Greg Mitchell's Blog, page 123

Sunday Morning in the Church of Beethoven

Continuing our weekly feature:  seems apt today to post Beethoven's most Russian music, the second movement of string quartet no. 9, one of the three for Razumovsky, when he used a Russian theme in each one.  And if you haven't seen (shorter) new trailer for our Beethoven 9th film.

Time to Duck and Cover Again?

Well, we assume we're not heading for another nuclear showdown with the Soviets...er, the Russians.  But just in case, the classic I grew up with, Bert the Turtle and "Duck and Cover."

Adding a Few Drops of Mirren

I'm sure you want to read what happened when Helen Mirren addressed the crowd this weekend at a women in film event, starting with telling the male boozers at the bat to shut up because "Mama's in the house."  Then she admits being somewhat elderly is "expletive great."  Yes, she bemoans fact there are so few women directors but she recalls that when she started there weren't any women anythings on the sets.  Now it's quite different. 

“I just salute those women who’ve made that change happen — the women who stood there 20-odd years ago and said, ‘I can do that.’ You know? ‘I can do that!’ And they have made the world such that the younger girls amongst us are looking at you guys going, ‘Well, if she can do it, then I can do it.’”

“That’s why I want to live another 40 years,” she concluded, “because I want to see what further changes are coming. It’s coming, women and girls, it’s coming! Enjoy it. And have a drink.”

Didn't Die When He Got Old

Roger Daltrey turned 70 today.  Hopefully he's keeping his shirt on. In (much) younger days.

No Nukes Is Good News in Ukraine

As Putin asks for and gets approval from his Parliament for military actions in Crimea...it could be much worse.  Remember that when the Soviet Union broke up, several of the breakaway republics took with them some of Mother Russia's nukes.  Ukraine had many of them.   But somehow, with our help, they gave them up.  Amy Davidson of The New Yorker reviews the history here.

What are the lessons for the current crisis, other than to be abjectly relieved that we don’t live in a world where nuclear weapons are even more loosely held than they are? One is to not disparage diplomacy, or treat it as a lesser form of foreign policy, or to think that there is no place for a calm middle. Another is to remember how human and fallible the actors are, and how much listening and getting a sense of their interests can help.

Bush/Atwater Music Film Surfaces

Great and surprising piece at NYT just now on "long lost" film of blues and R&B stars performing for--and with--George H.W. Bush one day after he was sworn in as president in 1989.  Of course it was masterminded by Lee Atwater, his chief political aide and music nut,  famous for racial poltics.  So you might see why the film disappeared for so long.  It's airing tonight on some PBS stations and then on DVD.  Stars Carla Thomas, Willie Dixon, Bo Diddley, Percy Sledge, Dr. John (ouch),  Ron Wood, more.  Atwater played guitar but is missing in the film...

Take It To Eleven!

Sunday is 30th anniversary of Spinal Tap unleashed on the world. So:  some of the best moments follow. Look out Cleveland!

PSH Autopsy

Breaking:  Philip Seymour Hoffman's death ruled accidental--autopsy reveals presence of heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines and amphetamine.  Medical examiner describes it as "acute mixed drug intoxication." Hoffman was found with a syringe in his arm and dozens of packets of heroin in his apartment.

'Lady in Number 6' Dies at 110

I've written about the great woman--the world's oldest living Nazi death camp survivor (thanks to her piano skills)--before, of course, so was sad to see that she has passed away at 110.  This NYT obit captures her well and we'll see how the film about her, "The Lady in Number 6" does in the race for Oscar in short doc category on Sunday.  Of course, she was Beethoven fan, captured below:

'Lady in Number 6" Dies at 110

I've written about the great woman--the world's oldest living Nazi death camp survivor (thanks to her piano skills)--before, of course, so was sad to see that she has passed away at 110.  This NYT obit captures her well and we'll see how the film about her, "The Lady in Number 6" does in the race for Oscar in short doc category on Sunday.  Of course, she was Beethoven fan, captured below: