It's been a long time since we've looked at a literary leviathan, adapted countless times for the large and small screen, part of our cultural lexicon, and something we can't imagine life without. The 1844 Alexandre Dumas classic is an absolute titan in that regard, right up there with Robin Hood, King Arthur and Romeo and … Continue reading Page To Screen: The Three Musketeers
We’re On Our Way To France
I'm so glad travel is basically back to normal, those stupid inflated fuel prices notwithstanding. This summer we're staying pretty close to home because the cheapest gas in my part of Placer County is currently around seven dollars a gallon, and any traveling we do will have to be creative. Among other things we'll be … Continue reading We’re On Our Way To France
Bonjour, Par-ee
I'm doing a standalone book review for once--whaddaya know? I'd like to do more of these, so keep watching this space. Anyway, today's offering is Siri Mitchell's 2005 novel, Kissing Adrien. Go ahead and make Rocky Balboa jokes. You know you want to. Anyway, this Adrien is a guy, and he's been friends with Seattle accountant … Continue reading Bonjour, Par-ee
Stage To Screen: Henry V
This month's Stage To Screen is a strike-while-the-iron-is-hot kind of scenario, because first of all, I felt like writing about Henry V, and secondly, the Lawrence Olivier version is on HBO Max right now, so the timing is fortuitous. Henry V is one of Shakespeare's later plays, and is thought to have been written and perfomed in 1599. … Continue reading Stage To Screen: Henry V
Page To Screen: The Song of Bernadette
1943's The Song Of Bernadette turned Jennifer Jones into an Oscar winner. She was twenty-five at the time and it was her first starring role. How this film came about is a story in and of itself, of course. A Czech Jew named Franz Werfel, who was fleeing the Nazis, sheltered for a time in … Continue reading Page To Screen: The Song of Bernadette
Page To Screen: The Little Prince
My son and I like to read aloud at bedtime, and recently we finished The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. This ethereal 1943 novella follows the title character as he crosses the universe looking for...something. We're not quite sure what at first. The Little Prince is told through the eyes of an unnamed pilot who crash … Continue reading Page To Screen: The Little Prince
Reading Rarities: Joan Of Arc In Her Own Words
No one is ever quite indifferent to Joan of Arc once they've found out about her. She's been called a witch, she's been called crazy, she's been called a mystic. Some people think her Voices were actual Saints and others don't. Either way, we all know Joan's a towering figure to many, and because of … Continue reading Reading Rarities: Joan Of Arc In Her Own Words
Lucky Lindy
Seven years from now will be the one-hundredth anniversary of Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight. Isn't that amazing? It used to be that people could barely move while planes were in the air because of ballast, and now commercial flights have wifi and comfy seats with lots of legroom, not to mention weirdly catchy safety videos. … Continue reading Lucky Lindy
Hallowed Ground
Seventy-five years ago... Charlie Brown cartoons were usually cute and funny, but they were often poignant. One of my favorites from the 1980s was the little gem, What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown? Originally broadcast on May 30, 1983, it's the continuation of the adventures Charlie Brown, Linus, Peppermint Patty, Marcie, Woodstock and Snoopy had in the … Continue reading Hallowed Ground
Sister, Sister
I don't know about anyone else, but D.W. Griffith isn't my fave. From what I've found out about him, Besides the fact that Griffith was a flaming racist, I think he's overhyped. Some believe he invented the epic (he didn't), the close-up (nope--that may have been George Albert Smith), and the use of big crowds … Continue reading Sister, Sister
Shamedown #6: How To Steal A Million
Over halfway through my Shamedown list, people. New to the blog and mystified about Shamedowns? Go here. Previous Shamedowns can be found here. Audrey Hepburn is one of my all-time favorite actresses. Her filmography wasn't as long as some peoples' (only thirty-four film credits), but she had good taste in movies, and must have been … Continue reading Shamedown #6: How To Steal A Million
Needing Release
It's that time of year again... 🙂 About fifteen years ago, my family went through a very tough time. We're OK now, but I'm not going to give any specifics because they aren't mine to give, and anyway, they're complicated. It was all stupidly, abusurdly, needlessly difficult, and I felt like life had sat on … Continue reading Needing Release
My First Lon Chaney Movie
It. Is. Time. I'll admit, until this blogathon came around, I hadn't seen any Lon Chaney movies, although I'd seen clips of him. I knew he was a pioneer of both film makeup and horror films, which inspire industry professionals such as Rick Baker to this day. During his life, Chaney was so iconic and … Continue reading My First Lon Chaney Movie
Taking Up Room 