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See the ghost fly over the sea
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kraada came to visit on Friday and brought me roses and bread—circus roses, whorled amber-red and yellow, and eight-grain bread from the Hungry Ghost Bakery. This is maybe a perfect description of him.Last night I watched Casablanca for the third time. I am still in love with Claude Rains. My grandfather remarks that he can't watch even scenes from the movie without remembering how it felt to see Casablanca for the first time in the middle of World War II; how it felt in 1942 to hear "La Marseillaise" drown out "Die Wacht am Rhein." He was a student at the time, but his eyesight kept him out of military service—never mind leaves, he nearly hadn't known trees had branches until he got his first pair of glasses. Hirshke, you're blind as half a bat . . . He worked in an ink-making plant and finished his dissertation and my mother was born in 1946. And by the time I saw Casablanca, this was all family stories: in the past. For me.
This afternoon, since the latest scene was my responsibility, I worked on the collaboration with
greygirlbeast. I have no idea how all the pieces of this story are going to fit together; I don't even know the title. But I'm enjoying the process.I seem to have several songs from Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys steadily stuck in my head, on rotation. I may have to buy the entire set after all.
Oh, you pinks and posies
Go down, you blood red roses, go down . . .
Talk to
fleurdelis28 about King Arthur.
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Wouldn't that mean he brought you bread and circuses?
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He's definitely one of my favourite actors. And so versatile. I think my favourite movie with him is probably Notorious (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038787/), though I'm more fond of Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman in that film.
to see Casablanca for the first time in the middle of World War II; how it felt in 1942 to hear "La Marseillaise" drown out "Die Wacht am Rhein."
Have you listened to Roger Ebert's commentary? Apparently a lot of the extras participating in that scene were actually European immigrants who'd fled the Nazis. A lot of the tears in that scene are quite real.
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Or you could just participate in Talk like a Pirate Day tomorrow...
Seriously, though, sounds like a cool album (series?)
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I do too. It's a great collection. Now I'm trying to find other songs or collections to buy. I always think of you when I think of sea songs. Any suggestions?
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Okay, so I'm easily entertained . . .
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For traditional stuff? The Starboard List's Songs of the Tall Ships / Cruising 'Round Yarmouth, The Young Tradition's Chicken on a Raft, and pretty much anything by Gordon Bok or Stan Rogers; North Wind's Clearing and Home in Halifax are favorites of mine. I am much less up to date on modern stuff, although the Pogues' "Turkish Song of the Damned" and Sting's "Valparaiso" have been taking turns.
Hm. Earlier in the year, I made a two-CD mix of chanteys, ballads, and sea-songs for some friends of mine, mostly composed of the traditional artists mentioned above with some others like Waterson : Carthy, Spiers & Boden, and Great Big Sea for variety. If you're interested, I could send you copies. Think of it as a sampler . . .
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I saw that for the first time earlier this summer: I loved it (and slightly wondered why I hadn't seen it before). It's quite possible it's my favorite Hitchcock at the moment.
Have you seen the 1943 Phantom of the Opera? The female lead (Susanna Foster) was the mother of one of my father's childhood friends, so between her and Claude Rains, I've always figured I had an obligation to see it.
Have you listened to Roger Ebert's commentary? Apparently a lot of the extras participating in that scene were actually European immigrants who'd fled the Nazis.
I have not listened to Ebert's commentary, as I don't own Casablanca on DVD (or at all), but I had heard this about the extras: I can only imagine the resonance that created. And how strange it must have been.
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I think given my recent obsessions, I'm constitutionally bound to talk like a pirate anyway this year. May I assume that historical accuracy is not a great concern?
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It's . . . a lot of things. But he does have a lovely voice. This may be a studio myth, but I'm told that the reason he got the title role in The Invisible Man (1933) was someone overheard his screen test.
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I could return the favor with music as well??
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You're welcome! Let me know if I got the right e-mail address . . .
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I think it's still second to Vertigo for me, but wow, usually when I mention Notorious, it seems people have either not seen it, or are baffled as to why I like it so much.
Have you seen the 1943 Phantom of the Opera?
No, I haven't. It sounds interesting, though.
I have not listened to Ebert's commentary, as I don't own Casablanca on DVD (or at all),
Then how did you see it? Don't tell me you have a theatre nearby that shows old movies, because I might fly into a jealous rage.
There are a lot of nice special features on the newer Casablanca DVD, Ebert's commentary probably being the best of them. He also does a good one for Citizen Kane.
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Weird. Is it considered obscure?
Then how did you see it? Don't tell me you have a theatre nearby that shows old movies, because I might fly into a jealous rage.
TCM. Although the Brattle Theatre is also nearby.
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I don't know. I don't think it's ever been very popular--the Criterion edition DVD went out of print pretty quickly.
TCM.
Oh, yes, I know TCM. I've accumulated a few hundred tapes of movies from TCM, most of which I haven't even watched yet.
Looks like a couple of good Kurosawa movies are on to-morrow night. I have Yojimbo on DVD, but I haven't seen Rashomon in ages . . .
Although the Brattle Theatre is also nearby.
Ack! You are lucky. There was a theatre here that showed old movies. Of course it closed down . . .
By the way, I finished reading the title story from Singing Innocence and Experience. It was good, though I was a little disappointed by its lack of a gratuitous sex scene for Beau and the unicorn. I just can't imagine not wanting to lose one's virginity to a mythical creature.
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People have been telling me to see Rashomon since high school, so I'm planning to watch (or at least tape) it tomorrow. I'm also looking forward to The Bridge on the River Kwai and The Night of the Hunter later this week. It's almost an embarrassment of movies; I don't usually watch so many in a month, but they're free . . .
There was a theatre here that showed old movies. Of course it closed down . . .
Damn. I'm sorry. The Brattle Theatre is a godsend; I haven't taken advantage of it nearly as much as I should, but it has allowed me to see Lawrence of Arabia, Orphée, La belle et la bête, and Der Himmel über Berlin on a proper screen. Also they had a Muppet film festival at the beginning of this year, and although I wasn't in town for it, I approved of the idea immensely.
though I was a little disappointed by its lack of a gratuitous sex scene for Beau and the unicorn. I just can't imagine not wanting to lose one's virginity to a mythical creature.
Ah, see, fortunately there's always fanfiction . . .
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As for Blood Red Roses, there's synchronicity for you: I've been working on this version!
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Hee. I may have to steal (and credit) that description.
I've been working on this version!
Cool!
Are you involved with this group?
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Yeah. The existence of TCM is sort of marvellous. Even Bravo edits movies and throws in commercials nowadays. And it baffles me how HBO, a pay-channel, still shows movies in pan-and-scan.
but it has allowed me to see Lawrence of Arabia, Orphée, La belle et la bête, and Der Himmel über Berlin on a proper screen.
Aw, I really envy you. Particularly for Lawrence of Arabia. I bet that looks fantastic on a big screen.
Ah, see, fortunately there's always fanfiction . . .
Heh. I read the first chapter. Interesting. But I find myself reluctant to continue if no girls show up--I'm afraid my tastes in porn are a little more limited than they are when it comes to other art forms.
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Ergh.
And AMC has commercials now. Everybody sells out.
I bet that looks fantastic on a big screen.
It was jaw-dropping. That's the only time I've ever seen the film; I find myself reluctant to try it on a television, where I'm not sure the heat will shimmer over the desert in quite the same way, or the sand fade into the sky.
Heh. I read the first chapter. Interesting.
Gave me a bit of a start, I can tell you. I mean, it's always nice if your work inspires people, right? I just wasn't prepared for my legacy to the internet to be unicorn slash . . .
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And Spootiskerry: apart from running their web site, you mean? Yup, that's my brother (Neil) and sister-in-law.
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I watched it on my grandmother's 43 inch widescreen television and I sat very close to the screen. But it's probably not quite the same.
I mean, it's always nice if your work inspires people, right? I just wasn't prepared for my legacy to the internet to be unicorn slash . . .
Just imagine how many orgasms you're indirectly responsible for. That's greatness.
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That's awesome. Thanks!