NY Daily News: Edward Herrmann, an actor best known for his role on the television show “Gilmore Girls,” has died at age 71.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
New Year’s Eve Netflix Streaming Guide
Flavorwire: Flavorwire’s Guide to (Expiring) Movies to Stream This New Year’s Eve
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Christine Cavanaugh, R. I. P.
AOL.com: The actress, who voiced the original "Babe" the pig in the 1995 film and Chuckie from "Rugrats," died on December 22.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
The Campaign to Prove Shakespeare Didn't Exist
The Campaign to Prove Shakespeare Didn't Exist: The greatest ongoing investigation in literary history has been caused entirely by William Shakespeare’s thoughtlessness.
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
The Job -- Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg
Kate O'Hare and Nick Fox are back, which is good news for anybody who wants to read a light-hearted, fast-moving caper novel. I'm one of those people. I can always use a good laugh, particularly now, and this book provided some fine escape reading.As you'll recall if you've read previous books, Fox is the world's greatest conman and thief, while O'Hare is the FBI agent who finally managed to catch him. Now Fox is secretly working for the FBI, and he and O'Hare are unofficially teamed up to bring down the world's biggest criminals.
The book opens with Fox being accused of a series of art thefts. The evidence that he's guilty seems overwhelming, but O'Hare doesn't believe it for a second. She's right, of course, but I won't give any details except to say that the thefts lead them to devise an elaborate con game to capture a zillionaire drug dealer. Setting up the con with their usual team is a large and enjoyable part of the book. Along the way there are some fights, some escapes, and some romance. Not to mention a lot of laughs. The Job is another fine job (couldn't resist) by a top-notch writing team. Check it out.
Luise Rainer, R. I. P.
Flavorwire: Luise Rainer, the first-ever performer to win back-to-back Oscars, passed today. Over a century old, the German-born Rainer retired from major motion pictures in 1943. In a career spanning just eight years—she made her Hollywood debut at MGM in 1935—Rainer won Best Actress for her roles in The Great Ziegfeld, in 1936, and an adaptation of Pearl S. Buck’s The Good Earth, in 1937.
The Trap of Solid Gold: The Executioners
Long, excellent essay: The Trap of Solid Gold: The Executioners
Overlooked Movies: The Beast of Hollow Mountain
As I've mentioned numerous times before, I was a big fan of 3-D movies when I was a youngster. When The Beast of Hollow Mountain was announced as a forthcoming 3-D feature, I was eager to see it. Unfortunately, somebody got cold feet, or maybe the budget couldn't handle it. Or maybe 3-D was dying. For whatever reason, the movie was released in the old flat-screen format. In something called Regiscope. I have no idea what that is. Maybe Mr. Philbin could help us out. As you can see on the poster to the left, the movie was based on a story by Willis O'Brien of King Kong fame. This movie is no King Kong, but it is the first movie to feature cowboys and dinosaurs (or a dinosaur), so there's that. There's also the key ingredient necessary to make any movie successful -- quicksand. Or a tar pit, but it's still quicksand to me.
The star is Guy Madison, who was just about always good in westerns and did make one in 3-D, The Charge at Feather River, in which the famous "Wilhelm scream" originated. Madison was also the star of TV's Wild Bill Hickok. Too bad they didn't get Jingles to be in The Beast from Hollow Mountain, too. They did get Patricia Medina, and that was a great decision. You can't go wrong with Patricia Medina.
Madison is in Mexico to start a cattle ranch, and the locals don't want him there. They think he should go back where he came from. He doesn't, even though there are mysterious doings. Something is eating the local ranchers' cattle. There's romance between Madison and Medina, who's already pledged to one of the locals. Naturally there's conflict, but it's mostly boring because we're all waiting for the beast to show up. It takes a long time. It's not a bad beast by '50s standards, though it's laughable by today's. And it's not a realistic dinosaur, not unless dinosaurs had really, really long tongues. Maybe they did. Anyway, the method by which Madison disposes of the beast is pretty clever.
I'm not exactly recommending this movie. It's a good example of how little it took to make us happy back in the old days, however, so it's worth a look for historical purposes.
Monday, December 29, 2014
‘It’s the holy grail of ship wrecks’
Fox17: MICHIGAN — Le Griffon, a well known ship that sunk in Lake Michigan during the 17th century, has been hiding at the depths of the lake for more than 300 years. Now, treasure hunters who believe they found it, said to have stumbled upon it by accident.
Once Again Texas Leads the Way
The Star Telegram: A motorist who said he saw a man in another car beating a woman forced the man out of the car at gunpoint Friday and held him until officers arrived, Southlake police reported.
Forgotten Hits: December 29th
Forgotten Hits: December 29th Top hits on this date from various years.
Nostalgia Time
Judy and I met on December 29, 1960, on a blind date arranged by her friend Loibeth Black and my friend Fred Williams. On the left you can read what Judy wrote in our wedding book about that night. I remember exactly what she was wearing, and though she doesn't mention it, she also wore what was then called a mouton coat. Just about every girl had one of those back then. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it were in a closet somewhere in this house. I don't know if she was impressed by me, but I was certainly impressed by her. She was a senior in high school, and I was a freshman in college. She was black-haired beauty. I was a short-haired, four-eyed geek. It didn't take me long to learn that she was also very smart, and if I didn't fall for her on that date, it wasn't long before I did. After a few dates I could tell that she liked me, too, for reasons I'll never understand.We always celebrated December 29 as an anniversary and gave each other a gift every year. This is the first time since 1960 that we won't be together on this date. I miss the old days.
Sunday, December 28, 2014
David Ryall. R. I. P.
BBC News: Actor David Ryall, known for playing Elphias Doge in the Harry Potter Deathly Hallows film, has died aged 79.
50 Great Pre-Fame Performances by Famous Actors
Flavorwire: 50 Great Pre-Fame Performances by Famous Actors
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Once Again Texas Leads the Way
Texas teen shoots father in the face in Christmas present dispute: “The young 16-year-old was very upset because he claimed that the rest of his friends, either got a car or a pickup for Christmas. All his father provided for him was a fishing rod,” Lucio said.
Paris Hilton Update
Paris Hilton shares baby photo from her first Christmas in Instagram post
And there's video of the present-day PH, too!
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
And there's video of the present-day PH, too!
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Jeremy Lloyd, R. I. P.
.com: Jeremy Lloyd, a creator of the long-running BBC comedy series “’Allo ’Allo!” and “Are You Being Served?,” died on Monday in a hospital near his home in London. He was 84.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Friday, December 26, 2014
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee
wptv.com: PORT ST. LUCIE — A man angry about a backup of cars at the entrance to his large gated community fought with police who were called in to intervene, according to an arrest affidavit.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Christmas Swag
FFB: Catastrophe Planet -- Keith Laumer
This is a straight-up SF adventure novel. Our Hero is Mal Irish, a guy about whom we know little or nothing and about whom we learn little or nothing more. He's zipping across the post-apocalyptic landscape on some kind of hovercraft when he encounters a dying man in what's left of a small town in Georgia. The man relates a wild tale of a lost race in the Antarctic and gives Mal a strange coin. People try to kill Mal, and after that it's just one damned thing after another, with escapes and pursuits around the globe and deaths and a beautiful woman who's thousands of years old. All this happens while the planet's crust is shifting and causing seas to rise and/or retreat, volcanoes to erupt and earthquakes to occur all the time.None of it makes a lot of sense, though Laumer tries to tie it all up in the end. It's part Puppet Masters and part Cthulhu and part James Bond. And part other things, too, all in one big stew. It's fun if you're looking for some mindless entertainment and don't mind plenty of coincidences and lots of implausible action, which I'm sometimes in the mood for. Laumer writes with flair, and the story hardly ever slows down for more than a paragraph. You might forget it all in a few hours, but it's entertaining for the moment. You'll like it if that's the kind of thing you like.
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Bernie, Is That You?
NY Daily News: JOPLIN, Mo. – A southwest Missouri woman has pleaded guilty to abandoning a corpse after she and a man posed for photos with the body and posted them on Facebook.
Merry Christmas to All!
History of Christmas: Christmas is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. December 25–Christmas Day–has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.
Forgotten Music
10 Obscure Christmas Carols You Should Listen to Instead of Jingle Bells Yet Again
And of course there are also these forgotten classics.
And of course there are also these forgotten classics.
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Beyonce's Dad Had A Garage Sale To Sell Her Old Stuff
This was a couple of blocks from Angela's place in Houston. I don't think she and Tom bought anything.
Beyonce's Dad Had A Garage Sale To Sell Her Old Stuff
Beyonce's Dad Had A Garage Sale To Sell Her Old Stuff
Brandon Stoddard, R. I. P.
NYTimes.com: Brandon Stoddard, a television executive at ABC who shepherded the production of multipart dramas like “Roots” and “The Winds of War” that helped popularize the mini-series, died on Monday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 77.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Joseph Sargent, R. I. P.
NYTimes.com: Joseph Sargent, a director who won four Primetime Emmy Awards for television movies but whose best-known work was the 1974 thriller “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three,” which chillingly presented the embattled New York City of the 1970s, died on Monday at his home in Malibu, Calif. He was 89.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Easy Death -- Daniel Boyd
I've known "Daniel Boyd" for a while under another name. In fact, he even comments on this blog from time to time. This is his second novel, and I'm happy to report that it's a good one. It's from Hard Case Crime, so what else would you expect?The setting, December, 1951, harks back to the beginning of the grand old Gold Medal days, and the subject matter is something that might have appealed to Lionel White a bit later in the decade: an armored car robbery. As in most stories of armored car robberies, even the most carefully planned ones, things go wrong. It's not necessarily the fault of the robbers, who turn out to be fairly likable guys. It's the weather. The big snowstorm becomes almost like another character in the book because Boyd does the weather so well.
There are complications aplenty aside from the weather, and Boyd guides the reader smoothly through all of them. He led me down the garden path once, but maybe he won't fool you. Ms. Nixon, a park ranger who's related to a more famous Nixon, isn't fooled.
If found myself wanting things to work out for most of the characters, except for one particularly despicable one, and I suspect you will, too. It's the Christmas season, after all.
Knowing the author, I'd have been disappointed if there hadn't been a Hamlet allusion or two. There's also some social commentary, some humor, and plenty of action. Far be it from me to reveal more. Read the book, and you may find yourself thinking of what a fine movie it would make or how it might become a Christmas perennial. It's good stuff.
Overlooked Movies: The Dead
If you've never read James Joyce's "The Dead," which is one of the world's great short stories, you can still enjoy this great movie. But if you haven't read the story, your life is the poorer. The same is true if you've read the story and haven't seen the movie. If you've done both already, then you know what I'm talking about.The setting is a dinner party on the evening epiphany, Twelfth Night. The guests arrive and talk, and we see and hear them. We see other things in the house, and it's all warm and sad and amusing. Virtually plotless, but still engrossing.
The party leads up to the concluding part of the story, when Gabriel Conroy (Donal McCann) and his wife, Gretta (Anjelica Huston) return to their hotel. Gretta tells Gabriel a story she's kept from him for all their married lives. It's about a boy named Michael Furey, who might have died for his love of her. The conclusion of the movie is pretty much straight of of the story as we hear Gabriel's thoughts (the final paragraph of the story). It's as moving and effective as anything you'll see (or hear).
I've thought about this movie a good bit over the last few weeks, and I hope that Judy knew she'd married her Michael Furey. I think she did.
Monday, December 22, 2014
Billie Whitelaw, R. I. P.
The Guardian: “I could have easily have become a nun, or a prostitute, or both,” said Billie Whitelaw, who has died aged 82. Instead, she claimed that acting had allowed her to use both these sides of herself in a career that included theatre, films, television – and a special place in the affection and inspiration of Samuel Beckett.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Joe Cocker, R. I. P.
BBC News: Singer Joe Cocker, best known for his cover of the Beatles' "With A Little Help From My Friends," has died aged 70.
The singer song-writer from Sheffield had a career lasting more than 40 years with hits including "You Are So Beautiful" and "Up Where We Belong."
The singer song-writer from Sheffield had a career lasting more than 40 years with hits including "You Are So Beautiful" and "Up Where We Belong."
The Hunter, The Hoaxer, And The Battle Over Bigfoot
The Hunter, The Hoaxer, And The Battle Over Bigfoot: Jeffrey Meldrum is a respected anthropologist risking his reputation to prove Sasquatch is real; Rick Dyer is a self-described “entertainer” unapologetically capitalizing off it. Their rivalry represents two sides of the fractious but booming subculture.
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee
Boing Boing: Residents of Street, England, have been urged not to panic after a man, holding a rubber chicken, threatened to eat a local woman. The Central Somerset Gazette reports that the man is still at large.
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Sunday, December 21, 2014
Show Me Your Badge, Ranger
Western Fictioneers: Show Me Your Badge, Ranger: Texas Ranger badges are a hot commodity in the collectibles market, but the caveat “buyer beware” applies in a big way.
PaperBack
John Wyndham (John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris), Revolt of the Triffids (The Day of the Triffids), Popular Library, 1952
The Truth about "Jingle Bells"
CBC News: Here’s the truth about Jingle Bells. It’s not a Christmas song—it’s a Thanksgiving song. It’s not a jolly family song—it’s a drinking song. It’s at the centre of a nasty dispute, and it was written by a 'jerk'.
Saturday, December 20, 2014
10 Surprising Box Office Failures
I've seen two of these and liked both of them a lot.
10 Surprising Box Office Failures
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Annoying slideshow alert.
10 Surprising Box Office Failures
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Annoying slideshow alert.
Larry Henley, R. I. P.
CMT: Larry Henley, co-writer of the international Grammy-winning hit, “Wind Beneath My Wings,” died Thursday morning (Dec. 18) in Nashville at the age of 77. He had been suffering from Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.
Friday, December 19, 2014
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee
NewsChannel5.com: NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A man was arrested late Thursday night after police said he attacked his roommate with a sword during a fight over a videogame.
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