Here's one thing I learned from the movies

[sovay]

My laptop was open on the table behind me as I hugged derspatchel, who therefore saw the first page of the Guardian before I did and said in shock, "Debbie Reynolds died!"

I had heard about her possible stroke on the way home. I was hoping it would be the kind she could recover from. No parent should have to lose a child, no matter what age, but no child should have to lose parent and grandparent in the same two days. Without the death of Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds could have died tonight and we would all have said, "2016, you suck, but she was eighty-four, people have the right to start dropping dead at eighty-four, everybody cue up Singin' in the Rain, dammit." With the death of Carrie Fisher, I am left hoping most of all that Billie Lourd has serious support around her, because it's one thing for the fans, but it's another for the family. And I already wanted one of the arthouses in this town to run a print of I Love Melvin (1953) because of Donald O'Connor's rollerskating dance; in memoriam of Reynolds was not the kind of encouragement I was looking for.

I assume we shall just take it as read that Lifetime Achievement at the Oscars this year is going to Death.

Comments

[thistleingrey]

Wow, yes, that is hard particularly for Billie Lourd. :(

[kore]

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH 2016 YOU MOTHER FUCKER

Unrelated comment is unrelated

[rydra_wong]

but I thought you might like to know that Ben Lyon is one of the interviewees in this:

http://rydra-wong.dreamwidth.org/469015.html

[nineweaving.livejournal.com]

Just ... damn.

There went Hollywood. In their iconic roles, they embodied a lost America, ebullient and innocent and sparky. But that's the lesser grief.

I am left hoping most of all that Billie Lourd has serious support around her, because it's one thing for the fans, but it's another for the family.

Amen.

Nine

[gwynnega]

Death's performance is starting to seem awfully over-the-top by this point.

[ladyblue56.livejournal.com]

"I was hoping it would be the kind she could recover from. No parent should have to lose a child, no matter what age, but no child should have to lose parent and grandparent in the same two days."

This is what I had hoped too, for Debbie to rally once more as she has done through the years. I can't imagine the loss Billie is feeling, the shock. I do hope she had a good support system to help her in her grief. She is only 24.

[ladymondegreen.livejournal.com]

This is one of those awful situations that would be unbelievable in fiction, and is just wrenching in real life.

I feel especially bad for Billie and Todd. I hope they have the kind of relationship where they can comfort each other without making each other uncomfortable. I can't imagine how they must feel.

Sending you strength and hugs. I may have to watch a bunch of films over the weekend for a proper memorial.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

There was a report that the BBC used 30 percent more of its prewritten obituaries (i.e., the ones they write up in advance for famous people in case they should happen to die) in 2016 than it had in 2015. It truly was a bad year for famous deaths.