Thursday was just such a busy day that I didn’t get anything done on the site until late at night. I had to process some photos and set them up. And so late at night how can I think of a topic no less speak intelligently on it? My mind is a spent force. So, I’ve just watched Orson Welles’ “Chimes at Midnight.” This was Welles’ cut and paste job from the two Henry IV plays to showcase Falstaff and his time with Prince Hal.
And it’s a brilliant idea that should be remade again. But who could be Falstaff now? Who’s funny enough? Who’s fat enough. Who can act Shakespeare? No one.
But no reason to be gloomy. These things will turn around. All the nonsense that has been pushed on the kids for the last thirty years will not last. All of it is rot that won’t last. All those who truly believe it are self-selecting themselves for extinction and they will leave room for those who don’t. There are plenty who make believe that they believe for self-preservation. But when the winds change, as they already are changing, they’ll move on to where their advantage lies.
I was watching the movie “Fury” today with one of my friends. I had never seen it. Brad Pitt is an American tanker in WWII. He and his men including a raw recruit are deep into German territory in 1945 and everywhere they turn they’re hip-deep in death. The action and personal actions of the soldiers are as gritty as can be. I won’t give away the plot but suffice it to say that the tank crew was beyond hardened. They were approaching psychotic. But they had a camaraderie that was stirring. My friend told me that the movie’s ending was based on a true story although instead of an American tank in WWII it was based on a British tank in WWI. Well, it is a rousing battle scene.
You know, YouTube is an interesting concept. They must know I’m writing a novel because I keep finding videos on fiction-writing in my feed. And one of them was by Vonnegut. And I watched it and it reminded of when I met the guy by accident at the carousel in Central Park. And it’s funny, I wasn’t a fan of his writing but he came across very friendly and normal. And it got me thinking which other celebrities are regular people when you meet them off the cuff. I once spoke to a car service driver who brought people in and out of the Northeast casinos. He said Jerry Seinfeld was an arrogant jerk. Well, I won’t say that shocked me. The one guy I’d really like to meet completely candidly is Donald Trump. He’s a complete enigma. How much of the Trump we see is real and how much is make believe? And is he crazy? Well, I’ll never find out so I’ll just have to keep making stuff up.
I hope to catch up on the website chores tomorrow so I’m not working from behind. I guess Dunwich is a busy mythical place where even humans find themselves trapped in warped space-time. But this will have to do for tonight. Good night and good morning.
Living on SoCal in the early to late 60s, we ran across several celebs. George Goebel was a blind drunk. Sinatra was a mean drunk, but quite personable and giving when sober. Red Skeleton was a kind man, as was Roy Rogers. Who was just as he appeared on screen. A kind, decent man who, along with Dale, was a straight shooter. Ray Molland was also an alcoholic. Bob Denver could be quite mean in person. Tommy Kirk, Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon were friendly. The Beach Boys were finding their sound. Carlos Santana was nice to me when I… Read more »
I can’t speculate on the accuracy of the GI’s behavior but it was pretty gritty. Of course human behavior is as varied as any other creature’s. In my opinion it was dramatically successful.
Humans are as crazy as a squirrel on methamphetamine at times. Being sentient and sapient and with free will can make for occasionally manic behavior. But… in mass our reactions are quite predictable. Else ad agencies and Wall Street would be out of a job.
We are a strange species.
I agree.