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- “When liberty is taken away by force it can be restored by force. When it is relinquished voluntarily by default it can never be recovered.” — Dorothy Thompson
- “Art is theft, art is armed robbery, art is not pleasing your mother.” — Janet Malcolm
- “I’m one of those people who thinks you can have a happy life and still be an artist.” — Shelley Duvall
- “There’s a difference between writing about something and living through it. I did both.” — poet/novelist Margaret Walker
- “I believe what Camus says. When the curtain rings down, your job is done.” — Warren Oates
- Physical Media Booklet Essay podcast interview
- “My voice isn’t an instrument I can just hang up on a hook.” — Audra McDonald
- “You can’t be on top all the time. It isn’t natural.” — Olivia de Havilland
- “If I don’t feel it, I can’t play it.” — James Cotton
- “I don’t have to be an imitation of a white woman that Hollywood sort of hoped I’d become. I’m me, and I’m like nobody else.” — Lena Horne
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Category Archives: Actors
Yet another reason to love Robert Mitchum
“During filming [The Night of the Hunter], as they drove along a freeway, [Charles] Laughton told [Robert] Mitchum, ‘I don’t know if you know, and I don’t know if you care, and I don’t care if you know, but there … Continue reading
R.I.P. Michele Carey
In the past month alone, this lovely actress has been discussed so much – in my world anyway – because of the talk I gave on Elvis in Memphis – and the affection I have for the 1968 forgotten screwball, … Continue reading
2018 New York Film Critics’ Circle Awards
“Roma,” directed by Alfonso Cuarón After a 5-hour voting session today, we at the NYFCC have announced the winners. I haven’t done as much writing here about current releases this year as I’ve done in the past, outside of my … Continue reading
Posted in Actors, Movies
Tagged documentary, drama, Ethan Hawke, historical drama, Mexico, New York, Paul Schrader, Poland, women directors
2 Comments
For Thanksgiving: Marilyn Monroe’s stuffing recipe
To my fellow Americans, have a happy Thanksgiving. Drive safe. Be nice to people, especially people who are working today.
Criterion Collection video series: Bergman’s Actors
One of my major projects earlier this year was writing essays on four of Ingmar Bergman’s actors, for the Criterion Collection “channel” on FilmStruck (which will cease operations in a couple of weeks, despite an outpouring of protest). It was … Continue reading
Posted in Actors, Directors
Tagged Bibi Andersson, Ingmar Bergman, Ingrid Thulin, Liv Ullmann, Sweden
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My talk at the old Memphian Theatre: Elvis in Hollywood
When Indie Memphis senior programmer Miriam Bale asked if I wanted to give a talk on Elvis during my time in Memphis, I was excited, but when I heard it was going to be in the Circuit, it felt almost … Continue reading
Posted in Actors, Movies, Music
Tagged Ann-Margret, Elvis Presley, Hal Wallis, Kurt Russell, Michael Curtiz, Mildred Dunnock, Tuesday Weld
24 Comments
Film Comment podcast: On actress/director Ida Lupino
It’s the centenary of Ida Lupino’s birth. Many people probably know she was an actress, but not as many people are aware of her directing work (and her career as an independent film producer). She was the only woman in … Continue reading
For Criterion: On Ingrid Thulin
With the incredibly disheartening news that FilmStruck was going to be discontinued, I wasn’t sure what the status would be for the two remaining video-essays I wrote and narrated on Ingmar Bergman’s actors. The first one, on Liv Ullmann and … Continue reading
Dynamic Duo #17
Mike Nichols and Elaine May
Goodbye, Big Bird. And Thank You.
After 50 years, Caroll Spinney – who played Big Bird (and Oscar) – is leaving Sesame Street. His understudy – who has been waiting for literally years – will now take over the role. This is the end of an … Continue reading
Posted in Actors, Television
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