Tuesday, June 26, 2018
A Few Favorite Authors
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Sunday, June 24, 2018
What To Catch on TCM This Week - June 24-June 30, 2018
Another interesting week on TCM, with a mix of early 70s and musicals on this week. A few of these are just for camp, and it would be wrong not to mention them, but some of the movies are really ones not to miss.
Viva Las Vegas - One of the best known Elvis movies, it also shows the poor script plots that Elvis was subjected to doing. I've said it before, if the Colonel wouldn't have just seen Elvis as a cash cow and actually helped him to become a better actor and gotten him real roles, I think he could've been an amazing actor had he not had people just using him to make money. But this is a cute movie with good music, staging and Ann-Margret. Tuesday, June 26th, 7:15 A.M. MST.
North by Northwest - Probably one of both Hitchcock's, and Cary Grant's finest work, it's for sure my favorite movie by both artists. Advertising executive Roger Thornhill's whole life is about to turn upside down when he is mistaken for George Kaplan. So worth the time to watch this movie, Grant puts his all into playing the mistaken man. Wednesday, June 27th, 3:30 P.M. MST.
Midnight Express - College student Billy Hayes has just tried to smuggle hashish into the United States from Turkey. He is given away out if he shows the police who sold him the drug, unfortunately Billy is double crossed by the police and is sentenced to 4 years for drug possession, he is placed in Sagmalcilar Prison which is known for its brutality, particularly when it comes to foreigners. As Billy does his time, he tries to escape and is caught. At the same time his case is overturned and he is sentenced to 30 years in prison for drug smuggling. One of John Hurt's best performances is given as a fellow prisoner. Saturday, June 30th, 11:35 P.M. MST.
Outward Bound - This is probably the campiest film on the list. Two illicit lovers caught up in their affair decide to commit suicide and worry about what will happen to their little dog when they die. They attempt suicide and end up in an odd limbo on a ship with other dead people and are awaiting judgement by Thompson "The Examiner". The lovers realize that they couldn't live without eachother but may not spend eternity together. Like I said pretty campy, but worth the watch for Leslie Howard. Monday, June 25th, 4:30 P.M. MST.
Spitfire - Another Leslie Howard led and directed movie. Based on the life of aircraft designer R.J.Mitchell about how he designed the Supermarine Spitfire fighter plane. This film is exceptionally interesting in that R.J. Mitchell was dying while he was designing and beginning testing on the Spitfire, he never got to see it in its full glory but it became one of the most deadliest fighting planes for British forces during World War II. Monday, June 24th, 8:15 P.M. MST.
Viva Las Vegas - One of the best known Elvis movies, it also shows the poor script plots that Elvis was subjected to doing. I've said it before, if the Colonel wouldn't have just seen Elvis as a cash cow and actually helped him to become a better actor and gotten him real roles, I think he could've been an amazing actor had he not had people just using him to make money. But this is a cute movie with good music, staging and Ann-Margret. Tuesday, June 26th, 7:15 A.M. MST.
Gypsy - Stage mother Rose is determined that her daughter June will become a stage sensation. June on the other hand tires of her mother dragging her around and elopes with a dancer in the troupe. Rose seeing this as a stab in the back determines that she will make her other daughter a sensation and show June what she could have had. Louise has no real talent but that doesn't stop Rose's determination, even costing Rose her relationship with her longtime fiancee, Herbie, when she forces Louise to take a stripper's slot at a burlesque that they were working. Rose changes Louise's name to Gypsy Rose Lee and Louise becomes a sensation. This is Rosalind Russell's movie, make no doubt about it, then again real life actress Gypsy Rose Lee's life was all about her mother Rose, becoming a cautionary tale for stage mother's everywhere. Tuesday, June 26th, 3:30 P.M. MST.
A Hard Day's Night - A wild look at a night in the life of The Beatles. Rated as one of Times magazines all-time great 100 films, A Hard Day's Night was a critical and box office success, not only because of the subject matter, but because the script was well written and young audiences related with the impudence that The Beatles had to authority. Tuesday, June 26th, 11:45 P.M. MST.
Picnic at Hanging Rock - The girls at Appleyard College, a private girls school in Australia, are going on a picnic to a local geological formation known as Hanging Rock. Some of the girls go off on a hike when they reach the destination and three of the girls go missing. The rest of the story is how the people and community are affected by the tragedy and the odd happenings at the school. This film is one of Peter Weir's best directed films, with him focusing on the look and making sure that the odd tale is told in a most twisted way. Wednesday, June 27th, 10:45 A.M. MST.
North by Northwest - Probably one of both Hitchcock's, and Cary Grant's finest work, it's for sure my favorite movie by both artists. Advertising executive Roger Thornhill's whole life is about to turn upside down when he is mistaken for George Kaplan. So worth the time to watch this movie, Grant puts his all into playing the mistaken man. Wednesday, June 27th, 3:30 P.M. MST.
Cabaret - Directed and choreographed by the legendary Bob Fosse, this musical redeemed his career after his failing with Sweet Charity, alot of that is owed to both Joel Grey and Lizza Minelli for the musical numbers and to Michael York for the character of Brian Roberts. This musical is worth the watch just to see Joel Grey as the Master of Ceremonies and for the dancing and singing of Lizza Minelli. Friday, June 29th, 12:00 A.M. MST.
SHE - After being discharged from the British Army in Palestine, Professor Holly, goes on an expedition to an unexplored area of North-East Africa where he is mistaken for an immortal Queen's deceased lover. It's an odd film but worth the watch. Friday, June 29th, 2:15 A.M. MST.
Queen of Outerspace - To make a long story short, a rocket ship crash lands on Venus and finds it inhabited by beautiful women, but with a cruel and cold Queen at the head of the planet. They kill most men, except scientists and mathematicians which they place in a penal colony on their moon, unfortunately the other women on the planet have begun to miss the love of men and plan to take the planet back. It's campy and fun and Zsa Zsa Gabor as a one of the female soldiers and a woman who longs for a mate, so that right there is enough of an excuse to watch this film. Friday, June 29th, 11:15 P.M. MST.
Run Silent Run Deep - Two battling submarine Commander's challenge each other for leadership of the U.S.S. Nerka which one Commander feels should have been his command alone and the other, who is in command, going after a Japanese submarine Commander named Bungo Pete. Clark Gable plays the crazed Commander P.J. Richardson who just doesn't care what happens to his crew or his life as long as Bungo Pete is killed. Saturday, June 30th, 11:15 A.M.
Midnight Express - College student Billy Hayes has just tried to smuggle hashish into the United States from Turkey. He is given away out if he shows the police who sold him the drug, unfortunately Billy is double crossed by the police and is sentenced to 4 years for drug possession, he is placed in Sagmalcilar Prison which is known for its brutality, particularly when it comes to foreigners. As Billy does his time, he tries to escape and is caught. At the same time his case is overturned and he is sentenced to 30 years in prison for drug smuggling. One of John Hurt's best performances is given as a fellow prisoner. Saturday, June 30th, 11:35 P.M. MST. Thursday, June 21, 2018
The Thing About Robin Williams
* In light of David Itzkoff's new book Robin being released and David being on WTF with Marc Maron this week, I thought that I would re-post my thoughts about an amazing man. You can listen to Marc's interview with Itzkoff here and his rebroadcast of his 2010 interview with Robin.
It's taken me a long time to write about the passing of Robin Williams. Mostly because I had a lot to think about. He was a man who, unbeknownst to him, spent a lot of time in my life.
Mork and Mindy was one of the first shows that I watched on a regular basis. Here was this quirky, weird guy with all these voices and here I was, a pudgy little 3 and half year old, how could he not win me as a fan? He did and swiftly. My favorite part in the show every week was when he would report back to Ork and tell them what he learned on earth that day. There was always something to learn from it, like you should treat people with respect because then they will respect you and that even though your neighbor is bat shit crazy, you never let on that you know that he is and you treat him like everyone else. Also, if you want to be the first male cheerleader you really do need more than curiosity and eagerness. Confidence, you need confidence. And that is one thing that Robin Williams had tons of.
Not only was he a wonderful comedienne, but he was an amazing character actor. Two of my favorite movies with Robin Williams are The World According To Garp and Moscow on the Hudson. Williams' Garp gave him more character than he had in the book, giving him more credit than just the son of a feminist. Why is Moscow on the Hudson one of my favorite Williams roles? I'm not really sure, the movie just brought what it would be like to be a scared newly arrived immigrant who had just defected. His character, Vladimir, gives up everything to stay in America, which I thought was extremely brave, I was also only 11 when I watched the film for the first time. I just really liked the movie, whatever it was that resonated with me when I was 11, still resonates with me today as I re-watched the film again recently.
I wish that Mr.Williams knew how much he added to my life, not only with his willingness to make others laugh, but to make me aware that in order to make people laugh you also have to deal with the sad things in life, like homelessness, poverty, mental illness and addictions in the world. He never shied away from talking about his own mental illness and addictions or his work with the homeless. He showed that if you have good fortune you must give back to help make things better for other people, which is what he did when he made other people laugh. When you laugh it lifts you in more ways than one; it can brighten a room.
It saddens me that a man who brought so many people so much happiness had so much sadness inside himself. What saddens me even more is that he knew that he made people happy, he had to know that because when he made us laugh he lit up even more, it was like we were feeding the brightest light in the world. Many people say, " Oh if only he had gotten the help he needed" when you're in a depression like he was there is no way out, to you there is only one way out and that's it, there are no other options. Having been depressed, I know, the only thing that kept me from falling down the hole was thinking about what it would do to my daughter, she already has one parent that has opted out on her, what would it do to her if the other did the same? I couldn't do that to her so instead I went to counseling (luckily the college that I was attending at the time had free mental health care for their students, there should be more clinics like it around). I was extremely lucky that I had a really great support system in my mother and brother; without their help who knows what would've happened. I'm not saying that Mr.Williams didn't have a good support team behind him, he obviously did, but when you're dealing with a physical disease, like Parkinson or Lewy bodies disease (which it has been determined by coroners that he had) that will take you away from the people and the thing that makes you, you. I wouldn't want to live that way, to watch myself slip away and not be able to control it, would be heartbreaking and I wouldn't want my family to have to see me suffer through it. I would want them to remember me as I had been: outgoing, energetic and doing the things that I love, not suffering and having to be told who they were and what we were doing.
It breaks my heart that he is gone, but I am so happy that I had the chance and honor to witness the genius that was Mr.Robin Williams and I thank his family for sharing him with the world.
"If heaven exists, to know that there's laughter, that would be a great thing," Robin Williams 1951-2014
It's taken me a long time to write about the passing of Robin Williams. Mostly because I had a lot to think about. He was a man who, unbeknownst to him, spent a lot of time in my life.
Mork and Mindy was one of the first shows that I watched on a regular basis. Here was this quirky, weird guy with all these voices and here I was, a pudgy little 3 and half year old, how could he not win me as a fan? He did and swiftly. My favorite part in the show every week was when he would report back to Ork and tell them what he learned on earth that day. There was always something to learn from it, like you should treat people with respect because then they will respect you and that even though your neighbor is bat shit crazy, you never let on that you know that he is and you treat him like everyone else. Also, if you want to be the first male cheerleader you really do need more than curiosity and eagerness. Confidence, you need confidence. And that is one thing that Robin Williams had tons of.
Not only was he a wonderful comedienne, but he was an amazing character actor. Two of my favorite movies with Robin Williams are The World According To Garp and Moscow on the Hudson. Williams' Garp gave him more character than he had in the book, giving him more credit than just the son of a feminist. Why is Moscow on the Hudson one of my favorite Williams roles? I'm not really sure, the movie just brought what it would be like to be a scared newly arrived immigrant who had just defected. His character, Vladimir, gives up everything to stay in America, which I thought was extremely brave, I was also only 11 when I watched the film for the first time. I just really liked the movie, whatever it was that resonated with me when I was 11, still resonates with me today as I re-watched the film again recently.
I wish that Mr.Williams knew how much he added to my life, not only with his willingness to make others laugh, but to make me aware that in order to make people laugh you also have to deal with the sad things in life, like homelessness, poverty, mental illness and addictions in the world. He never shied away from talking about his own mental illness and addictions or his work with the homeless. He showed that if you have good fortune you must give back to help make things better for other people, which is what he did when he made other people laugh. When you laugh it lifts you in more ways than one; it can brighten a room.
It saddens me that a man who brought so many people so much happiness had so much sadness inside himself. What saddens me even more is that he knew that he made people happy, he had to know that because when he made us laugh he lit up even more, it was like we were feeding the brightest light in the world. Many people say, " Oh if only he had gotten the help he needed" when you're in a depression like he was there is no way out, to you there is only one way out and that's it, there are no other options. Having been depressed, I know, the only thing that kept me from falling down the hole was thinking about what it would do to my daughter, she already has one parent that has opted out on her, what would it do to her if the other did the same? I couldn't do that to her so instead I went to counseling (luckily the college that I was attending at the time had free mental health care for their students, there should be more clinics like it around). I was extremely lucky that I had a really great support system in my mother and brother; without their help who knows what would've happened. I'm not saying that Mr.Williams didn't have a good support team behind him, he obviously did, but when you're dealing with a physical disease, like Parkinson or Lewy bodies disease (which it has been determined by coroners that he had) that will take you away from the people and the thing that makes you, you. I wouldn't want to live that way, to watch myself slip away and not be able to control it, would be heartbreaking and I wouldn't want my family to have to see me suffer through it. I would want them to remember me as I had been: outgoing, energetic and doing the things that I love, not suffering and having to be told who they were and what we were doing.
It breaks my heart that he is gone, but I am so happy that I had the chance and honor to witness the genius that was Mr.Robin Williams and I thank his family for sharing him with the world.
Saturday, June 16, 2018
What To Catch on TCM This Week - June 17-June 23, 2018
Another musical heavy week on TCM, like I said last week I don't particularly like musicals, but my favorite musical is on this week so it's a good week. Hope everyone finds something to watch from this list.
Father of the Bride-Stanley Banks has just been through the craziness of his beloved daughter's wedding day, a day that he dreaded and feared. Stanley was afraid that his independent and strong willed daughter was making the mistake of her life and quite honestly he didn't want to pay for an extravagant wedding, but that is exactly what he does and finds out just how much parental love goes. Spencer Tracy is great at the exasperated Stanley Banks and Elizabeth Taylor is beautiful as his apple of his eye daughter. This movie is funny and bright, no matter what mood I am in I always enjoy this film, but then again I am a big Spencer Tracy fan having seen almost every movie he's been in, but this is one of my favorite comedies, but my favorite film that he is in will always be Guess Who's Coming to Dinner with Sidney Poitier. Sunday, June 17th at 10:00 A.M MST.
Father's Little Dividend- Stanley Banks is back, this time getting ready to be a Grandfather! Stanley is none too happy about the expected bundle and in the beginning the little bundle isn't too fond of him either! Sunday, June 17th at 12:00 P.M. MST.
Attack of the 50 Foot Woman - One of the best B-films ever made and the start of B-films being independently made. This movie is just so good! It's a about a woman, Nancy, that has been treated badly by her husband who is trying to drive her insane so that he can have control of her millions and be with his mistress. Nancy is emotionally unstable and an alcoholic so really her husband is able to manipulate her the way that he wants. Nancy goes for a drive in the desert where she encounters a giant fireball and a giant alien that turns her into a 50 foot woman! Nancy goes on the attack for her husband and his lover! Just goes to show you men, don't double cross your lover! Monday, June 18th at 9:00 A.M. MST.
It's Love I'm After - Leslie Howard and Bette Davis shine in this screwball comedy about an acting duo swept up in love but unable to make it down the aisle. Before they can finally tie the knot, Henry Grant shows up and want's Howard's character, Basil, to try to turn his fiancee off to Basil's charms. As boorish as Basil acts the more Grant's fiancee falls for him. Bette Davis was reluctant to take the part of Joyce Arden, feeling that the better character was the infatuated fiancee, but she made this role the better one in my opinion and turned Joyce into an amazing complex character, the woman was an amazing actor and made sure that focus stayed on her. Monday, June 18th at 10:45 P.M. MST.
Gigi- Beautiful clothing and Paris aristocracy make up this wonderful film about a young girl becoming a woman. Gigi is being groomed in the family business of courtesans, fortunately she is very uninterested and feels that there is no honor or respect by one day being dumped by the man that has been chosen to be her paramore and doesn't wish to just be a mistress. Gigi is smart and bright and knows that she deserves better, she wants to be his wife. With Maurice Chevalier heading up the cast as a man with a lot of money and still trying to be a playboy in his old age and it not happening, this movie is light hearted but still serious with the music and the story line. Tuesday, June 19th at 10:15 P.M. MST.
The Philadelphia Story- Tracy Lord is the impetus daughter of a very wealthy Philadelphia Main Line socialite family. It is the weekend of Tracy's second wedding to self made and uptight man, George Kittredge. Hepburn dazzles as Tracy Lords with director George Cukor bringing out the feeling of spying on the socialites of Philadelphia. This is my favorite Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn films, they fight and love each other so well in this movie, making acting and storytelling look so effortless, their chemistry just flows on screen and they look beautiful together. Wednesday, June 20th at 6:00 P.M. MST.
A Star Is Born - James Mason steals most scenes from Judy Garland with his alcoholic actor character Norman Maine fighting to get back in the spotlight and having issues with his wife's success. Norman really does love his wife, Esther, but he's just too much of an alcoholic and can't stand being upstaged by her career. In the end he kills himself to save her. Judy Garland's singing takes center stage in this movie, but Mason really does all the heavy lifting making this a film that people remake over and over with the latest remake starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. Personally I can't wait to see Cooper's vision of this story and the music that will come out of it.Thursday, June 21st at 8:00 P.M. MST.
Jailhouse Rock- Written to showcase Elvis's talents by producer Pandro S. Bergman, this started Elvis wanting to act in more serious films and get away from always having to sing, unfortunately not being a very good actor Elvis would always have to sing, but I feel in this movie, and in King Creole, Elvis shows what he could've been had a real script and had anyone actually worked with him on his acting more and actually taught him could have been. There is so much going on with his character in this film, he's in prison, being taken advantage of by his cellmate, trying to make decisions for his future and trying to get the girl. It really is quite complicated. Friday, June 21st at 1:15 A.M. MST.
The Year of Living Dangerously - This film makes my top 10 favorite movies of all times. It's set in Jakarta during a time of political upheaval and government dissent. It's beautifully shot by cinematographer Russell Boyd and began my love affair with Indonesia. I've never wanted to travel somewhere so much after seeing this film. Sigourney Weaver is enchanting in this film as Jill Bryant, easily attracted to Mel Gibson's Guy Hamilton, her character is quite the bomb in the film, but Linda Hunt steals the whole show as photographer Billy Kwan. Friday, June 21st at 4:00 P.M. MST.
Get Carter - Gangster Jack Carter must return to his home town Newcastle to attend his brother's funeral, who's end came by a drunk driver, at least that is what Jack was told. A tale of retribution for a brother's death becomes an even more entangled story as it goes on. Michael Caine brings Jack Carter to life easily, with Carter becoming one of Caine's most prominent roles and most memorable. Caine is from the area and looked forward to showing a different type of gangster and how his life could've been had he not become an actor. And if you check out this film, get a load of Britt Ekland in this film, not only is she beautiful, she's smart. Saturday, June 23rd at 2:00 P.M. MST.
The Champ- Starring a very young Rick Schroeder before his days on Silver Spoons, he plays a boy who is very much infatuated with his boxer father and who's father loves him very much but has problems with drinking and gambling. Great performances by Schroeder and Jon Voight really bring this film to light. This movie has always left me broken hearted but at the same time hopeful that life can be set right by trying, all you really have to do in life is try. Saturday, June 23rd at 11:45 P.M. MST.
Father of the Bride-Stanley Banks has just been through the craziness of his beloved daughter's wedding day, a day that he dreaded and feared. Stanley was afraid that his independent and strong willed daughter was making the mistake of her life and quite honestly he didn't want to pay for an extravagant wedding, but that is exactly what he does and finds out just how much parental love goes. Spencer Tracy is great at the exasperated Stanley Banks and Elizabeth Taylor is beautiful as his apple of his eye daughter. This movie is funny and bright, no matter what mood I am in I always enjoy this film, but then again I am a big Spencer Tracy fan having seen almost every movie he's been in, but this is one of my favorite comedies, but my favorite film that he is in will always be Guess Who's Coming to Dinner with Sidney Poitier. Sunday, June 17th at 10:00 A.M MST.Father's Little Dividend- Stanley Banks is back, this time getting ready to be a Grandfather! Stanley is none too happy about the expected bundle and in the beginning the little bundle isn't too fond of him either! Sunday, June 17th at 12:00 P.M. MST.It's Love I'm After - Leslie Howard and Bette Davis shine in this screwball comedy about an acting duo swept up in love but unable to make it down the aisle. Before they can finally tie the knot, Henry Grant shows up and want's Howard's character, Basil, to try to turn his fiancee off to Basil's charms. As boorish as Basil acts the more Grant's fiancee falls for him. Bette Davis was reluctant to take the part of Joyce Arden, feeling that the better character was the infatuated fiancee, but she made this role the better one in my opinion and turned Joyce into an amazing complex character, the woman was an amazing actor and made sure that focus stayed on her. Monday, June 18th at 10:45 P.M. MST.Gigi- Beautiful clothing and Paris aristocracy make up this wonderful film about a young girl becoming a woman. Gigi is being groomed in the family business of courtesans, fortunately she is very uninterested and feels that there is no honor or respect by one day being dumped by the man that has been chosen to be her paramore and doesn't wish to just be a mistress. Gigi is smart and bright and knows that she deserves better, she wants to be his wife. With Maurice Chevalier heading up the cast as a man with a lot of money and still trying to be a playboy in his old age and it not happening, this movie is light hearted but still serious with the music and the story line. Tuesday, June 19th at 10:15 P.M. MST.
The Philadelphia Story- Tracy Lord is the impetus daughter of a very wealthy Philadelphia Main Line socialite family. It is the weekend of Tracy's second wedding to self made and uptight man, George Kittredge. Hepburn dazzles as Tracy Lords with director George Cukor bringing out the feeling of spying on the socialites of Philadelphia. This is my favorite Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn films, they fight and love each other so well in this movie, making acting and storytelling look so effortless, their chemistry just flows on screen and they look beautiful together. Wednesday, June 20th at 6:00 P.M. MST.A Star Is Born - James Mason steals most scenes from Judy Garland with his alcoholic actor character Norman Maine fighting to get back in the spotlight and having issues with his wife's success. Norman really does love his wife, Esther, but he's just too much of an alcoholic and can't stand being upstaged by her career. In the end he kills himself to save her. Judy Garland's singing takes center stage in this movie, but Mason really does all the heavy lifting making this a film that people remake over and over with the latest remake starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. Personally I can't wait to see Cooper's vision of this story and the music that will come out of it.Thursday, June 21st at 8:00 P.M. MST.
Jailhouse Rock- Written to showcase Elvis's talents by producer Pandro S. Bergman, this started Elvis wanting to act in more serious films and get away from always having to sing, unfortunately not being a very good actor Elvis would always have to sing, but I feel in this movie, and in King Creole, Elvis shows what he could've been had a real script and had anyone actually worked with him on his acting more and actually taught him could have been. There is so much going on with his character in this film, he's in prison, being taken advantage of by his cellmate, trying to make decisions for his future and trying to get the girl. It really is quite complicated. Friday, June 21st at 1:15 A.M. MST.
The Year of Living Dangerously - This film makes my top 10 favorite movies of all times. It's set in Jakarta during a time of political upheaval and government dissent. It's beautifully shot by cinematographer Russell Boyd and began my love affair with Indonesia. I've never wanted to travel somewhere so much after seeing this film. Sigourney Weaver is enchanting in this film as Jill Bryant, easily attracted to Mel Gibson's Guy Hamilton, her character is quite the bomb in the film, but Linda Hunt steals the whole show as photographer Billy Kwan. Friday, June 21st at 4:00 P.M. MST.Get Carter - Gangster Jack Carter must return to his home town Newcastle to attend his brother's funeral, who's end came by a drunk driver, at least that is what Jack was told. A tale of retribution for a brother's death becomes an even more entangled story as it goes on. Michael Caine brings Jack Carter to life easily, with Carter becoming one of Caine's most prominent roles and most memorable. Caine is from the area and looked forward to showing a different type of gangster and how his life could've been had he not become an actor. And if you check out this film, get a load of Britt Ekland in this film, not only is she beautiful, she's smart. Saturday, June 23rd at 2:00 P.M. MST.
The Champ- Starring a very young Rick Schroeder before his days on Silver Spoons, he plays a boy who is very much infatuated with his boxer father and who's father loves him very much but has problems with drinking and gambling. Great performances by Schroeder and Jon Voight really bring this film to light. This movie has always left me broken hearted but at the same time hopeful that life can be set right by trying, all you really have to do in life is try. Saturday, June 23rd at 11:45 P.M. MST.Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Last Call Entry Date
Decided to extend our entry date to August 31, 2018. So if you are still contemplating a submission, the date has been extended to August 31, 2018 and we are hoping to have everything ready for a December release date, so please get your submissions in as soon as possible. Go to our Reckless Press Patreon Homepage for more information or you can read our submission guidelines on here as well on the post titled, A Little More About Reckless Press posted on May 4, 2018. There are more Patreon Patron submissions coming this week. Starting today there will only be free posts on Sundays and Wednesdays. Hope everyone is enjoying the week so far and can't wait to see those stories!!
Monday, June 11, 2018
It's True, Only The Good Die Young
You can find this post on Patreon Follow me on Twitter @ChristineLarran In advance Thank you for reading!
Sunday, June 10, 2018
Why a Publishing Company
Why not a publishing company, or a bakery or a store or anything else for that matter? I'm tired of waiting for my future to happen to me, I want to make it happen and I don't want to look back and say I regret not trying and how my life could have been better had I only done x, y or z. I'm going to do Z. Because it's what I want to do.
The written word is my passion, it opened up new worlds to me, places I had only dreamed of, places that I thought were dreams and could only be imagined. Early on I took a liking to Hemingway, Steinbeck and Fitzgerald, mostly because my dad was becoming a reader at the same time that I was. My father was a notoriously bad reader and more than likely had a learning disability that was never diagnosed, but he was determined to read. The problem with having young parents is that you grow up with them, it's not a bad thing but sometimes it is because they're still trying to find themselves and you're growing up trying to figure it out too, but it's good when they're readers and self educators like my dad and mom were. My mom is an exceptional reader, still reading at least a book weekly. When I was little she would take me to the library weekly, it was my first playground. I was a late reader not really catching on until the 3rd grade and my mom was devastated, she had spent so much time reading with me and to me, she just couldn't believe that I wasn't going to be a reader as well and wasn't reading in kindergarten. For my part at the time I just didn't see the point and then I met my 3rd grade teacher Mrs.Martin. I will forever be indebted to Mrs.Martin, she opened a world of possibilities up to me that I had never known were there before her and books. I'm not exactly sure what she did but I think it was that she explained things to me, and talked to me like I was an adult in charge of my own future and that my life could go anywhere that I wanted it to go. By the end of third grade I was reading at a sixth grade level and by the time I was in high school I had read through most of the classic literature canon and was bored by most of my literature classes that I was reading Hunter S. Thompson, Vonnegut, Mailer, Twain and David Foster Wallace. Reaching for the most odd voices I could lay my hands on, they were different and most of all they wrote for themselves. I remember being blown away by Vonnegut's Mother Night, his use of past and present to blend into a well rounded voice that came together to tell the tail of a man suffering because of his past. Books bring worlds alive to people that may never travel and give insights to the best and worst in humanity. I'm hoping to bring out the best in humanity.
There are stories that people want to tell and I want to help them to bring them to the world in whatever way that I can. Maybe it's because I feel like an outsider in the world, this would be my way to be a part of the world in a big way. What I really want Reckless Press to be able to do is to make the world a better place by helping authors and artists to contribute to the world around them. I believe like Bob Marley did, that if you lift the people around you up the world begins to lift up and become a better place for everyone. My favorite story about Bob Marley is that he would set up a table in front of his house and if you needed money to pay the bills, start a business or whatever you needed to make your life and dreams become a reality he would give you more than what you needed to make it happen. That's what I want to be able to do with my company. And to take care of my family and for my voice to be heard.
The written word is my passion, it opened up new worlds to me, places I had only dreamed of, places that I thought were dreams and could only be imagined. Early on I took a liking to Hemingway, Steinbeck and Fitzgerald, mostly because my dad was becoming a reader at the same time that I was. My father was a notoriously bad reader and more than likely had a learning disability that was never diagnosed, but he was determined to read. The problem with having young parents is that you grow up with them, it's not a bad thing but sometimes it is because they're still trying to find themselves and you're growing up trying to figure it out too, but it's good when they're readers and self educators like my dad and mom were. My mom is an exceptional reader, still reading at least a book weekly. When I was little she would take me to the library weekly, it was my first playground. I was a late reader not really catching on until the 3rd grade and my mom was devastated, she had spent so much time reading with me and to me, she just couldn't believe that I wasn't going to be a reader as well and wasn't reading in kindergarten. For my part at the time I just didn't see the point and then I met my 3rd grade teacher Mrs.Martin. I will forever be indebted to Mrs.Martin, she opened a world of possibilities up to me that I had never known were there before her and books. I'm not exactly sure what she did but I think it was that she explained things to me, and talked to me like I was an adult in charge of my own future and that my life could go anywhere that I wanted it to go. By the end of third grade I was reading at a sixth grade level and by the time I was in high school I had read through most of the classic literature canon and was bored by most of my literature classes that I was reading Hunter S. Thompson, Vonnegut, Mailer, Twain and David Foster Wallace. Reaching for the most odd voices I could lay my hands on, they were different and most of all they wrote for themselves. I remember being blown away by Vonnegut's Mother Night, his use of past and present to blend into a well rounded voice that came together to tell the tail of a man suffering because of his past. Books bring worlds alive to people that may never travel and give insights to the best and worst in humanity. I'm hoping to bring out the best in humanity.
There are stories that people want to tell and I want to help them to bring them to the world in whatever way that I can. Maybe it's because I feel like an outsider in the world, this would be my way to be a part of the world in a big way. What I really want Reckless Press to be able to do is to make the world a better place by helping authors and artists to contribute to the world around them. I believe like Bob Marley did, that if you lift the people around you up the world begins to lift up and become a better place for everyone. My favorite story about Bob Marley is that he would set up a table in front of his house and if you needed money to pay the bills, start a business or whatever you needed to make your life and dreams become a reality he would give you more than what you needed to make it happen. That's what I want to be able to do with my company. And to take care of my family and for my voice to be heard.
Saturday, June 9, 2018
What To Catch on TCM This Week - June 10-June 16, 2018
This week is a musical week on TCM, and usually I don't care for many musicals, I like musicals, but there sometimes I just can't cope with it. I will however take a good Bollywood movie any day of the week. But I digress, I do think that there are a few that are going to be on this week that are worth mentioning and checking out.
The Black Stallion- Young Alec is on a ship with his father off of the coast of North Africa when a beautiful horse is brought on board. When the ship starts on fire later that night, Alec and his father are separated and Alec becomes stranded on an island with his only companion being the horse. Alec and The Black, as Alec comes to call him, become bonded by their shared experience and when rescued from the island Alec takes him back home with him to Flushing, NY. Once there Alec finds it hard to adjust to his everyday life and Black is finding it hard to be cooped up, and runs off when a garbage man, not expecting to find a horse in the yard leaves the gate open. Alec finds Black at the home of an old racehorse trainer that sees the racing potential in Black and begins training Alec as a jockey and Black as a racehorse. This movie showed me how you could tell a story just by showing instead of always having to use words as most of it is shot with no dialogue between Alec and Black. I loved this movie and book as a child, my favorite part being the story of Bucephalus that Alec's father tells him before they discover that the ship is on fire. This movie is so worth the watch, Sunday, June 10th ,12:00 A.M.
Time Bandits - My dad loved Terry Gilliam and the Monty Python, so when Time Bandits came out my birthday weekend of course he took me to a Sunday matinee, thus starting a tradition of taking me to the movies for my birthday almost every year, in fact before he died he had taken me to my first rated R movie, a reshowing of The Lonely Guy with Steve Martin for my birthday that year before his death. This is a fantastic fantasy through time and space and it even includes exploding parents! Kevin has a wild imagination and spends hours alone making up stories and scenarios while his parents ignore him for one upping the neighbors. One night his armour bursts open and out tumbles a knight on horseback that quickly runs into the forest on the other side of his room. Dazed by the events, Kevin decides that he'll be ready for whatever comes through the following night and is stunned when six dwarves spill out with a map that they are using to time hop across history. They take him on a wild adventure while they rob from the wealthy historical figures that they visit, while trying to avoid their boss, The Supreme Being and eluding EVIL. Sunday morning, June 10th, 2:00 A.M. 
What Ever Happened To Baby Jane - Bette Davis at her greatest steals the show from Joan Crawford in this horror classic of sisterly love gone very wrong. This is probably my mom's favorite movie as it's been the only movie that I've ever seen her watch more than once and was a mainstay around our house for as long as I can remember. It's just so sad that everything went so very wrong for two women who had Hollywood by the horns at one time in their lives. Sunday, June 10th, 3:30 P.M.
Easter Parade - Vaudeville star Don Hewes has just lost his dancing partner and decides to take on the task of training, Hannah, a chorus girl that he found at the bar he was drinking at. Well, they become a hit and Don's old partner becomes jealous and tries to break them up, but to no real avail and Don and Hannah walk off in the end together. The costumes alone are reason enough to watch, but to see Fred Astaire dancing some of his best solo work and Judy Garland's singing, how can you not watch this sweet romance? Tuesday, June 12th, 2:15 P.M.
Dollars Trilogy - Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Western masterpieces start off Wednesday, June 13th at 6:00 P.M. with A Fistful of Dollars, followed by For A Few Dollars More at 8:00 P.M. and ending with The Good, The Bad and the Ugly at 10:30 P.M. If you want to see where Quentin Tarantino got the idea for the look of D'Jango Unchained and Inglourious Basterds and the character of Beatrix Kiddo in Kill Bill 1 & 2 (which is his Spaghetti Western), these are a must see to understanding Tarantino, as he was heavily influenced by Leone and Jean-Luc Godard.
You Were Never Lovelier- Another great Fred Astaire musical with Rita Hayworth cast as his love interest and Adolphe Menjou as the meddling matchmaker father. It's quirky and fun, with Astaire and Hayworth complimenting each other wonderfully in this movie. Thursday, June 14th, 12:00 P.M.
The Lonliness of the Long Distance Runner - Colin Smith has always used running to get away from the law but is now using it to reflect on his life while he is training for a long distance race that he is being forced to participate in at the reform school that he is in for robbery. Written by Alan Sillitoe, it was written during the "angry young man" literary movement in England after World War II, a movement that Sillitoe fully rejected as a label from the establishment. Friday, June 15th, 6:00 P.M.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind - While working on a power outage, electric lineman, Roy, is buzzed by a UFO and chases it to find out where it is going. Much to his wife's dismay, Roy becomes obsessed with UFO sightings and creating a mountain out of everything, his wife leaves him and Roy follows a news report to Devils Tower. One of Spielberg's most notable films this is also one of his most successful. Richard Dreyfuss is masterful as the common guy, Roy who goes on a wild goose chase to see if what he saw was real. Saturday, June 16th, 3:30 P.M. The Bourdainess Of It All
I had just stepped out of the shower, wrapping my head in a towel, when I heard the news announcer on NPR say, "CNN is reporting the death of their 'Parts Unknown' host Anthony Bourdain, by apparent suicide. Bourdain, 61 was found in his hotel room in France." My stomach dropped and I had to sit down. I bawled.
How unfair that a man that lived for life has taken his own. You can think that you know a celebrity because of how much they let you in, but in Bourdain's case he had given fans the sense that he had taken them balls deep into his life. Tony was known for his honesty about his life, talking openly about his drug addiction and his personal downfalls.
Within the last year Bourdain had felt personal responsibility for how women had been treated while they were working at The Spotted Pig, and that none of the women had felt that they could confide in him about what was going on. Stating in an article with Isaac Chotiner for Slate, "I've been hearing a lot of really bad shit, frankly, and in many cases it's like, wow, I've known some of these women and I've known women who've had stories like this for years and they've said nothing to me. What is wrong with me? What have I, how have I presented myself in such a way as to not give confidence, or why was I not the sort of person people would see as a natural ally here? So I started looking at that." Taking it as his personal obligation to these women shows what kind of man Tony was, he was always looking to better himself and make the world better for others, he wasn't one to shrug off self improvement and knowledge.
I hope his daughter finds peace in knowing that her father was so well loved by the people he loved, the people he worked with, had meals with and the people that loved him. As Tony would say, "It was a site to behold."
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