Congratulations Neil on the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical! Also,”Hedwig and the Angry Inch” – Best Revival of a Musical.
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Author Archives: donnamarie
“Phenomenal Woman” – R.I.P – Dr. Maya Angelou
Renowned Poet, Author, Actress and Director dies at 86.
May her soul and her spirit forever soar.
A remarkable Renaissance woman who is hailed as one of the great voices of contemporary literature. Credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than fifty years.
April 4, 1928 – May 28, 2014
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- First album 1957
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- Early Performance Photo
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- Alvin Ailey Modern Dance
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- Author
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- Just Give Me A Cool Drink…1971
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- Spirit
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- A Song Flung Up To Heaven 2002
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- Activist
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- Phenomenal
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- The Heart of a Woman 1981
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- Poet
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- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings 1969
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- Maya Quote
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- Presidential Medal of the Arts
Oscar Michaeux – First Black Independent Filmmaker
Oscar Devereaux Micheaux was an American author, film director and independent producer of more than 44 films.
Filmmaker, Screenwriter, Journalist (1884–1951)
QUOTES
“Your self image is so powerful, it unwittingly becomes your destiny.”
2001: A Space Odyssey with Pink Floyd
Classic Rock Meets Classic Film. Groove for the weekend!
Listening to Pink Floyd‘s “The Darkside of the Moon” sync up with “The Wizard of Oz” blew up my belief that it was just an “urban legend“. A few years back – and I don’t think we need to get into the number – my daughter had me cue up “Wizard of OZ”, put on Pink Floyd’s “Darkside of the Moon.” And holy crap! It worked.
Here’s a twist: “2001: A Space Odyssey” with Pink Floyd. Some mind-blowing fun for the weekend. Enjoy!
“A Hard Day’s Night” 1964
A Hard Day’s Night
Ringo Starr, George Harrison, John Lennon & Paul McCartney of the Beatles in ‘A Hard Day’s Night’
In celebration of the film’s 50th anniversary, cities across the U.S. will screen movie on Fourth of July weekend
What an inspired idea Beatles manager Brian Epstein had to introduce the world to John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr in the 1964 film “A Hard Day’s Night”. Naturals for the camera, the lads stole our hearts and delivered a funny, nonstop scream fest! Paul’s “grandfather” (“villain, a real mixer” 🙂 (Wilfrid Brambell) practically stole the show ascending from under the stage during the middle of a number!
The film never gets old and always lifts my spirits and brings a smile with thoughts and memories of a glorious time gone by.
| Directed by | Richard Lester |
|---|---|
| Produced by | Walter Shenson |
| Written by | Alun Owen |
| Starring | John Lennon Paul McCartney George Harrison Ringo Starr Wilfrid Brambell Norman Rossington John Junkin Victor Spinetti Maggie d’Abo |
| Music by | The Beatles George Martin |
| Cinematography | Gilbert Taylor |
| Editing by | John Jympson |
| Studio | Proscenium Films Walter Shenson Films Maljack Productions |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
| Release dates | 6 July 1964 (UK) |
Guilty Pleasures part deux – “Streets of Fire” 1984
Streets of Fire starring Michael Pare and Diane Lane is my favorite “Rock n Roll Fable!”
In a town existing somewhere between the 50’s and the 80’s, this rock n roll love story revolves around the kidnapping of hometown girl turned star, Ellen Aim. Kidnapped by gang leader Raven Shaddock during her concert performance, her ex-soldier boyfriend Tom Cody arrives in town on a mission to rescue Ellen from The Bombers (Raven’s gang). Let the adventure begin!
I fantasized being Ellen Aim. Cool rock chick jammin on stage and driving the crowd wild! Oh yeah!
And how cool was that opening number? “Nowhere Fast”. “You and me we’re going nowhere slowly. And we gotta get away from the past. There’s nothing wrong with going nowhere baby. But we should be going nowhere fast”.
And I love, love, loved The Sorels! An early 60’s style group in need of a break and discovered by Ellen’s manager, Billy Fish. Absolutely fantastic! They had the moves, the energy, so effervescent!!
The Sorels:
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Stoney Jackson as Bird, lead singer
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Grand L. Bush as Reggie
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Robert Townsend as Lester
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Mykelti Williamson as B.J.
The Sorels Trivia:
Stoney Jackson dancer in Michael Jackson’s”Beat It” video
Robert Townsend director of Hollywood Shuffle 1987
(if you haven’t seen it you should really check it out!)
Mykelti Williamson played Bubba in Forest Gump
“If I Can Dream About You” – Recorded by Dan Hartman
And the final number, “Tonight is What It Means to be Young” still gives me goosebumps. Her heartbreak, his tortured soul at having to go. If that isn’t a theatrical climax, then I don’t know what is.
| Directed by | Walter Hill |
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| Produced by | Lawrence Gordon Joel Silver |
| Written by | Walter Hill Larry Gross |
| Starring | Michael Paré Diane Lane Rick Moranis Amy Madigan Willem Dafoe Elizabeth Daily |
| Music by | Ry Cooder |
| Cinematography | Andrew Laszlo |
| Editing by | James Coblentz Freeman A. Davies Michael Ripps |
| Studio | RKO Pictures Universal Pictures |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
| Release dates | June 1, 1984 |
| Running time | 93 minutes |
Marilyn at Madison Square Garden, 1962: Alone in a Crowd
Born Norma Jean Mortenson on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, CA, Marilyn Monroe is often cited as both a pop and cultural icon. The quintessential American sex symbol.
Guilty Pleasures – “Wild in the Streets” 1968
“Wild in the Streets”
Open up the confessional of guilty pleasures cause this film is mine. Obsessed since I was a kid, I totally related to the “younger generation” running things and not the “old cats” who always mess things up in this country. “Thirty and out” was my mantra. “Old fat cats” only in the game for their own personal gain. Yeah, I was a bit of a rebel. (or so my sister’s always say:)
| Directed by | Barry Shear |
|---|---|
| Produced by | Samuel Z. Arkoff James H. Nicholson |
| Written by | Robert Thom |
| Based on | novella The Day It All Happened, Baby by Robert Thom |
| Starring | Christopher Jones Shelley Winters Richard Pryor Diane Varsi Hal Holbrook |
| Music by | Les Baxter |
| Distributed by | American International Pictures |
| Release dates |
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| Running time | 94 min. |
And don’t get me started on Christopher Jones. Love him, and his hair? It was awesome! Jones had that whole brooding, tortured vibe like Marlon Brando and James Dean. The Christopher Jones character Max Frost was a pop star millionaire who gets “turned on” to the 60’s political scene and decides to exercise his views on free love, youth is the majority, women have rights and ultimately runs for President of the United States. And it only gets better from there!
Max Frost sayings: “Troops”, “Babies”, “14 or Fight.”
The Music
The soundtrack is the backdrop for the politics. Max and The Troopers deal with current issues of the time (’67). Voting age: “14 or Fight”.”If I can fight I can vote”. Ageism: If you’re 50 does that make you more competent? The 25 and under age group is the majority. “We have the power”. Women’s rights: “Chicks would have killed for the vote”.
The Troopers:
Sally LeRoy – Diane Varsi
Stanley X – Richard Pryor
Billy Cage – Kevin Coughlin
The Hook, Abraham – Larry Bishop
Trivia
“The Shape of Things to Come”, written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, was a #22 chart hit for Max Frost and the Troopers (a “studio group”, made up of session musicians) in 1968.
Nominated for Oscar:
Best Film Editing
Fred R. Feitshans Jr.
Eve Newman
Best Film
Barry Shear
What resonated with me then and now? The political implications of organizing and using that voice and numbers for change. But also the nightmare when ideas become an extreme.
This flick was over the top but had it’s pulse on the fears of the 60’s and a possible dysfunctional future. American International founders Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson were genius! They were one of the first production companies to recognize and capitalize on the growing teen market. Think beach, biker, monster, drive-in movies. Think American International.
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| Industry | Filmed entertainment |
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| Fate | Acquired by Filmways |
| Successor(s) | Filmways |
| Founded | April, 1954 |
| Defunct | 1980 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California |
| Key people | James H. Nicholson, Samuel Z. Arkoff |
Christopher Jones
After “Wild in the Streets” Christopher Jones only made a couple more films, “Three in the Attic” 1968. Classic 60’s love in fest. The big studios took notice and David Lean offered him the romantic lead in the big budget drama “Ryan’s Daughter” 1970. Reportedly it was on the set of the film he had a nervous breakdown after hearing of Sharon Tate’s murder and shortly after left the Hollywood scene.
His last appearance was in the 1996 crime comedy “Mad Dog Time” opposite Richard Dreyfuss. In his later years he had a career as an artist and sculptor. He died from cancer on January 31, 2014 at the age of 72.
“Dance and Sing Get Up and Do Your Thing” – AFI’s Top 5 Musicals
It seems every time someone asks the question “What’s your favorite? (fill in the blank) that’s what happens to me…BLANK. So, I decided to prep for the next occasion. Here’s the American Film Institute’s list of the Top 5 Musicals of All time! West Side Story and Cabaret have already made the list on my Songbird Oscar Winners post. I think I got this!
Can you name yours? Let’s share.
| # | FILM | YEAR | STUDIO |
| 1 | SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN | 1952 | MGM |
| 2 | WEST SIDE STORY | 1961 | United Artists |
| 3 | WIZARD OF OZ, THE | 1939 | MGM |
| 4 | SOUND OF MUSIC, THE | 1965 | Twentieth Century-Fox |
| 5 | CABARET | 1972 | Allied Artists |
Some of my favorite quotes from the films!
Lina: [with a voice to peel paint] And I cayn’t stand’im. Holy crap! This line makes the movie for me!!
[singing]
Bernardo: ” I’d like to go back to San Juan.”
Anita: “I know a boat you can get on!”
Ha! You do you, cause I’m gonna do me!
Cowardly Lion: ” Alright I’ll go in there for Dorothy. Wicked Witch or no Wicked Witch, guards or no guards, I’ll tear them apart. I may not come out alive, but I’m going in there. There’s only one thing I want you fellows to do.”
Tin Woodsman, Scarecrow: “What’s that?”
Cowardly Lion: “Talk me out of it!”
Oh Lion – you just gotta love him!
Maria: “When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window.”
Without a doubt! Amen!
Sally: ” I’m going to be a great film star! That is, if booze and sex don’t get me first.”
Quote is dead on. What’s up Ms Liza?
Nicholas Brothers – Flash! (So You Think You Can Dance?)
The Nicholas Brothers were a famous African American team of dancing brothers, Fayard (1914–2006) and Harold (1921–2000). Their highly acrobatic technique (“flash dancing“), demonstrated such a high level of artistry and daring innovations that they were considered by many to be the greatest tap dancers of their day.
Growing up with musician parents (mother played piano and father drums) who had their own band, the brothers were surrounded by some of the best Vaudeville acts of the time and became stars of the jazz circuit during the heyday of the Harlem Renaissance . Fayard and Harold went on to have successful careers performing on stage, film, and television well into the 1990s.
Their signature move was to leapfrog down a long, broad flight of stairs, while completing each step with a split. This move was performed to perfection in the finale of the movie, Stormy Weather . In my humble opinion, the “Jumpin’ Jive” dance number in Stormy Weather was the greatest movie musical sequence of all time!
Nicholas Brothers – Jump!
Another signature move was to arise from a split without using the hands. Gregory Hines (with brother Maurice – tap dancing brother team Hines, Hines and Dad) declared that if their biography were ever filmed, their dance numbers would have to be computer generated because no one now could emulate them. Ballet legend Mikhail Baryshnikov once called them the most amazing dancers he had ever seen in his life.
The Nicholas Brothers influenced every dancer that came after. Including Michael Jackson. Here they are together on the Jackson’s TV Show.
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