HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
This Monday, 4/26, will mark my second wedding anniversary. So allow me to wish my beloved bride, Juanita, a heartfelt "Happy Anniversary!" I love you, honey!
PASSING ON
Dede Allen, one of the best film editors ever, died this past week at the age of 86. No cause of death has been given. One of the true pioneers of her craft, Allen helped bring about a new approach to the way stories were told. In her sixty year career she was nominated three times for an Academy Award ("Dog Day Afternoon," "Reds" and "Wonder Boys"). Among her more classic films: "The Hustler," "Bonnie and Clyde," "Alice's Restaurant," "Serpico," "Slap Shot," "The Wiz" and "The Breakfast Club." Her last film, "Firelies in the Garden," was released when she was 83.
MOVIE NOTES
Mickey Rourke has announced that he will star in a film about Genghis Khan, which will be written and directed by John Millius.
News from Disney/Pixar includes a November 2012 release scheduled for "Monsters Inc. 2." Also, the new Muppet film being written by Jason Siegel will feature a new Muppet character named Walter. The studio has also chosen May 4, 2012 as the official release date for "The Avengers."
Sony has pulled "The Green Hornet" from it's scheduled Christmas 2010 release date so that the film can be "transferred" to 3D. The new opening date is set for January 14, 2011.
Wondering whatever happened to Dr. Gordon (Cary Elwes) after "Saw?" Lionsgate Films is hoping you do, recently announcing that Elwes has committed to reprise the role in the seventh film of the series, aptly titled "Saw VII." According to the studio "a deadly battle rages over Jigsaw's brutal legacy while a group of Jigsaw survivors gather to seek the support of self-help guru and fellow survivor Bobby Dagen, a man whose own dark secrets unleash a new wave of terror." Joining Elwes on screen in this chapter are Tobin Bell, Betsy Russell, Sean Patrick Flanery and Costas Mandylor.
Album:
"Briefcase Full of Blues" by The Blues BrothersSoundtrack:
1941 - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Music composed by John Williams
After a brief detour I've once again found two albums with something in common. In this case, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.
A long time fan of the blues, Aykroyd introduced his "Saturday Night Live" partner to the music with late night trips to a blues bar he bought soon after landing on the show. During a sketch in the first season, he and Belushi appeared as part of "Howard Shore and his All-Bee Band." During the skit, Belushi sang "King Bee" while Aykroyd played harmonica. Aykroyd came up with the concept of The Blues Brothers as a warm up gig for the live audiences that attended "SNL." However, the act was so well received that soon it was featured as musical guests on the show in April 1978. As a lark during the summer of 1978 the group became the opening act for Steve Martin in a series of concerts at the Los Angeles Universal Amphitheater, which immediately sold out. The concerts were recorded and the resulting album, "Briefcase Full of Blues," shot to #1 on the Billboard charts. What made the group more then just a novelty act were the musicians that powered the group. Well known session men like Steve Cropper and Donald "Duck" Dunn, who had both played with Otis Redding and Booker T. and the M.G.'s. In fact, when auditioning them for the band at Aykroyds house, Belushi put "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" on the turntable and was surprised to see both Cropper and Dunn weeping. When the song finished Cropper told him, "that's the first time we've listened to Otis since he died." Here's the band during their "SNL" appearance. A little history: Paul Shaffer was supposed to appear in the film but was replaced by Murphy Dunne because Shaffer had committed to being musical director on Gilda Radner's live tour:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1ehMrK3itM
Once again I've pulled an album from the soundtrack section of Mike's Record Shelf and once again the music comes from the great talent that is John Williams. Of all of the composers I admire (Jerry Goldsmith, Bernard Herman, James Horner, Howard Shore, Bruce Broughton and others) John Williams amazes me most with his talent. This could be because I've seen so many films in which his music has appeared. But even if I had only seen a few films he had scored, I would continually be amazed how he is able to tell a story in music. "1941" is no exception. From the opening theme, which to me is reminiscent of an old time march by John Phillips Sousa to the simplest incidental notes, the music accompanies and completes the story perfectly. Maybe that's one reason that I really like this film and others consider it Spielberg's worse. Sure, the big dance off number goes on forever but the big band sound accompanying it makes you want to jump up and jitterbug! Here is a look at a truly, mostly improvised, for "1941." Notice that Belushi's character is called "Wild Wayne Kelso." In the finished film he's "Wild Bill Kelso." It even looks to me like he wants to call himself "Bill" before he catches himself and says "Wayne."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdUCu-A7tgg
Oh, and here is a sample of music from the film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH_e_Q78OOo&NR=1
I have no idea why the clip was dubbed but great music is great music in any language!
Well, that's all for now. Have a great week. See ya!
"Mike's Rant" is ©2010 by Michael A. Smith. Webpage design and all graphics herein are creations of Nolan B. Canova. All contents of Nolan's Pop Culture Review are ©2010 by Nolan B. Canova.
