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Category Archives: Actors
“You might say that Falstaff was the great-great-grandfather of all the flower children. He was a bohemian and he was a bum. A beautiful bum.”
I wrote about this clip a long time ago, of Orson Welles transforming himself into Falstaff at a makeup mirror, talking about Falstaff, and then turning INTO Falstaff – a “bit” that appeared on The Dean Martin Show. Then the … Continue reading
Dynamic Duo #10
Nadezhda Tolokonnikova from Pussy Riot and Chloë Sevigny
Stuff I’ve Been Reading
— The great Wesley Morris with another slam-dunk, a piece I wish I had thought to write. But that’s why I love him so much: he writes stuff I’ve felt, in an inchoate unformed way, and he puts words to … Continue reading
Posted in Actors, Books, Directors, Movies
Tagged Elvis Presley, Germany, Jean Renoir, King Creole, Michael Curtiz, stuff I've been reading
8 Comments
Dynamic Duo #9
Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe In case you haven’t heard the tremendously moving story about how Marilyn Monroe “stepped in” to help change the fortunes of Ella Fitzgerald, who – due to her race – was not allowed to sing … Continue reading
“Dear Mr. Timberlake, I mean, what can I say? You’re Justin Timberlake.”
This brought tears to my eyes. Here is Greta Gerwig’s adorably enthusiastic – and yet totally respectful – letter to Justin Timberlake – on actual stationery – not an email – asking if she could license “Cry Me a River” … Continue reading
Dennis Hopper and Rudyard Kipling: From Memory
This is one of the best things Dennis Hopper ever did, rivaling all of his other great performances. Incidentally, this is a poem my grandmother (on the O’Malley side) loved and also knew by heart. My cousin Mike has a … Continue reading
Kristen Stewart. Androgyne. Beautiful Boy. Gamine. Epicene. Tomboy. Either/Or. Neither/Nor. Both.
Camille Paglia is not the only one to observe that the great movie stars – of any era – are those with androgynous characteristics. The same could be said for literary characters (people always seem to forget the cross-dressing incident … Continue reading
Posted in Actors
Tagged Alain Delon, Kristen Stewart, Marlene Dietrich, Marlon Brando, mirrors, Supernatural
23 Comments
Dynamic Duo #5
Orson Welles and Anthony Perkins
Dynamic Duo #3
Dennis Hopper and Nicholas Ray
Dynamic Duo #2
Burt Reynolds and Jerry Reed