dirac

Foote had wonderful material to work with -- seems as if almost everyone in the nineteenth century had a knack for writing expressively – but he also had the gifts to make the most of it.

Hi, Ed. Long time no hear. I get the impression that Corliss and Schickel were looking at genres and historical impact as well as aesthetic merit – hence the inclusion of things like “Blade Runner.” (Also at stars – without the presence of Garbo in Camille and Ninotchka, there is no justification whatever for including either picture in such a list. However, Bette Davis didn’t make the cut, although All About Eve would certainly have a place in this company.) I haven’t cracked the numbers, but the list seems heavily weighted toward contemporary movies. atm711, I must disagree, respectfully, about Tom Jones. I thought it was a mess, and a sad waste of a perfectly cast Albert Finney. I wouldn’t include “Barry Lyndon” on the list either, though. I think I could make a case that Psycho is a poor picture. “Famous” doesn’t equal “good.”

The Reuters obituary for Foote.

Shelby Foote, the author of a three volume history of the Civil War and late blooming TV star, is dead at 88. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/29/books/29...=all&oref=login Clay Risen comments on Foote and the Southern culture in which he lived and worked, in The New Republic. http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=w050627&s=risen063005

Lewis Segal's take on the issue, in his review from last Saturday's Los Angeles Times: http://www.calendarlive.com/stage/segal/cl...2,6484621.story

I think as a general rule Farrell did not have understudies for any of her roles in the Sixties. If she could not dance it, another ballet would be substituted.

Further adventures in copyright madness. An interview with Amy Sewell, the writer of the new documentary “Mad Hot Ballroom” on the hoops that had to be jumped through to obtain clearance for the use of music in the film. From stayfreemagazine.org.

As some of you know, Google is launching a “Print for Libraries” project to make digital copies of books available on the grand scale. Not everyone, and in particular not publishers, are happy about this: http://www.businessweek.com/technology/con...119.htm?chan=db

Thanks, Kathleen. There are a few reviewers out there who've made similar objections to yours, amid the praise. I hope to report soon.

I saw Flatley in the original Riverdance and although the production was not to my taste, at his peak Flatley was obviously a superb dancer – in a class by himself on that stage. Of course, compared to Flatley’s follow up, Lord of the Dance, Riverdance looked like Swan Lake.

What Helene said. Although as I’ve indicated I don’t think Murphy and Corella were a dream couple, as one who doesn’t see ABT regularly I was grateful to have the chance to get a good look at an outstanding young American ballerina and to see Corella’s try at the role, even though for no fault of his own he’s not suited to it. I think both of them brought a good deal more to their roles than flash and pirouettes, and I’m glad I saw them!

In defense of the confused ticketbuyers, I thought the preview coverage of “Don Quixote” focused largely on the Farrell-Balanchine relationship and the return of the ballet to the active reportory rather than on the problems that led to its being dropped in the first place. That’s understandable, but I wouldn’t blame the casual balletgoer for being puzzled or even for thinking of the wrong “Don Quixote.” I don't always go right for the program notes, myself, although it's probably wise to do so........

Clare Raymond of the U.K. Daily Mirror talks to Michael Flatley about what he’s doing these days. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/showbiz/tm_ob...-name_page.html

I always liked Streisand in Funny Girl, confronting Siegfried with "Whaddya gonna do, shoot the svans? Dese lovelies? My svansgirls?" I sometimes think that people who say "I don't like mime" have maybe been exposed to bad or amateurish mime that doesn't explain anything. I was watching Jean-Louis Barrault in "Les Enfants du Paradis" the other night and reflected that if all mime could be performed at that level of physical eloquence people would be lining up and demanding more, not less. Paul's comparison to operatic recitative is to the point. You need the contrast -- otherwise it's like listening to those versions of Carmen where all the dialogue is cut or set to music.

Thank you for the heads up, miliosr. I'm going to watch for the first time tonight, as I can't be there for "Don Quixote".....

I don’t think anyone really wants to focus on the negatives right now, and that includes the score. From everything I heard and read, it will present a problem. (I remember Suki Schorer saying from a dancer's perspective that it was hard to listen to all week long.) I’ll be interested to see how the critics react – will the reviews be good (at the very least they’ll be respectful, I’m sure), and if so, will they be genuine raves or praise of the let’s-plug-the-production-because-everyone-worked-so-hard-and-we-don’t-want-it-to-be-DOA kind?

The Guardian collects recommendations from a variety of notables. http://books.guardian.co.uk/summerreading2...1508756,00.html

richard53dog wrote: When they embraced, he was looking passionately into her....nostrils. I thought she might swallow him.

I always enjoy reading Laura Jacobs. I don't think the "real" story of the recent company turmoil isn't out there yet. All we can do is hope for the best.

Thank you for making the point about the byline, Alymer. The negative side of the no-byline policy, however, is that it can make an unpleasant obituary look more like a drive by shooting. I agree with you about warts-and-all -- but it did seem to me as if the Telegraph piece was a trifle over the top.

Alexandra wrote: Yes, Pol Pot got more sympathy. I think obituaries should be candid and not shirk the bad stuff, but this was a bit much.

Pauline Kael once said something like, "No one can combine wistful sentiment and corny humor the way Frank Capra can -- but if anyone else should learn to, kill him."

"It's A Wonderful Life" made it on to this list, too. They must have bumped Renoir's "The Rules of the Game" to make room for it.

Unfortunately, it may not be possible to have it both ways. That’s the danger. As the review bart quotes points out, many people have observed that pop culture is not always and only junk food for the mind, so I think that is something of a straw man.

The fine conductor and spiffy dresser Carlo Maria Giulini has died. Associated Press report: http://www.andante.com/article/article.cfm?id=25627