Tom Jones and the Art of Noise

Who needs Indiana Jones when we've got Tom Jones?! 

Consider these titles of action-filled adventure stories...

Tom Jones and the Thunderball  --  Tom Jones and the Voice

Tom Jones and the Sexbomb  -- Tom Jones and That Wonderful Sound

Tom Jones and the Green Grass of Home

And here's a theme from one of those fabulous tales!

Happy birthday to Emily Ratajkowski

 Model and actress Emily Ratajkowski was born on this day in 1991.

(And we know for sure this this is her 30th birthday, because we counted the rings in her hat.)

As for presents... we don't know she wanted for her birthday, but these pictures make it clear as to what she needs.

Musical Monday with June Christy

It's the first Musical Monday in June, so we're bringing you a Musical June!

Born in 1925, June Christy has been described as one of the most talented jazz singers to ever perform. She began her career in the mid-1940s, and had a career that lasted until the mid-1970s. She recorded numerous albums for Capitol Records, working primarily with arranger Pete Rugolo. Rugolo had been the arranger for the Stan Kenton Orchestra where Christy got her start. (Like Christy, Kenton and Rugolo are considered giants in jazz music.)

June Christy recorded her final album in 1974 and then retired from show business. She passed away on June 21, 1990, but her performances live on!

Otterly Human is Utterly Humorous

"Otterly Human" is a cute web comic that often features pun-based humor. It's done by writer Connor Stone and artist Jaime Smith. We hope you enjoy the samples here, and, if you do, be sure to swing by the official site by clicking here.

The Avengers Dossier, Page Eleven

It's time for another look at a supporting player from the classic fourth season of "The Avengers"!

JAN HOLDEN
In "Dial a Deadly Number", Jan Holden played a financier's wife who actively maintained a diversified portfolio of male assets (if you know what I mean [wink-wink, nudge-nudge].)

Born in 1931, Jan Holden spent her early childhood in India, but returned to with her family to England as World War II broke out. She developed in interest in acting while at school, and proved to have a talent of comedy. At 18, Holden was offered internships at several renowned theatres and theatrical companies, but her father disapproved of her theatrical ambitions, so he refused to let accept any of the offers. He eventually softened her stance, and she was able to enter the Old Vic's director's course. In 1951, she became the theatre's assistant stage manager.

Holden soon established herself as a popular and respected stage actress in light comedies. By the mid-1950s, she began to add movie and television roles to her workload, including "Stranglers of Bombay" and other films from the famous Hammer Studios. For the next 30 years, Holden would balance theatre and screen work. Her most famous role was, arguably, as Mrs. Newhouse on the sitcom "Casanova '73", as the wife of a husband who spends each episode making sure she doesn't learn of his extra-marital affair.

Aside from her role in "Dial a Deadly Number", Holden also appeared as a different character in "The Avengers" Season Three episode "The Undertakers".

In the mid-1980s, Holden was plagued by a series of health problems, so she eased back on her work schedule and retired in 1990. She passed away in 2005.

A Stranger's Final Moments...

Stranger (2013)
Starring: Gabriel Burrafato, Nathalie Ben-Kely, Rusty Meyers, and Billy Gilbride
Director: Brandon Christensen
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

Stranger (Burrafato), a lonely hitman who is now a target for death himself, is resigned to spending his final moments, admiring Iris (Ben-Kely), the woman he secretly loves from afar. But then things take a turn....

"Stranger" is a short film from 2013 that set out to capture the look and mood of the film noir genre of the late 1940s and early 1950s. It is largely successful--especially during the shots of Gabriel Burrafato sitting at the bar while his character internally monologs. 

In addition to some great cinematography, this little film features a story and characters that's portrayed effectively enough that not only will you be able to imagine what has gone before and what will follow the events shown on screen, but you may find yourself wishing there was more time with Stranger, Iris, and whoever Stranger has crossed than just these few minutes.

As enjoyable and well-done as I found this film to be, there were a couple things about it that bothered me--admittedly small things but one still bugged me enough to rise above the level of a nitpick.

There needed to be a difference in sound quality between Stranger's narration and the conversation he has with Iris. Stranger's internal monolog happens against an audio backdrop of total silence, which makes sense since it's in his head, but the same is true of the exchanges he has with Iris. The parts where Stranger isn't narrating would have benefitted tremendously from a little ambient sounds drifting in from nearby tables or other patrons at the bar.

Despite that highly technical complaint, I think "Stranger" is an excellent short film, and I think you'll find the four minutes it will take you to watch it well worth your time. It may even brighten your day... because who doesn't like a love story (even one between a hitman and a hostess... perhaps *especially* one between a hitman and a hostess)? 

Hey, I think you'll like it so much that I've embedded it below, via YouTube, so you can watch it right now!

Happy birthday to Morena Baccarin

Today. actress Morena Baccarin turns 42. She been busy a busy voice-over and television actress since 2001, perhaps best known to sci-fi fans for starring in "Firefly" (2002), the remake of "V" (2009-2011), and for a recurring role on the final season of "Stargate: SG-1" (2007); and to fans of dramas and detective shows for a recurring role on "The Mentalist" (2011-2014) and for leading parts on "Homeland" (2011-2013) and "Gotham" (2014-2019).

Barrarin was born in Brazil and moved with her parents to the United States when she was 10 years old. Here are some photos in celebration of her Big Day!

Ko-Ko vs. the Spider-Creature!

Trapped (1923)

Starring: Max Fleischer

Director: Dave Fleischer

Rating: Six of Ten Stars

After a disagreement about how urgent it is to deal with a mouse in the studio, the Animator (Fleischer) draws a monstrous spider-creature to put Ko-Ko the Clown in his place.

"Trapped" is another fun mix of live action footage and animation, with the fourth wall disintegrating between our world and the animated one. As is often the case, Max the Animator and his creation, Ko-Ko, are at odds over something, but Max seems extra petty this time around. (Watching this one will make you appreciate Ko-Ko's actions better in "The Cartoon Factory".)

When I first watched this "Trapped", I thought Ko-Ko's actions were as badly motivated as the Animator's hostility toward him; Ko-Ko's desire to see that rodent dealt with seemed a bit much--even considering that they're smelly, disease-carrying animals--but then it occurred to me that the mouse was chewing on cardboard and paper, and that Ko-Ko's entire world exists on a foundation of paper. From Ko-Ko's point of view that mouse more than just an annoyance, but something that can literally destroy his world and possibly end his existence. This makes the Animator's reaction seem all the more mean-spirited.

Of course, I could also be overthinking the whole thing, and it's nothing more than the tale of a cartoon clown worrying about a rodent infestation while fighting for his life against a bowler hat-wearing giant spider. Why don't you give me YOUR take after clicking below and spending a few minutes watching some silent movie era cartoon weirdness?

Happy birthday to Lea Thompson!

 The actress whose professional acting career began as a teen--appearing in such films as "Back to the Future" and "Red Dawn" in the 1980s; playing Caroline in "Caroline in the City" on television in the 1990s; and as retired intelligence analyst-turned-amateur-detective Cathy Davis in the 2000s in the "Jane Doe" films on the Hallmark Channel--turns 60 years old today.

Here she is, as she appeared in her early 20s, with a quintessential 1980s hairdo!

Musical Monday with the Spin Doctors

The Spin Doctors were a huge band in the 1990s, with a cheerful indie-flavored pop-rock style. After founding member and lead singer Chris Barron was stricken with a rare form of vocal chord paralyzation in 1999, the band broke up.

The Spin Doctors reformed in 2001 after Barron regained his voice, and they've been performing and touring together ever since--even as individual members have engaged in a few side projects here and there.

On this Musical Monday, we're offering "Two Princes" by the Spin Doctors. It's music video is a nice amalgamation of all the things we enjoy here at Shades of Gray... and, if you're not familiar with the song, be warned: If you're anything like us, it will be stuck in your head for at least the rest of the day once you hear it.

Two Princes (1992)
Starring: Mark White, Mark Barron, three anonymous actors, and the rest of the Spin Doctors
Director: Richard Murray
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars

(If anyone out there knows who the actors playing the Jester, the Diner Girl, and the Fat Hip-Hop Guy are, please let me know in the comments. I would love to give them credit... but I don't recognize any of them, and my feeble research attempts have come up blank.)