The Soundtrack of My Life – The 80s
My local colleague Arlee Bird from Tossing It Out broached a meme a few years back that certainly intrigued: The Soundtrack of My Life As Arlee…
The Soundtrack of My Life – The 70s
My local colleague Arlee Bird from Tossing It Out broached a meme a few years back that certainly intrigued: The Soundtrack of My Life As Arlee…
Friday Forgotten Song: Castles in the Air by Don McLean
In Sidney Pollack’s splendid 1975 film adaptation of James Grady’s first novel, the re-titled Three Days of the Condor, Kathy Hale — Faye Dunaway portraying the reluctant “draftee”…
TMT: Chagrin Eve
This is the next entry in a Theatre… a Movie… and a Time, a series that was begun here. Not everything happens in the distant past. Movies and life…
Same Song, Different Movie: Wheel of Fortune by Bennie Benjamin and George David Weiss
This entry examines one of the classic pop songs of the 50s. In fact, this version of Wheel of Fortune, written by Bennie Benjamin and George David Weiss, is the cover song of the 1951 original performed by American jazz singer Johnny Hartman. Kay Starr’s stirring number out a year later was given a special verve by the versatile pop and jazz singer in her rendition. Her biggest hit, #1 for 10 weeks, tied together two critically acclaimed film adaptations, each of whom lost out big time come awards season, fourteen years apart.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s Film Review
A brand spanking new year and the end of the month (and Superbowl) is here. Almost. The (nearly) last day in January means it’s time once more to…
The Soundtrack of My Life – The 60s
My local colleague Arlee Bird from Tossing It Out broached a meme a few years back that certainly intrigued: The Soundtrack of My Life As Arlee…
Guest Post » Two Favorite Things!: Ensemble Acting & Fred Ward
Greetings all and sundry! With a New Year just making itself known with surprisingly dense fog, unseasonably cold wind and weather rattling panes of glass. I’ve…
Same Song, Different Movie: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach
To start the new year of 2015 right, I thought to highlight a well-known (and well used) piece of Baroque music by one of the all-time great classical composers. Johann Sebastian Bach. His instantly recognizable Toccata and Fugue in D Minor a thundering piece, and one of the most famous works in the organ repertoire of the era (1600-1750). Once heard, likely one of most ominous too. Used many times over in cinema by a plethora of filmmakers for decades, two of which come instantly and contrastingly to mind.
On the Lookout for Books and Movies Poll Results
As put forward back in November, having just completed another parallel post season with my partner Rachel, the blogger otherwise known as the Scientist Gone Wordy, we came up with a…
Stay Frosty: Year of Bests – 2014
A couple of years back, I did not publish a year-end piece on those articles I most enjoyed reading for the period. Routinely, my online browsing turns…
Merry Christmas
I know this song is covered by the likes of Taylor Swift, Madonna, The Pussycat Dolls, etc. But, no one in my mind will ever do…
Born Into Film: 1954 – Top 13 From My Birth Year
Things move too fast these days, and I’m not saying that because I turned the big “6-0” this year. No, I say it because I notice…
Two Holiday Greats From The Dark Side
Awhile back, reading Jane Mayer’s excellent non-fiction book of the U.S. reaction to 9/11, The Dark Side, it inspired a need to wax on two of my favorite films by…
eBm: “I thought I’d find you in good hands.”
Having just finished Carte Blanche, the 2011 commissioned novel written by Jeffery Deaver that updates James Bond for “OO” British Secret Service readers, I couldn’t help but…
Friday Forgotten Song: Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears
Reason why the British group so wonderfully named for the era, Tears for Fears, and their best album and song still registers with me. Everybody Wants to Rule the World, written by Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley, and Chris Hughes, remains their biggest hit of the period. Even if it wasn’t the headlined single from the Songs From The Big Chair album. Producers thought it a bit bland and not important at the time.
Wrong they were as such is how pop hits are born, especially in this decade.
On the Lookout for Books and Movies Poll
As put forward last month, having just completed another parallel post season with my partner Rachel, the blogger otherwise known as the Scientist Gone Wordy, we came up with a…
Reblogged » Stuff Running ‘Round My Head: LP of the Week – “Katy Lied,” Steely Dan (1975)
Reblogged » Stuff Running ‘Round My Head: LP of the Week – “Katy Lied,” Steely Dan (1975). My colleague Jeff Vaca’s splendid review over at his…
Reblogged: ‘Just My Type – A Book About Fonts’ by Simon Garfield – NYTimes.com
Reblogged: ‘Just My Type – A Book About Fonts’ by Simon Garfield – NYTimes.com. Having finished Just My Type, an entertaining look at the things we take…
Guest Post » Robert Duvall: Two Of His Best!
Greetings all and sundry! Given the past few weeks to re acclimate in and reacquaint with old memories around a new location. Plus a sudden and…
It Rains... You Get Wet 