“Sorcerer”

Paleo Retiree writes:

Sorcerer-poster

William Friedkin’s 1977 metaphysical action-adventure film had an almost ludicrously unhappy initial release. Although it was widely anticipated and was one of the biggest productions of its era, the critics were hard on the film, finding it overbearing and overlong, and the mass audience ignored it almost completely; the popular phenom of the year turned out to be “Star Wars” instead.

As the years passed, and to the extent that anyone gave it much thought at all — finding and watching a copy of “Sorcerer” wasn’t easy — the film was generally seen more as a symbol than a movie. It acquired a reputation as the moment Friedkin (one of the most successful directors of the ’70s) came a-cropper, as filmmakers often did in those days. It also acquired notoriety as an example of the way that the rampaging, adventurous “New Hollywood” gang self-immolated, thereby making way for the the corporate-blockbuster era we’ve been saddled with ever since.

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Linkage (Fermented Edition)

Eddie Pensier writes:

One of the things that I have begun to embrace about writing is the delicate balance between spontaneity and panic.

Story of my life, right there.

Vladimir Makovsky, Miracle At Cana (1887)

Vladimir Makovsky, Miracle At Cana (1887)

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Swings

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes:

Fragonard_-_swing

renoir-the-swing

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We Love Your Comments

Eddie Pensier writes:

Uncouth Reflections has some of the wittiest and smartest commenters around. It’s great news then, that thanks to our very own Sir Barken Hyena (he’s single, ladies!), you can now “like” individual comments. Please do so, immediately and without reservation.

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Get Happy

Atypical Neurotic writes:

On the occasion of what would have been Judy Garland’s 92nd birthday, I offer a link to a high-definition clip of the “Get Happy” number, from Summer Stock, the last musical she made for MGM (in 1950), and, the last nail in the coffin for Dior’s ridiculous postwar “New Look”. Note how sexy Judy looks in her tailored jacket and sheer stockings, especially in contrast with the chorus boys in their Italian-style sack suits.

Brilliant costuming. But also a triumph for Coco Chanel. She won, and Dior lost. Coco gave women permission to wear clothes that were stylish, sexy and looked good on them, and still be taken seriously. Judy Garland never looked better, before or since.

One of the first nails, I think, was in Beyond the Forest from 1949, in which Bette Davis’s Rosa Moline sews her own New Look skirts and makes a point of sashaying along the streets of Loyalton, Wisconsin, in them. But when Moose Lawson’s estranged daughter shows up one day on the train from Chicago, what is she wearing? A pale, tailored suit, not unlike the one Jacqueline Kennedy wore on that fateful November day 14 years later. Or the gray suit that mesmerized Jimmy Stewart in Vertigo in 1958, the year I was born.

Not so stylish after all, eh, Rosa? What a frump!

Posted in Movies, Music | 5 Comments

Happy Birthday Cole Porter

Eddie Pensier writes:

Since I reached the charming age of puberty
And began to finger feminine curls,
Like a show that’s typically Shuberty
I have always had a multitude of girls,
But now that a married man, at last, am I,
How aware of my dear, departed past am I.

Where is the life that late I led?
Where is it now? Totally dead.
Where is the fun I used to find?
Where has it gone? Gone with the wind.
A married life may all be well,
But raising an heir
Could never compare
With raising a bit of hell,
So I repeat what first I said,
Where is the life that late I led?

In dear Milano, where are you, Momo,
Still selling those pictures of the Scriptures in the Duomo?
And, Carolina, where are you, Lina,
Still peddling your pizza in the streets o’ Taormina?
And in Firenze, where are you, Alice,
Still there in your pretty, itty-bitty Pitti Palace?
And sweet Lucretia, so young and gay-ee?
What scandalous doin’s in the ruins of Pompeii!

Where is the life that late I led?
Where is it now? Totally dead.
Where is the fun I used to find?
Where has it gone? Gone with the wind.
The marriage game is quite all right,
Yes, during the day
It’s easy to play
But, oh, what a bore at night,
So I repeat what first I said
Where is the life that late I?

Where is Rebecca, my Becki-weckio,
Again is she cruising that amusing Ponte Vecchio?
Where is Fedora, the wild virago?
It’s lucky I missed her gangster sister from Chicago.
Where is Venetia, who loved to chat so,
Could still she be drinkin’ in her stinkin’ pink palazzo?
And lovely Lisa, where are you, Lisa?
You gave a new meaning to the leaning tow’r of Pisa.

Where is the life that late I led?
Where is it now? Totally dead.
Where is the fun I used to find?
Where has it gone? Gone with the wind.
I’ve oft been told of nuptial bliss,
But what do you do,
A quarter to two,
With only a shrew to kiss?
So I repeat what first I said,
Where is the life that late I led?

Posted in History, Music, The Good Life | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Eddie’s Tea Chronicles: Vintage Tea Ads, Five Ways

Eddie Pensier writes:

“Vintage” is really superfluous: there’s no doubt these are from a very, very different era.

tea-life-07-24-1939-030-a-M5

 

teacartoon

teagolf teaneverbeaten

 

china-tea

Posted in Art, Commercial art, Food and health, History, Humor | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Linkage

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes:

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Movie Poster Du Jour: “The Golden Coach”

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes:

100_7953

Sort of reminds me of that old A-ha video. With art by Clement Hurel.

Related

  • Some background on Hurel along with some more posters.
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Sunday Jazz Selection

Fenster writes:

A cover of Footprints, a Wayne Shorter tune, by John Goodwin and the Appetizers.   Recorded live in 1990.

2059679_orig

Goodwin, bass player, band leader and my cousin, sadly passed away a few months ago.  This embed is from a tribute page.


Posted in Music, Performers | Tagged , | Leave a comment