Malice in Wonderland made this little video tribute to the day-glo gloss and glamour of 1960's America. Clips taken from the film 'Divorce American Style' which, although not a classic, had some intriguingly beautiful cinematography. Malice WISHES that she lived in this film!
Sunday 25 April 2010
What a rave-up!
Amusing hypnotism scene from the 1967 movie 'Divorce American Style', with Debbie Reynolds bopping for all she's worth.
That's Van Johnson, Dick van Dyke and Jean Simmons at the table. What a party! Malice wishes she was there with them, sipping cocktails and eating breadsticks.
Don't know who the Peggy Lee-esque hypnotist is, but she's fabulous all the same.
The Misfits
Today Malice finally got round to watching 'The Misfits' - the last film of Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable. I had held off renting it, because I was concerned that it was such a fabled film and I would be sorely disappointed. Also, I'm not a big fan of any member of the cast.
I was pleasantly surprised by it. An unusual film and not at all what I was expecting after all. Marilyn gave a surprisingly astute and deep performance. I've never seen someone so innately sad and lost... If it was all acting, then she was an underrated talent; but I suspect there was a lot of herself in that role.
I was pleasantly surprised by it. An unusual film and not at all what I was expecting after all. Marilyn gave a surprisingly astute and deep performance. I've never seen someone so innately sad and lost... If it was all acting, then she was an underrated talent; but I suspect there was a lot of herself in that role.
What a bitch!
This week, Malice in Wonderland has devoured the Joan Collins trash-fest which is 'The Stud / The Bitch'. What god-awful films, both. But you've got to hand it to Joan for sheer campy over-the-top performance.
Also, Malice gives the Brit-film producers some credo for such a FABULOUS all-out cheesy 70's disco soundtrack. Malice LOVES it.
Also, Malice gives the Brit-film producers some credo for such a FABULOUS all-out cheesy 70's disco soundtrack. Malice LOVES it.
Samantha Sang... then disappeared into obscurity
Sunday 18 April 2010
"Lost Horizon"
Malice in Wonderland has recently been obsessed with 'Lost Horizon'. Maybe it's my general disillusionment with politics (election looming in the UK), wars in the middle east, recession etc etc etc ad infinitum.
'Lost Horizon' was written in 1933 by James Hilton, and was soon made into a tremendously moving film just four years later by Frank Capra. Usually, I find Capra's films saccharine and unbearable, but there's something incredibly pertinent and poignant about the message of this film, which was made when World War II was brewing.
The concept of finding inner peace, love, and a sense of purpose in Shangri-La, whose inhabitants enjoy unheard-of longevity, is especially appealing today - more so than ever before perhaps.
The film was re-made in the 1970's as a musical, with songs penned by Burt Bacharach. The soundtrack is great, and contained some real gems. It's a shame the film was shunned just because musicals had lost mainstream popularity by this stage. Here's one of my favourite songs, sung by one of my favourite singers, Richard Harris:
'Lost Horizon' was written in 1933 by James Hilton, and was soon made into a tremendously moving film just four years later by Frank Capra. Usually, I find Capra's films saccharine and unbearable, but there's something incredibly pertinent and poignant about the message of this film, which was made when World War II was brewing.
The concept of finding inner peace, love, and a sense of purpose in Shangri-La, whose inhabitants enjoy unheard-of longevity, is especially appealing today - more so than ever before perhaps.
The film was re-made in the 1970's as a musical, with songs penned by Burt Bacharach. The soundtrack is great, and contained some real gems. It's a shame the film was shunned just because musicals had lost mainstream popularity by this stage. Here's one of my favourite songs, sung by one of my favourite singers, Richard Harris:
Shut That Dors!
Saturday 17 April 2010
Malice in Wonderland went to see Debbie Reynolds...
... and had an utterly FABULOUS time! I never thought I'd live to see the day when a true Hollywood legend came to my lil' ol' hometown in the UK to perform a one-woman show. I simply had to be there, and it actually turned out to be a spectacular evening.
The woman is irreverant, hilariously funny and quick-witted, and can still sing and dance with the best of them. After the show, myself and my companion for the evening waited at the stagedoor, and sure enough we got to meet the great Debbie! She was absolutely cream-crackered after the show, but was still gracious enough to sign our DVD covers (mine was the superb bitch-fest 'These Old Broads'), and pose for a photo.
How cool is that?!
Monday 12 April 2010
That Wyngarde Magic
Some of you may have heard of Peter Wyngarde, a swinging 60's Brit TV actor. He was in 'Jason King', which is one of the campest 60's crime-fighting spectaculars ever to grace the screen (apart from perhaps 'The Avengers').
Anyhoo, Wyngarde recorded an album of surrealistic pop songs in 1970, which is so odd it defies explanation. I can however point you toward a particularly interesting track, namely "Neville Thumbcatch".
Make up your own mind.
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Anyhoo, Wyngarde recorded an album of surrealistic pop songs in 1970, which is so odd it defies explanation. I can however point you toward a particularly interesting track, namely "Neville Thumbcatch".
Make up your own mind.
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Those Council bastards...
In dire need to get a little irritating thing off my proverbial chest. There are roadworks where I live, which started AFTER the Easter break, when everyone is back at work. Why couldn't the Council local authority swines do the darned planned roadworks during the break?
Sheesh. It defies logic.
Sheesh. It defies logic.
Are you being served sir?
Okay, so I love 'Are You Being Served?', the 1970's British sitcom starring the terrific Mollie Sugden and John Inman. It's a little bit camp, a little bit near-the-mark on occasions, and the characters were hilarious.
It's bizarre how everything I love is linked. On several occasions in 'AYBS', they use the music "These Foolish Things", which was written by a guy called Eric Maschwitz, who just happened to be Hermione Gingold's second husband!
It's too early on a Monday morning for coincidences.
It's bizarre how everything I love is linked. On several occasions in 'AYBS', they use the music "These Foolish Things", which was written by a guy called Eric Maschwitz, who just happened to be Hermione Gingold's second husband!
It's too early on a Monday morning for coincidences.
Sunday 11 April 2010
Greetings
Well howdy.
I'd like to say this ain't my first time at the rodeo, but actually it is. I just thought perhaps that keeping a blog might be a useful way to pass time. And to disseminate some of my genius for eccentrities.
So, this first post will centre on the title of my blog 'La Gingold'. To the uninitiated, this title refers to one of the greatest theatrical ladies who ever lived, namely Hermione Gingold. She was an English actress who undertook mostly stage work and revue, but made a successful transition to film and later to television. Sadly, she is mostly forgotten these days (apart from in specific circles, and those with great taste and an appreciation for the eccentric and camp-tastic).
And that I suppose is a main reason for thinking she is fabulousness personified. She was beyond over-the-top and larger than life, and isn't that what we all crave? Well, I certainly do. She would be my ideal dinner party guest. Imagine a night with Hermione getting tipsy on absinthe, noshing on steak tartare and arctic roll in her company. Add Noel Coward as an extra guest and I'd be in seventh heaven!
Here are a couple of illustrations of why La Gingold really is Queen of all which she surveys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPrCS-Mjk4g
THAT VOICE! Like sandpaper on silk. Incredible. And not entirely sure what that noise is at the end, but I have been attempting to perfect it and have failed miserably.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMnDgqe-P0s
What class and savoir faire.
A role model to us all.
Salut La Gingold!
I'd like to say this ain't my first time at the rodeo, but actually it is. I just thought perhaps that keeping a blog might be a useful way to pass time. And to disseminate some of my genius for eccentrities.
So, this first post will centre on the title of my blog 'La Gingold'. To the uninitiated, this title refers to one of the greatest theatrical ladies who ever lived, namely Hermione Gingold. She was an English actress who undertook mostly stage work and revue, but made a successful transition to film and later to television. Sadly, she is mostly forgotten these days (apart from in specific circles, and those with great taste and an appreciation for the eccentric and camp-tastic).
And that I suppose is a main reason for thinking she is fabulousness personified. She was beyond over-the-top and larger than life, and isn't that what we all crave? Well, I certainly do. She would be my ideal dinner party guest. Imagine a night with Hermione getting tipsy on absinthe, noshing on steak tartare and arctic roll in her company. Add Noel Coward as an extra guest and I'd be in seventh heaven!
Here are a couple of illustrations of why La Gingold really is Queen of all which she surveys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPrCS-Mjk4g
THAT VOICE! Like sandpaper on silk. Incredible. And not entirely sure what that noise is at the end, but I have been attempting to perfect it and have failed miserably.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMnDgqe-P0s
What class and savoir faire.
A role model to us all.
Salut La Gingold!
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