Well I read a bunch of online reviews that panned the film, but I hold firm. The story is good if you can get past Crawford's song and dance routines. Maybe 1950's audiences loved musical anything, I don't know. Or maybe they just could not envision doing a straight drama about a Broadway musical actress. They should have. The should have concentrated on the psychology behind these two needy people and they'd have had a better show. Maybe the Maximalist is just a psych nurse? OK.
But if you had a young beautiful broadway starlet, the story would have failed. She would not have been so hard boiled on the surface. The woman would not be trying so hard to hold on to stardom, the future would still look bright. The "boyfriend", played by Gig Young would not have been so shallow and you'd have needed a younger man in the Wilding role as well.
I would have liked to see the character development highlighted and explored, OK?
Crawford's character had a lot going on mentally. She made it to the top and was finding it harder to stay there. She was taken advantage of by theatrer types, by the men in her life and even by her family. Despite the success she was pretty personally isolated and friendless. This feeling should have been built up and the stagey stuff played down, but there's nothing to do about that now, huh? Wilding's losses are also acute as a man who has not fully adjusted to his blindless despite the smiles and the music and his demeanor. His rejection of "Martha" brought tears to my eyes. The movie needed scenes like that one.
Anyway, other nice things were the costumes worn by Crawford, very early-50's chic, and her jewelry which was fab. Some reviewers quarreled with her eyebrow pencil, but that was part of the period. Look at Kim Novak in Bell, Book and Candle and you still see major pencilling, so I see this as a false issue. The furnishings in Crawford's apartment were also post-war modern and when you look at them you will see where Ikea found its inspiration. They are cheap modernist, while this was the real deal. Check out the blue bedroom and the lighting.
When all is said and done, I liked it. I may have liked it better with a 35 year old actress, but I still liked it.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Michael Wilding in Torch Song.
Wikipedia defines "torch song" this way: a sentimental love song, typically one in which the singer laments an unrequited or lost love, either where one party is oblivious to the existence of the other, where one party has moved on, or where a romantic affair has affected the relationship.
The trick to this being the title of a movie about a hardened broadway singer and her new and blind pianist, is that the "torch" isn't being carried by the singer at all and the one who carries it is longing not for a lost love as much as a lost life, at least a lost piece of it.
If you can get past the distraction of Joan Crawford's performance as a singer and look at the two pricipal characters as people, you will find a diamond. Yes, Joan pulls of the role of a broadway star with ease, and wow is that "finale" with Joan and company in "black face" hard on the eyes and pretty stunning especially given the presence of minority actors, but the romance here feels real and compelling. Wilding is of course sensational as Tye Grahame and the reasons behind his actions are bittersweet yet gut wrenchingly honest.
I wish I'd have seen it years ago, but as a older Maximalist I bet I can appreciate it better.
The Billy Joel song is dumb really. The past always gets in the way. Always
The trick to this being the title of a movie about a hardened broadway singer and her new and blind pianist, is that the "torch" isn't being carried by the singer at all and the one who carries it is longing not for a lost love as much as a lost life, at least a lost piece of it.
If you can get past the distraction of Joan Crawford's performance as a singer and look at the two pricipal characters as people, you will find a diamond. Yes, Joan pulls of the role of a broadway star with ease, and wow is that "finale" with Joan and company in "black face" hard on the eyes and pretty stunning especially given the presence of minority actors, but the romance here feels real and compelling. Wilding is of course sensational as Tye Grahame and the reasons behind his actions are bittersweet yet gut wrenchingly honest.
I wish I'd have seen it years ago, but as a older Maximalist I bet I can appreciate it better.
The Billy Joel song is dumb really. The past always gets in the way. Always
Thursday, June 9, 2011
My official earrings for summer 2011
As I've mentioned many times, I just love silver. I've also been longing for come cool vintage peacock earrings. The last pair I saw were long dangly brass ones which were snapped up while I was "thinking about it". She who hesitates...
Anyway I love these, They're huge 1.5 inches in diameter and heavy, so they swing like crazy. The silver is bright and shiny and they're perfect.
And since I was on a roll, I purchased a pair of sterling Steven Dweck earringa and a pair by a Polish artist named Bytomski. These are a shade more formal and are, sadly, clips. I'm always afraid of losing clips
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Weiner-gate, I find this depressing
In a ridiculous sort of way.
Yet another politician caught in a web of lies, a hell of their own making. An unnecessary business altogether, but amusing reading nonetheless.
What makes this news is that this happened to a powerful politician married to another politico, NOT that the behavior itself is unusual, especially among the adolescent set (haven't we heard way too much about kids "sexting" for this to be shocking?)But this is a 45 year old man, you say, who should have been more sensible.
Absolutely, no argument there, but people in power or who have power because of fame and/or money tend to believe they are entitled to behavior that they reproach in the rest of us. That's what this is, a power corrupts story. Or a fame makes you feel that rules do not apply to you story. Or a "the ideologically pure" are exempt from their own rules story. Take your pick.
Mr. Weiner was a sponsor of a bill to keep sexual predators away from the underaged users, and now he "assumes" that none of the females he was sexting with fall into that category. We can assume he would be brutal toward any other adult who made such an assumption.
This is like the tax-loving John Kerry docking his boat in another state to avoid taxes, Al Gore having a massive energy consuming new home (or two) and Prince Charles lecturing the rest of us about energy consumption. OK, or Governor Christie using state helicopters for personal use while telling the rest of the state to economize. Rules do not apply to the ideologically pure.
The Maximalist's husband tells the story of accidentally attending a sermon by someone championing fuel conservation who encouraged buying local. He flew 3000 miles to make these demands of the rest of us, then ate out of season vegetables trucked up from Mexico to New York. Following this advice is for us, not for him, just as making sacrifices and having "skin in the game" is not for the Obamas...just for the rest of us and particularly if we are not unionized public employees.
Anthony Weiner got caught and was humiliated. The rest of the political class gets away with it every day.
They shouldn't.
One standard for everyone, please. And the pols should never be allowed to exempt themselves from the rules they set on our backs!
Yes this is rambling, but I'm depressed and disgusted that he stays in power. Mere mortals would not be so lucky.
Yet another politician caught in a web of lies, a hell of their own making. An unnecessary business altogether, but amusing reading nonetheless.
What makes this news is that this happened to a powerful politician married to another politico, NOT that the behavior itself is unusual, especially among the adolescent set (haven't we heard way too much about kids "sexting" for this to be shocking?)But this is a 45 year old man, you say, who should have been more sensible.
Absolutely, no argument there, but people in power or who have power because of fame and/or money tend to believe they are entitled to behavior that they reproach in the rest of us. That's what this is, a power corrupts story. Or a fame makes you feel that rules do not apply to you story. Or a "the ideologically pure" are exempt from their own rules story. Take your pick.
Mr. Weiner was a sponsor of a bill to keep sexual predators away from the underaged users, and now he "assumes" that none of the females he was sexting with fall into that category. We can assume he would be brutal toward any other adult who made such an assumption.
This is like the tax-loving John Kerry docking his boat in another state to avoid taxes, Al Gore having a massive energy consuming new home (or two) and Prince Charles lecturing the rest of us about energy consumption. OK, or Governor Christie using state helicopters for personal use while telling the rest of the state to economize. Rules do not apply to the ideologically pure.
The Maximalist's husband tells the story of accidentally attending a sermon by someone championing fuel conservation who encouraged buying local. He flew 3000 miles to make these demands of the rest of us, then ate out of season vegetables trucked up from Mexico to New York. Following this advice is for us, not for him, just as making sacrifices and having "skin in the game" is not for the Obamas...just for the rest of us and particularly if we are not unionized public employees.
Anthony Weiner got caught and was humiliated. The rest of the political class gets away with it every day.
They shouldn't.
One standard for everyone, please. And the pols should never be allowed to exempt themselves from the rules they set on our backs!
Yes this is rambling, but I'm depressed and disgusted that he stays in power. Mere mortals would not be so lucky.
How does my garden grow?
With cayennes, habaneros and jalapenos all in a row.
Plus, the tomato plants are filling up with little green tomatoes. Such fun to watch and I am happy to report many blossoms that promise more fruits. The grape vine has tiny grape clusters as well. All is good as I harvest a few peppers here and there.
Question remains. Should I cook some of the squash blossoms? Or should I wait for all the squash?
As for sprouts, peas are the word for the week.
Friday, June 3, 2011
My Nepenthe, cooking with Romney Steele
Well, instead of waiting for this book to end up on some remainder table, I used my 40% off Borders coupon and bought it. I'm not sure what I was looking for. Was it dazzling bohemian recipes or Cucina California? Was it a gripping story of a never ending supply of celebs mingling with the local arist crowd? Or was I still a bit nostalgic for the past? All these things?
Well. Instead of any of the above I got a family saga blended with the history of a Big Sur restaurant. Sure there are references to celebs and artists and yes there are some recipes I am sure to try, like the rice in the oven (I never heard of that and am intrigued)but mostly I got a family/restaurant history that largely focused on the writer's grandmother.
Now the Maximalist was her grandma's girl, so I completely understand Ms. Steele's focus and I applaud it. Cooks and visiting celebs come and go but the influence of your family, for better or worse, is forever. Ms. Steele is still at Nepenthe and her uncle is an artist there so something went very right eventhough a few things went wrong. Grandma Lolly was no celebrity cook and the word "bohemian" seems misunderstood by a generation who thinks it means decadent and exotic, so it seems Nepenthe was much more about family, love and community as it was about art, celebs and notoriety. It was a real place, with joys, struggles, successes and yes, some creativity. It changed with "the times" and survived and adapted, it seems to have kept the family values of its founders but as families grow and learn so has Nepenthe.
The pictures are part family album part cookbook and so are the recipes. Romney Steele has let us into the circle and has shown us the evolution of her family and the Big Sur area. This is a good thing in a day when celeb chefs come and go and restaurants are based on ephemeral trends or gorging yourself or just the cache that an expensive price tag brings.
Whether she says so or not Romney Steele and Lolly are saying "make your own history with food and love and nurturing". Brava.
I'll get back to you on the recipes!
Well. Instead of any of the above I got a family saga blended with the history of a Big Sur restaurant. Sure there are references to celebs and artists and yes there are some recipes I am sure to try, like the rice in the oven (I never heard of that and am intrigued)but mostly I got a family/restaurant history that largely focused on the writer's grandmother.
Now the Maximalist was her grandma's girl, so I completely understand Ms. Steele's focus and I applaud it. Cooks and visiting celebs come and go but the influence of your family, for better or worse, is forever. Ms. Steele is still at Nepenthe and her uncle is an artist there so something went very right eventhough a few things went wrong. Grandma Lolly was no celebrity cook and the word "bohemian" seems misunderstood by a generation who thinks it means decadent and exotic, so it seems Nepenthe was much more about family, love and community as it was about art, celebs and notoriety. It was a real place, with joys, struggles, successes and yes, some creativity. It changed with "the times" and survived and adapted, it seems to have kept the family values of its founders but as families grow and learn so has Nepenthe.
The pictures are part family album part cookbook and so are the recipes. Romney Steele has let us into the circle and has shown us the evolution of her family and the Big Sur area. This is a good thing in a day when celeb chefs come and go and restaurants are based on ephemeral trends or gorging yourself or just the cache that an expensive price tag brings.
Whether she says so or not Romney Steele and Lolly are saying "make your own history with food and love and nurturing". Brava.
I'll get back to you on the recipes!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Pressure cookers
I remember as a child watching in something akin to horror as a pressure cooker rocked away on the stovetop. Pressure cookers were often used for beans and pot roasts back then as a way to cut cooking time. Enegy use was a non-issue in the early 60s. The whole thing seemed very frightening and the stuff of Three Stooges cooking comedy...as I recall a cooker exploded in at least one episode, but unlike in real life the stooge or stooges involved were unscathed and unscalded. I grew up in fear of these beasts and have never used one. I didn't even own one until today.
It was a gift of sorts. There is an estate liquidator I visit regularly and from whom I purchased a lovely marble-topped coffee table today. There was a pressure cooker sitting among some pots and pans and general kitchen goods. I asked about it and he said "I'll make it easy, just take it" So I did.
As I said, I've never used one, I find them a bit scary, and had no idea where to start. So I started on the internet and found a Mirro-matic manual online: http://www.redhillgeneralstore.com/pdf/mirromanual.pdf I was delighted to see that the directions still existed and that my free cooker had all the needed pieces. I was also shocked to see that people used these silly things for quick cooking vegetables such as asparagus and broccoli! I suppose they liked that cool olive drab tone "back in the day", but I will stick with stir-frying. The Pressure cooker shall be reserved for unsprouted beans, pot-roasts, and quick cooking chiken fricasee!
Will report back after I have tried it. I suppose I will read the manual a dozen times before I work up the courage!
It was a gift of sorts. There is an estate liquidator I visit regularly and from whom I purchased a lovely marble-topped coffee table today. There was a pressure cooker sitting among some pots and pans and general kitchen goods. I asked about it and he said "I'll make it easy, just take it" So I did.
As I said, I've never used one, I find them a bit scary, and had no idea where to start. So I started on the internet and found a Mirro-matic manual online: http://www.redhillgeneralstore.com/pdf/mirromanual.pdf I was delighted to see that the directions still existed and that my free cooker had all the needed pieces. I was also shocked to see that people used these silly things for quick cooking vegetables such as asparagus and broccoli! I suppose they liked that cool olive drab tone "back in the day", but I will stick with stir-frying. The Pressure cooker shall be reserved for unsprouted beans, pot-roasts, and quick cooking chiken fricasee!
Will report back after I have tried it. I suppose I will read the manual a dozen times before I work up the courage!
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