BLACK NARCISSUS

I rented the film Black Narcissus a few weeks ago. It starred Deborah Kerr. Incredible pioneering cinematography. After seeing it, I had nightmares from Kathleen Byron's performance (for real!). She died last week. Check out the scary photo of her in the Indy's obit, and you'll understand why I got the creeps.

WE HAVE THE STARS.....

Discovered this on YouTube, part of a Cavett interview with Bette Davis. (Yeah, you can tell I'm gay?) She talks especially about Gladys Cooper, who was in one of my most favourite movies, Separate Tables.

"Oh boy! Good!" - Bette Davis

Netherlands Film Festival presents Dutch Film Canon

The Netherlands Film Festival has released its list of most important films in Dutch cinema.

The Canon consists of a list of important, significant Dutch films that reflect the multifaceted nature of Dutch cinema history, plus a list of key moments and events in this history.

Examples of subjects addressed are the role of film censorship, the significance of Film Factory Hollandia, the Polygoon newsreel and the arrival of the sound film.

In total, the commission selected 16 films: the earliest one from the dawn of the 20th century, the latest one on the verge of the 21st. They are feature films and documentaries; short and long films; in black-and-white and colour; live-action and animation; popular movies and experimental productions.

• De mésaventure van een Fransch heertje zonder pantalon aan het strand te Zandvoort, Willy & Albert Mullens, 1905
• Een Carmen van het noorden, Maurits Binger & Hans Nesna, 1919
• Regen, Joris Ivens & Mannus Franken, 1929
• De Jantjes, Jaap Speyer, 1934
• Houen zo!, Herman van der Horst, 1952
• Fanfare, Bert Haanstra, 1958
• Als twee druppels water, Fons Rademakers, 1963
• Blind kind, Johan van der Keuken,1964
• Ik kom wat later naar Madra, Adriaan Ditvoorst, 1965
• Living, Frans Zwartjes, 1971
• Turks Fruit, Paul Verhoeven, 1973
• Flodder, Dick Maas, 1986
• Het Zakmes, Ben Sombogaart, 1992
• De Noorderlingen, Alex van Warmerdam, 1992
• Het is een schone dag geweest, Jos de Putter, 1993
• Father & Daughter, Michael Dudok de Wit, 2000

Most of the films are unknown to me and unavailable either in VHS or DVD formats. On that list, I've seen only Turks Fruit, which I really didn't like.

Neither is Antonia's Line nor De Aanslag on the list. No mention of two other Verhoeven films, Soldaat van Oranje or Spetters, which I've seen and love.

Everyone has their reasons. - Jean Renoir

Thanks to 24oranges for the heads-up.

Ironic Juxtapositions

One of my favourite films is Jean Renoir's La Règle du Jeu/Rules of the Game where he presents a declining society doomed by its intractable conflicts and adherence to superficial manners.

So, today two sets of celebrity groupies are in the news. One will say good-bye to Anna Nicole and another will be in Montpelier for the Sheehan Show.

[APPLAUSE]

the eXile has a hilarious send up of the Oscars here. A sample --

The eXile is proud to present the 2007 Asscademy Awards ceremony, in which we honor the top talents in the global terror industry, all the leading lights and shining stars who have helped make this LWOT (that's "Long War On Terror" for those of you who aren't acronym-savvy) the best LWOT the world has ever known. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it's that time of the year to announce our winners of the coveted Golden ASScar, the trophy made of genuine rare dingleberry-plated casing that is the dream of every man, woman, and child - be they black, be they white, be they Jewish, be they, ah, be they yellow, green or purple... Or be they gay! Let's not forget gay people, since we have a gay host tonight!

Ian Richardson R.I.P.

Ian Richardson has died in London at the of age 72. Noted for stage roles with the RSC, I saw him first as Henry Higgins at the St James Theatre in NYC in a 1976 revival of My Fair Lady. On TV, I remember him as the enigmatic Nehru in Lord Mountbatten: The Last Viceroy (much more interesting than the boring subject of this mini-series) and in the last few years in Agatha Christie's Marple: The Body in the Library. But I delighted in him mostly as the deliciously evil Francis Urquhart in the political thriller, House of Cards. (Get it on DVD; you'll be glad you did.)

Guardian obit -- In television, Ian Richardson excelled in bringing unsympathetic characters to life. As the politician who hovered balefully over the serial House of Cards he imbued the phrase, "you may say that, but I cannot possibly comment" with a Machiavellian menace.

Ian William Richardson, actor, born April 7 1934; died February 9 2007