Well, dear readers, I need to listen to some calming and soothing music, so naturally I’m listening to Shostakovich’s violin concerto, which is about as calming and soothing as a root canal. Did you know that root canal spelled backwards is toor lanac? That sounds like some Indian dish I’d never want to eat, doesn’t it? I needed calming and soothing music because there were aspects of the day that were anything but calming and soothing, but we got through it all somehow and then there were some aspects of the day that were good. I love good aspects, don’t you? Prior to listening, I spent several hours getting three releases ready to announce – I still have to choose audio samples, but I got everything uploaded, I did the blurbs, and I typed up the inlay card information, which is really what takes quite a bit of time. Once I choose the audio samples this morning and get those to Doug Haverty, then the ball is in his court and I’m just praying he can get everything announced by Monday at the latest. They’re three wonderful releases that I’m hoping everyone will want. And with these three releases, amazingly we’ve released all the Ben Bagley albums there are to release. What a ride. But I have a new and really fun series of show releases waiting in the wings, along with some soundtracks. Prior to all that work, I watched the new Blu and Ray of Flower Drum Song. I already knew the transfer would be fine, although I didn’t think it looked quite as good as the Vudu version, which is the same transfer, but then again, I watched that on my computer screen. The colors are fascinating – lots of gels of various colors in almost every scene (Russell Metty was the cameraman and was nominated for an Oscar). I saw the film at the Warner Cinerama the day it opened on December 22, first showing. I was especially intrigued to go to what was now being called The New Warner-Hollywood, because the year prior I’d seen my very first Cinerama film, a re-showing of Seven Wonders of the World. That was the last Cinerama travelogue film to play there. A large but normal screen was installed, and Flower Drum Song opened the redone theater. I’d just seen West Side Story for my first time the week prior and that was my favorite, but I absolutely loved Flower Drum Song. No, it wasn’t West Side Story, but the songs were great (it remains my favorite Rodgers and Hammerstein score), it was really funny, and the cast was amazing. The younger vs. older generation stuff worked really well, and I was totally smitten with Miyoshi Umeki, who was so beautiful and charming and sweet and funny and heartbreaking. Nancy Kwan kind of pre-figured Ann-Margret in a way, Jack Soo was great, James Shigeta was handsome, Juanita Hall was hilarious, well, everyone was wonderful. I was amazed even at fourteen (which I’d just turned three weeks prior) how much of Flower Drum Song was studio-bound, but that was Ross Hunter for you.
I know that the following day I was back at West Side Story, but I returned to Flower Drum Song several times before school started up again. I still love the film, especially Alfred Newman’s amazing work on the score – I don’t care for Robert Russell Bennett’s show orchestrations – one of the few fails I’ve ever heard from him – Newman’s are better every step of the way. I loathed the revised version and I’m here to tell you the original still works just fine. It’s set in a very specific time period and it’s just so typical of today that no one can watch anything and understand the context. There had never been a film that gave so much work to Asian American actors. The musical’s themes are universal and frankly while I know some people are offended by it, I found the revised version offensive in certain ways. The Blu-ray sounds great and it’s nice to have it – it’s miles better than the old DVD. It contains a commentary by our much-missed Nick Redman along with Nancy Kwan. I had the pleasure of lunching with Nick and Miss Kwan – that was a special day. The other extras from the DVD are also included. Here’s the opening day advertisement along with West Side Story’s below it. What a time!
Yesterday was a completely weird day. I got eight hours of sleep and had dreams that were actually kind of fun, then I got up and answered lots of e-mails, dealt with some stuff that needed dealing with, wrote all the blurbs, watched a bit of the Depp/Heard trial (its final day of testimony – today are the final arguments for both sides). Ms. Heard was back on the stand with more histrionics, all of which were squarely played to the jury with forced crying sans a single tear, so much so that in cross-examination Depp’s lawyer finally called her out on it and told her to stop playing to the jury and just answer the questions being asked rather than doing a monologue. It’s going to be fascinating seeing what the jury takeaway is. I know what mine is, mostly because of obvious untruths and waffling and story-changing and schmacting 101.
Then I went to the mail place and picked up a small package, went to Gelson’s and got ingredients for faux chicken stroganoff, came home and made that over about five or six ounces of pasta – it wasn’t as good as usual for reasons I can’t figure out, but I think it might be that I prefer it over rice. Then I sat on my couch like so much fish and watched the movie.
After the movie, I did all the rest of the endless prep work for the three new releases (there’s a fourth title, but I’m going to wait five days and announce that separately, since it’s a new cast album for an off-Broadway show that’s opening mid-June. I did get the good news that we have our replacement musical director – she can do all the rehearsals, and she’s already been sent all the charts.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, I’ll choose audio samples and get them on their merry way, I’m sure I’ll watch some of the final trial arguments, I’ll eat, I’ll hopefully pick up packages (doubtful, as I’m not expecting any), I have to do the show order and commentary, and then I can watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow I can clear my mind o’ stuff, but I do have to do a couple of put-together arrangements – normally, I would have done that today, but our pianist can’t come before Sunday, so I’ll just figure it out and we can do it with the singers. It only involves two singers so it shouldn’t be that hard. Sunday is our first rehearsal, starting at noon o’clock. We should be done before three. Monday is a holiday, Tuesday is our second rehearsal in the afternoon, Thursday is our stumble-through in the afternoon, and then Friday we do our show.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up when I’m up, do whatever needs doing, choose audio samples and get them on their merry way, watch trial arguments, eat, hopefully pick up packages, finally do the show order and commentary, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/Blu and Ray player. I’ll start – CD, our new releases. Blu-ray, I have no idea. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have revisited the delightfully delightful Flower Drum Song.