Jane Birkin has passed away

Retired actress and singer Jane Birkin passed away on July 16, 2023. She was 76 years old. In here memory, here's a gallery of photos she posed for at her height of fame during the 1960s and 1970s.

Rumor has it that Jane Birkin didn't wear shoes until she was 27 years old. After taking a walk in the snow on her 27th birthday, she discovered the usefulness of footwear!
 

 Jane Birkin was the subject of quarterly posts here at Shades of Gray in 2021. You can enjoy those pictures by clicking on her name underneath this post.
 
 
 

Rarely has a title been so fitting

Meet/Kiss/Kill (2012)
Starring: Anonymous
Director: "Temporal Jessica"
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars

The title sums up what happens in this two-minute film.

"Meet/Kiss/Kill" is a fascinating little art film that plays with light and shadow and archetypical film noir costuming and camera angels. I like everything about it visually and pacing-wise, but could have done without the old-timey film projector sound that made up the entire soundtrack. I'm sure what I would have in its place--there are a couple of Mike Oldfield tracks I think would work nicely, but then I feel he has music that would work for almost anything--but complete silence might not have worked either. And sound effects would be right out, I think.

But how about you take a couple minutes to check it out? If you like creative filmmaking and the film noir genre, I think you'll find the time well spent.

Happy birthday to Sarah Jones!

American actress Sarah Jones turns 40 years old today. She is perhaps best known for her roles in television series such as "For All Mankind" (2019-2021), "Damnation" (2017-2019), and the Shades of Gray favorite--but a love not shared by many--"Alcatraz" (2012).

 

While we observer her birthday with a few pictures, we're also going to take the opportunity to demonstrate the Unifying Theme!

 

Musical Monday with Leo Moracchioli

The Shades of Gray Dancers are setting the mood for today's cover song by Leo Moracchioli--by being dust in the wind.

 
 
 

A Picture Perfect Promo

Today, we offer some pictures of the lovely and talented Jean Seberg (1938-1979).

Why? No reason other than we want to call attention to the fact that a Friend of Shades of Gray is going to be screening "The Mouse That Roared" (1955) on his YouTube Channel. The photos below are mostly publicity stills for the film where she plays Helen, the daughter of a scientist who claims to have invented the most powerful bomb ever created.

Whether you can make the live YouTube broadcast and chat with fellow movie fans, or you watch "The Mouse That Roared" later, we're sure you'll enjoy Peter Sellars, William Hartnell, Jean Seberg, and the rest of the great cast in this classic comedy!

It's National Ice Cream Day!

 Join us (and Yvonne Craig) by having tasty, cold treats on this very fine National Ice Cream Day!

Fanny on International Nude Day!

 

It's International Nude Day!

We're celebrating International Nude Day for the fourth year in a row with pictures! You should also celebrate in whatever way won't get you in trouble!

The Milla Jovovich Quarterly

In this edition of Milla Jovovich Quarterly, we bring you a change of pace from recent and upcoming Picture Perfect Specials and Picture Perfect Wednesdays: We have a gallery of photos spanning Milla's near four decades in front of cameras.. and she is fully clothed in every picture!

 
 

Violins and Violence

 
Here's another neat student film that has been recovered from the distant, abandoned corners of YouTube! Made by Indonesian college students, but with English dialog. It has a 1970s slasher or proto-slasher film, and I might have given it an Eight-star rating if there'd been some well-executed gore or stabbings instead of a symbolic graphic. Still, the general atmosphere of the film--powered by great lighting and camera work, and the chilling, detached demeanor of the lead actress--coupled with the story twists make this a fine way to spend a few minutes if you like horror flicks. (The color tints also add to the mood and mystery of the picture.)

The Violin Player (aka "The Violent Player") (2006)
Starring: Silena Cheung, Andra Fembriarto, Maggie Leung, and Tim Powers
Director: Andra Fembriarto

Rating: Seven of Ten Stars