I'm going to handle this one a little differently.
I'm going to reveal a key piece of information about it that I wish I had before I saw it, because I would have enjoyed it that much better.
It becomes apparent very early on that Tom Hanks and the other key actors are each playing several parts. In the first half-hour or so, it seems like there are roughly half-a-dozen Peter Sellers running around.
It seems a little gimmicky.
You find yourself mostly trying to guess if that's the same actor in different makeup, or another actor.
It seems distracting.
My advice is, make the buy that they are doing this, and don't let it affect your enjoyment of the film.
If you do that, you will much better appreciate the enormous payoff that awaits you.
This is a movie that is very life-affirming, and very afterlife-affirming.
Just go with it.
On to the scoring:
Is it interesting?
Fascinating.
A+.
Compelling even?
Quite.
A+.
Is it controversial?
Incredibly.
A+.
Is it a story worth telling?
It is about six stories worth telling.
A+.
Is it good storytelling?
It blows you away.
A+.
Is it well written?
Extremely.
A.
Is it well cast? Well played?, Well shot?
Superbly, in all respects.
As I watched it on my sixty inch flatscreen, I felt a little disappointed that I didn't see it in the movies in 3D.
I found out later that it wasn't shot in 3D. I was stunned.
The film is gorgeous.
A+.
Is it too long? Too short?
It is a very long film, and you are aware of its length, but if you were me, you wished it would never end.
A.
Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?
A tremendous effort is made to make it believable and make you care about the characters. And all the effort is worth it.
A+.
Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?
Nothing is predictable, and the payoff, as I indicated, is spectacular.
A+.
Do you think about it after you've seen it?
A whole lot.
A+.
Is it funny?
Here and there.
It's not really about humor.
B+.
Would it have been worth the thirteen bucks it would have cost to see it in the movies?
Definitely.
A+.
Is it impressive ?
One of the most impressive films I have ever seen.
A+.
Overall grade: A+.
I love movies that are a triumph of imagination.
This is that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Larry Hagman, From A Distance.
I never actually met Larry Hagman, but I saw him quite often, from a short distance.
If you want to read a great article about him, go to Mark Evanier's blog.
Mark did interact with him, and has a great story to tell about him.
And it is quite complimentary.
It also explains how Hagman essentially shook the studio that made "Dallas", Lorimar,
by it's ankles, to get every last nickel out of them when he re-upped as J.R. when his contract was up.
My first awareness of Larry Hagman came in the mid-1960s, when my friend Allie Wolf
claimed to have spotted him in the baggage claim area at LaGuardia Airport.
And Allie made the huge-est deal possible out of this.
"I Dream of Jeannie" had been for about a year.
I had never seen it.
I had no idea who Larry Hagman was.
I only knew about Barbara Eden and her navel.
Allie, of course, was astounded that ANYONE would not know who Larry Hagman was.
Allie was often prone to seeing, or at least thinking he was seeing, celebrities in everyday life.
He once thought he saw Leonard Bernstein on the Q-44A bus, that went from the outreaches of Queens, along Union Turnpike, to Forest Hills, where one could catch the subway to midtown Manhattan.
He was positive it was Leonard Bernstein.
This was met with a resounding "Leonard Bernstein? On the Q-44A bus? He probably went
everywhere by limo."
Allie simply retorted, in his most self-assured fashion, "It was HIM!!"
Spotting Larry Hagman at least seemed a little more plausible.
My paths and Larry Hagman's crossed quite a bit.
We both lived in Malibu, where I'd seen him pushing his own grocery cart around Ralph's, the local supermarket, always graciously stopping to sign autographs.
We also worked at the same studio.
"She's The Sheriff" was also shot at Lorimar.
I'd always see the "Dallas" cast walking around the lot, or in the commissary.
So there was certainly proximity, but nary a word was exchanged.
Lorimar was reputed to be the toughest, most cutthroat studio in town to work at.
I still have some scars on my throat to prove it.
I'd often see Barbara Bel Geddes in the commissary.
She was the original Miss Ellie on "Dallas".
She left the show, and was replaced by Donna Reed.
When Ms. Bel Geddes decided that she wanted to return to the show, the studio
unceremoniously fired Donna Reed, and rehired Ms. Bel Geddes.
This led to Donna Reed filing a hefty lawsuit, which led to a hefty settlement.
I'd also often see Valerie Harper on the lot. "Valerie's Family" shot it's show in the soundstage right next to ours.
After some dispute or other, probably due to Lorimar not living up to something they
agreed to in her deal (I know that was the problem I had with my deal), she was
unceremoniously fired, and replaced by Sandy Duncan.
They changed the name of the show to "The Hogan Family"
That was decent of them.
She sued Lorimar for wrongful termination and won two million dollars.
Why do I bring all this up?
And what does this all have to do with Larry Hagman?
Well, Larry Hagman, we now know from several sources, was a sweetheart of a guy.
But he had his quirks.
And one of his quirks was that he was completely satisfied sleeping on an army cot in
his dressing room.
No fancy trailers required for him.
This gave the bastards at Lorimar all the ammunition they needed.
If any of their other well-paid TV stars had asked for a trailer during negotiations,
they were met with "Larry Hagman doesn't have a trailer. Do you think you're a bigger star than Larry Hagman?"
Needless to say, no trailers were given to anybody.
I know this because the above-mentioned bastards bragged about this often, in my presence.
I'm guessing that these other well-paid TV stars included Donna Reed, who was seriously ill when she was shooting "Dallas", and could have really used a trailer, and Valerie Harper, who was probably just jobbed out of one.
Maybe if Lorimar had acquiesced, Donna Reed's settlement might not have been so hefty, and maybe Valerie Harper might have been a little less persistent in carrying out her quest for the two million.
Thinking that all of this had to do with Larry Hagman sleeping on an army cot makes
me sleep a little better at night.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
If you want to read a great article about him, go to Mark Evanier's blog.
Mark did interact with him, and has a great story to tell about him.
And it is quite complimentary.
It also explains how Hagman essentially shook the studio that made "Dallas", Lorimar,
by it's ankles, to get every last nickel out of them when he re-upped as J.R. when his contract was up.
My first awareness of Larry Hagman came in the mid-1960s, when my friend Allie Wolf
claimed to have spotted him in the baggage claim area at LaGuardia Airport.
And Allie made the huge-est deal possible out of this.
"I Dream of Jeannie" had been for about a year.
I had never seen it.
I had no idea who Larry Hagman was.
I only knew about Barbara Eden and her navel.
Allie, of course, was astounded that ANYONE would not know who Larry Hagman was.
Allie was often prone to seeing, or at least thinking he was seeing, celebrities in everyday life.
He once thought he saw Leonard Bernstein on the Q-44A bus, that went from the outreaches of Queens, along Union Turnpike, to Forest Hills, where one could catch the subway to midtown Manhattan.
He was positive it was Leonard Bernstein.
This was met with a resounding "Leonard Bernstein? On the Q-44A bus? He probably went
everywhere by limo."
Allie simply retorted, in his most self-assured fashion, "It was HIM!!"
Spotting Larry Hagman at least seemed a little more plausible.
My paths and Larry Hagman's crossed quite a bit.
We both lived in Malibu, where I'd seen him pushing his own grocery cart around Ralph's, the local supermarket, always graciously stopping to sign autographs.
We also worked at the same studio.
"She's The Sheriff" was also shot at Lorimar.
I'd always see the "Dallas" cast walking around the lot, or in the commissary.
So there was certainly proximity, but nary a word was exchanged.
Lorimar was reputed to be the toughest, most cutthroat studio in town to work at.
I still have some scars on my throat to prove it.
I'd often see Barbara Bel Geddes in the commissary.
She was the original Miss Ellie on "Dallas".
She left the show, and was replaced by Donna Reed.
When Ms. Bel Geddes decided that she wanted to return to the show, the studio
unceremoniously fired Donna Reed, and rehired Ms. Bel Geddes.
This led to Donna Reed filing a hefty lawsuit, which led to a hefty settlement.
I'd also often see Valerie Harper on the lot. "Valerie's Family" shot it's show in the soundstage right next to ours.
After some dispute or other, probably due to Lorimar not living up to something they
agreed to in her deal (I know that was the problem I had with my deal), she was
unceremoniously fired, and replaced by Sandy Duncan.
They changed the name of the show to "The Hogan Family"
That was decent of them.
She sued Lorimar for wrongful termination and won two million dollars.
Why do I bring all this up?
And what does this all have to do with Larry Hagman?
Well, Larry Hagman, we now know from several sources, was a sweetheart of a guy.
But he had his quirks.
And one of his quirks was that he was completely satisfied sleeping on an army cot in
his dressing room.
No fancy trailers required for him.
This gave the bastards at Lorimar all the ammunition they needed.
If any of their other well-paid TV stars had asked for a trailer during negotiations,
they were met with "Larry Hagman doesn't have a trailer. Do you think you're a bigger star than Larry Hagman?"
Needless to say, no trailers were given to anybody.
I know this because the above-mentioned bastards bragged about this often, in my presence.
I'm guessing that these other well-paid TV stars included Donna Reed, who was seriously ill when she was shooting "Dallas", and could have really used a trailer, and Valerie Harper, who was probably just jobbed out of one.
Maybe if Lorimar had acquiesced, Donna Reed's settlement might not have been so hefty, and maybe Valerie Harper might have been a little less persistent in carrying out her quest for the two million.
Thinking that all of this had to do with Larry Hagman sleeping on an army cot makes
me sleep a little better at night.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Report Card---"The Perks Of Being A Wallflower"
"The Perks Of Being A Wallflower" is a movie that definitely has merit.
But it's not the kind of movie that you embrace, or fall in love with.
There is an overhanging pall of melancholia about it that is pervasive.
That being said, it is also quite moving, and effective.
This is a living definition of a mixed review.
It deals with a high school freshman, with no friends, trying to make his way through the high school experience.
He also brings a lot of baggage with him, so at no point is it easy.
On to the scoring:
Is it interesting?
It certainly holds your interest.
B+.
Compelling even?
Not really.
C.
Is it controversial?
Not really.
C.
Is it a story worth telling?
I'm sure a lot of people would think so.
It helps if you are a lot younger than I am.
B.
Is it good storytelling?
For the most part.
B-.
Is it well written?
There are things that could be clearer.
B-.
Is it well cast? Well played?, Well shot?
The young leads are very good and very affecting.
The problem for me is the older actors.
Dylan McDermott (The Practice) has this throwaway part as the young lead's father.
And I don't like thinking of him being old enough to be a high school kid's father.
Melanie Lynskey, best known as the creepy Rose on "Two and a Half Men", plays an even creepier part here. She seems to have found her niche.
The great Joan Cusack has a throwaway part in this.
A part that could have been played by anybody.
Why waste her like this?
Plus, she looks quite a bit older than the last time I saw her.
I don't need to see that.
Maybe she doesn't either.
C+.
Is it too long? Too short?
It definitely needs trimming.
C.
Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?
Very much and very much.
A.
Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?
Not at all predictable, and there is a bit of a surprise.
A-.
Do you think about it after you've seen it?
Not hardly.
C.
Is it funny?
It cries out for more humor.
C-.
Would it have been worth the thirteen bucks it would have cost to see it in the movies?
No.
F.
Is it impressive ?
Somewhat.
B+.
Overall grade: B-.
How's that for a mixed review?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
But it's not the kind of movie that you embrace, or fall in love with.
There is an overhanging pall of melancholia about it that is pervasive.
That being said, it is also quite moving, and effective.
This is a living definition of a mixed review.
It deals with a high school freshman, with no friends, trying to make his way through the high school experience.
He also brings a lot of baggage with him, so at no point is it easy.
On to the scoring:
Is it interesting?
It certainly holds your interest.
B+.
Compelling even?
Not really.
C.
Is it controversial?
Not really.
C.
Is it a story worth telling?
I'm sure a lot of people would think so.
It helps if you are a lot younger than I am.
B.
Is it good storytelling?
For the most part.
B-.
Is it well written?
There are things that could be clearer.
B-.
Is it well cast? Well played?, Well shot?
The young leads are very good and very affecting.
The problem for me is the older actors.
Dylan McDermott (The Practice) has this throwaway part as the young lead's father.
And I don't like thinking of him being old enough to be a high school kid's father.
Melanie Lynskey, best known as the creepy Rose on "Two and a Half Men", plays an even creepier part here. She seems to have found her niche.
The great Joan Cusack has a throwaway part in this.
A part that could have been played by anybody.
Why waste her like this?
Plus, she looks quite a bit older than the last time I saw her.
I don't need to see that.
Maybe she doesn't either.
C+.
Is it too long? Too short?
It definitely needs trimming.
C.
Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?
Very much and very much.
A.
Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?
Not at all predictable, and there is a bit of a surprise.
A-.
Do you think about it after you've seen it?
Not hardly.
C.
Is it funny?
It cries out for more humor.
C-.
Would it have been worth the thirteen bucks it would have cost to see it in the movies?
No.
F.
Is it impressive ?
Somewhat.
B+.
Overall grade: B-.
How's that for a mixed review?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Thursday, November 22, 2012
A Memorable Thanksgiving----39 Years Ago.
1973.
This was my favorite Thanksgiving.
I was given a gift that year that I still cherish, to this day.
And it came, from all people, Ma Bell.
I am reminded about it by my recent viewing of the first season of the series "Mad Men"
Admittedly, I have come to this series rather late, but I'm really glad I did.
As most of you who watch it know, it is first rate.
What triggered my Thanksgiving memory of 39 years ago was the prominent display in "Mad Men" of rotary phones.
The only kind there were in those days.
Except maybe for the old crank phone that Jan Clayton, Jeff's mother on the old "Lassie" series, used to call Jenny the phone operator, to get an outside line, in order to help get whoever needed to get out of trouble that Lassie warned her about.
In 1973, I was getting near the end of my second season writing on "The Odd Couple".
Oscar and Felix had rotary phones.
Rotary phones present a particular problem for a writer.
Any time someone makes a phone call, he has to dial the phone.
The time it takes to dial the phone takes up dead air.
Nothing else can happen while that phone is being dialed.
If someone else is in the room when that phone is being dialed, the writers job is somewhat easier.
But only somewhat.
An artificial conversation has to be contrived between the two parties to cover the time that the phone is being dialed.
Then, some time in November of 1973, the prop man for "The Odd Couple" brought out two push button phones.
One for Felix, and one for Oscar.
Our prayers had been answered.
No more dead air.
No more contrived conversations.
You could dial a number on a push button phone in two seconds.
Never mind that there wasn't anything called speed-dialing yet.
And I've been thankful ever since.
Maybe the folks on "Mad Men have learned this lesson.
I've yet to see anyone there dial a phone.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
This was my favorite Thanksgiving.
I was given a gift that year that I still cherish, to this day.
And it came, from all people, Ma Bell.
I am reminded about it by my recent viewing of the first season of the series "Mad Men"
Admittedly, I have come to this series rather late, but I'm really glad I did.
As most of you who watch it know, it is first rate.
What triggered my Thanksgiving memory of 39 years ago was the prominent display in "Mad Men" of rotary phones.
The only kind there were in those days.
Except maybe for the old crank phone that Jan Clayton, Jeff's mother on the old "Lassie" series, used to call Jenny the phone operator, to get an outside line, in order to help get whoever needed to get out of trouble that Lassie warned her about.
In 1973, I was getting near the end of my second season writing on "The Odd Couple".
Oscar and Felix had rotary phones.
Rotary phones present a particular problem for a writer.
Any time someone makes a phone call, he has to dial the phone.
The time it takes to dial the phone takes up dead air.
Nothing else can happen while that phone is being dialed.
If someone else is in the room when that phone is being dialed, the writers job is somewhat easier.
But only somewhat.
An artificial conversation has to be contrived between the two parties to cover the time that the phone is being dialed.
Then, some time in November of 1973, the prop man for "The Odd Couple" brought out two push button phones.
One for Felix, and one for Oscar.
Our prayers had been answered.
No more dead air.
No more contrived conversations.
You could dial a number on a push button phone in two seconds.
Never mind that there wasn't anything called speed-dialing yet.
And I've been thankful ever since.
Maybe the folks on "Mad Men have learned this lesson.
I've yet to see anyone there dial a phone.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Report Card---"Argo"
"Argo" is a perfect example of the kind of movie that should be reviewed Report Card
style.
The less you know about it going in, the better.
They tell you at the beginning that it is based on a true story, and even that seems like almost too much information.
"Argo" is a great movie.
A great story.
The fact that it is true only enhances its value.
It takes place during the Iran Hostage crisis in 1980, and involves the attempt to get at least some of the hostages out of Iran.
The approach to this problem is a unique one, and I'm not going to be the one who tells you what it is.
The story did eventually become public, but that was quite a while ago, and it slipped under my radar at the time.
Having it slip under your radar at the time makes "Argo" that much more of an enjoyable experience.
On to the scoring:
Is it interesting?
It is fascinating.
A+.
Compelling even?
Fascinating is even better than compelling.
A+
Is it controversial?
To a large extent.
A.
Is it a story worth telling?
Absolutely.
A+.
Is it good storytelling?
It is great storytelling. A ripping, and in some ways, hilarious yarn.
A+.
Is it well written?
The dialogue is first rate.
A+.
Is it well cast? Well played?, Well shot?
Perfect in all respects.
A+.
Is it too long? Too short?
Time was never a factor.
A+.
Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?
It happened. It's hard not to believe it. The perfect comp for this movie is "Schindlers List", and for specific reasons which I will not elaborate on, I cared about the characters in "Argo" far more than the characters in "Schindlers List".
A+.
Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?
It is predictable. It can't help itself. Once the premise is established, you know that it has to end a certain way, or it would never be worth making a movie out of it. But predictability is not a problem. The issue is not how it ends. You get caught up in the intricacies of how it gets there.
A.
Do you think about it after you've seen it?
I've already thought about it quite a bit.
A+.
Is it funny?
Often. And when it is, it is hilarious. Kudos to Alan Arkin and John Goodman for that.
A+.
Would it have been worth the thirteen bucks it would have cost to see it in the movies?
Every dollar.
A+.
Is it impressive ?
Extremely
A+.
Overall grade: A+.
Ben Affleck did a great job in the leading role and in directing it.
Do not miss this one.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
style.
The less you know about it going in, the better.
They tell you at the beginning that it is based on a true story, and even that seems like almost too much information.
"Argo" is a great movie.
A great story.
The fact that it is true only enhances its value.
It takes place during the Iran Hostage crisis in 1980, and involves the attempt to get at least some of the hostages out of Iran.
The approach to this problem is a unique one, and I'm not going to be the one who tells you what it is.
The story did eventually become public, but that was quite a while ago, and it slipped under my radar at the time.
Having it slip under your radar at the time makes "Argo" that much more of an enjoyable experience.
On to the scoring:
Is it interesting?
It is fascinating.
A+.
Compelling even?
Fascinating is even better than compelling.
A+
Is it controversial?
To a large extent.
A.
Is it a story worth telling?
Absolutely.
A+.
Is it good storytelling?
It is great storytelling. A ripping, and in some ways, hilarious yarn.
A+.
Is it well written?
The dialogue is first rate.
A+.
Is it well cast? Well played?, Well shot?
Perfect in all respects.
A+.
Is it too long? Too short?
Time was never a factor.
A+.
Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?
It happened. It's hard not to believe it. The perfect comp for this movie is "Schindlers List", and for specific reasons which I will not elaborate on, I cared about the characters in "Argo" far more than the characters in "Schindlers List".
A+.
Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?
It is predictable. It can't help itself. Once the premise is established, you know that it has to end a certain way, or it would never be worth making a movie out of it. But predictability is not a problem. The issue is not how it ends. You get caught up in the intricacies of how it gets there.
A.
Do you think about it after you've seen it?
I've already thought about it quite a bit.
A+.
Is it funny?
Often. And when it is, it is hilarious. Kudos to Alan Arkin and John Goodman for that.
A+.
Would it have been worth the thirteen bucks it would have cost to see it in the movies?
Every dollar.
A+.
Is it impressive ?
Extremely
A+.
Overall grade: A+.
Ben Affleck did a great job in the leading role and in directing it.
Do not miss this one.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Saturday, November 17, 2012
What Are You, Da Hostess?
For me, the highlight of the movie "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World", and also the
highlight of Buddy Hackett's rather miniscule movie career, was the scene that took
place in the airplane.
Jim Backus was the pilot, who got loaded up on at least one too many Old-Fashioneds, leaving Hackett and Mickey Rooney, who had both never even been in an airplane before, in charge of the controls.
Actually, Hackett was in charge of the controls.
Rooney was in charge of crabbing, bellyaching, and panicking as their lives were seeming to be coming to an end.
Hackett, having had enough of this, cried out "He's passed out in the back, I'm flying da plane, what are you, da hostess?
I thought that this was the funniest line of a very funny picture.
And it transcended itself into my sisters and my daily life.
Any time we were in the supermarket and passed the packaged baked goods section, one of us would point to a Hostess product and say "What are you, da Hostess?"
This extended to when we brought one of said products home, opened the refrigerator,
got the others attention, and said "What are you, the Hostess?"
During that era, with rare exceptions, we loved Hostess baked goods.
Particularly their chocolate items.
Hostess creme filled cupcakes was my favorite.
I also was fond of Hostess Sno-Balls, which consisted of chocolate cake, creme-filled, covered with marshmallow, and coconut sprinkles, two to a package, one white, the other pink.
I couldn't eat the pink one, even then a little wary of what went into the dye that turned it pink.
My sister was a little less discriminatory.
She would knock down everything chocolate.
The more icing, the better.
Ho-hos, Ding dongs, Yodels.
All loaded with icing and creme filling.
Notice that I spell it creme, because that's how they spelled it.
Probably because it was something ersatz other than cream.
The thing that neither of us could hack was Twinkies.
Tasteless, creme filled, no icing, and not any chocolate.
And then, they started cocking around with orange cupcakes.
Thing were getting out of hand.
Too much branching out.
And it was all junk food to the nth degree, before we were even aware of the term.
So I was saddened when I started hearing that Hostess was shutting down operations.
It was the end of an era,
It also occurred to me that it had been at least fifteen years since I had sampled any of their wares.
I think this is because, even though they contained enormous nostalgia value, the product got worse and worse.
The cupcakes got smaller and didn't taste as good as they used to.
So I'm saddened on an aesthetic level, but not on a culinary one.
And I'll have no further opportunity to say "What are you, da Hostess?"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
highlight of Buddy Hackett's rather miniscule movie career, was the scene that took
place in the airplane.
Jim Backus was the pilot, who got loaded up on at least one too many Old-Fashioneds, leaving Hackett and Mickey Rooney, who had both never even been in an airplane before, in charge of the controls.
Actually, Hackett was in charge of the controls.
Rooney was in charge of crabbing, bellyaching, and panicking as their lives were seeming to be coming to an end.
Hackett, having had enough of this, cried out "He's passed out in the back, I'm flying da plane, what are you, da hostess?
I thought that this was the funniest line of a very funny picture.
And it transcended itself into my sisters and my daily life.
Any time we were in the supermarket and passed the packaged baked goods section, one of us would point to a Hostess product and say "What are you, da Hostess?"
This extended to when we brought one of said products home, opened the refrigerator,
got the others attention, and said "What are you, the Hostess?"
During that era, with rare exceptions, we loved Hostess baked goods.
Particularly their chocolate items.
Hostess creme filled cupcakes was my favorite.
I also was fond of Hostess Sno-Balls, which consisted of chocolate cake, creme-filled, covered with marshmallow, and coconut sprinkles, two to a package, one white, the other pink.
I couldn't eat the pink one, even then a little wary of what went into the dye that turned it pink.
My sister was a little less discriminatory.
She would knock down everything chocolate.
The more icing, the better.
Ho-hos, Ding dongs, Yodels.
All loaded with icing and creme filling.
Notice that I spell it creme, because that's how they spelled it.
Probably because it was something ersatz other than cream.
The thing that neither of us could hack was Twinkies.
Tasteless, creme filled, no icing, and not any chocolate.
And then, they started cocking around with orange cupcakes.
Thing were getting out of hand.
Too much branching out.
And it was all junk food to the nth degree, before we were even aware of the term.
So I was saddened when I started hearing that Hostess was shutting down operations.
It was the end of an era,
It also occurred to me that it had been at least fifteen years since I had sampled any of their wares.
I think this is because, even though they contained enormous nostalgia value, the product got worse and worse.
The cupcakes got smaller and didn't taste as good as they used to.
So I'm saddened on an aesthetic level, but not on a culinary one.
And I'll have no further opportunity to say "What are you, da Hostess?"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Report Card---Celeste And Jesse Forever"
"Celeste and Jesse Forever" is a chick-flick.
You can tell that because Rashida Jones is the lead actress, co writer, and, I think producer.
She was definitely the muscle of this picture.
She is very young, which helps make this a very young chick-flick.
Add to this that the male lead is Andy Samberg, late of Saturday Night Live, doing nothing that might have made him funny on SNL.
He plays Rashida's love interest, with the added bonus of his character wanting to have a baby, while she doesn't.
This is a classic chick-flick point of view.
Grown men are, to my knowledge, never the prime movers for wanting to have a baby.
So this obviously is not a movie designed for my enjoyment.
Early on, it is established that they are getting divorced, but are remaining the best of friends.
Something that always happens in my world.
When you call a picture "Celeste and Jesse Forever", it's either meant sincerely, or ironically.
In any case, it becomes completely formulaic.
Boy meets girl, boy loses girl----and then several choices are left, each entirely unsatisfying.
1- Boy gets girl. We may be rooting for this one, but it is entirely predictable.
2- Boy or girl starts dying, a la "Love Story", or "Terms of Endearment"
Depressing, and also predictable.
3- Boy never gets girl again. This one is just simply disappointing.
I'll give you a clue without it being a spoiler alert.
It's one of the above three.
Which is why this is bad storytelling.
On to the scoring:
Is it interesting?
It's not uninteresting. That's as far as I can take it.
B-.
Compelling even?
Never.
F.
Is it controversial?
Never.
F.
Is it a story worth telling?
Not that I can see.
F.
Is it good storytelling?
No, for the above reasons.
D+.
Is it well written?
The dialogue is okay.
B-.
Is it well cast? Well played?, Well shot?
No better than average in all respects.
C.
Is it too long? Too short?
The length wasn't a problem. It was only 90 minutes.
B.
Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?
Not really, and not really.
C-.
Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?
It's predictable, except for determining which of the predictable ways they were going.
C.
Do you think about it after you've seen it?
I didn't give it a thought.
F.
Is it funny?
Only on rare occasions.
B-.
Would it have been worth the thirteen bucks it would have cost to see it in the movies?
No chance.
F.
Is it impressive ?
Not in the least.
F.
Overall grade: C-.
I've seen worse movies, and I've seen far better movies.
Not an auspicious debut for the Report Card Season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
You can tell that because Rashida Jones is the lead actress, co writer, and, I think producer.
She was definitely the muscle of this picture.
She is very young, which helps make this a very young chick-flick.
Add to this that the male lead is Andy Samberg, late of Saturday Night Live, doing nothing that might have made him funny on SNL.
He plays Rashida's love interest, with the added bonus of his character wanting to have a baby, while she doesn't.
This is a classic chick-flick point of view.
Grown men are, to my knowledge, never the prime movers for wanting to have a baby.
So this obviously is not a movie designed for my enjoyment.
Early on, it is established that they are getting divorced, but are remaining the best of friends.
Something that always happens in my world.
When you call a picture "Celeste and Jesse Forever", it's either meant sincerely, or ironically.
In any case, it becomes completely formulaic.
Boy meets girl, boy loses girl----and then several choices are left, each entirely unsatisfying.
1- Boy gets girl. We may be rooting for this one, but it is entirely predictable.
2- Boy or girl starts dying, a la "Love Story", or "Terms of Endearment"
Depressing, and also predictable.
3- Boy never gets girl again. This one is just simply disappointing.
I'll give you a clue without it being a spoiler alert.
It's one of the above three.
Which is why this is bad storytelling.
On to the scoring:
Is it interesting?
It's not uninteresting. That's as far as I can take it.
B-.
Compelling even?
Never.
F.
Is it controversial?
Never.
F.
Is it a story worth telling?
Not that I can see.
F.
Is it good storytelling?
No, for the above reasons.
D+.
Is it well written?
The dialogue is okay.
B-.
Is it well cast? Well played?, Well shot?
No better than average in all respects.
C.
Is it too long? Too short?
The length wasn't a problem. It was only 90 minutes.
B.
Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?
Not really, and not really.
C-.
Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?
It's predictable, except for determining which of the predictable ways they were going.
C.
Do you think about it after you've seen it?
I didn't give it a thought.
F.
Is it funny?
Only on rare occasions.
B-.
Would it have been worth the thirteen bucks it would have cost to see it in the movies?
No chance.
F.
Is it impressive ?
Not in the least.
F.
Overall grade: C-.
I've seen worse movies, and I've seen far better movies.
Not an auspicious debut for the Report Card Season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Another Way That Life Is Not Fair.
Here are two bare-bones obituaries that appeared over the last couple of days.
Henry Colman
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Television producer and executive Henry Colman - whose credits include "The Love Boat," ''Hawaii Five-O" and "Green Acres" - has died at age 89.
From the New York Times---Frank Peppiatt Dies.
Frank Peppiatt, the Canadian-born co-creator of “Hee Haw” — who died on Wednesday in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., at 85.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now, what did these two men have in common?
Give up?
They were two purveyors of some of the worst crap ever put on television.
In all fairness, I never watched an entire episode of any of these shows.
They were on primarily during the days before there were remote control devices.
So I saw them for as long as it took for me to get up and change the channel.
But word has pretty much filtered back to me that they were consistently godawful.
"The Love Boat" seemed to be "Love, American Style", wet, and with bigger guest stars.
"Hee Haw" was a Right Wing version of "Laugh In", which, in reality, was a right wing
version of itself.
With the red states being what they are, I'm amazed that it is no longer in production.
They could prop up Buck Owens' corpse and nobody would know the difference.
I know that a case could be made that my career has been one of a purveyor of crap.
But sometimes I was simply trapped in the shows I was on, and I always aimed to the
top of peoples intelligence.
"Laverne & Shirley" and "She's The Sheriff" were both left-wing shows caught up in right-wing trappings.
Not of my making.
I am proud of my work on both of them.
The only time I wasn't proud was when I had to write an episode of "The Jeffersons"
In their style.
I spent the entire time with my left hand hitting the keys on the typewriter, and my
right hand holding my nose.
That's the only time I wasn't proud.
Frank Peppiatt made it to 85.
Henry Colman made it to 89.
Now.
Nat Hiken and Rod Serling.
What did these two men have in common?
Give up?
They were both purveyors of the best that television ever had to offer.
Hiken with Sergeant Bilko, and Serling with all those great Playhouse 90s, and of
course, "The Twilight Zone"
Nat Hiken died at age 54.
Rod Serling died at age 50.
What's wrong with this picture?
What isn't?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Henry Colman
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Television producer and executive Henry Colman - whose credits include "The Love Boat," ''Hawaii Five-O" and "Green Acres" - has died at age 89.
From the New York Times---Frank Peppiatt Dies.
Frank Peppiatt, the Canadian-born co-creator of “Hee Haw” — who died on Wednesday in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., at 85.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now, what did these two men have in common?
Give up?
They were two purveyors of some of the worst crap ever put on television.
In all fairness, I never watched an entire episode of any of these shows.
They were on primarily during the days before there were remote control devices.
So I saw them for as long as it took for me to get up and change the channel.
But word has pretty much filtered back to me that they were consistently godawful.
"The Love Boat" seemed to be "Love, American Style", wet, and with bigger guest stars.
"Hee Haw" was a Right Wing version of "Laugh In", which, in reality, was a right wing
version of itself.
With the red states being what they are, I'm amazed that it is no longer in production.
They could prop up Buck Owens' corpse and nobody would know the difference.
I know that a case could be made that my career has been one of a purveyor of crap.
But sometimes I was simply trapped in the shows I was on, and I always aimed to the
top of peoples intelligence.
"Laverne & Shirley" and "She's The Sheriff" were both left-wing shows caught up in right-wing trappings.
Not of my making.
I am proud of my work on both of them.
The only time I wasn't proud was when I had to write an episode of "The Jeffersons"
In their style.
I spent the entire time with my left hand hitting the keys on the typewriter, and my
right hand holding my nose.
That's the only time I wasn't proud.
Frank Peppiatt made it to 85.
Henry Colman made it to 89.
Now.
Nat Hiken and Rod Serling.
What did these two men have in common?
Give up?
They were both purveyors of the best that television ever had to offer.
Hiken with Sergeant Bilko, and Serling with all those great Playhouse 90s, and of
course, "The Twilight Zone"
Nat Hiken died at age 54.
Rod Serling died at age 50.
What's wrong with this picture?
What isn't?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Tarnishing My Legacy.
These are highlights from the obituary appeared in the Hollywood Reporter a few days ago:
"Bob Brunner, a writer-producer on the classic ABC sitcom Happy Days who named Henry Winkler's "Fonzie" but also -- as legend has it -- suggested the character jump a shark in a now-infamous 1977 episode, has died. He was 78.
Brunner invented the nickname "Fonzie" for Winkler's suave biker character, whose birth name was Arthur Fonzarelli. He also came up Fonzie's insulting comeback catch phase "Sit on It!" which wildly caught on in America as the show became a huge ratings hit.
With TV's No. 1 show returning in 1977, the show decided to set the season-opening three-part episode in Hollywood, where Fonzie is invited to take a screen test. In one storyline, he engages in a water-skiing challenge with a local kid and, as a tiebreaker, has to jump a shark in a netted area in the ocean. (Of course, Fonzie is wearing his trademark black leather jacket as he attempts the feat.)
The phrase "jump the shark," coined by radio personality Jon Heim and his college roommate, has since come to signify the precise moment when a popular TV show begins its inevitable decline.
In a September 2010 article for the Los Angeles Times, Happy Days writer-producer Fred Fox Jr. wrote about who came up with the shark idea.
Q&A: Garry Marshall on Earning Laughs in TV and Why Fonzie Jumped That Shark
"Amazingly, I can't remember — which is frustrating, as I can usually watch a Happy Days episode from any season, hear a joke and recall who wrote it," he wrote. "My friend Brian Levant, then a talented new member of the writing staff, believes that Garry Marshall, the show's co-creator and executive producer, and Bob Brunner, the showrunner at the time, made the suggestion. But what I definitely remember is that no one protested vehemently; not one of us said, 'Fonzie, jump a shark? Are you out of your mind?'"
Fox wrote that the Sept. 20, 1977, episode attracted 30 million viewers and was the No. 3-rated show on TV that week. Happy Days remained on the air for another six seasons."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interestingly, about five years ago, I read an obituary of Bob Brunner in some outlying publication on-line.
But I couldn't find any corroboration.
And it's not that I didn't try.
I asked several people who knew him "Is Bob Brunner dead?"
Nobody knew.
This recent obituary seems to put that speculation to rest.
I am commenting on this obituary for one reason and one reason alone.
One look at Brunner's IMDB page will give you an indication of what kind of writer he was.
It's not all that different from my IMDB page.
We both spent considerable amounts of time in the Toy Department of TV sitcom.
If we might have had any difference, I suspect that it was that Brunner never had a burning desire to write the Great American Novel, or Play, or Movie, something I am afflicted with, much to my frustration.
So I'm not writing this to comment on his writing.
I always liked Bob Brunner.
He was always nice to me.
I would describe him as a hale fellow well met.
He seemed very happy to have attained whatever he attained in show business.
But I'm not writing this to express my personal feelings about him.
I am writing this because once again, the media has not done its homework, and in
the process is unjustly robbing me of credit and credibility.
As has been the case relentlessly that whenever "Laverne & Shirley" is mentioned,
the fact that I co-created it is usually lost in deference to Garry Marshall, so here, my second most noteworthy accomplishment, the introduction of the expression
"Sit on it" has been credited to someone else.
Because it is in the Introduction to this blog and my e-books, I have already received e-mails doubting my veracity on this issue.
From my own loyal readers.
Because it was credited to Brunner in his obituary.
In print.
In letters you can read.
I feel I must respond in my own letters that you can read.
The expression "Sit on it" came out of a writing session between Lowell Ganz and myself, as we were writing the first live audience episode of Happy Days in 1975.
Our writing took the form of verbal ping-pong matches, during which, always bearing in mind that Garry Marshall was always looking for catchphrases, the words "Sit on it" came out of my mouth to be put into Fonzie's mouth.
Lowell and I looked at each other instantaneously and knew immediately that we had found the new catchphrase.
Bob Brunner didn't come to work on Happy Days until 1977, at which point I was already doing other things.
Bob was very "earthy".
The kind of person you would have expected to have come up with "Sit on it" in perhaps its most vulgar connotation.
But it wasn't his vulgarity at work.
It was mine.
So this is another example of "Caveat Emptor" when you read anything in the press.
Who knows? When I die, somebody might write that I came up with the idea of Fonzie jumping the shark, which I emphatically did not.
If I had still been the Show Runner then I would have been the huge naysayer in the
room.
I would have been the one saying "Are you all crazy?"
But as I said, I was no longer on the premises.
I know that "Sit on it" may not seem like much to you.
And maybe it isn't much.
Maybe it's a little thing, but it's mine own.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
"Bob Brunner, a writer-producer on the classic ABC sitcom Happy Days who named Henry Winkler's "Fonzie" but also -- as legend has it -- suggested the character jump a shark in a now-infamous 1977 episode, has died. He was 78.
Brunner invented the nickname "Fonzie" for Winkler's suave biker character, whose birth name was Arthur Fonzarelli. He also came up Fonzie's insulting comeback catch phase "Sit on It!" which wildly caught on in America as the show became a huge ratings hit.
With TV's No. 1 show returning in 1977, the show decided to set the season-opening three-part episode in Hollywood, where Fonzie is invited to take a screen test. In one storyline, he engages in a water-skiing challenge with a local kid and, as a tiebreaker, has to jump a shark in a netted area in the ocean. (Of course, Fonzie is wearing his trademark black leather jacket as he attempts the feat.)
The phrase "jump the shark," coined by radio personality Jon Heim and his college roommate, has since come to signify the precise moment when a popular TV show begins its inevitable decline.
In a September 2010 article for the Los Angeles Times, Happy Days writer-producer Fred Fox Jr. wrote about who came up with the shark idea.
Q&A: Garry Marshall on Earning Laughs in TV and Why Fonzie Jumped That Shark
"Amazingly, I can't remember — which is frustrating, as I can usually watch a Happy Days episode from any season, hear a joke and recall who wrote it," he wrote. "My friend Brian Levant, then a talented new member of the writing staff, believes that Garry Marshall, the show's co-creator and executive producer, and Bob Brunner, the showrunner at the time, made the suggestion. But what I definitely remember is that no one protested vehemently; not one of us said, 'Fonzie, jump a shark? Are you out of your mind?'"
Fox wrote that the Sept. 20, 1977, episode attracted 30 million viewers and was the No. 3-rated show on TV that week. Happy Days remained on the air for another six seasons."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interestingly, about five years ago, I read an obituary of Bob Brunner in some outlying publication on-line.
But I couldn't find any corroboration.
And it's not that I didn't try.
I asked several people who knew him "Is Bob Brunner dead?"
Nobody knew.
This recent obituary seems to put that speculation to rest.
I am commenting on this obituary for one reason and one reason alone.
One look at Brunner's IMDB page will give you an indication of what kind of writer he was.
It's not all that different from my IMDB page.
We both spent considerable amounts of time in the Toy Department of TV sitcom.
If we might have had any difference, I suspect that it was that Brunner never had a burning desire to write the Great American Novel, or Play, or Movie, something I am afflicted with, much to my frustration.
So I'm not writing this to comment on his writing.
I always liked Bob Brunner.
He was always nice to me.
I would describe him as a hale fellow well met.
He seemed very happy to have attained whatever he attained in show business.
But I'm not writing this to express my personal feelings about him.
I am writing this because once again, the media has not done its homework, and in
the process is unjustly robbing me of credit and credibility.
As has been the case relentlessly that whenever "Laverne & Shirley" is mentioned,
the fact that I co-created it is usually lost in deference to Garry Marshall, so here, my second most noteworthy accomplishment, the introduction of the expression
"Sit on it" has been credited to someone else.
Because it is in the Introduction to this blog and my e-books, I have already received e-mails doubting my veracity on this issue.
From my own loyal readers.
Because it was credited to Brunner in his obituary.
In print.
In letters you can read.
I feel I must respond in my own letters that you can read.
The expression "Sit on it" came out of a writing session between Lowell Ganz and myself, as we were writing the first live audience episode of Happy Days in 1975.
Our writing took the form of verbal ping-pong matches, during which, always bearing in mind that Garry Marshall was always looking for catchphrases, the words "Sit on it" came out of my mouth to be put into Fonzie's mouth.
Lowell and I looked at each other instantaneously and knew immediately that we had found the new catchphrase.
Bob Brunner didn't come to work on Happy Days until 1977, at which point I was already doing other things.
Bob was very "earthy".
The kind of person you would have expected to have come up with "Sit on it" in perhaps its most vulgar connotation.
But it wasn't his vulgarity at work.
It was mine.
So this is another example of "Caveat Emptor" when you read anything in the press.
Who knows? When I die, somebody might write that I came up with the idea of Fonzie jumping the shark, which I emphatically did not.
If I had still been the Show Runner then I would have been the huge naysayer in the
room.
I would have been the one saying "Are you all crazy?"
But as I said, I was no longer on the premises.
I know that "Sit on it" may not seem like much to you.
And maybe it isn't much.
Maybe it's a little thing, but it's mine own.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Mitt And Mitch.
As the glorious results came in on Tuesday night, I kept thinking about two people
in particular: Mitt Romney and Mitch McConnell.
Mitt had just spent the last two years, let me amend that, the last eighteen years,
lying his ass off about everything.
Nobody is really all that comfortable about lying his or her ass off.
Particularly someone like Romney, who has absolutely no talent for it.
And he did it for one singular reason.
He wanted to be elected president of the United States.
I don't even know if he knew why he wanted to become President.
I have a feeling that it didn't have so much to do with actually being President as becoming President.
All of that lying his ass off culminated on Tuesday night with him losing.
With not getting what he wanted.
With failing.
A man who doesn't like to fail failed.
And he knows that he will never get another chance.
How does someone recover from that?
Yes, I know that he has all those moneybags to recline on while he ponders this, but
then he's always had these money bags to recline on, and it was never enough.
So why should it be enough now?
I've thought that if nothing else, Romney was a sensitive man.
If he wasn't sensitive, the result wouldn't lay him waste as much as it will.
And it will.
I would love to be Romney's psychiatrist right now.
I think there are fortunes to be made.
Mitch McConnell's opening salvo when President Obama was elected in 2008 was "Our goal above all else is to make sure that Obama is a one-term President"
This implies that he was willing to throw the entire country under a Greyhound Bus to
accomplish this.
And he did.
Tommy Freidman, in his op-ed in the New York Times yesterday, maintained that this
one line, and it's subsequent follow through, is what cost Romney the election.
I also give McConnell credit for having somewhat of a conscience.
He's not the Koch brothers, or Sheldon Adelson.
This was just a drop in the bucket to them.
Or Grover Norquist, or Trump, or Limbaugh, who on their best days could not be accused of having consciences.
McConnell, as far as I remember, has attempted to be a practical politician, who in this case was led by the nose by his base.
So this statement that he made will most-likely be his legacy, and it's got to really hurt.
He seems to be stuck with this position, or some variation on it, if only to save his
own political skin.
And he didn't even win back the Senate.
Mitt and Mitch will have probably self-consigned themselves to hell, if only on a short term basis.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
in particular: Mitt Romney and Mitch McConnell.
Mitt had just spent the last two years, let me amend that, the last eighteen years,
lying his ass off about everything.
Nobody is really all that comfortable about lying his or her ass off.
Particularly someone like Romney, who has absolutely no talent for it.
And he did it for one singular reason.
He wanted to be elected president of the United States.
I don't even know if he knew why he wanted to become President.
I have a feeling that it didn't have so much to do with actually being President as becoming President.
All of that lying his ass off culminated on Tuesday night with him losing.
With not getting what he wanted.
With failing.
A man who doesn't like to fail failed.
And he knows that he will never get another chance.
How does someone recover from that?
Yes, I know that he has all those moneybags to recline on while he ponders this, but
then he's always had these money bags to recline on, and it was never enough.
So why should it be enough now?
I've thought that if nothing else, Romney was a sensitive man.
If he wasn't sensitive, the result wouldn't lay him waste as much as it will.
And it will.
I would love to be Romney's psychiatrist right now.
I think there are fortunes to be made.
Mitch McConnell's opening salvo when President Obama was elected in 2008 was "Our goal above all else is to make sure that Obama is a one-term President"
This implies that he was willing to throw the entire country under a Greyhound Bus to
accomplish this.
And he did.
Tommy Freidman, in his op-ed in the New York Times yesterday, maintained that this
one line, and it's subsequent follow through, is what cost Romney the election.
I also give McConnell credit for having somewhat of a conscience.
He's not the Koch brothers, or Sheldon Adelson.
This was just a drop in the bucket to them.
Or Grover Norquist, or Trump, or Limbaugh, who on their best days could not be accused of having consciences.
McConnell, as far as I remember, has attempted to be a practical politician, who in this case was led by the nose by his base.
So this statement that he made will most-likely be his legacy, and it's got to really hurt.
He seems to be stuck with this position, or some variation on it, if only to save his
own political skin.
And he didn't even win back the Senate.
Mitt and Mitch will have probably self-consigned themselves to hell, if only on a short term basis.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Voter Suppression.
For most of the last few months, I have been astounded that voter suppression by the
Republicans hasn't been the lead story in every newspaper, and every TV news show (except for FOX news, of course)
I've been shocked that there hasn't been more coverage about this ethical travesty.
That there hasn't been more of an insurrection, to the point of a coup d'etat over it.
Romney should be disqualified to win the Presidency simply for not speaking out against the voter suppression employed on his behalf.
That's how illegal it should be.
To this Democratic mind, it confirms that the Republicans are, and have been, in bed with the devil.
In theory, to attempt to deprive any citizen of his or her Constitutionally guaranteed right to vote is reprehensible at best.
And virtually nobody in the media is calling out the lowlifes on it severely enough.
There has always been voter suppression to some extent, but never with the flagrancy
and brazenness that has been prevalent this year.
When presented with the fact that there has been virtually no voter fraud, which has been what they have been hanging their hats on, there has been no embarrassment coming from the other side.
No, they even seem to be thumbing their nose at us.
The courts have taken care of most of it, but that hasn't kept all of the effort down.
However--------
I've recently had a revelation.
I can visualize a scenario where I would be in favor of voter suppression in a
New York minute.
As long as it's still legal.
Let's say that there was this nitwit Governor from a very cold state who quite seriously could end up being one quite aging heartbeat away from being President.
And that ticket was leading in the polls.
I think I would consider it my civic duty, yea, my patriotic duty, to use every dirty
trick in the book to suppress the oppositions vote and make sure that this ticket loses.
I would just be more discreet about it.
And hopefully, a better liar.
I honestly can't believe that this race is so tight.
Maybe the Republicans are right.
Maybe the polls are wrong.
But maybe they are wrong the wrong way.
Maybe the President has a huge lead that simply isn't reflected in the polls.
That would certainly make more sense to me.
But then, maybe my perspective is warped.
Just like my grandmother, who lived in the Bronx in the seventies.
When Nixon walloped McGovern, my grandmother was stunned.
"I don't understand! Everybody in my building voted for McGovern. Nobody voted for
Nixon, that bastard...."
I know that the electorate is entitled to the President it chooses, but in this instance, and the current one, so am I.
Particularly since they are now still trying to suppress us.
I guess what I'm saying is that sometimes the high road is too high.
As we go into this good night, let's hope that there are still enough sane ones
among us.
At least in the swing states.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Republicans hasn't been the lead story in every newspaper, and every TV news show (except for FOX news, of course)
I've been shocked that there hasn't been more coverage about this ethical travesty.
That there hasn't been more of an insurrection, to the point of a coup d'etat over it.
Romney should be disqualified to win the Presidency simply for not speaking out against the voter suppression employed on his behalf.
That's how illegal it should be.
To this Democratic mind, it confirms that the Republicans are, and have been, in bed with the devil.
In theory, to attempt to deprive any citizen of his or her Constitutionally guaranteed right to vote is reprehensible at best.
And virtually nobody in the media is calling out the lowlifes on it severely enough.
There has always been voter suppression to some extent, but never with the flagrancy
and brazenness that has been prevalent this year.
When presented with the fact that there has been virtually no voter fraud, which has been what they have been hanging their hats on, there has been no embarrassment coming from the other side.
No, they even seem to be thumbing their nose at us.
The courts have taken care of most of it, but that hasn't kept all of the effort down.
However--------
I've recently had a revelation.
I can visualize a scenario where I would be in favor of voter suppression in a
New York minute.
As long as it's still legal.
Let's say that there was this nitwit Governor from a very cold state who quite seriously could end up being one quite aging heartbeat away from being President.
And that ticket was leading in the polls.
I think I would consider it my civic duty, yea, my patriotic duty, to use every dirty
trick in the book to suppress the oppositions vote and make sure that this ticket loses.
I would just be more discreet about it.
And hopefully, a better liar.
I honestly can't believe that this race is so tight.
Maybe the Republicans are right.
Maybe the polls are wrong.
But maybe they are wrong the wrong way.
Maybe the President has a huge lead that simply isn't reflected in the polls.
That would certainly make more sense to me.
But then, maybe my perspective is warped.
Just like my grandmother, who lived in the Bronx in the seventies.
When Nixon walloped McGovern, my grandmother was stunned.
"I don't understand! Everybody in my building voted for McGovern. Nobody voted for
Nixon, that bastard...."
I know that the electorate is entitled to the President it chooses, but in this instance, and the current one, so am I.
Particularly since they are now still trying to suppress us.
I guess what I'm saying is that sometimes the high road is too high.
As we go into this good night, let's hope that there are still enough sane ones
among us.
At least in the swing states.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Saturday, November 3, 2012
'Tis The Season.
I just received the first couple of DVDs from the West Coast studios.
They do this every year, in an attempt to solicit my vote for the various awards
that are given out, now that we have begun to approach awards season.
This means that I am about to be inundated with DVDs on almost a daily basis.
And this also means that you will begin to be inundated with my "Report Cards",
or reviews, of these films.
Mind you, the studios only send out DVDs of films that they deem award-worthy.
Or at least films that can be assumed to be perceived as award-worthy.
My previous track record has been that I usually like more of these than I dislike,
but not by any kind of overwhelming percentage.
The concept behind Report Cards, for those of you less than familiar with it, is to
provide only as much information about the plot of the movie that is absolutely necessary.
And not a bit more.
And then grade them in various categories, answering key questions about them.
I do this from an unabashed screenwriters point of view.
I hate seeing stars on talk shows showing clips from the movies they're on to plug.
I don't want to be tipped off to anything about a movie that I don't have to.
I try not to read regular movie reviews which usually reveal way too much of the
plot.
For those of you new at reading report cards, I hope you enjoy the form.
One of my e-books at the Amazon Kindle Store is called "Report Cards", and is a collection of these reviews from the last couple of years.
The e-book has been selling very well, so more than just somebody out there likes
them.
Maybe you will too.
Maybe you already do.
You might want to go to the Amazon Kindle Store, where you can read the first five chapters or so, to get a sense of things.
So, let's go to the movies!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
They do this every year, in an attempt to solicit my vote for the various awards
that are given out, now that we have begun to approach awards season.
This means that I am about to be inundated with DVDs on almost a daily basis.
And this also means that you will begin to be inundated with my "Report Cards",
or reviews, of these films.
Mind you, the studios only send out DVDs of films that they deem award-worthy.
Or at least films that can be assumed to be perceived as award-worthy.
My previous track record has been that I usually like more of these than I dislike,
but not by any kind of overwhelming percentage.
The concept behind Report Cards, for those of you less than familiar with it, is to
provide only as much information about the plot of the movie that is absolutely necessary.
And not a bit more.
And then grade them in various categories, answering key questions about them.
I do this from an unabashed screenwriters point of view.
I hate seeing stars on talk shows showing clips from the movies they're on to plug.
I don't want to be tipped off to anything about a movie that I don't have to.
I try not to read regular movie reviews which usually reveal way too much of the
plot.
For those of you new at reading report cards, I hope you enjoy the form.
One of my e-books at the Amazon Kindle Store is called "Report Cards", and is a collection of these reviews from the last couple of years.
The e-book has been selling very well, so more than just somebody out there likes
them.
Maybe you will too.
Maybe you already do.
You might want to go to the Amazon Kindle Store, where you can read the first five chapters or so, to get a sense of things.
So, let's go to the movies!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Playing To The Band.
You've got to hand it to David Letterman.
Monday and Tuesday night, in the middle of the hurricane, he did his usual show.
Only without an audience.
Without changing any other elements of his show, which has always been designed for a
live audience.
This takes balls.
But Dave has always been a trailblazer.
And he has always looked for ways to push the envelope.
So he sat in the massive Ed Sullivan Theater, without an audience, reading his usual monologue jokes, off of index cards.
To the band.
He literally played to the band.
Metaphorically, this has always been the hippest thing in show business.
He brought the metaphor to life.
And it was great.
A friend of mine recently sent me a DVD of Saturday Morning kiddie shows that I grew up with, and it displayed interesting variations of the use of form and content.
The first thing I watched was an episode of "Kukla, Fran, and Ollie.
This was a show that I had remembered fondly from my early childhood.
Essentially, a puppet show, Kukla appeared to be a clown puppet, Ollie was a dragon,
and Fran, Fran Allison, was a human being.
What "Kukla, Fran, and Ollie" had going for it was its charm, and its artistry.
Burr Tillstrom, the puppeteer, did every puppets voice, and there were a lot of them.
Fran Allison supplied the charm, which she had in abundance.
It was a pleasure to watch.
But about halfway during its thirty minutes, something occurred to me.
They were all completely WINGING IT!
There was no script.
There were no jokes.
There were no attempts at jokes.
Tillstrom couldn't have been working with a script, because he never had a hand free to turn the pages.
The only way to do this show was to wing it.
As a result, along with the charm and artistry, there was an awful lot of yakking.
This made it something less than compelling viewing.
I went to Wikipedia, where they confirmed that the show was completely improvised.
All the time.
It's the only way they could have made it work.
I didn't realize that when I was six.
It didn't have an audience, and didn't need one.
Then I saw an episode of "Howdy Doody"
This was the complete antithesis of "Kukla, Fran, and Ollie"
It was heavily scripted.
It had to be.
Buffalo Bob Smith did the voice of Howdy Doody, and in order to accomplish this,
they could never hold Bob and Howdy in a two-shot while they were conversing.
So the direction was tricky, and Bob had to know his lines and Howdy's lines, and exactly when they came in.
"Howdy Doody", in retrospect, was not a very good show.
It had charm.
Nobody was more charming than Buffalo Bob.
But it had no artistry.
Instead, it had a "Peanut Gallery" of little kids to serve as a live audience.
I can't imagine Buffalo Bob doing a show if Hurricane Sandy showed up and kept the kids home.
Then, there was an episode of "The Soupy Sales Show"
Soupy ONLY played to the band.
The band, in this case, was his crew.
He always managed to make his crew laugh.
This was much of the fun.
He also played directly to the camera, but that didn't prevent the crew from laughing their heads off.
So I guess Soupy was the pioneer in this regard.
But Dave did what he did in a huge empty theatre.
That, to me, was even more impressive.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Monday and Tuesday night, in the middle of the hurricane, he did his usual show.
Only without an audience.
Without changing any other elements of his show, which has always been designed for a
live audience.
This takes balls.
But Dave has always been a trailblazer.
And he has always looked for ways to push the envelope.
So he sat in the massive Ed Sullivan Theater, without an audience, reading his usual monologue jokes, off of index cards.
To the band.
He literally played to the band.
Metaphorically, this has always been the hippest thing in show business.
He brought the metaphor to life.
And it was great.
A friend of mine recently sent me a DVD of Saturday Morning kiddie shows that I grew up with, and it displayed interesting variations of the use of form and content.
The first thing I watched was an episode of "Kukla, Fran, and Ollie.
This was a show that I had remembered fondly from my early childhood.
Essentially, a puppet show, Kukla appeared to be a clown puppet, Ollie was a dragon,
and Fran, Fran Allison, was a human being.
What "Kukla, Fran, and Ollie" had going for it was its charm, and its artistry.
Burr Tillstrom, the puppeteer, did every puppets voice, and there were a lot of them.
Fran Allison supplied the charm, which she had in abundance.
It was a pleasure to watch.
But about halfway during its thirty minutes, something occurred to me.
They were all completely WINGING IT!
There was no script.
There were no jokes.
There were no attempts at jokes.
Tillstrom couldn't have been working with a script, because he never had a hand free to turn the pages.
The only way to do this show was to wing it.
As a result, along with the charm and artistry, there was an awful lot of yakking.
This made it something less than compelling viewing.
I went to Wikipedia, where they confirmed that the show was completely improvised.
All the time.
It's the only way they could have made it work.
I didn't realize that when I was six.
It didn't have an audience, and didn't need one.
Then I saw an episode of "Howdy Doody"
This was the complete antithesis of "Kukla, Fran, and Ollie"
It was heavily scripted.
It had to be.
Buffalo Bob Smith did the voice of Howdy Doody, and in order to accomplish this,
they could never hold Bob and Howdy in a two-shot while they were conversing.
So the direction was tricky, and Bob had to know his lines and Howdy's lines, and exactly when they came in.
"Howdy Doody", in retrospect, was not a very good show.
It had charm.
Nobody was more charming than Buffalo Bob.
But it had no artistry.
Instead, it had a "Peanut Gallery" of little kids to serve as a live audience.
I can't imagine Buffalo Bob doing a show if Hurricane Sandy showed up and kept the kids home.
Then, there was an episode of "The Soupy Sales Show"
Soupy ONLY played to the band.
The band, in this case, was his crew.
He always managed to make his crew laugh.
This was much of the fun.
He also played directly to the camera, but that didn't prevent the crew from laughing their heads off.
So I guess Soupy was the pioneer in this regard.
But Dave did what he did in a huge empty theatre.
That, to me, was even more impressive.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Respectfulness.
When I was in Junior High School, I had an English Teacher named Mrs. Jackson.
Mrs. Jackson thought that she was precious and adorable.
Also in this class was her son, Tony.
Tony also thought his mother was precious and adorable.
Tony also thought that HE was precious and adorable.
Mrs. Jackson also thought that Tony was precious and adorable.
It was not at all a problem for Tony to be in his mothers English class.
I, of course, thought neither one of them was precious or adorable.
But I slogged through the class nevertheless.
One day, Mrs. Jackson announced a homework assignment:
"Go to your local library and check out a play to read. You're all going to see
what it's like to read a play."
Fair enough.
This did not seem to be any problem that I could foresee.
So I went to my local library, and asked the librarian where I could find plays.
She directed me to the 800 section.
Not having the slightest clue of what I should be looking for, because none was
provided, I extracted from the shelves a play entitled "The Respectful Prostitute"
by Jean-Paul Sartre.
I must have been about twelve.
I had no idea who Jean-Paul Sartre was.
I had no idea what a prostitute was.
I sort of had an idea of what "respectful" was.
So I bring "The Respectful Prostitute", by Jean-Paul Sartre, up to the check-out
desk, where they happily checked it out for me.
Mrs. Jackson had preciously and adorably asked us each to bring in the plays we had chosen to read.
I, quite innocently, handed her my copy of "The Respectful Prostitute" by Jean-Paul
Sartre.
She took one look at me, and said "Where the heck did you get your hands on Jean-Paul
Sartre?"
I explained "At the Glen Oaks Library."
Which summons up the question: "What kind of dumbbells do they have working at
libraries?"
Mrs. Jackson summarily dismissed me with "Go return it and bring back something else."
With no further explanation.
Now, she had not given us any guidelines as to what sort of play we should be looking for.
I'll give it to her that nobody else in the class had that problem.
But in retrospect, it would seem likely that the odds would dictate that SOMEBODY
would.
In this case, that somebody would be me.
Shouldn't she have given us a list of acceptable playwrights?
Such as Mary Chase? Or Kaufman and Hart? or Thorton Wilder?
I'm sure that Tennessee Williams would have been off limits too, unless someone had brought in "The Glass Menagerie"
But no. She didn't.
And she left me out there, twisting in the wind, to be thoroughly embarrassed in front of the class, who didn't even know why I was being embarrassed, nor did I.
So I didn't know who Sartre was, and I didn't know what a prostitute was.
But I knew what respect was, and I sure knew I wasn't getting any.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Mrs. Jackson thought that she was precious and adorable.
Also in this class was her son, Tony.
Tony also thought his mother was precious and adorable.
Tony also thought that HE was precious and adorable.
Mrs. Jackson also thought that Tony was precious and adorable.
It was not at all a problem for Tony to be in his mothers English class.
I, of course, thought neither one of them was precious or adorable.
But I slogged through the class nevertheless.
One day, Mrs. Jackson announced a homework assignment:
"Go to your local library and check out a play to read. You're all going to see
what it's like to read a play."
Fair enough.
This did not seem to be any problem that I could foresee.
So I went to my local library, and asked the librarian where I could find plays.
She directed me to the 800 section.
Not having the slightest clue of what I should be looking for, because none was
provided, I extracted from the shelves a play entitled "The Respectful Prostitute"
by Jean-Paul Sartre.
I must have been about twelve.
I had no idea who Jean-Paul Sartre was.
I had no idea what a prostitute was.
I sort of had an idea of what "respectful" was.
So I bring "The Respectful Prostitute", by Jean-Paul Sartre, up to the check-out
desk, where they happily checked it out for me.
Mrs. Jackson had preciously and adorably asked us each to bring in the plays we had chosen to read.
I, quite innocently, handed her my copy of "The Respectful Prostitute" by Jean-Paul
Sartre.
She took one look at me, and said "Where the heck did you get your hands on Jean-Paul
Sartre?"
I explained "At the Glen Oaks Library."
Which summons up the question: "What kind of dumbbells do they have working at
libraries?"
Mrs. Jackson summarily dismissed me with "Go return it and bring back something else."
With no further explanation.
Now, she had not given us any guidelines as to what sort of play we should be looking for.
I'll give it to her that nobody else in the class had that problem.
But in retrospect, it would seem likely that the odds would dictate that SOMEBODY
would.
In this case, that somebody would be me.
Shouldn't she have given us a list of acceptable playwrights?
Such as Mary Chase? Or Kaufman and Hart? or Thorton Wilder?
I'm sure that Tennessee Williams would have been off limits too, unless someone had brought in "The Glass Menagerie"
But no. She didn't.
And she left me out there, twisting in the wind, to be thoroughly embarrassed in front of the class, who didn't even know why I was being embarrassed, nor did I.
So I didn't know who Sartre was, and I didn't know what a prostitute was.
But I knew what respect was, and I sure knew I wasn't getting any.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Saturday, October 27, 2012
The Top Five.
Here they are, and then we will be done with it.
In descending order, from number 5 to number 1, with 1 being my all-time favorite.
5- "Kings Row"
This score was composed by the great Erich Wolfgang Korngold, primarily know for his
scores for Errol Flynn swashbucklers, and for "The Adventures of Robin Hood", where Errol also swashed and buckled.
"Kings Row" didn't have Errol Flynn.
It starred Ronald Reagan.
Draw that one on a graph.
"Kings Row" was a 1940's precursor to "Peyton Place", a sudsy, soapy potboiler, not very good, notable for Reagan waking up, not knowing his legs had been amputated, and
crying out to Ann Sheridan "Randy! Where's the rest of me?!"
It wasn't there.
But that great Korngold score was there.
Far better than that picture deserved.
Far better than anything else he ever wrote.
Far better than almost anything.
4- "The Bad And The Beautiful"
Awesome score by David Raksin for a very good movie about Hollywood backstabbing,
made in the early 1950's.
The movie seems a little dated now, as Hollywood backstabbing has become a far more refined artform.
Almost downright respectable.
But the lush, bluesy score that Raksin turned out is memorable and timeless.
3- "Friendly Persuasion"
Dmitri Tiomkin's masterpiece.
Gary Cooper and Anthony Perkins in a drama about a family of Quakers getting caught
up in the Civil War.
Really good movie, totally enhanced by Tiomkin's score and title song, sung by Pat
Boone, at his golden-throated best.
Pat even got a hit record from the title song, "Thee I Love"
2- "The Big Country"
Picking between number 2 and number 1 was really tough.
It was practically "flip a coin"
I ended up choosing "The Big Country" as number two.
It is probably the most impressive, influential musical theme ever.
"The Magnificent Seven" and "Blazing Saddles" were direct descendants.
It was composed by Jerome Moross, who never really composed anything else for the
movies, and only a handful of TV westerns.
The theme for this very long western is huge, sprawling, and dramatic.
The movie is only huge, sprawling, and long.
Another case of the theme being far better than the movie.
1- "The Rainmaker"
From 1956, starring Burt Lancaster and Katherine Hepburn.
I sat and listened back and forth between this score, by Alex North, and "The Big
Country" to determine 1 and 2.
I finally went with "The Rainmaker", because as good as "The Big Country" is musically, it doesn't move me.
"The Rainmaker" is a great movie.
It moves me.
And it's theme music moves me even more, and makes a great movie almost infinitely greater.
That's it.
Next time, I will actually write about something else.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
In descending order, from number 5 to number 1, with 1 being my all-time favorite.
5- "Kings Row"
This score was composed by the great Erich Wolfgang Korngold, primarily know for his
scores for Errol Flynn swashbucklers, and for "The Adventures of Robin Hood", where Errol also swashed and buckled.
"Kings Row" didn't have Errol Flynn.
It starred Ronald Reagan.
Draw that one on a graph.
"Kings Row" was a 1940's precursor to "Peyton Place", a sudsy, soapy potboiler, not very good, notable for Reagan waking up, not knowing his legs had been amputated, and
crying out to Ann Sheridan "Randy! Where's the rest of me?!"
It wasn't there.
But that great Korngold score was there.
Far better than that picture deserved.
Far better than anything else he ever wrote.
Far better than almost anything.
4- "The Bad And The Beautiful"
Awesome score by David Raksin for a very good movie about Hollywood backstabbing,
made in the early 1950's.
The movie seems a little dated now, as Hollywood backstabbing has become a far more refined artform.
Almost downright respectable.
But the lush, bluesy score that Raksin turned out is memorable and timeless.
3- "Friendly Persuasion"
Dmitri Tiomkin's masterpiece.
Gary Cooper and Anthony Perkins in a drama about a family of Quakers getting caught
up in the Civil War.
Really good movie, totally enhanced by Tiomkin's score and title song, sung by Pat
Boone, at his golden-throated best.
Pat even got a hit record from the title song, "Thee I Love"
2- "The Big Country"
Picking between number 2 and number 1 was really tough.
It was practically "flip a coin"
I ended up choosing "The Big Country" as number two.
It is probably the most impressive, influential musical theme ever.
"The Magnificent Seven" and "Blazing Saddles" were direct descendants.
It was composed by Jerome Moross, who never really composed anything else for the
movies, and only a handful of TV westerns.
The theme for this very long western is huge, sprawling, and dramatic.
The movie is only huge, sprawling, and long.
Another case of the theme being far better than the movie.
1- "The Rainmaker"
From 1956, starring Burt Lancaster and Katherine Hepburn.
I sat and listened back and forth between this score, by Alex North, and "The Big
Country" to determine 1 and 2.
I finally went with "The Rainmaker", because as good as "The Big Country" is musically, it doesn't move me.
"The Rainmaker" is a great movie.
It moves me.
And it's theme music moves me even more, and makes a great movie almost infinitely greater.
That's it.
Next time, I will actually write about something else.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Reaching The Promised Land.
Here we go with numbers 10 through 6 of my Top Ten Favorite Movie Themes.
As we descend down the page, the choices, to me, are more worthy.
10- "Street Scene"
It's originally from a movie made in 1931, composed by Alfred Newman (Randy's uncle).
It is the definitive "We are in New York City, looking at the Brooklyn Bridge spanning the East River from the Brooklyn side, so we can see Manhattan" movie theme.
It was also used as the theme of the film-noir "I Wake Up Screaming", and maybe others that I don't know about.
It was also used as a pure overture, in it's entirety, for the movie "How To Marry
A Millionaire"
It's there, as are all the others, on You Tube, if you are unfamiliar with it, and want to hear it.
9- "Johnny Belinda"
My first Max Steiner entry, which, if you are an aficianado, might think the other's gonna be "Gone With The Wind"
It ain't.
You don't need me to tell you that "Gone With The Wind" has a great musical theme.
The main point here is to enlighten.
"Johnny Belinda" is a very touching, very poignant film, with a musical theme to match.
8- "Now, Voyager"
This is the other Max Steiner entry.
It makes the movie.
No other piece of music could have justified Paul Henried lighting two cigarettes
in is mouth and giving one of them to Bette Davis to puff on, and doing it all with
a straight face.
7- "Shane"
The theme is by Victor Young, and without that ending music, as Alan Ladd is riding off on his horse, into the distance, and young Brandon DeWilde is crying out "Shane! Come back Shane! Shane! Come back!", I never would have been reduced to mush.
6- "Cat Ballou"
I've been trying to find a way to squeeze this one at least into the Top Five, but
I just couldn't find a way.
Nat King Cole and Stubby Kaye as two balladeers, setting up the entire movie in song.
It's a wonderful movie, and would be without their contribution.
But this was just wonderful icing on the cake.
The only sad part about it was that Nat King Cole had already died of cancer by the
time "Cat Ballou" was released.
But time has a way of making that less painful.
Next time, the Top Five.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
As we descend down the page, the choices, to me, are more worthy.
10- "Street Scene"
It's originally from a movie made in 1931, composed by Alfred Newman (Randy's uncle).
It is the definitive "We are in New York City, looking at the Brooklyn Bridge spanning the East River from the Brooklyn side, so we can see Manhattan" movie theme.
It was also used as the theme of the film-noir "I Wake Up Screaming", and maybe others that I don't know about.
It was also used as a pure overture, in it's entirety, for the movie "How To Marry
A Millionaire"
It's there, as are all the others, on You Tube, if you are unfamiliar with it, and want to hear it.
9- "Johnny Belinda"
My first Max Steiner entry, which, if you are an aficianado, might think the other's gonna be "Gone With The Wind"
It ain't.
You don't need me to tell you that "Gone With The Wind" has a great musical theme.
The main point here is to enlighten.
"Johnny Belinda" is a very touching, very poignant film, with a musical theme to match.
8- "Now, Voyager"
This is the other Max Steiner entry.
It makes the movie.
No other piece of music could have justified Paul Henried lighting two cigarettes
in is mouth and giving one of them to Bette Davis to puff on, and doing it all with
a straight face.
7- "Shane"
The theme is by Victor Young, and without that ending music, as Alan Ladd is riding off on his horse, into the distance, and young Brandon DeWilde is crying out "Shane! Come back Shane! Shane! Come back!", I never would have been reduced to mush.
6- "Cat Ballou"
I've been trying to find a way to squeeze this one at least into the Top Five, but
I just couldn't find a way.
Nat King Cole and Stubby Kaye as two balladeers, setting up the entire movie in song.
It's a wonderful movie, and would be without their contribution.
But this was just wonderful icing on the cake.
The only sad part about it was that Nat King Cole had already died of cancer by the
time "Cat Ballou" was released.
But time has a way of making that less painful.
Next time, the Top Five.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Towards More Rarefied Air.
Here are the last five Honorables.
Any one of them could have easily made my Top Ten.
But I had to draw the line somewhere.
I'll list them in descending order numerically, from 5 to 1, from least well Honorable to Best well Honorable.
5- "The Catered Affair"
A terrific movie.
One of Bette Davis's best performances.
Accompanied by a musical theme that captures its atmosphere perfectly .
It sounds very Irish, as are the characters.
It stays with you.
At least it stayed with me.
The theme is by Andre Previn, but doesn't seem very Previn-like.
4- "The Court Jester"
ALL of the songs in this great Danny Kaye musical are wonderful.
But the opening song, which bookends the film, and thus is the theme, is my favorite.
It's called "Life Could Not Better Be", and has Kaye introducing the movie to the audience.
The songs are credited to Sylvia Fine and Sammy Cahn.
As Cahn is only a lyricist, I suspect that Fine did all the music.
As the lyrics are so good, I suspect that Fine is also the lyricist.
And that maybe Cahn had his hand in some of the ballads.
3- "East of Eden"
The 1955 version, starring James Dean,
With a very atmospheric theme.
Not dissimilar to the theme for "The Catered Affair"
It was written by a great composer, Leonard Rosenman, who also wrote the theme for
"Edge of the City"
Again, it's very Irish.
2- "Rebel Without A Cause"
It's the James Dean, Leonard Rosenman hour.
The "Rebel" theme is, in my humble opinion, way better than the "East of Eden" theme.
In his brief career, James Dean was very well served musically.
1- "Picnic"
What a lush score this is!
And the highlight of the film is the slow dance between William Holden and Kim Novak
to the theme music, used contrapuntally with the standard song "Moonglow"
It is an unforgettable scene, and an unforgettable use of music.
Next time, we start the Top Ten.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Any one of them could have easily made my Top Ten.
But I had to draw the line somewhere.
I'll list them in descending order numerically, from 5 to 1, from least well Honorable to Best well Honorable.
5- "The Catered Affair"
A terrific movie.
One of Bette Davis's best performances.
Accompanied by a musical theme that captures its atmosphere perfectly .
It sounds very Irish, as are the characters.
It stays with you.
At least it stayed with me.
The theme is by Andre Previn, but doesn't seem very Previn-like.
4- "The Court Jester"
ALL of the songs in this great Danny Kaye musical are wonderful.
But the opening song, which bookends the film, and thus is the theme, is my favorite.
It's called "Life Could Not Better Be", and has Kaye introducing the movie to the audience.
The songs are credited to Sylvia Fine and Sammy Cahn.
As Cahn is only a lyricist, I suspect that Fine did all the music.
As the lyrics are so good, I suspect that Fine is also the lyricist.
And that maybe Cahn had his hand in some of the ballads.
3- "East of Eden"
The 1955 version, starring James Dean,
With a very atmospheric theme.
Not dissimilar to the theme for "The Catered Affair"
It was written by a great composer, Leonard Rosenman, who also wrote the theme for
"Edge of the City"
Again, it's very Irish.
2- "Rebel Without A Cause"
It's the James Dean, Leonard Rosenman hour.
The "Rebel" theme is, in my humble opinion, way better than the "East of Eden" theme.
In his brief career, James Dean was very well served musically.
1- "Picnic"
What a lush score this is!
And the highlight of the film is the slow dance between William Holden and Kim Novak
to the theme music, used contrapuntally with the standard song "Moonglow"
It is an unforgettable scene, and an unforgettable use of music.
Next time, we start the Top Ten.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Yet Even Better Honorables.
I'll offer up four today, then next time, we'll have the last five Honorables,
then the actual Top Ten.
Continuing on:
"Calamity Jane"
One of the best movie musicals ever, certainly one of the most underrated.
Made during the glory days of the Freed Unit at MGM.
Only it wasn't made at MGM, or by Freed.
It was made at Warner Brothers.
The only superior movie musical made by Warners at that time.
It starred Doris Day, who was in lots o' musicals made there around that time.
Only they weren't any good.
And most of them co-starred Gordon MacRae.
But "Calamity Jane" was terrific.
And had Howard Keel, a veteran of MGM musicals, instead of Gordon MacRae.
It was a better fit.
The theme music was whistled by a chorus.
It was a version of the opening song, "Whip Crack Away".
This led us into Doris singing "Whip Crack Away", which was even better.
"The Misfits"
A great, haunting score by my favorite movie composer, Alex North.
Alex north also composed the score for "Spartacus", and my favorite TV theme,
"Playhouse 90"
"The Misfits" is the kind of movie that, the more often you see it, the more
affected you are by it.
The same can be said for the music.
"The Magnificent Seven"
Certainly a classic, and would have been even more prestigious if it hadn't been
appropriated by Marlboro cigarettes for their commercials all those years.
But in my mind, not even in the top three themes for Westerns.
Those will follow as we proceed on.
"The High And The Mighty"
Dmitri Tiomkin should be represented here, if only for how prolific he was.
The main appeal is the title song, which completely dominates a very entertaining
movie.
I believe there were even hit singles turned out of it during its time.
Okay,
That's it for now.
But we're pounding down the Honorables homestretch.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
then the actual Top Ten.
Continuing on:
"Calamity Jane"
One of the best movie musicals ever, certainly one of the most underrated.
Made during the glory days of the Freed Unit at MGM.
Only it wasn't made at MGM, or by Freed.
It was made at Warner Brothers.
The only superior movie musical made by Warners at that time.
It starred Doris Day, who was in lots o' musicals made there around that time.
Only they weren't any good.
And most of them co-starred Gordon MacRae.
But "Calamity Jane" was terrific.
And had Howard Keel, a veteran of MGM musicals, instead of Gordon MacRae.
It was a better fit.
The theme music was whistled by a chorus.
It was a version of the opening song, "Whip Crack Away".
This led us into Doris singing "Whip Crack Away", which was even better.
"The Misfits"
A great, haunting score by my favorite movie composer, Alex North.
Alex north also composed the score for "Spartacus", and my favorite TV theme,
"Playhouse 90"
"The Misfits" is the kind of movie that, the more often you see it, the more
affected you are by it.
The same can be said for the music.
"The Magnificent Seven"
Certainly a classic, and would have been even more prestigious if it hadn't been
appropriated by Marlboro cigarettes for their commercials all those years.
But in my mind, not even in the top three themes for Westerns.
Those will follow as we proceed on.
"The High And The Mighty"
Dmitri Tiomkin should be represented here, if only for how prolific he was.
The main appeal is the title song, which completely dominates a very entertaining
movie.
I believe there were even hit singles turned out of it during its time.
Okay,
That's it for now.
But we're pounding down the Honorables homestretch.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Thursday, October 18, 2012
More And Better Honorables.
Continuing on, in order of weakest to strongest:
"Blazing Saddles"
Having Frankie Laine sing what was essentially a cross between "Rawhide" and
"Do not forsake me" for a joke movie was inspired.
Even more so, because nobody told Frankie that it was a joke movie.
So he sang it straight.
He sang his straight little heart out.
And it was glorious.
"Requiem For A Heavyweight"
Not the TV play, but the movie, with Anthony Quinn, Jackie Gleason, and Mickey
Rooney.
Far superior to the TV play on all levels, notably the music, by Laurence Rosenthal.
It began without music, as we saw a fight from Anthony Quinn's eyes, as he is getting
beat up by a pre-Ali Cassius Clay.
The fight is stopped, and when Quinn gets back to his dressing room and stares at the
bloody mess he has become, the theme music starts, as do the opening credits.
The music is awesome, and the effect is as dramatic as anything.
"Spartacus"
Would actually rate higher if the Love theme was used as the main theme.
The main theme is good, but the Love theme blows it away.
"A Summer Place"
I never saw this movie.
I only know it from the hit single put out by Percy Faith, which is how I assume it was used in the movie.
It is quite appealing.
"The Sting"
A classic.
Not original.
It had been around since the early 1900s.
It's all in Marvin Hamlisch's great arrangement of it.
And it's great.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Posted
"Blazing Saddles"
Having Frankie Laine sing what was essentially a cross between "Rawhide" and
"Do not forsake me" for a joke movie was inspired.
Even more so, because nobody told Frankie that it was a joke movie.
So he sang it straight.
He sang his straight little heart out.
And it was glorious.
"Requiem For A Heavyweight"
Not the TV play, but the movie, with Anthony Quinn, Jackie Gleason, and Mickey
Rooney.
Far superior to the TV play on all levels, notably the music, by Laurence Rosenthal.
It began without music, as we saw a fight from Anthony Quinn's eyes, as he is getting
beat up by a pre-Ali Cassius Clay.
The fight is stopped, and when Quinn gets back to his dressing room and stares at the
bloody mess he has become, the theme music starts, as do the opening credits.
The music is awesome, and the effect is as dramatic as anything.
"Spartacus"
Would actually rate higher if the Love theme was used as the main theme.
The main theme is good, but the Love theme blows it away.
"A Summer Place"
I never saw this movie.
I only know it from the hit single put out by Percy Faith, which is how I assume it was used in the movie.
It is quite appealing.
"The Sting"
A classic.
Not original.
It had been around since the early 1900s.
It's all in Marvin Hamlisch's great arrangement of it.
And it's great.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Posted
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Back To The Movie Themes Honorables.
Plenty of Honorables left before we get to the Top Ten.
In descending order, from least honorable to most:
"Ruby Gentry"
David O. Selznick's sequel to "Duel In The Sun", at least in the sense that it gave him an
opportunity to once again star his wife, Jennifer Jones, in a western.
It had a haunting theme, that you'd probably recognize immediately.
Ray Charles made a great recording of it.
"Laura"
A classic. Composed by David Raksin, about whom not enough can be said.
And I will say more about him as we continue along.
Johnny Mercer wrote the lyric, which I believe was not used in the film, but came afterwards.
"High Noon"
Another classic.
Very sparse orchestration, if there was any at all.
A lot of people, myself included, thought the song, "Do not forsake me" was sung
by Frankie Laine.
Frankie subsequently had a hit record on it, but in the movie, it was sung by John
Ritter's father, Tex.
"High Society"
From the overture, with its Cole Porter score, through it's "High Society Calypso"
performed by Louis Armstrong and his musicians on the bus, through every other song
in the score, it just dazzles.
The music was the the only improvement on the source material, "The Philadelphia Story",
which otherwise leaves "High Society" in the dust.
"Edge Of The City"
Great theme for a David Susskind produced, socially conscious, racially tinged,
poor mans version of "On The Waterfront"
Actually, "On The Waterfront" was Mitt Romney's version of "Edge of the City"
"Edge of the City" reeks of importance.
More next time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
In descending order, from least honorable to most:
"Ruby Gentry"
David O. Selznick's sequel to "Duel In The Sun", at least in the sense that it gave him an
opportunity to once again star his wife, Jennifer Jones, in a western.
It had a haunting theme, that you'd probably recognize immediately.
Ray Charles made a great recording of it.
"Laura"
A classic. Composed by David Raksin, about whom not enough can be said.
And I will say more about him as we continue along.
Johnny Mercer wrote the lyric, which I believe was not used in the film, but came afterwards.
"High Noon"
Another classic.
Very sparse orchestration, if there was any at all.
A lot of people, myself included, thought the song, "Do not forsake me" was sung
by Frankie Laine.
Frankie subsequently had a hit record on it, but in the movie, it was sung by John
Ritter's father, Tex.
"High Society"
From the overture, with its Cole Porter score, through it's "High Society Calypso"
performed by Louis Armstrong and his musicians on the bus, through every other song
in the score, it just dazzles.
The music was the the only improvement on the source material, "The Philadelphia Story",
which otherwise leaves "High Society" in the dust.
"Edge Of The City"
Great theme for a David Susskind produced, socially conscious, racially tinged,
poor mans version of "On The Waterfront"
Actually, "On The Waterfront" was Mitt Romney's version of "Edge of the City"
"Edge of the City" reeks of importance.
More next time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Olé! Oy Vey!
We're not going to be about music today.
We're going to be about baseball.
As someone who has spent the better part of ten years in Detroit, watching the
Tigers and getting nauseous, allow me to indicate my perpetual disappointment in the
way their manager, Jim Leyland, handles his pitchers.
Particularly his relievers.
Particularly his closer, Jose (Papa Grande) Valverde.
Your closer is supposed to be your best one-inning pitcher.
A closer's battle ribbons are Saves.
Valverde has garnered a lot of Saves.
But every time Leyland brings him into a game in a Save situation, the 45,000 fans
in Comerica Park have their hearts in their mouths.
Because he almost invariably, immediately, gets himself into trouble.
But because Comerica, the Tigers home park, is so huge, he rarely gives up home runs,
and gets himself out of the trouble he created, just well enough to Save the day.
Just like Mighty Mouse.
But last night, at Yankee Stadium, a much easier park to hit Home Runs in, Valverde
gave up two two-run homers to allow the Yankees to tie up the game.
The thing is, in both instances, those Home Runs would have been easy outs in Comerica.
Just two nights earlier, Valverde did the same thing in Oakland, blowing the Save and the game.
Oakland isn't an easy park for Home Runs either, but far easier than Comerica.
The Yankees have always had a history of having their best pitchers be Lefthanders.
Whitey Ford, Ron Guidry, C.C. Sabathia....
This is no accident.
It's a lot harder to hit Home Runs off a Lefty in Yankee Stadium.
Both the old version and the new.
They've always tailored their park to Lefthanded pitching
There is far more distance to the left field power alleys than to right field.
Any righty is vulnerable there.
Valverde in Yankee Stadium becomes just any other righty.
Both of the Home Runs hit off him last night were easily catchable if they were hit
in Comerica.
They were hit to the shallow portions of right field.
So I don't really blame Valverde.
I blame Leyland.
He exposed Valverde to his most major weakness.
So what do you do about it?
Well, the Tigers came back and won last night's game, one which I'd already written
off, by bringing in one of their spot starters.
A guy named Smyly.
A lefty.
He just came in and got the win.
So what do you do for the rest of the series?
If you're Leyland, you sit down with Papa Grande, and you tell him "We're not taking
your job away from you. But we're only going to let you pitch at Comerica. No more
Yankee Stadium for you.
When we're here, Smyly will be the closer.
As a starter, he's capable of going two innings a game.
And if Valverde had any sense, he'd reply "Whatever you say, skipper."
The only question left is "Will Leyland have any sense?"
It's not rocket science.
It's baseball science.
More music on Tuesday.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
We're going to be about baseball.
As someone who has spent the better part of ten years in Detroit, watching the
Tigers and getting nauseous, allow me to indicate my perpetual disappointment in the
way their manager, Jim Leyland, handles his pitchers.
Particularly his relievers.
Particularly his closer, Jose (Papa Grande) Valverde.
Your closer is supposed to be your best one-inning pitcher.
A closer's battle ribbons are Saves.
Valverde has garnered a lot of Saves.
But every time Leyland brings him into a game in a Save situation, the 45,000 fans
in Comerica Park have their hearts in their mouths.
Because he almost invariably, immediately, gets himself into trouble.
But because Comerica, the Tigers home park, is so huge, he rarely gives up home runs,
and gets himself out of the trouble he created, just well enough to Save the day.
Just like Mighty Mouse.
But last night, at Yankee Stadium, a much easier park to hit Home Runs in, Valverde
gave up two two-run homers to allow the Yankees to tie up the game.
The thing is, in both instances, those Home Runs would have been easy outs in Comerica.
Just two nights earlier, Valverde did the same thing in Oakland, blowing the Save and the game.
Oakland isn't an easy park for Home Runs either, but far easier than Comerica.
The Yankees have always had a history of having their best pitchers be Lefthanders.
Whitey Ford, Ron Guidry, C.C. Sabathia....
This is no accident.
It's a lot harder to hit Home Runs off a Lefty in Yankee Stadium.
Both the old version and the new.
They've always tailored their park to Lefthanded pitching
There is far more distance to the left field power alleys than to right field.
Any righty is vulnerable there.
Valverde in Yankee Stadium becomes just any other righty.
Both of the Home Runs hit off him last night were easily catchable if they were hit
in Comerica.
They were hit to the shallow portions of right field.
So I don't really blame Valverde.
I blame Leyland.
He exposed Valverde to his most major weakness.
So what do you do about it?
Well, the Tigers came back and won last night's game, one which I'd already written
off, by bringing in one of their spot starters.
A guy named Smyly.
A lefty.
He just came in and got the win.
So what do you do for the rest of the series?
If you're Leyland, you sit down with Papa Grande, and you tell him "We're not taking
your job away from you. But we're only going to let you pitch at Comerica. No more
Yankee Stadium for you.
When we're here, Smyly will be the closer.
As a starter, he's capable of going two innings a game.
And if Valverde had any sense, he'd reply "Whatever you say, skipper."
The only question left is "Will Leyland have any sense?"
It's not rocket science.
It's baseball science.
More music on Tuesday.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Friday, October 12, 2012
Let's Go To The Movies.
I was pleased with most of what went on baseball and debate-wise, so I'm going right to the first several
Honorable Mentions for my favorite movie themes.
Remember, this is all subjective.
And open to debate.
I hope there will be some.
This is purely a list of my favorites.
Not necessarily the best.
That's why I'm offering up this much of a spoiler alert:
None of the choices will include anything by John Williams.
Yeah, most of them were great.
And impressive.
But none of them get to me emotionally.
As of now, I have a total of 29 entries.
I'll attempt to count them down, from leas honorable to most.
And so, we begin.
"The Man With The Golden Arm"
Great jazzy score that really enhanced the film. and put composer Elmer Bernstein on the map.
"Spellbound"
Bernard Herrmann's greatest haunting score for a Hitchcock film.
Much better than his work on "Citizen Kane, which required making up a musical style for a film that really didn't have one.
"Our Town"
From 1940. Aaron Copland's only real attempt at composing film scores, and his fingerprints are all over it.
It is highly dramatic, and gorgeous at the same time.
"On The Waterfront"
From 1954. Everything I said about about "Our Town" and Copland applies to
"On The Waterfront" and Leonard Bernstein as well.
"The Andy Hardy Series"
They used the same theme music for each of the movies.
And it was always like visiting an old friend.
One brief note about the Andy Hardy series.
Th New York Post used to provide mini-descriptions of the movies they were showing each night.
Never attempting to be funny about it.
On one particular night, they were showing "Andy Hardy Meets Debutante"
The description was "Short boy enters Society"
I leave you with that until next time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Honorable Mentions for my favorite movie themes.
Remember, this is all subjective.
And open to debate.
I hope there will be some.
This is purely a list of my favorites.
Not necessarily the best.
That's why I'm offering up this much of a spoiler alert:
None of the choices will include anything by John Williams.
Yeah, most of them were great.
And impressive.
But none of them get to me emotionally.
As of now, I have a total of 29 entries.
I'll attempt to count them down, from leas honorable to most.
And so, we begin.
"The Man With The Golden Arm"
Great jazzy score that really enhanced the film. and put composer Elmer Bernstein on the map.
"Spellbound"
Bernard Herrmann's greatest haunting score for a Hitchcock film.
Much better than his work on "Citizen Kane, which required making up a musical style for a film that really didn't have one.
"Our Town"
From 1940. Aaron Copland's only real attempt at composing film scores, and his fingerprints are all over it.
It is highly dramatic, and gorgeous at the same time.
"On The Waterfront"
From 1954. Everything I said about about "Our Town" and Copland applies to
"On The Waterfront" and Leonard Bernstein as well.
"The Andy Hardy Series"
They used the same theme music for each of the movies.
And it was always like visiting an old friend.
One brief note about the Andy Hardy series.
Th New York Post used to provide mini-descriptions of the movies they were showing each night.
Never attempting to be funny about it.
On one particular night, they were showing "Andy Hardy Meets Debutante"
The description was "Short boy enters Society"
I leave you with that until next time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Still Stoppin' The Music.
Too many ballgames to watch today.
Still too aggravated about the Tigers' loss to Oakland last night.
Too interested in seeing the debate tonight.
If I have nothin' any of the above, I'll start the "Favorite Movie Themes" tomorrow.
Sorry.
It's the best I can do.
Go Giants! Go Cardinals! Go Orioles! Go Biden! Go Tigers!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Still too aggravated about the Tigers' loss to Oakland last night.
Too interested in seeing the debate tonight.
If I have nothin' any of the above, I'll start the "Favorite Movie Themes" tomorrow.
Sorry.
It's the best I can do.
Go Giants! Go Cardinals! Go Orioles! Go Biden! Go Tigers!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Still Relevant?
As Jimmy Durante was wont to say, "Stop the Music! Stop the Music!"
I know I was going to start the series on my favorite movie themes, but something else came up that perhaps deserves your attention.
I have a reader who has purchased all of my e-books, and e-mails me regularly on her reactions to whatever articles she has just read.
She was reading the first "Show Runner", and was about to get to an article entitled "The Claude Rains Moment"
I warned her that it might seem a little dated, because it is political in nature.
It talks a lot about McCain and Palin.
She read it, and corrected me.
She said that it was overwhelmingly relevant.
She said it is probably more relevant now than ever.
Just substitute any Republican for McCain.
Or particularly any Republican named Mitt Romney.
As this article is no longer available on the blog, I'm going to reprint it in its
entirety and let you decide.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm sure you all remember Claude Rains.
One of our great movie actors.
Not really a movie star, although he did occasionally play leads.
He was usually remembered for his great supporting roles in movies that starred others.
Most notably, "Casablanca", as Louie, the corrupt Prefect of Police.
When he conducts a mock "raid" on Bogart's backroom casino at "Rick's", he says
"I'm shocked! Shocked, to discover that gambling has been going on in this establishment!"
At which point, the croupier approaches him and says "Your winnings, sir".
He hands him his winnings and Rains says "Thank you very much."
For a lot of people, that is their favorite Claude Rains moment.
For others, it is the very end of "Casablanca", when Rains and Bogart walk arm-in-arm away from the camera as Bogart says " Louie, I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship".
Most movie actors don't even have one memorable moment like those two.
This is the kind of thing that immortalizes you.
But neither one of these is my favorite Claude Rains moment.
Nor are they the ones that have consumed my thoughts lately.
My favorite Claude Rains moment is from the movie "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington".
In that movie, he plays Senator Joseph Paine, the well-meaning but ultimately corrupt Senator who is under the thumb of political boss Jim Taylor, played with utter oiliness by Edward Arnold.
Jimmy Stewart, who becomes the Junior senator from Paines' state, idolizes Paine.
Circumstances force Stewart to filibuster the Senate.
Probably the last good filibuster we've had, even though it was fictional.
Paine is forced to stand by as Taylor's political machine steamrollers over Stewart, trashing him in the press, nearly defeating him.
Until.
Until Paine abruptly rises from his seat in the Senate and says the equivalent of "I don't deserve to live! That boy is right! Everything he's saying is right!"
He storms out of the Senate and attempts to take his own life by shooting himself.
For whatever reason, he fails at this attempt.
With all that has gone on in the Healthcare and the Debt Ceiling debate with Republicans, the bystanding as the President is being called a Nazi or a Socialist or a foreigner every day, and all the baldface lying , such as not denying the concept of death panels, calling global warming a hoax, claiming that there were no terrorist attacks under Bush-Cheney, that the economy hasn't improved when it has, pouncing on everything constructive just for the sport of it, I keep waiting for some responsible Republican to have that Claude Rains moment.
To have that moment when they exhibit that moment of conscience that you know they have, but don't want to show because possibly saving their own political skin is more important.
To jump out of their seats and say "Yes! We're full of shit! Don't listen to us! We're just looking to line our own pockets!
I'm not talking about the Limbaughs or the Becks or the Palins or the Jim Bunnings, or the little FOXes. Those with absolutely no consciences.
I guess I'm thinking more about someone like Mitt Romney.
Someone who passed a Healthcare bill in his own state, and is now trying to disavow it.
But it's probably too much to expect there.
I mean, this is a man who might possibly actually have a chance to be elected President.
I guess who I'm really thinking about is John McCain.
His chance came and went, and he knows it.
He was, at one time, highly respected. Just like Joseph Paine.
But then, he was in the primary fight of his life to be elected Senator from Arizona for the umpteenth time.
For this goal, he was willing to sabotage anything that might get done in the Senate, deny his entire history as a "Maverick", piss on the country and the Constitution, just so he might hold on to his goddamn Senate seat.
This is the man who kept saying "Country First".
Maybe he'll even deny that he was a war hero if he thinks that would help him.
Maybe he needn't bother.
From what I hear, he was a rotten pilot, which is why he crashed and was captured.
And that his fellow prisoners weren't too keen on him either.
But giving him the benefit of the doubt that at least some time in his life he was brave,
how important can that fackockta Senate seat be to him at this point?
His wife is loaded.
He can retire handsomely.
And if he goes out with the Claude Rains moment, without the gunshots, he can retire with dignity.
And really be a hero.
******
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
I know I was going to start the series on my favorite movie themes, but something else came up that perhaps deserves your attention.
I have a reader who has purchased all of my e-books, and e-mails me regularly on her reactions to whatever articles she has just read.
She was reading the first "Show Runner", and was about to get to an article entitled "The Claude Rains Moment"
I warned her that it might seem a little dated, because it is political in nature.
It talks a lot about McCain and Palin.
She read it, and corrected me.
She said that it was overwhelmingly relevant.
She said it is probably more relevant now than ever.
Just substitute any Republican for McCain.
Or particularly any Republican named Mitt Romney.
As this article is no longer available on the blog, I'm going to reprint it in its
entirety and let you decide.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm sure you all remember Claude Rains.
One of our great movie actors.
Not really a movie star, although he did occasionally play leads.
He was usually remembered for his great supporting roles in movies that starred others.
Most notably, "Casablanca", as Louie, the corrupt Prefect of Police.
When he conducts a mock "raid" on Bogart's backroom casino at "Rick's", he says
"I'm shocked! Shocked, to discover that gambling has been going on in this establishment!"
At which point, the croupier approaches him and says "Your winnings, sir".
He hands him his winnings and Rains says "Thank you very much."
For a lot of people, that is their favorite Claude Rains moment.
For others, it is the very end of "Casablanca", when Rains and Bogart walk arm-in-arm away from the camera as Bogart says " Louie, I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship".
Most movie actors don't even have one memorable moment like those two.
This is the kind of thing that immortalizes you.
But neither one of these is my favorite Claude Rains moment.
Nor are they the ones that have consumed my thoughts lately.
My favorite Claude Rains moment is from the movie "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington".
In that movie, he plays Senator Joseph Paine, the well-meaning but ultimately corrupt Senator who is under the thumb of political boss Jim Taylor, played with utter oiliness by Edward Arnold.
Jimmy Stewart, who becomes the Junior senator from Paines' state, idolizes Paine.
Circumstances force Stewart to filibuster the Senate.
Probably the last good filibuster we've had, even though it was fictional.
Paine is forced to stand by as Taylor's political machine steamrollers over Stewart, trashing him in the press, nearly defeating him.
Until.
Until Paine abruptly rises from his seat in the Senate and says the equivalent of "I don't deserve to live! That boy is right! Everything he's saying is right!"
He storms out of the Senate and attempts to take his own life by shooting himself.
For whatever reason, he fails at this attempt.
With all that has gone on in the Healthcare and the Debt Ceiling debate with Republicans, the bystanding as the President is being called a Nazi or a Socialist or a foreigner every day, and all the baldface lying , such as not denying the concept of death panels, calling global warming a hoax, claiming that there were no terrorist attacks under Bush-Cheney, that the economy hasn't improved when it has, pouncing on everything constructive just for the sport of it, I keep waiting for some responsible Republican to have that Claude Rains moment.
To have that moment when they exhibit that moment of conscience that you know they have, but don't want to show because possibly saving their own political skin is more important.
To jump out of their seats and say "Yes! We're full of shit! Don't listen to us! We're just looking to line our own pockets!
I'm not talking about the Limbaughs or the Becks or the Palins or the Jim Bunnings, or the little FOXes. Those with absolutely no consciences.
I guess I'm thinking more about someone like Mitt Romney.
Someone who passed a Healthcare bill in his own state, and is now trying to disavow it.
But it's probably too much to expect there.
I mean, this is a man who might possibly actually have a chance to be elected President.
I guess who I'm really thinking about is John McCain.
His chance came and went, and he knows it.
He was, at one time, highly respected. Just like Joseph Paine.
But then, he was in the primary fight of his life to be elected Senator from Arizona for the umpteenth time.
For this goal, he was willing to sabotage anything that might get done in the Senate, deny his entire history as a "Maverick", piss on the country and the Constitution, just so he might hold on to his goddamn Senate seat.
This is the man who kept saying "Country First".
Maybe he'll even deny that he was a war hero if he thinks that would help him.
Maybe he needn't bother.
From what I hear, he was a rotten pilot, which is why he crashed and was captured.
And that his fellow prisoners weren't too keen on him either.
But giving him the benefit of the doubt that at least some time in his life he was brave,
how important can that fackockta Senate seat be to him at this point?
His wife is loaded.
He can retire handsomely.
And if he goes out with the Claude Rains moment, without the gunshots, he can retire with dignity.
And really be a hero.
******
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Still Got The Music In Me.
This is a prelude and introduction to the next series of posts relating to music.
Since I did the "Top Ten TV Themes" series, and got great response on it, I've decided to do the same thing with Movie Themes.
As I was compiling the great TV themes, I kept noticing how many great movie composers contributed to them.
And it got a little confusing.
Was that from a movie, or a TV show?
So, beginning next time, I will begin with honorable mentions, eventually leading
up to the top ten movie themes of all time, according to me.
The one thing I won't do is compile a list for the Top Ten Worst Movie Themes of All
Time. For one simple reason.
I can't think of any.
The bad ones on TV stick with you because they are oft repeated, ad nauseum.
If you happen to hear a really bad movie theme, it's probably from a bad movie, and
you'll probably never hear it again, so it won't be memorable.
So we're only going positive with this.
There will be plenty of great movie themes mentioned.
I hope that they will be evocative, and if you are not familiar with them, you will
seek them out.
See you next time, as we once again get musical.
And I'm counting on Mike from Chicago to keep me honest in the comment section.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Since I did the "Top Ten TV Themes" series, and got great response on it, I've decided to do the same thing with Movie Themes.
As I was compiling the great TV themes, I kept noticing how many great movie composers contributed to them.
And it got a little confusing.
Was that from a movie, or a TV show?
So, beginning next time, I will begin with honorable mentions, eventually leading
up to the top ten movie themes of all time, according to me.
The one thing I won't do is compile a list for the Top Ten Worst Movie Themes of All
Time. For one simple reason.
I can't think of any.
The bad ones on TV stick with you because they are oft repeated, ad nauseum.
If you happen to hear a really bad movie theme, it's probably from a bad movie, and
you'll probably never hear it again, so it won't be memorable.
So we're only going positive with this.
There will be plenty of great movie themes mentioned.
I hope that they will be evocative, and if you are not familiar with them, you will
seek them out.
See you next time, as we once again get musical.
And I'm counting on Mike from Chicago to keep me honest in the comment section.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Such A Glorious Night......
The last night of the baseball season.
It was everything I hoped it would be.
By adding two extra Wild Card teams to the playoffs, Major League Baseball
virtually guaranteed a last night of the season to be as exciting as this one.
And it was.
It was glorious.
It began with Texas and Oakland, tied for first place in their division, playing
each other in the late afternoon, with the winner not having to face a one game
elimination in the Wild Card matchup.
Oakland was behind 4-1, and came back to win 12-5.
Those boys in the yellow shirts, in Oakland, before the home folks, went crazy.
Glorious.
St. Louis, ahead of the Dodgers by one, lost their game to Cincinnati.
This gave the Dodgers a chance to survive by beating the Giants at home.
They lost 4-3.
Glorious.
Any time the Dodgers lose like that, it's glorious.
The Yankees, who earned their division title, won it in grand fashion, needing only a win to avoid being the Wild Card.
If the Yankees had lost and Baltimore, who were luckier than you could possibly
imagine, had won, Baltimore would have tied the Yankees and forced a one-game
playoff. This would have been a travesty.
Plus, I won money on all of these games.
And my Detroit local boy, Miguel Cabrera, finished up the night winning the
Triple Crown. Something that hasn't happened in 45 years.
So, a glorious night.
Until that shitcrap debate happened.
What the hell went on there?
Only Romney showed up.
Jim Lehrer wasn't there.
He and Obama were somewhere where Lehrer and Obama were stepping on Obama's dick.
Lehrer only asked softball, boring questions, designed to let Romney the businessman
show off his business and lying skills.
Neither Lehrer or Obama called him on any of it.
Romney kept denying that he was asking for a 5 trillion dollar tax cut.
What he wanted was a 20% across-the-board tax cut.
Why didn't someone turn to Romney and ask "How much money did the IRS take
in last year, of course, not including uncollectable money from the Cayman Islands?"
Romney wouldn't have the answer.
Either Lehrer or Obama would, and tell him.
And say "You know what 20% of that total is? 5 trillion dollars!"
Why didn't Obama ask Romney if he would have voted the same way as the Republican congress, turning down the Jobs bill for Veterans?"
I guess that would have been too revealing.
And too interesting.
And someone arranged the cameras to make it appear that Romney was always facing
Obama and Obama always had his back to Romney, which was clearly not the case.
Hell, Romney was practically likeable.
Even to ME.
But then, I've always liked Professor Harold Hill.
Where was Bain Capital? The 47%? Romney's tax returns?
Hell, where was Bill Clinton when we needed him?
What's the opposite of glorious?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
It was everything I hoped it would be.
By adding two extra Wild Card teams to the playoffs, Major League Baseball
virtually guaranteed a last night of the season to be as exciting as this one.
And it was.
It was glorious.
It began with Texas and Oakland, tied for first place in their division, playing
each other in the late afternoon, with the winner not having to face a one game
elimination in the Wild Card matchup.
Oakland was behind 4-1, and came back to win 12-5.
Those boys in the yellow shirts, in Oakland, before the home folks, went crazy.
Glorious.
St. Louis, ahead of the Dodgers by one, lost their game to Cincinnati.
This gave the Dodgers a chance to survive by beating the Giants at home.
They lost 4-3.
Glorious.
Any time the Dodgers lose like that, it's glorious.
The Yankees, who earned their division title, won it in grand fashion, needing only a win to avoid being the Wild Card.
If the Yankees had lost and Baltimore, who were luckier than you could possibly
imagine, had won, Baltimore would have tied the Yankees and forced a one-game
playoff. This would have been a travesty.
Plus, I won money on all of these games.
And my Detroit local boy, Miguel Cabrera, finished up the night winning the
Triple Crown. Something that hasn't happened in 45 years.
So, a glorious night.
Until that shitcrap debate happened.
What the hell went on there?
Only Romney showed up.
Jim Lehrer wasn't there.
He and Obama were somewhere where Lehrer and Obama were stepping on Obama's dick.
Lehrer only asked softball, boring questions, designed to let Romney the businessman
show off his business and lying skills.
Neither Lehrer or Obama called him on any of it.
Romney kept denying that he was asking for a 5 trillion dollar tax cut.
What he wanted was a 20% across-the-board tax cut.
Why didn't someone turn to Romney and ask "How much money did the IRS take
in last year, of course, not including uncollectable money from the Cayman Islands?"
Romney wouldn't have the answer.
Either Lehrer or Obama would, and tell him.
And say "You know what 20% of that total is? 5 trillion dollars!"
Why didn't Obama ask Romney if he would have voted the same way as the Republican congress, turning down the Jobs bill for Veterans?"
I guess that would have been too revealing.
And too interesting.
And someone arranged the cameras to make it appear that Romney was always facing
Obama and Obama always had his back to Romney, which was clearly not the case.
Hell, Romney was practically likeable.
Even to ME.
But then, I've always liked Professor Harold Hill.
Where was Bain Capital? The 47%? Romney's tax returns?
Hell, where was Bill Clinton when we needed him?
What's the opposite of glorious?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
The Most Idiotic Acting Note I Have Ever Given.
Do you remember a movie called "The Lady Eve"?
It was and is a great movie.
It was released in 1941.
Preston Sturges wrote and directed it.
It was when Sturges was THE best comedy director alive.
It starred Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwyck.
The were both brilliant.
The script, the pacing, and the direction were all brilliant.
William Demarest was also in it.
HE was brilliant.
So I'm watching this now 71 year old movie on Turner Classics recently.
And there is this scene between Fonda and Stanwyck.
Fonda plays a wealthy heir to a brewery, who is completely smitten by Stanwyck,
who is a con-woman.
Her nickname for him is "Hopsie"
They are on an ocean liner, where Stanwyck and her father, Charles Coburn, are successful cardsharps.
Fonda is picked up from a flatboat near the Amazon River, where, being a snake fancier,
he has been adding rare snakes to his collection.
The scene I referred to takes place as Stanwyck invites Fonda down to her cabin aboard
ship.
Fonda is gaga over her perfume.
As Fonda is mooning over her, Stanwyck turns to him and asks "What's the matter,
Hopsie? Don't you like my perfume?"
Fonda replies "Oh, it's not that. It's just, well, I've been up the Amazon the last two years, and they don't wear perfume."
He said this somewhat matter-of-factly, with no change of expression, and the line kind
of passes into the night.
Unfortunately, I can't watch anything without my Show Runner or Director's hat on.
So when I saw Fonda say that line, I actually yelled at the screen, "No, Hank, when
you say "I've been up the Amazon the last two years, you've got to pause and
reflect before you say ...and they don't wear perfume." This way we see that you have a vivid remembrance of just how
badly those natives smell. And it's much funnier."
I was giving an acting note to a dead actor for a movie made 71 years ago.
Where there were no chances for retakes.
How idiotic was that?
My only consolation is that I was right.
Sometimes it just does you a fat lot of good being right.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
It was and is a great movie.
It was released in 1941.
Preston Sturges wrote and directed it.
It was when Sturges was THE best comedy director alive.
It starred Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwyck.
The were both brilliant.
The script, the pacing, and the direction were all brilliant.
William Demarest was also in it.
HE was brilliant.
So I'm watching this now 71 year old movie on Turner Classics recently.
And there is this scene between Fonda and Stanwyck.
Fonda plays a wealthy heir to a brewery, who is completely smitten by Stanwyck,
who is a con-woman.
Her nickname for him is "Hopsie"
They are on an ocean liner, where Stanwyck and her father, Charles Coburn, are successful cardsharps.
Fonda is picked up from a flatboat near the Amazon River, where, being a snake fancier,
he has been adding rare snakes to his collection.
The scene I referred to takes place as Stanwyck invites Fonda down to her cabin aboard
ship.
Fonda is gaga over her perfume.
As Fonda is mooning over her, Stanwyck turns to him and asks "What's the matter,
Hopsie? Don't you like my perfume?"
Fonda replies "Oh, it's not that. It's just, well, I've been up the Amazon the last two years, and they don't wear perfume."
He said this somewhat matter-of-factly, with no change of expression, and the line kind
of passes into the night.
Unfortunately, I can't watch anything without my Show Runner or Director's hat on.
So when I saw Fonda say that line, I actually yelled at the screen, "No, Hank, when
you say "I've been up the Amazon the last two years, you've got to pause and
reflect before you say ...and they don't wear perfume." This way we see that you have a vivid remembrance of just how
badly those natives smell. And it's much funnier."
I was giving an acting note to a dead actor for a movie made 71 years ago.
Where there were no chances for retakes.
How idiotic was that?
My only consolation is that I was right.
Sometimes it just does you a fat lot of good being right.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.
******
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