, for screening of both
"Mildred Pierce" and "The Letter," with Bette Davis, both experiences I will eventually share!

                               So, what happened this past month?   Well, for starters, "West Side Story" turned sixty, a fact I am carefully noting.

                                 David and I saw "It" and "Mother."  The first was entertaining, the second a lesson in style, as I need a good cream rinse for my hair, and a moisturizer, so that, when I emerge from the shower, I look like Jennifer Lawrence.

                                  Nor Broadway shows, but lots of books.  Still working on the Brat Pack Project; I may be able to begin writing next month.

                                    I made great strides with my cockatoo friend, Bacci, who allows me to pet her, and gently grabs my finger with her claw.  She is so sweet!

                                    And Seamus has made a wonderful recovery!  He is not wearing the cone, as much!

                                     All in all, a sweet September.

                                     Like a picnic morning, without a warning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!