Sunday, February 28, 2010

Carroll O'Connor - remembering you

John Carroll O'Connor was born to a school teacher Mother and lawyer Father in an affluent family in Forest Hills , Queens NY. He grew up with his 2 brothers (one became a lawyer and one a psychiatrist) and played a lot of baseball with the neighborhood kids. He was often called "Fat" or "Chub". O'Connor adored going to movies and idolized the film stars of the 1930s and 40s. He said he never imagined being a part of their world - he just wanted to continue admiring them. His well-to-do educated background led him to college in Ireland where he planned to be a writer, historian and teacher. After acting in a few college plays for fun - he was so embraced and mentored by the seasoned English and Irish actors - he decided to stay in the profession "out of sheer flattery". He said "I wanted to stay with these people who had been so generous and welcoming to me."

Carroll ( as he was always called by his Mother) worked in a few studio films and live TV and in 1970 was given the role of his career: a Queens blue-collar bigot named Archie Bunker. (you can hear all about the genesis of the character, 3 pilots and his dislike for Norman Lear who hardly ever gave him writer credit for his weekly re-writes and improv and certainly never gave him a piece of the spin-off shows - at this link)

The complete 8 part interview is here

Carroll O'Connor had a brilliant mind and acting craft, and his character Archie Bunker became beloved by audiences all over the world. Liberals and bigots alike could appreciate the struggles and buffoonery of the character.

“That was Archie. All his preconceptions keeping him from enjoying life. That was my message. Because Archie never enjoyed anything. Something was poisoning life for him. He didn’t realize that [it] was from inside of himself. His (abusive, bigoted) father had passed on the poison.” - Carroll O'Connor



For 8 seasons on All in the Family and 5 more on Archie Bunker's Place - the character grew and changed and showed his pain and heart. When Jean Stapleton left the role - her character was written off by death. Archie helped America grieve. Jean Stapleton was on the road doing a play when it aired - and said she watched and admired his performance. The next day, the hotel maid came in and saw Jean and almost fainted ( "I thought you were DEAD!")



It was hard for fans to see Carroll O'Connor- the public figure devastated by the drug overdose death of his adult son, Hugh. Carroll followed him in death not long after.

In 1977, Carroll O'Connor played a big city mayor in a TV film (that he also wrote) and came by The Tonight Show to discuss the project with guest-host Frank Sinatra. The intelligent and urbane conversation displayed on the Tonight Show sofa is something this is long gone today.



Carroll O'Connor became friends with many of his childhood film idols like James Cagney.
O'Connor wrote, produced and starred in another successful series In The Heat of The Night (1988-1995)

In 1998, he wrote his autobiography titled "I Think I'm Outta Here" - hundreds of fans lined up at his book signings to meet the man they had been entertained by for decades. The O'Connors spent lots of time with their grandson, Sean.

I leave you with Carroll O'Connor singing the closing theme song - with lyrics that he wrote.




Rest in Peace, Carroll O'Connor. Your talent and charm and wisdom and heart made this world a better place.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Old Hollywood

Take a look at this gorgeous Tumblr.

And oh yes, that's a still from William Dieterle & Max Reinhardt's A Midsummer Night's Dream - the movie that Kenneth Anger lied and said he was the Little Prince Changeling in! During one of my insomnia cycles, I used to like to fall asleep to that movie. It's so beautiful. The only film Reinhardt ever directed here.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Prove your claims!

We've finished the second and last (for now) episode of "In the Future with Nostro-dumbass". He predicts cannibalism.... homosexual cities and takes on those who doubt his extreme powers of prediction!

Monday, February 22, 2010

JESUS JUICE OR CASTRO CANDY...YOU DECIDE KIDS!

Having recently been blessed with the opportunity to have a late lunch with the scintillating Mavis Martini (Who is even more glamorous, charming, and breathtakingly beautiful in person), our deeply philosophical conversation turned to the subject of the prolific Nashville film making dynasty known as the Ormonds, led by their  patriarch, the late Ron Ormond. Aside from giving the world such exploitation classics as THE EXOTIC ONES and FORTY ACRE FEUD, they also produced with the collaboration of the immortal Rev. Estus W. Pirkle, religious films.   A series of southern soaked synapse singeing soul saving savior slurping show stopping Sunday school successes , of which I was personally scarred by seeing a screening of THE BURNING HELL at Bethel Baptist Church in Kentucky when I was 14 years old!  I know Ms. Lethal has opined on them before but after seeing IF FOOTMEN TIRE YOU, WHAT WILL HORSES DO? for the umpteenth time I felt the Holy Spirit move me to post these snippets from this masterpiece.  I urge all of you to not just seek out their "Christian" atrocities but the whole of their outlandish "oeuvre".  I highly recommend PLEASE DON"T TOUCH ME and GIRL FROM TOBACCO ROW.








Superstition Street

Damn.

Thanks, Demetri

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Carl Weathers for Governor

You've elected Arnold Schwarzeneggar and Jesse Venture for governor. Now it's Carl Weathers' turn.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Jerry Reed on Scooby-Doo


Thanks, Pappy!

Hello Ann-Margret

When Bye Bye Birdie went from stage on Broadway to a Hollywood film it brought its 2 male stars Dick Van Dyke and Paul Lynde. (Sorry Chita Rivera - your part is going to Janet Leigh). Paul joked that the film should be called "Hello Ann-Margret" since all the focus was on her sizzling sexpot appeal.

Charles Strouse was asked to write a title song (which the play didn't have) and he came up with this. It was referenced in Mad Men season 3.

cue WIND MACHINE !!!

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Ethan Frome ala 2010

This short film hilariously adapts Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome - a tale of lust and tragic love - using today's vernacular.
Oh how I wish every classic got a retelling in this style. This amuses me to no end.



If you want the long moody adaptation- you can netflix the Joan Allen, Liam Neeson, Patricia Arquette film.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Don't Get Mad

Get animated - with "Mr. Finley's Feelings." Can you blame the poor guy?

If link doesn't work, click here.

James Dean : Resurrected

from Youtube:
From concept to completion the new Allan Gray commercial was just over fourteen months in the making. A massive feat that took a combined team of well over a hundred and sixty people, not including extras.

The commercial, Legend, asks us to consider the possibilities of a legend like James Dean had he been given more time. What would he have achieved? How might he have benefited society?

The ad illustrates the importance of time in allowing potential to unfold. Both in life and in investing.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

The Electric Kool-Aid Bicentennial Test

Description: "This trippy tribute to our country's 200th birthday was funded by a Bicentennial Project Grant and animated by Vincent Collins who made other psychedelic cartoons. This film was produced by the United States Information Agency -the government's propaganda agency."

if it doesn't show up, click here.

Don't Get Up for me

from The Gong Show Movie finale

Chuck Barris tried to escape Gong Show mania but the crazy TV family found him.




ps -- I refuse to have cocktail party conversation about TV talent show judges unless the name Jaye P. Morgan is mentioned.

In My Day...




NJ Lady - Florence Lazar - it rhymes with STAR. And She IS.
She has more star quality than 90% of the people polluting movie screens, TV or US Weekly. Oprah, should be so lucky to get an exclusive interview with this NJ Lady.

2008 clip: She discusses her dead friends


2008 clip: She reads US Weekly


2010 clip: She reviews Tv's Jersey Shore


I could listen to her discuss her long since dead friend Freddy Fishbine all day.

http://www.njlady.tv

CAN TEST CHIMP48 EVER FORGET DONNA LETHAL AND FIND TRUE HAPPINESS?

For Donna...my "sweet love child" from the Anthony Newley masterpiece of self indulgence.."Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?"
Written, produced, directed, starring, and probably catered by Tony himself. Seldom has the silver screen endured such an enthralling ejaculation of ego!! Featuring Joan Collins as Polyester Poontang and Milton Berle as Goodtime Eddie Filth! Oops, I just realized there were previous posts dedicated to this gem..oh well can one ever truly have enough of "the Newley"?

PS. I'm kinda sorta back...Hiya everybody, I missed you!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Night of the Demon

It's pouring rain here today and reminds me of England. I'm pouring myself a cuppa and curling up with Dana Andrews and the spirits.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Because I Had To, That's Why

When I got an email like this: "I had the craziest dream last night: I dreamed I found a naughty French postcard of Harvey Korman for you!"

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Trippy Ginger Rogers Pig Latin



First time I really got into these types of movies was when I was just out of high school and discovering herb (not Edelman, him I was already familiar with). While watching them my old man who had finally been forced to buy a 25" color portable TV (his conditions/reasons for putting it off) would come in and yell, "What the hell are you watching THIS for?!?!?! We finally got a COLOR TV and THIS is what you watch?!!?" I was watching color *wink. Either way it was quite an overwhelming spectacle for the newly stoned Lex10, what with the shopping mall sized sets, the Busby Berkeley imagery, and whatnot. These particular few seconds are well and truly classic.

A couple of observations of these few seconds: The focus pulling going in and out bespeaks (?!) a time before cinematic technological perfection - there's humans at work, and it's poetically beautiful to me. Secondly, that Ginger Rogers is a real sexual response producer and at the time, I was in love with her . Third, trippy, innit?

Enjoy.

It's a Mod, Mod, Mod World!

Who knew The High Numbers would be playing at the Stupor Bowl all these years later? I prefer this venue!

Saturday, February 6, 2010

I'm a Lynch/Godard

at least that's what it looks like to me when I watch football. Always been a boxing girl myself. If various filmmakers directed the superbowl:

Friday, February 5, 2010

Crash


I love this movie because, plainly, I am disturbed. Having worked in a film archive for quite a while, I was thrilled to actually watch things like this for a living -- and it got to be routine: "Three Stooges? Car accidents? War footage? Donna."

Last night I was ranting because I was stuck behind someone with "Psalm" something or other as their license plate. This sends me into a rage. It should be illegal. I can't put things I'd like YOU to read, do, or feel on my license plate as they are considered offensive, illegal, or just plain rude -- but I am force-read someone's bible views for miles? It sends me into a fury and makes me want to run them off the road and beat them senseless. Hence, today's selection.

ps. If it doesn't load for you, click here.

Senator Franken Rips Into Comcast CEO Brian Roberts

Dangerous merger- information pollution becomes truth.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Thursday, February 4, 2010

GlyphJockey Moved New Site/New RSS

Greetings, one and all (especially all)
Blogger in it's infinite run-by-robots faceless wisdom will no longer support my old GlyphJockey.com as a blog so it's now at http://glyphjockey.blogspot.com - and while a pain in the ass it already seems easier to use. The feed is new (no real way to redirect) so please stop by and resubscribe to my list of inane musings.
Thanks!

Monday, February 1, 2010

Into the future!....

Miss Lethal and I have not been working much and you know that can't be good... voilĂ ! The result of our obsessions with Criswell and Korla Pandit! Nostro-Dumbass could be his illegitimate son even! Tell you friends to leave comments and watch it! Give us the praise we deserve! LOL

This project has actually taken a year to complete and a second is on the way which won't be so long coming as all the sets and the main puppet is done.