Category Archives: Performers

“Edouard et Caroline”

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: Directed by Jacques Becker in 1951, this concise, smartly worked-out marital farce is a cynical companion piece to Becker’s earlier “Antoine et Antoinette.” When Daniel Gelin’s Edouard allows his wife Caroline to talk him into giving a piano … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Performers | Tagged Anne Vernon, Daniel Gelin, Edouard et Caroline, Film, France, Game, Jacques Becker, movies, Romantic Comedy | 2 Comments

Notes on “Snow Country”

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: An exceptionally beautiful melodrama that, though it never delivers on its narrative and thematic promises, is the kind of thing that seems to live in your memory even as you’re watching it. Director Shiro Toyoda is reminiscent … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Performers | Tagged Film, Japan, Keiko Kishi, movies, Shiro Toyoda, Snow Country | Leave a comment

NOT The Beatles

Posted on January 12, 2014 by Fenster

Fenster writes: From Smyle, an obscure Dutch group looking for the knock-off sound, around 1971. The Lennon-styled singer went on to do the Beatles parts for the briefly famous Stars on 45 around 10 years later.

Posted in Music, Performers | Tagged Beatles, Smyle, Stars on 45 | 1 Comment

I am Satan! Syncopatin’!

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes:

Posted in Music, Performers | Tagged jazz, Jimmie Lunceford | 1 Comment

Dance Du Jour

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: Sexy sequence from “On An Island With You” (1948), with Cyd Charisse and Ricardo Montalbán. If you only know Montalbán from Fantasy Island, Star Trek, and “Corinthian Leather”, this may surprise you. He’s a terrific partner as … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Performers | Tagged Cyd Charisse, Dance, dancing, On An Island With You, Ricardo Montalban | 3 Comments

The Camera Loves …

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: …Dutch actress Lotte Verbeek, best known for indie film Nothing Personal, and as Giulia “La Bella” Farnese in Showtime’s The Borgias.

Posted in Movies, Performers, Television, Women men and fashion | Tagged lotte verbeek, nothing personal, the borgias, the camera loves | 2 Comments

Divas

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: Bessie Smith appeared in only this one movie; it has an all-black cast and runs 16 minutes. Whatever one might say about the limitations of the story line, derived from the W.C. Handy song by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Publishing and Writing, Movies, Music, Performers | Tagged Bessie Smith, blues, Dudley Murphy, Film, movies, Pauline Kael, St. Louis Blues, W.C. Handy | Leave a comment

“Don’t You (Forget About Me)” Five Ways

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: Those of us who grew up in the 1980s probably have fond memories of this song, and the movie it came from: John Hughes’ The Breakfast Club. The original 1985 recording, by Scottish New-Wave band Simple Minds, … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Music, Performers | Tagged 1980s, billy idol, breakfast club, Bryan Ferry, five ways, John Hughes, Keith Forsey, molly ringwald, movies, royal philharmonic orchestra, simple minds, Steve Schiff, The Breakfast Club, victoria justice, wtf | 9 Comments

NOT The Beatles

Posted on January 5, 2014 by Fenster

Fenster writes: The Knickerbockers’ Lies doesn’t sound all too much like the Beatles to my current day ears, but when it came out in 1965 it had most people fooled.