Today's shows had more great scenes.  I've always loved that little exchange between Willie and Liz in the Collinwood Foyer.  Liz is at her iciest (I was surprised that Willie wasn't chipping frost off his face after he beat a hasty retreat).  Karlen played Willie's reactions with such honest, beautiful realism.  Between them, the actors created an amazing little gem out of what could have been just a standard scene.

I also loved the exchanges between Willie and Barnabas in episode #2.  Even though their putative "great friendship" violates the established history between the two, the actors played the scene with a lot of depth.  I've noticed that Karlen often brought out the best in Frid.  He played his scenes today with beautiful skill and restraint, I thought.

I just love the moment when Willie is telling Barnabas how sorry he is to be deserting him in his hour of need, and he pouts up his lips in the cutest way, like a doting father turning down his favorite child's request for ice cream.  So sweet.  Karlen has the most wonderfully expressive face!  Makes me want to send him a big splashy birthday card, thanking him for making my day again today.

Oh, and Grayson was FABULOUS, of course, but you already knew that.

I'm sure the TLATKLS brigade appreciated how charming Katie looked in her boudoir ensemble.

Gothick

Hi DoomBuggy, I'm surprised that the 25th anniversary tape was yanked as quickly as you say. My impression was that it was available for years before they finally deleted it.  I do remember when the hoo-ha broke out over the fact that Mr. Frid had apparently not signed anything permitting the use of the Telltale Heart performance (which is excellent, and rates as the only appearance by him in a visual recorded medium since that Oliver Stone thing).

I'll have to get it out and watch it again.

Gothick

Thanks, Stuart, for explaining about the revision of the book.  That's good to know.

I'm very sorry to hear about Craig's health problems.  I had heard something about him being hospitalized last year, but don't recall any details.  I will keep him in my healing thoughts and prayers.

Steve

Well, I had the show on this a.m., beeswing-eyed after my delirious, rained-out weekend in the Vermont mountains (thank the Gods Maria von Trapp did not appear over the hills coloraturing about the Sound of Music, for if she had done, I would have had to brain her with my earthenware phallus, the one with the purple mardi-gras bead choker).  Who should come waltzing in but Nicholas Blair, paying upon a visit upon his dear, OLD, down-on-her-luck-again, OLD buddy, Mrs. Angelique Rumson.  PRICELESS!  see, stuff like this is what always makes me think the Leviathans was the best period in the show's history--certainly the best of all the present-time arcs.  Scenes like this are incredibly rich because of how well writers and actors were able to make use of two years or more of existing subtext.

I do love the use Angelique makes of her little keepsake from Boston.  (Makes note to self--DON'T order any cute little tchotchkes from the Franklin Mint as a hostess gift for Mrs. Rumson's next kaffeeklatsch on Little Windward Island.)

Did anybody else notice that Sky's "burning poker" got a LOT bigger in episode 2 than it had been in episode one.  Hmmm, somehow I always had the feeling that Sky's poker got bigger the longer he gripped it.  Gripped it firmly and with emotion.  Hey, Sky, can I hold that poker for you?  Need me to help you out with that, dude?  Hmmmmmm....

Also glimpsed Camera 2 in the mirror when Sky and Ang were kissing in episode 1.  Not really a very serious blooper since you would hardly have noticed it unless you'd watched the episode several times, as I have done.

Another favorite moment of mine (and, I believe, the MB's as well) is coming up, when Julia finds out about Barn's latest "talk" with Megan.  Can't wait!

Gothick

btw I heard a rumor that the next Austin Powers flick is going to feature Dr. Evil cloning Amanda Harris back to life from the remnants of a false eyelash retrieved from Grant Douglas' old houndstooth jacket, found at a Woolworths jumble sale.

Gothick

...

How sad that another classic is being desecrated by Hollywood.  I shudder to think what the movie moguls will do to "I Capture the Castle."  Good though the Disney cartoon is (it's one of the very few I can still watch without getting a queasy stomach as an adult), the novel Hundred and One Dalmations is inexpressibly better.  I loved the sequel, The Starlight Barking--just beautiful.  I have no idea where you'd be able to find a copy today, of course.

There's a biography of Dodie Smith that came out some years ago.  She was a friend of Christopher Isherwood's, and, I believe, of other literary lights as well.

Gothick

There are probably technical people around who could be interviewed about the making of the film.  I think Hampton Fancher is still alive as well, and he was there.  The ones *I* want to hear from though are those two maracas-shakin' beach bunnies.  You just know they must have some great stories to tell.

How weird that Grayson isn't mentioned in current write-ups of the film.  Even though she didn't get top billing, she shows up at least three times in the trailer for the movie.  I have a whole collection of reviews of the film from the original 1964 release, and she is often mentioned as the ONLY thesp to turn in a worthwhile performance in the movie!  I agree with those who give all of them good marks, but Grayson deserved special recognition.

I have several favorite anecdotes about the making of it.  One was after Grayson did the telephone scene, Ava Gardner asked her how she did it so convincingly.  Grayson said something like I just pause and imagine the other person speaking on the other end of the line.  Ava apparently shrieked, exclaimed "Oh NO, that's TECHNIQUE!" and went barrelling down towards the beach to jump in the surf.  I suspect  the Divine One may have exaggerated just a tad in telling that story.

Also, there's a story in one of the big glossy magazine interviews where Grayson and Burton were in a bar one evening and Burton was making googly eyes at her and asking if he could stay with her (he had just signed a contract to do Hamlet in NYC) while an amused Liz looked on.  According to the reporter, Burton told Grayson:  "YOU, love, are an ACTRESS."

Gothick

Davis wins hands down. Pennock had several extraordinarily good scenes over time on the show.   Plus I thought he was damn sexy, while Davis is simply ... nauseating.

Gothick