This is by way of an “extra” to my Viewings postings (the one for the fourth quarter of 2021 is coming up in January). Anyhow: Burt Lancaster.
Burt Lancaster with Ava Gardner—his screen debut in Robert Siodmak’s superlative THE KILLERS (1946).
Read More »Burt Lancaster Season
Perhaps this was more appropriately posted back in June (the month of his passing), but as September marks his 95th birthday, that’s fine.
It’s hard to believe the great Gene Colan has been gone for ten years. And what a different (but not in the least bit better) world it is today compared to even back then.
Late ’70s Colan cover to DAREDEVIL #154, nicely inked by Steve Leialoha.
Read More »Gene Colan: Ten Years On
“Between Hammer and Anvil”
THIS REVIEW HAS SPOILERS!
Written by Len Wein. Pencilled & Inked by Herb Trimpe. Lettered by John Costanza. Coloured by Glynis Wein. Edited by Roy Thomas. Published in 1974 by Marvel Comics.
Summary: Stanley Kramer Meets John Steinbeck via the Outer Limits.
Let’s talk about one of my favourite comics. There are a few reasons why this is so: the Hulk was the first comics character I really bonded with, for one thing, and it was by accident. My nan used to buy me random comics when I was a little kid, and one of them was a Marvel UK Hulk book—which I doubt my mom would have ever bought me—and I instantly liked him. I already loved the original King Kong (1933), as well as all the Universal Monsters—I was definitely a Monster Kid. The Hulk was somewhere between Frankenstein’s Monster and Kong… today, I also see a lot of Lennie Small (Of Mice and Men) in him. And I do mean the 1970s Hulk—there are a number of spins on him, but the ’70s one is IMO the best.
Finally got my hands on the Colan commission today (it arrived at Paul’s a few days ago). Et voila:
So we watched Hitckcock’s Notorious last night, which I hadn’t seen for years. Fine stuff from the same era as the brilliant Shadow of a Doubt (wherein Joseph Cotten positively rocks). It’s a classic, it’s all been said already… most of the praise is entirely deserved.
The acting? Cary Grant is Cary Grant. I like him fine, so what the hell. But the real plaudits go to Ingrid Bergman and the inimitable Claude Rains (who, let’s face it, thoroughly stole the show in Casablanca).
Read More »Quite Notable, at Least
I had planned to talk about some DVD purchases, so why not. It’s been a couple of weeks since I bought this one, and I’m sure mentioning it will have most people stifling yawns, but that’s just tough! It has to rate a mention: Orson Welles’ 1952 adaptation of Othello.
Out of the ‘official’ Welles directorial canon (all twelve of ’em), the ones I’d never seen were Chimes at Midnight, scattered clips aside, Immortal Story, and Othello. The latter’s the most ironic, as it’s my second-favourite Shakespeare play. (My favourite is Hamlet, unoriginally enough.)
Read More »Othello (1952)
My London trip last Friday went well. It was nice to have a break from all this house move stuff. The new place is still a mess and I’m starting to find it rather depressing. I know it’ll be sorted out eventually, but meanwhile, life is damned uncomfortable.
Anyway, London: I only got one half-decent snap. This is the Golden Jubilee Bridge, which Paul and I crossed to reach the South Bank and the National Film Theatre.
Update from previous entry: I decided I could do the trip down to London to see Touch of Evil at the NFT after all! Should… Read More »London Cinema Trip
The National Film Theatre is holding an Orson Welles retrospective this month and October. I’m very tempted to go to one of their showings of the 1998 restored version of Touch of Evil. (I still need to figure out how to order the DVD from America, as we should be getting a player finally, after the move.) Probably can’t afford it, tho’.
Read More »Orson at the NFT
Shopping Day today. Choice of venue: Birmingham. I rather like doing this on a Thursday, and thankfully, my sexy government fandango being on temporary hiatus meant nothing cramped my style. 😉
In Waterstone’s, I spotted This is Orson Welles. This is a collection of interviews Peter Bogdanovich conducted with the great man, plus extracts from the Touch of Evil memo, etc. I almost bought it. I mean, it’s just too good! But the price tag prevented me (£16.50). Anyone feeling generous? 🙂 I should compile an Amazon Wish List.
