Where are you taking me?

I first discovered Stravinsky when I was 14 years old, and have studied the life and work of the composer for over half of my life. When I came across a movie which featured the composer, especially when he was younger, and living in Paris,  I knew I had to screen the movie; the trailer is attached to the photo below.

The film was based on the novel by Chris Greenhalgh which is based on the “what if” scenario that rumors of a purported affair between the Chanel and Stravinsky were actually true. Read More �

As I look at my signed copy of a Single Man, autographed by Isherwood, I regret during our conversation I never asked about his vague ending, did George die or did he simply fall asleep – to this day the debate continues. But for me, there is no debate that Tom Ford should not have written the adaptation of a Single Man, calling to mind inexperience as a cinema-graphic director.

As I watched the film I walked into the theater knowing full well that one could not truly adapt Isherwood’s novella, but I had hoped the movie might at least capture the spirit…..there was no spirit other than another Hollywood “Gay” character drizzling the movie audience with pity tears, and melodramatic cliches. Read More �

Recently, out of my collection of videos, I screened the PBS documentary entitled, Liberty, a six hour retrospective telling the tale of the American fight for independence, narrated by actors sharing actual written history taken from letters, diaries, and other documents from people many of us had never heard of. One of the recurring characters is a wood-be soldier who ended up fighting in the colonial army, sharing his life during the 8 year long conflict, another a 16 year old teenager’s tale recorded in her diary as the British attempt to win the war using southern sympathizers. It’s a rich documentary, well constructed, thoughtful, filled with living history presented in such a way that one can truly see the choices people make can and DO effect others which makes history something more than dates, and tired dead facts. Read More �

Last night Felix and I watched an American Masters biography covering the life and work of Leonard Bernstein. When the program came to its conclusion I began to wonder if Lenny and I lived on the same planet — from what I experienced from his words; we do not.

Like any great artist, he saw the world through a different mode, a lens filtered through an alternative perspective; this perspective is something in which we can relate, but at the same evokes a sense of awe. Read More �

Much like a rich deeply flavored stew, a good work of art as it simmers brings up to the surface flavors, and bits of ingredients which may have remained in the bottom of the stock pot. The documentary, Chris & Don, is a fine rich stew which works on many different levels. It is a story of two individuals, and how these two individuals met on a beach in Southern California during a summer in the 1950′s. It is a story of a complex writer (Isherwood) who by this stage in his life was comfortable with his own formed psyche, and a very young man of 18 (Don Bachardy) who was not yet fully formed, and like most people of this age today, seeking to find out who he was in his public life, as well as the emerging person from the inside.

Through the use of home movies, the documentary speaks on a particular sociological level, a microcosm of life in Hollywood, it speaks of two men out of the closet in a point in the entertainment industry when homophobia was clearly a byproduct of well paid public figures living dual lives. This duality was a way of life (Pre-Stonewall), yet here was Isherwood taking his 19 year old lover on location of Dr. John Ford, known as a director of films which spewed heterosexual testosterone. Don & Chris exposes their intimacy of a couple who’s 33 year relationship was not without its ups and downs yet were able to remain committed to one another by the use of their pet name persona; the younger man as a cat, and Isherwood being the old horse. What they would not share as humans, they were able to communicate as their favorite pet – their alter egos. Read More �

I recently attended a lecture by Ishwerwood and literary scholar, James Berg who shared insights into the formation of his current book, Christopher Ishwerwood on Writing. The book is a reconstruction of notes taken from lectures Isherwood had given at various institutions of higher learning in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and UCLA.

I enjoyed listening to someone discuss Isherwood as I went through my Isherwood period during my mid twenties slowly making my way through almost everything I could find in print. One my my pleasant memories was meeting Isherwood, in the early 80′s, at the now gone A Different Light bookstore in Silverlake in which I was able to have him sign his masterpiece, A Single Man, and his current book, “October”, a series of diary excerpts from the month of October interspersed with drawings by his long time life partner, Don Bachardy.

What sparked my interest, outside of basic information Dr. Berg offered; a sketch of the famed creator of the Berlin Stories (which eventually became the musical Cabaret) was that a new documentary had been created to share the love story of Chris & Don. Read More �

From the Los Angeles Times:

“Earle H. Hagen, the Emmy Award-winning television composer who wrote the memorable theme music for “The Andy Griffith Show,” “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “I Spy” and other classic TV programs, has died. He was 88.”

If you know anything about TV, or have an ear for TV show themes, odds are you heard this man’s work. I’ve always been one who reads the names of people behind the screen, and even when I was first caught up in my own personal discovery of music, the name Earle Hagen stood out, as well as his music. I was at one point interested in film scoring and bought his new book which explained the tricks of the trade, long before computers became involved –in those days it was called a click track..what this guy did with a click track was simply amazing.

Follow the link to the LA times, you can read about his career, and there is also a link to his oral history which he provided for the Archive of American Television.

It was reported today that screenwriter Abby Mann had passed away. One of the most important films he made was the Stanley Kramer epic, Judgment at Nuremberg. According to the Los Angeles Times:

During his more than 50-year career as a writer, producer and director, Mann built a strong reputation for his issue-oriented, thought-provoking projects. A multiple Emmy winner, Mann was especially critical of the inner workings of the American criminal justice system. He was known for creating complex characters and was scrupulous in his investigative research.

The movie version of “Judgment” brought him to Hollywood, where he went on to write 1963′s “A Child Is Waiting,” directed by John Cassavetes, a drama that dealt with mentally challenged children, and the 1965 adaptation of Katherine Anne Porter’s novel “Ship of Fools,” which was directed by Kramer and brought Mann a second Oscar nomination.

I invite you to click on the scene which represents the power of using words to express a sentiment so strong that is speaks to us today; this is the use of language which surpassed the time in which it was written, or even the context for which it was intended. It also helps to have a powerhouse like Spencer Tracy deliver the words in such a way that truth is brought to life.

Years ago, way back in 1984-85, I spent a year involved in one of the most important relationships in my life. Now that I live in Pasadena, I have now and then driven past the home located near Orange Grove and Colorado Blvd where much of this joy took place.

When I see this home in the present, floods of memories fill me. I thought of music I’d written on Judd’s piano, of my play Tracks which I edited while laying on Gregory’s bed, I thought of the intense emotional feelings of joy spending weekends with Gregory (treating the Pasadena residence as the West Hollywood version of going out to the country for the weekend), and of course, I thought of a Judd’s New Years Eve Party; and also Judd’s well known and beloved Christmas parties, many of which I was actively involved, or his quarterly Musicales. Read More �

I was saddened to hear of the death of postmodern choreographer Maurice Bejart. Though I was by no means an authority on his life and work, I was drawn to his creative sense of movement, and found is eclectic sense of dance visually stimulating, as well as highly unique. I loved the way he used dancer’s arms, which are one of the most important aspect of dance. For those who do not know Bejart’s work, I have included a clip of his from a famous work for the stage, Bolero.

Merci Bejart et merde.