Damsels & Dragons: A New Shades of Gray Series!

A young dragon had taken to dining on the sheep of a human village, snatching one each evening. As the dragon was about to grab his 14th sheep, an adventurer, whose physical strength was legendary, ambushed him. 

"I will subdue you with my bare hands, then by the gods' decree you shall become my slave and bedevil innocent people no more!" the human declared.

The dragon laughed, but his mirth faded as he came to realize he had underestimated the human. The adventurer was winning the battle.

At the very last moment, just as the dragon was about to surrender, a beautiful maiden appeared. She declared her undying love for the heroic man and ran up and kissed him. The adventurer was so distracted that the dragon ended up victorious. 

The maiden was actually the dragon's love who had shapeshifted into human form. The two dragons then celebrated by eating the adventurer's corpse. The sheep were spared that day, but for the next little while, the village lost TWO sheep each evening. (Art by Henry Justice Ford.)

To beat the summer heat...

... the Shades of Gray Dancers are staying close to (or in) the sea!

Sometimes, you have a really, really bad day...

If you think things are going wrong for you, this might help put things in perspective. Click on any panel for a larger, more easily read version.

(This tale of extremely bad luck can be read in its entirely in "The Three Lives of Fantomah: Mystery Woman of the Jungle" from NUELOW Games.)

Things You Should Know (from your friends at Shades of Gray)

 Because we care about the safety of our readers, we are beginning a new series of informative posts.

And since this is Monday, here's a music video for a song themed with today's illustrated information. (Don't be frightened by the splashes of color!)

It's a Special Fanny Friday!

Today, marks since six months since Flapper Fanny joined the Shades of Gray family. We hope you enjoy these classic cartoons as much as we do, and we plan on continuing to bring them to you for the foreseeable future.

Randomness Rules

 Sometimes, the random matching of pictures and semi-nonsensical phrases that the InspiroBot comes up with are perfection. Here's one of those times. Someone should write the story based on this. Maybe me.

Picture Perfect Wednesday with Snow White

If I can believe the headlines flashing across my computer screen, the casting of Rachel Zegler as Snow White in the live-action version of the classic animated Disney film (which itself was based on a fairy tale) is still controversial. Why I couldn't tell you.

Zegler likes to go on about the fact that she's Hispanic, but unless this version of Snow White is strutting around throwing gang signs while calling every one "vato" and looking for the nearest bullfighting ring or trying to cross the Rio Grande illegally, who cares? She's a pretty black-haired actress, playing a pretty black-haired character. People should save their faux outrage until they see what the writers give Zegler to do on screen.

And with that said, here are some pictures of Zegler for your viewing pleasure.

If you ask me, any outrage related to this film should be for things that have been confirmed with production stills, such as the hostility towards the differently abled that is clearly on display via the decision to get rid of the Seven Dwarves and replacing them with "normal" actors.

 The dwarves have been present in the "Snow White" story since the Brothers Grimm first recorded the folk tale several centuries ago, even if they weren't named until the 1912 stage play based on it. By erasing these characters, the film's producers, director, and the Walt Disney Company is denying work to actors with dwarfism.

Musical Monday with Depeche Mode

About a month ago, Depeche Mode released a new album. We're fans here at Shades of Gray, but we had no idea that they were still together and still making music! But we're extra-happy to have discovered that they are because "Wagging Tongue" is an excellent song with a cinematic video that's even more excellent.

The lyrics of "Wagging Tongue " seems to be a message from the singer to whoever's listening that the truth will always come to be spoken, no matter how many lies or how much intimidation is used to silence righteous people. Meanwhile, the video, while the action on screen syncs up with the lyrics several times, gives us a look at a strange society where no one speaks unless they submerge their heads in water. It's a dark and strange society, and it contrasts with the upbeat nature of the song. (Heck, the lyrics contrast with the nature of the song... except in the sense that it all ends up carrying something of a hopeful feeling.)

Check out "Wagging Tongue". We're sure you'll agree that Depeche Mode is as great in 2023 as they were in 1983.

Wagging Tongue (2023)

Starring: Tatanya Yolinska, Jacob James Beswick, and Depeche Mode

Directors: Anton Korbijin

Rating: Nine of Ten Stars

 

(Here's a fun idea: The classic Depeche Mode song "Enjoy the Silence" describes the dawn on the dystopian society in "Wagging Tongue". Click here to watch that video and see if you agree or disagree with that notion.)

A single Sunday cartoon...

 

It's Fanny Friday!

 

Looking at Murder ala Mod

 It's some 55 years since Brian De Palma made his first feature film, "Murder ala Mod". On Friday, August 18, we're featuring it in The Screening Room over on YouTube. You'll eventually see a review of the film here, but if you have the time, we encourage you to join other film fans to talk about the picture as it debuts on our channel.

In the meantime, though, here are some stills and publicity photos from "Murder ala Mod", by way of a preview.

An unusual role for Mary Pickford

Suds (1920)
Starring: Mary Pickford, Harold Goodwin, Albert Austin, and Rose Dione
Director: John Francis Dillon
Rating: Six of Ten Stars

A London laundress (Pickford) spins a fantasy that she is a disherited noblewoman who is just waiting to be rescued by her banished lover (Austin). As she tries to make her fantasy a reality, she pushes away and disregards a man who truly loves her (Goodwin).

 

"Suds" is one of those rare films where there's no antagonist whatsoever; the main character is the source of every obstacle to her success and happiness. It's also a film where every cast-member has a degree of presence and likeability that makes the film extremely watchable. Between the talented cast and some excellent photography, the film moves easily from comedy to drama and back to comedy again. Similarly, the subplot involving an aging horse might not have seemed as impactful and relevant as it did. 

The leader of this excellent cast is, in every way, Mary Pickford. In the film's real world, her character is at times comedic, at times uncouth bordering on revolting, at times so pitiful it makes the viewer want to cry for her. On the other hand, in the world of her character's imagination, she is poised, elegant, devoted to her lover beyond concern for even her own life. Where the real character is scattered and clumsy, she imagines herself as focused and graceful. It is in this form that we get to see the Mary Pickford we can recognize from other films. 

Perhaps the most tragic thing about Pickford's character in "Suds" is that she is actually the noble character she imagines herself to be, at least in personality. The aforementioned subplot with the draft horse sees her go above and beyond to save it shows her kind and noble character very clearly. She doesn't have the self-esteem and social grace to apply it properly.

If you have enjoyed Mary Pickford in other films, I think you're going to enjoy her here, too. She gets to play a character very different from what you have seen her do before, but she also provides some examples of her "standard" performance styles.

Click below to watch "Suds" in its entirety. The version featured has a modern score that works in some places and doesn't in others. For all I know, it might be a random piece of instrumental music that is just repeated over and over... and any of the times when it matches perfectly with the action on the screen is purely luck.

Happy Birthday to Mila Kunis

Mila Kunis, one of the few who began acting as a child and managed to maintain a thriving career into adulthood, turns 40 years old today. We celebrate by bringing out photos of her through the years!

Musical Monday with Tom Jones

I heard on the top-of-the-news on Sunday that Tom Jones had died. Turns out, it was Tom Jones the lyricist/stage director not Tom Jones the singer.

THIS Tom Jones passed away at 95, from cancer.

This Tom Jones is still very much alive (and only in his 80s). I should have realized I was making a mistake when I thought "I had no idea he was that old")

And here's the LIVING Tom Jones and his mighty voice, in an unusual video of him from the 1960s, performing his most iconic song, "It's Not Unusual".

It's Shoot-'Em Sunday...

... but the lovely ladies are just lounging about with their guns.

Fanny Friday!

  

Wonder Woman Wednesday!

Wonder Woman is taking some time to relax this summer, so here are a few portraits of her lounging around.

 

Vincent Price is at the 'Crossroads'

Crossroads: God's Healing (1956)
Starring: Vincent Price, Marcia Henderson, Frieda Inescort, and Adam Kennedy

Director: Nathan Juran

Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

While counseling an elderly woman with a failing heart (Inescort), the pastor of a healing ministry (Price) attempts to rebuild her broken family and restore her relationship with her daughter (Henderson).

"Crossroads" was a dramatic anthology show that began the ABC Network and moved onto syndication. Every week, it presented a tale of a clergyman overcoming challenges, righting lives, and saving souls while being a sterling example of what a truly good man should be, regardless of his religious affiliation.

The episode "God's Healing" is well written and populated by believable characters portrayed by good actors. The way the story unfolds and way the characters interact with each other actually manages to make what could have been boring and predictable into a story where the outcome remains in doubt almost until the very end.

It's also a nice reminder that Vincent Price could actually play likeable characters and didn't always go over the top in his performances. The gentle, compassionate demeanor he presents in this role shows that he had a far greater range as an actor than one gets from just watching his work from the mid-1960s onward where he was almost all-camp and comedic all the time.

Whether you're a Vincent Price fan, or interested in some light, uplifting entertainment, I think you'll find "God's Healing" to be worth half an hour of your time. Click below to check it out.

It's a Mohammed Monday!

 
THIS WEEK WITH JESUS & MO