David Bowie Is

“David Bowie Is” is a documentary about a show that was created by the Victoria and Albert Museum and the title of a documentary about the show.  The film was screen recently in Hollywood at the Arc Light Cinema. I got a call from Ginger Coyote asking me to go in her stead as she was out of town performing with her band The White Trash Debutantes.  I attended the screening with Liberty Mitchell-Bradford.  There was a bit of a problem when we arrived as the promoter was supposed to arrange tickets for us but the management of the Arc Light had no idea who we were. Luckily the manager was very nice and accommodating and Liberty and I were given some nice seats.

The Film is about a show put on at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The show itself looks like it is very interesting and filled with memorabilia. It appears David Bowie is a pack rat and has never thrown anything away. There were photos and art work from his childhood and early career when he was still Davy Jones.  The Victoria and Albert show looks like it must have been a very fun exhibit to see and is touring the world to different museums.

As a documentary I found the film to be rather slow paced and lacking in many ways. There were many long and frankly dull sections in the film with art historians and music historians addressing and audience. These sections really could have been edited down.  There was one in particular where a costume designer discussed David Bowie’s fashion and impact on fashion which could have been interesting if the talking head had an understandable accent or had been subtitled. I frankly couldn't understand a word he said other then David and Bowie.

The film is really about the show so if you watch it expecting any incite on the real David Bowie or find out anything new you will be disappointed, His wives and children are never mentioned and his only influence mentioned is Little Richard and that was an aside.  I really wanted more. The archival footage was fun to watch and of course hearing his voice and music was enjoyable. The only thing I really did not care for was the ending of the film with footage of Bowie performing the song “Heros” at a concert for the first responders of 9-11. I found it to be rather tasteless and wondered who could think this was a good idea. It would be a fine ending to a First responders documentary but hardly fitting for a documentary on David Bowie and the show “David Bowie Is”.

Jane and Michael Banks

Who are the two cutest kids ever in movies? Jane and Michael Banks from the movie "Mary Poppins" have to take the cake. They "Won't hide your spectacles so you can't see. Put Toads in your bed or pepper in your tea." The 1964 movie made the two most adorable children in the world stars. Their real names are Karen Dotrice and Michael Garber and they really are English.
Dotrice is the child of Shakespearean actors and Garber's parents were also English stage performers. They had worked together previously in another Disney film called "The Three Lives of Thomasina". It was Poppins that they will always be remembered for. They were paired one final time in yet another Disney movie called "The Gnome-Mobile".
Karen Dotrice worked for many years as an actress and married twice. She has three children and decided to take time away to be their mother. Occasionally she would appear on stage in London as well as in Los Angeles. She also did some voice over work. Dotrice at one time vowed her career was over but in recent years has made appearances especially as the 50 year anniversary of Poppins has come up as well as the new film about the movie "Saving Mr. Banks".
Sadly, Michael Garber died in 1977 at the age of 21. His career stopped after his last Disney appearance and he travelled with his parents. It was in India that contracted hepatitis and by the time he was able to return to london for treatment he had developed pancreatitis and died.
The Banks' children may have aged in real life but they will always be flying a kite, hopping in and out of chalk pictures and loving to laugh with Mary Poppins.

The Ornery Boss

Edward Andrews had an amazing career. He was always the ornery boss or crabby father or the slight untrustworthy executive.  He worked a lot once hit his 40's until that time he managed to get by but when he came to his age he rocketed to character actor stardom. 
Edward Andrews was born in Georgia in 1914 to an Episcopal minster and moved many times throughout his childhood. After studying at the University of Virginia Andres made his Broadway debut in 1935 at the age of 21. He toiled in the New York theater scene until he was in his 40's and made the move to Hollywood. Andrews appeared in films such as "Send Me No Flowers" with Rock Hudson and Doris Day, "Elmer Gantry", "How to Frame a Figg", "Tora,Tora,Tora" the list goes on and on.
Andrews also did lots of television. He was a constant on sitcoms and in dramas. He also had reoccurring roles including a regular role in the 60's drama Broadside on ABC. He once played a drug dealing mortician on "Mod Squad".  One of his last roles was Jack Tripper's grandfather on "Threes Company".
Edward Andrews died in 1985 from a heart attack. He was 70 years old.

Finally an Encyclopedia Brown Movie

It was reported in the Hollywood Reporter that there is finally going to be an Encyclopedia Brown movie. According to the Hollywood Reporter Warner Brothers Pictures are in the final stages of negotiations with Roy Lee and Howard Duetsch to bring the boy detective to life.
Get your brainy son ready to audition for the role of Leroy Encyclopedia Brown or maybe your rough and tuff daughter to play his best friend Sally Kimball. Maybe you have a bratty nephew who would be the best Bugs Meany?
 

Behind the Cadleabra the Newest Camp Classic!

I was invited to a friends home the other day to see the HBO movie "Behind the Candelabra". The version we watched was a bootleg copy of it that was recorded on a VHS tape. Yes I said VHS. I didn't know they even made VHS tapes anymore. But it was oddly more fun to see it this way.
The movie itself is a total riot. I would say it is more of a comedy than a regular biography. The film is campy campy campy just the way Liberace would have loved it. What he might not like was the frankness about his gayness. He liked to think that no one knew. He lived a life in denial. He did take a lot of baths if you believe this movie!
The acting and direction of the film is excellent. Michael Douglas is not one of my favorite actors but his performance in this is remarkable. He was able to make the campy queeny Liberace come off real and likeable. Matt Damon's portrayal of Scott Thorenson is well done bringing a lot of nuances to his performances.
The sets and costumes for the film need to be applauded as well. Much of the film was shot in LA in Zsa Zsa Gabor's house. This is yet another example of something I do think Liberace would have loved. The costumes are so over the top that they must have used pieces from the now defunct Liberace Museum in Las Vegas.
There are 3 other actors that need to be applauded for their performances. Debbie Reynolds as Liberace's mother, Dan Aykroyd as Liberace's manager and a very creepy Rob Lowe as his plastic surgeon.  
If you get a chance to see it do so and have yourself a great laugh! This is a camp classic!

Sofia Coppola's New Movie "The Bling Ring"

Sofia Coppola is at it again and it looks like she may have another winner of a movie on her hands. I have seen the trailer and some "sneaked" footage of "The Bling Ring" her next movie set to premier at Cannes. "The Bling Ring" is based on the real life story of a bunch of unknown fame whores from LA who robbed the homes of famous fame whores.
I personally love Sofia's films and from what i have seen this looks like it is going to be great. One of the members of the real life Bling Ring isn't too happy about it though. Oh boo hoo you are a crook who cares what you think. Alexis Neiers was arrested and spent 30 days of her 180 day sentence in the slammer after pleading no contest. Ms Neiers went on to do a dreadful reality show making her seem even more regrettable of a human being.
"The Bling Ring"  scheduled to be released in June follows the characters based on the real life crooks who broke into homes of Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and others. The ring stole clothing, jewelry and (gasp) drugs! Emma Watson known for her role in the Harry Potter series plays the character of Nikki based on Neiers has described Nikki as superficial, materailistic, vain and immoral. Let's hope Sofia pulls another great film out of her hat!

A Remake of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane! Why?

Fifty years ago a cinema masterpiece of sorts was made. It was the black and white B-movie "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane". Co-starring two of Hollywood heaviest of heavy weights Joan Crawford and Bette Davis as freaky Hollywood casualties. The original was released on Halloween of 1962 and based on the Henry Farrell novel. Shot in black and white in Hancock Park and Hollywood culminating on a beach in Malibu "Baby Jane"is one of the creepiest movies ever made. It has achieved cult status for both its horror and camp appeal. Both Joan Crawford's and Bette Davis' careers were resurrected by "Baby Jane". The plot is a legendary Hollywood nightmare, a study of fame and its detriments. Sisterly jealousy dominates the twisting script. "But you are Blanche. You Are!"
There are now reports of a re-make of "Baby Jane" in the pipeline. Why? It was tried once before with Vanessa and Lynn Redgrave and failed. It failed so badly most people wouldn't know it exists.  This new attempt is slated to be directed by Walter Hill. His biggest problem is going to be casting. Who could play those roles other the Davis and Crawford? Many actresses will turn the roles down flat. Don't expect Meryl Streep and Sally Field to take the roles, Valerie Bertinelli and Mackenzie Phillips would be a better ballgame to bet upon. Sure, it could possibly be a good movie but it will always have to compete with the original. It will never compare so why go through the expense and bother? It is a lose lose situation.

Harry and Tonto

I sat alone at home this evening watching a bit of TV. TMC was showing "Harry and Tonto". I hadn't seen the movie in years and suddenly now I remember how wonderful a film it is. It is Art Carney's masterpiece. He won the academy award for best actor for his performance and deserved it! Art Carney isn't Norton he is Harry. Ralph is 100% forgotten Art Carney is someone entirely different, a complete character, fully realized and delivered.
"Harry and Tonto" is a brilliant movie you should see it. The director is Paul Mazursky. He was able to draw amazing performances with simplicity and honesty. Harry and his encounters are all real people; this is true acting. This is what acting is supposed to be about. Art Carney proves himself as a proper and respectable actor.
The premise of a road trip from New York to Los Angeles may be an overworked concept but Mazursky is able to make you believe Harry and his cohorts are real. Art Carney is Harry and Tonto the cat is Tonto. You believe them and because of that you love them. Laugh cry what else can you ask for? Get a copy and watch it.

Candy Darling

Beautiful Candy Darling

Los Angeles’ Downtown Independent screened the LA premier of “Beautiful Darling” a documentary biopic about Candy Darling. It was a night of super stars. A dead one on screen and the last real living Warhol super star, Holly Woodland was in the audience.

The film is a story of obsession and impression; a study of illusion and delusion.  Candy Darling nee James Slattery was one of Andy Warhol’s “superstars” along with Jackie Curtis and Holly Wood land they were the gender bending triumvirate. Candy was the blonde channeling Kim Novak and Marilyn Monroe.  Could she act? It is hard to say yes and hard to say no. Candy’s biggest role was Candy.  Through archival photos, film footage and interviews with contemporaries a picture of who Candy was emerges.  She lived a life of glamour in a ghetto accepting handouts from Warhol who made money off of her while eventually throwing her and all the superstars away. In Beautiful Darling it is said “Warhol threw people away the way one tosses out tissues, use them and then they’re done”.  Candy lived a marginal existence crashing on sofas in borrowed clothes while Warhol lived in lavish style.  All this same time Candy was a warrior of sorts.  She was part of a new generation of gender benders that took it further than anyone had so far.  They were superstars. Candy, Holly and Jackie thanks to Lou Reed will forever be enshrined in popular culture through “Walk on the Wild Side”.  Her life was filled with self obsession as well as sycophants. She was used by another group of people riding on her coat tails. One of them is Jeremiah Newton. He was her friend and lived with her until her untimely death at 29. Mr. Newton seems genuinely love and admire her yet she is still his link to fame. At the end of the film Jeremiah Newton talks about going to Candy’s mother’s home on Long Island. He went to see “the mother” as he calls her and to retrieve Candy’s personal papers he left with as much as he could. Candy’s mother later burned the remains out of shame.

Candy, Jackie and Holly were well ahead of their time yet made by their time while living a fantasy of another time.  They came from a time when men were men and if you weren’t you lived in the shadows. They left the shadows and became luminaries. Candy like Marilyn died young, Jackie died of an almost predictable/inevitable drug over dose yet Holly survived. There she was here in the theater looking just as one think Holly Woodlawn should look; made up.  Helped to her VIP seats Holly entered the theater declaring she wasn’t drunk but in pain. Settled into her seat Holly was asked if she’d like a glass of wine she said “Yes or maybe some heroin.”  Forty-one years later she is still the superstar. Holly stayed for a Q & A with the audience after the screening. Sometimes she made sense but always she was funny. Holly rambled and reminisced reminding everyone who spoke with her she was/is a superstar.  Where is the film of her life? “A Low Life in High Heels” her autobiography is a perfect source and just waiting to be made into her movie!

This was Candy’s night but it was also Holly’s. They were pioneers! They shaved their legs and never gave it away.  The Downtown Independent was the perfect venue for “Beautiful Darling” it’s on the edge but very elegant.  I left the film knowing more about Candy than I had saddened by her death but assured it was how she’d want it.