Girls, Join Us Tonight At 8PM, As "Svengoolie" Presents "Dracula Has Risen From The Grave!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                                                                 

                                       I remember when this film came out, in 1968.  Of course, I was not allowed to see it then but tonight will make up for almost 57 years.  Where has the time gone, darlings???????????

                                          Christopher Lee does his standard blood and gore interpretation of Dracula.  But no Peter Cushing as Van Helsing?  Why?  Anyway, Baby Gojira is very excited, because the film offers up a bevy of young lovelies, and that promises lots of bosoms, which Baby Gojira wants to see, as "Svengoolie's" films have not offered them in a long time.

                                            I am sure it will be loads of fun Remember, it is a Hammer film, so that means two things--blood and bosoms.  Fans of both should have a wild time, tonight!

                                              It has been a while since this house gathered for a "Svengoolie" screening, so there is some excitement in the air.

                                                Not since Nancy Kelly dropped the glass, in hysteria!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         

Darlings, I Have A Bone To Pick With The Pope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          No, it is not about issues surrounding abortion or homosexuality.  It is about the choice of the Pope's favorite movies; or at least the omission of one, thereof.

                           On the surface, I have no problem with his choices.  It is pretty forward thinking to list 1980's "Ordinary People," which deals with suicide and mental illness, not to mention an unfit mother and the breakup of a marriage over a child's death.

                               No argument from me, either, about "The Sound Of Music."   Julie doing that twirl, the Alps, Charmian, Heather, the nuns--what more could one ask for?????????????

                                 "It's A Wonderful Life" is more problematic.  I maintain that it is a beautifully written, photographed and acted story.  It deserves to be called iconic.  But its paean to small town virtue makes me a bit squeamish, especially concerning the characters of Mary (Donna Reed) and Violet (Gloria Graham).  Still, I can accept the choice.

                                     Even though "Life Is Beautiful" did not do it for me, I can live with it.  Roberto Benigni won the Oscar for Best Actor, and deservedly so.  Those looking for a better film with a similar message had best look to Vittorio De Sica's 1952 "Umberto D."  Its climax and ending speak volumes.

                                     Still, I can live with the Pope's choices.  But one film is conspicuously missing from this list.

                                       Where is "THE SONG OF BERNADETTE?"

                                       I mean, Jennifer Jones, that cast, cinematography and Alfred Newman score; it does not get much better than this.  And for not only a clergyman, but the highest one in the land--Jesus' representative on earth--to overlook this masterwork is disappointing, to say the least.

                                      Take a look at this film, and see for yourself, Padre!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     

                                    

                                          Take a look and this image and tell me it is not worthy to be listed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I dare you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          I wonder what Father Guido Sarducci's list of favorite movies would have been????????????????

Yes, Girls, It Is That Time Again--Another Musical Theater Week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       This is the week, leading up to, and culminating with, my birthday, in which a number of Legends Of The Musical Stage were born, which could explain why I am so wired for musical theater.  There must have been something in the stars.

                                           Today marks the birthday of Sammy Williams, the original Paul in "A Chorus Line," back in 1975, both at The Public and on Broadway.  He won a TONY Award for his galvanizing performance, which at the time pushed homosexuality to its farthest on stage, with the famous monologue that no one like Sammy could deliver.

                                              I was privileged to see him on October 25, 1975, with my father.

                                             If Sammy were alive today, he would have been 77.  How I wish he had made it.  But he passed at 69 on March 17, 2018.

                                             Like me, he was a Jersey boy, but from Trenton.  Imagine dancing with that original cast, alongside Donna McKechnie!  Oh, my God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               Happy Birthday, Sammy.  Your legacy continues to live on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            As always, every year, I post the complete monologue, so you can experience it.

                          Happy Musical Theater Week, everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          

Happy Birthday To Stanley Tucci!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       I am so honored to share a birthday a week apart from Stanley Tucci.  He is such a consummate actor and is now becoming something of a male Julia Child for Italian cuisine.  Ironic, since he starred with MERYL in the 2009 film "Julie And Julia."

                                         Mr. Tucci is a consummate actor and a handsome man.  Oh, girls, wouldn't it be delicious to have Stanley come to your house and cook a meal?  He could wear an apron--and nothing else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            Seriously, Stanley Tucci is one of our best American actors, and while the film may not be great, I cannot wait to see him in the upcoming sequel to "The Devil Wears Prada."

                                              Happy Birthday, Stanley! Have some prosecco and finish it off with and an affogato!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Veterans Day, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

                                  Veterans Day is special to me for two reasons.  The first is that it is exactly one week away from my birthday.  Think of it, girls.  I have just one more week to be 70.

                                     The second reason is my paternal grandparents, who were married on this day before it became Veterans Day.  They were married on 11/11/11.  That's right.  November 11, 1911. This would be their 114th anniversary.

                                       And, of course, we celebrate all veterans who fought for us, because otherwise some of us might not be here today.

                                        It is a holiday, but one of remembrance, with the celebrating being the memory of veterans

                                          Is there an appropriate movie for this day?  I know some may opt for "Saving Private Ryan," or "From Here To Eternity."  Good as both are, my choice would be 1946's Oscar winning Best Picture "The Best Years Of Our Lives," a warm, human story about WWII vets having to adjust to civilization.  It is moving and heartbreaking.

                                          So, Happy Veterans Day, girls!!!!!!!!!!  Remember to tighten those curls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Shout Out To All Who Read Literary Fiction!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                         Literary fiction is the bulk of what I read, though I enjoy an occasional non-fiction, mystery, or piece of trash.  As long as it is "respectable" trash, like Shirley Conran's "Lace."

                          A recent article I read in either "The Week" or "The New Yorker" maintained that those who read literary fiction develop more empathy.  I can agree with that, being the dog whisperer of the neighborhood. with every canine breed, even the occasional pit bull, coming up to me.  I don't pay attention to the pit bulls, but I lavish love on all others who approach me.   I sometimes feel like Saint Francis of Assisi.  I am sure he would approve.

                           Of course that does not stop me from emphasizing with people, and I do.   But until this articled, I never connected empathy with literary fiction.

                              I still think empathy is something one is genetically wired for.  But literary fiction can expand upon what is already there.

                              So, darlings, the next time you are in a bookstore, avoid those George R. Martin/ "Game Of Thrones" books, and pick up some literary fiction.

                                You will be so much more enlightened and feel so much better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Apologize For Not Writing About These Tragic Anniversaries Yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             We had a luncheon to go to yesterday, and it was a long and lovely one.

                             But afterward, something kept gnawing at my brain concerning the importance of this day.  Gradually, I realized the sadness of this day, on multiple fronts.

                               Last night was the 87th anniversary of Kristallnacht, or the "Night Of Broken Glass," that triggered the Holocaust in Germany and elsewhere.  It took place on November 9, 1938, and how could I forget that?  Especially with David's family having been Holocaust survivors?   

                                  So, here is my remembrance of that terrible night.  May it never happen again.

                                      Now, thirty-three years later, in 1971, something not as momentous, yet equally heinous, happened in Westfield New Jersey, on this night.  A deranged family/businessman named John List shot his entire family to death--his wife, Helen, his mother, who lived with them, and his children, Patricia, John, Jr. and Frederick.

                                      It happened in 1971, when I was still in high school, and it was the scandal of the state.  I am sure it is still the scandal of Westfield.

                                        List had planned killing himself after the others, but could not do it, so went on the lam, eluding police for nearly eighteen years, until being captured on June 1, 1989.

                                        He was convicted in 1990 and sentenced to five life terms for his crimes.  In March of 2008, he died of natural causes at the age of 82.  Good riddance.

                                        To think two such tragedies happened on the same day, though decades apart.

                                        I promise not too many, if anymore, sad November posts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!