Monthly Archives: March 2009

sturges directs

Posted on March 19, 2009 | Leave a comment

Preston Sturges directs Hail the Conquering Hero.

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Posted in cinema, Sturges

racist garbage

Posted on March 18, 2009 | 8 comments

coal black

This 1943 Warner Brothers’ Merrie Melodies animated short is entitled Coal Black and De Sebben Dwarfs. It is one of the so-called “censored eleven,” cartoons that were taken out of circulation by their then-owner Universal in 1968 due to their questionable subject matter. It is pretty plain as to why this one would be suppressed–its vile depiction of grotesque black stereotypes (and, this being wartime, at least one mention of “japs”). What surprised me is the Citizen Kane reference.

Note: I prepared this post a few days ago with a youtube video that claimed to be taken from a 16mm print with very good image and sound but that has been removed. (I guess Warner Brothers only want people to see this if it is a mess of a VHS rip.) I settled on an inferior video. If this one is removed you’ll have to try your luck here.

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Posted in cinema, context, racist garbage, thank goodness for youtube and the like

keaton godard

Posted on March 17, 2009 | Leave a comment

keaton godard

Buster Keaton and Jean-Luc Godard share a page.

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Posted in cinema, context

years after the event (john and yoko march 1970)

Posted on March 16, 2009 | Leave a comment

march photos

Two Virgins. Photograph: John Lennon

march 1970

john and yoko 3-70

In order to jazz up these John and Yoko posts, I figure I’ll add some sound. Here’s what sounds to me like Dakota-dwelling era Lennon covering Jimmy Cliff‘s “Many River’s To Cross.”

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Posted in apple records, music, years after the event

dig the critics

Posted on March 15, 2009 | Leave a comment

wanda

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Posted in cinema, context, dig the critics, Wanda/Loden

vintage jam (guilty pleasure edition)

Posted on March 14, 2009 | 10 comments

Like anyone with a soul, I was never too impressed by Tupac Shakur. But this evening I watched a TV show that used his hit “Keep Ya Head Up” as incidental music. I always secretly liked this one telling myself that its success has as much to do with The Five Stairstep’s “O-o-h Child” as it does Tupac’s lyrics. Whatever. It’s good stuff–shame about the quality of the video below but I guess that’s what one expects from a Tupac fan.

And how weird is this?

nine three shit

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Posted in music, vintage jams

public enemy

Posted on March 13, 2009 | Leave a comment

Above: James Cagney and Mae Clarke in William Wellman’s The Public Enemy. 1931.
Below: Set-reference still.

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Posted in cinema

cute couple alert

Posted on March 11, 2009 | Leave a comment

The Beatles’ style council: Brian Epstein and Astrid Kirchherr.

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Posted in context, cute couple alert, music, years after the event

king of pop

Posted on March 11, 2009 | 2 comments

king of pop

When I heard last week that Michael Jackson was planning a series of concerts this summer, like everyone else, I rolled my eyes and thought to myself, “yeah, that’ll happen.” It’s not like the guy doesn’t have a HIStory of backing out of things like this. Though I doubt even ticket buyers will have high expectations for these shows actually occurring, this latest attention-grabbing stunt gives me an excuse to post this video of Michael while he was still at the height of his powers.

Michael Jackson

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Posted in context, music

more zabriskie point

Posted on March 10, 2009 | Leave a comment

More Zabriskie Point pics.

Also, I found this amazing video of the film’s two stars, Mark Frechette and Daria Halprin, turning on the charm on the Dick Cavett show in 1970.

This clearly well adjusted young man in no way comes off as the type who would eventually meet his end crushed beneath a barbell while serving a six-to-fifteen year sentence for armed robbery. Halprin, meanwhile, sort of seems like the type who would eventually marry and have a child with Dennis Hopper.

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Posted in cinema, context, zabriskie point