It's the day we celebrate the time before MP3s, digital streaming music, and even CDs... as well as the retailers who still have those grooved (and often groovy) black disks in cardboard sleeves with great artwork!
We're told that you can put #RecordStoreDay or #RCD into the Interwebs to see if record stores in your area are doing anything special!
The Portrait of the Lady Anne (1912) Starring: Florence La Badie, Henry Benham, and William Russell Director: Lloyd Lonergan Rating: Five of Ten Stars
A restless spirit (La Badie) manifests from a portrait to stop her descendent (also La Badie) from making the same life-altering mistake that she did.
First off, let me say up front that if you're a fan of gothic romances, you're going to get a kick out of this film. Its strengths with definately amplify your enjoyment while what I view as the film's major drawback may not bother you at all.
From a technical aspect, "The Portrait of the Lady Anne" is impressive for the time in which it was made. The in-camera special effects that make Lady Anne manifest herself are very effective. There are also more involved scene set-ups and coordination of activities during those scenes that is typical for films of this vintage, with some scenes having noteworthy activity taking place in the foreground, middleground and background. The way locations are filmed from several angles is also something that wasn't common at the time. And then there's the cross-cutting to show things at different places happening at the same time.
Wardrobe-wise, the period costumes are fabulous to look at; fans of period dramas will greatly enjoy the elaborate dresses, as well as the ornate outfits worn by the men during the section that takes place during the 18th century. I wonder if one of the marching orders for the filmmakers from the production company was, "Use as many of these costumes as you can... we've paid for them, and we want to get as much milage out of as many of them, in as many productions, as possible!"
When it comes to the story, I remained enamored with the concept of the spirit getting involved in the romantic life of her descendant, but I almost didn't get to the good parts of the movie because the wind-up is so slow. Almost every scene until the final 1/4 or so of the movie goes on too long, usually starting too slow and then lingering for just a bit too long after everything that's worthwhile has happened in it. It isn't until we're treated to Florence La Badie playing the dual role of Lady Anne and her modern-day descendant that the filmmakers get the pacing right. Since this section is already the best part of the film--and where La Badie's talent as an actress and her great screen presence shine brightly; it's easy to see why her was known to audiences even though the studio at which she spent her entire career at never put actors' credits on their films.
Despite the film's slow wind-up, I think that you won't regret sticking with it to the end. I know I didn't. (Another plus -- the film provides the nicety of a denouement. This is another thing that wasn't common to film from this period.)
If you'll been around these parts for a while (particularly on Musical Mondays), you've heard me say that I'm not a fan of music videos that are nothing more than jump-cuts and pan-shots of the band or solo artist performing. An exception is Norwegian rocker Leo Moracchioli. There's always enough antics or camera mugging to make even the most straight-forward performance video as fun as his energetic cover tunes.
Take this cover of Billy Idol's "Rebel Yell" and music video for example...
Once again this year Shades of Gray is ready to spring into action if the Easter Bunny needs help. This year's Captain of the Bunny Bunch is Tallulah Willis, promoted from main back-up Back-up Bunny after her strong showing last year! (She looks a little haggard. We hope she's up for the task...)
Joining Ms. Willis and eager for some egg-distributing action is her fellow veteran Bunny Debbie Harry...
... as well as Dorothy Sebastian. She's going to handle all logistical matters, so she's trying to think through any potential problems before they occur.
Meanwhile, if anything proves too tough for these three ladies to handle, John Wayne's on hand! (Goldie Hawn was going to be the fourth bunny, but we got the costume size wrong....)
Office Blues (1930) Starring: Ginger Rogers, Clairborne Bryson, and E.R. Rogers Director: Mort Blumenstock Rating: Six of Ten Stars
A secretary (Rogers) fantasizes about having a romantic relationship with her stern boss (Bryson) while ignoring the coworker who carries a torch for her (Rogers).
Do you like the musicals from the early talkies period? Would you like them even more if there were the barest minimum of all that dialogue and stuff between the songs and production numbers? Well, then "Office Blues" is for you!
"Office Blues" is a short (barely nine minutes log) musical that still manages to offer two really catchy songs and a big production number. There isn't much time for comedy or drama (although the prematurely balding coworker who's pining for the boss's beautiful secretary offers a bit of both), but I think lovers of music from this era will enjoy this film a lot. Personally, my favorite part is the production number and the costumes worn by the chorus line.
Fans of Ginger Rogers should also definitely check this out. It's one of her earliest starring roles--she was 18 at the time this was filmed--and it's clear that she excelled in song, dance, and acting. To say that she is "radiant" and "lights up the screen" in this "Office Blues" is not overstating her screen presence here. (Although she is made to look even more spectacular due to the fact that her co-stars have the charisma of dish rags.)
"Office Blues" is embedded below for your viewing convenience and pleasure. I hope you enjoy it!
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