Revisiting some old books and films years later, after the jump:
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A few years back, I wrote about re-reading Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (the original title) that I could not understand as a high school student…. yet became fascinating to me as an adult later on. And I have done so with some books and films …. some successfully, others not-so-much …. yet it is an effort worth doing, methinks.
An integral part of this: my love for libraries (my first job was a work-study job at a public library when I was at a community college) and how I miss video rental stores. Not necessarily Blockbuster; often local stores (especially in the waning years of these establishments) had what I desired most: some classic films, some recent hits, but especially foreign films, documentaries and the like. There was such a store in my town … that closed only five years ago.
And just like visiting a library or a record shop: I enjoyed wandering through, looking at new titles and sections, and able to ask for suggestions. Just not the same with Netflix and Redbox ….. at times I feel like the rock guitarist Joe Walsh, whose 2012 album release’s title track Analog Man sounds like me, “I'm an analog man … in a digital world”.
I suppose an early example is the Wizard of Oz film, that I faithfully watched as a child each springtime. I used to be scared out-of-my-wits as a youngster, then recalled they escaped (but didn’t remember how) … to finally reaching the age where I laughed at the one-liners more than anything (and they still hold up).
In my original diary I alluded to another example … here, a closer look. As a high school freshman, the principal of my Jesuit high school (Fr. John Rowan) called an assembly to have the whole school watch the 1966 film A Man for All Seasons— written by Robert Bolt, directed by Fred Zinneman and starring Paul Schofield and Wendy Hiller. I loved the imagery, and I could sense why Paul Schofield won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1967. Yet as a fourteen year-old, this film …. flew-over-my-head, could not process it for the life of me.
Years later, I saw it in a video store, rented it ….. and the film’s theme seemed absurdly easy to understand. I mentioned this to Father Rowan when I saw him at a recent reunion and he said he was worried about that, for the underclassmen … he just felt it was an important film to show, albeit more apropos for the upperclassmen.
I also once saw in a video store (back in the VHS tape days) a film that we had discussed in high school film class — due to its groundbreaking director’s work — yet I resolved never to watch: 1915’s Birth of a Nation. Yet in my forties, I felt that maybe I should educate myself on it … and it came on two cassettes (being 3:15 long). Maybe I was expecting the worst right away … yet the first cassette seemed comparatively tame. That ended as soon as the second cassette started playing.
And also in my forties, I decided to rent a film that I was certain that I had seen every part of it … simply not in sequence. And that would be Casablanca— perpetually on TV somewhere, yet I felt perhaps I should watch it in one sitting? And indeed, it was worth the $2-$3 rental: may not have seen anything new, yet I did feel as if I was sitting in Rick’s Café (that I never felt before).
Revisiting may not always work: I can’t say that Silas Marner or Far From the Madding Crowd was worth the second effort … yet am glad that I made the effort.
(Goodness, wasn’t that interview with Mary Trump scary)?
Let’s close with a song of nostalgia, John Sebastian’s “You and Me Go Way Back”— with Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes (vocals) Roger McGuinn of the Byrds (guitar), Felix Cavaliere of the Rascals (keyboards), Al Anderson of NRBQ (bass) and Richard Manuel of the Band (drums).
Now, on to Top Comments:
From dragonwerx:
In the front-page story about efforts by the new postmaster general to hamper mail service — user Noodles posted a great recommendation for how to work with Dem candidates against Rs regarding the Postal Service. This diary alone, or better yet some of the studies above that are referenced, will give them a couple minutes of talking points. These candidates need to hear from people to make it an issue. It's one more thing they can use against their opponent.
From MRA NY:
In the front-page story about the San Diego “Karen” — distraught that a barista (who insisted upon her wearing a mask) received so much support from the community that she demanded ½ of it — this comment made by Lake of Shadows made me laugh.
Highlighted by bonniebluesky:
In the front-page story about Gov. Brian Kemp precluding Georgia municipalities from adopting their own mask ordinances— this comment made by FindingMyVoice.
Highlighted by niftywriter:
In today’s Good News Roundup written by oldhippiedude focusing on good news about his home state of Texas — this comment by the author said everything I was thinking … and also some great points I hadn’t thought of!
And from Ed Tracey, your faithful correspondent this evening ........
In the diary by AlyoshaKaramazov about former game show host (now right-wing podcaster) Chuck Woolery abandoning his Covid-19 denialism rather abruptly …. when his son contracted the disease …. Seraph4377 notes a longer view of how the GOP operates on these issues.
TOP PHOTOSJuly 15th, 2020 Next - enjoy jotter's wonderful *PictureQuilt™* below. Just click on the picture and it will magically take you to the comment that features that photo.
(NOTE: Any missing images in the Quilt were removed because (a) they were from an unapproved source that somehow snuck through in the comments, or (b) it was an image from the DailyKos Image Library which didn't have permissions set to allow others to use it.) |
And lastly: yesterday's Top Mojo - mega-mojo to the intrepid mik ...... who rescued this feature from oblivion:
3) “It’s not a miracle, it’s democracy.” … by oxfdblue +21712) I'll go with "viciously stupid." by megsk8z +132