Mitchum & Leigh Have A "Holiday Affair"

Robert Mitchum & Janet Leigh in Holiday Affair (1949)

When you think of holiday movie classics, several titles spring to mind: It’s A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34^th Street, White Christmas and several others. But there’s a Christmas film that you probably haven’t seen, which is also worth your time. It’s 1949’s Holiday Affair, with Robert Mitchum and Janet Leigh. What’s that, you say? Perennial tough guy Mitchum and Leigh, future star of Hitchcock’s Psycho, starring in a feel good holiday story? That’s right, folks. It’s a delightful movie that should be added to your holiday viewing list. Reportedly, RKO studio boss Howard Hughes made Mitchum star in the film to clean up his image after he was busted for marijuana possession.

 Leigh plays Connie, who buys an expensive train set at Crowley’s department store, where Steve (Mitchum) works. She returns it the next day, and he suspects she’s a comparison shopper for a rival store. Connie tells him she’s a widow who’s bringing up a child on her own. Instead of turning her in, he gives her a refund. Unbeknownst to her, Steve gets fired for this good deed. Later, he becomes close to Connie’s son Timmy, and vies with her boyfriend Carl for her affections. Will Connie end up with Carl, a steadfast lawyer, or Steve, who seems to better understand her and Timmy? The usual comic complications, misunderstandings and touching romantic comedy moments ensue in this funny, heartwarming film.

Mitchum proves he has a flair for light comedy; Leigh is charming as Connie. The supporting cast includes Gordon Gebert as Timmy, Wendell Corey as Carl and the one & only Harry Morgan as an understanding cop. Directed by Don Hartman, this is a charming story that holds up well on repeat viewings. Sadly, it’s out of print on DVD, but its shown regularly on Turner Classic Movies during the holiday season; in fact, it’s being aired on Christmas Eve at 4:15pm. A made for TV remake was produced in 1996, but stick with the original. If you’re looking for a sweet, enjoyable tale to watch during the Yuletide season, I recommend Holiday Affair. Here’s a link to the film’s trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZDQWM8Hsx8.

Happy Holidays to all my readers & fans! Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a fantastic New Year! Thanks for checking out Eclectic Avenue! Keep on visiting the blog in 2014!

Echoes of the Past "Beyond the Pines"

Derek Cianfrance’s 2010 film Blue Valentine was a powerful portrait of a relationship gone awry. It featured searing performances by Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. Now Cianfrance & Gosling have teamed up again for the compelling 2013 crime drama, The Place Beyond The Pines. It begins as the story of motorcycle stunt rider Luke Glanton (played by Gosling) who is touring the country with a traveling carnival. When he runs into an old flame, he discovers he fathered a child with her. He decides to quit the carnival, and remain in town to provide for the boy. Luke ends up turning to robbing banks to get money for his son. He has a fateful encounter with a young cop named Avery Cross (Bradley Cooper) who will have to make some important & life-changing decisions of his own.

This generational crime saga ends up going in directions you don’t expect. It’s a story about fathers & sons and the choices they make. Luke & Avery are men whose decisions echo across the years, and affect the other people in their lives in ways they can’t comprehend. Are the results of these choices fated? Could things have gone differently if these men traveled a different road? Are the sins of the fathers revisited upon their sons? This is an effective, often darkly themed film that doesn’t offer any easy answers.

The cast is peppered with familiar faces, including Ray Liotta, Eva Mendes and veteran character actor Harris Yulin as Cross’ father. Gosling & Cooper are very good, and if you’re used to seeing Cooper in more comedic roles, he will surprise you here. The film has a good sense of atmosphere, and is well directed by Cianfrance. You can almost feel the pull of fate on these characters, and the bleak lives that drive them to make difficult & risky decisions. The movie reaches for an epic feel that sometimes isn’t there, and portions of the story could have used a deeper focus, but this is a challenging film that isn’t a cookie cutter thriller. It's well worth your time; Cianfrance is a talented filmmaker, and I look forward to his next project. The movie is now available on Blu-ray, DVD and online for various forms of digital viewing. If you’re seeking something a little out of the ordinary for movie night, I recommend checking out The Place Beyond The Pines. Here’s a link to the film’s trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz5jTy_lukk.

Covers Gallery, Volume VIII

Our eighth collection of noteworthy remakes, re-workings & re-dos…...

1. You Better Move On - The Rolling Stones’ version of this Arthur Alexander track is from 1965’s December’s Children (And Everybody’s). The Stones & The Beatles were fans of Alexander’s music, and both groups recorded covers of his songs on their early albums.

2. Can You Get To That? - Mavis Staples - The one & only Ms. Staples grooves on this remake of a Funkadelic tune, from her latest album, One True Vine (2013).

3.  For A Dancer- Katey Sagal – Beautiful take on the Jackson Browne classic by the star of TV’s Sons of Anarchy, who has recorded with the likes of Bob Dylan & Bette Midler. This version is on her latest release, 2013’s Covered.

4. Wagon Wheel – Darius Rucker had a country hit with this cover of the The Old Crow Medicine Show song. It’s on the former Hootie & The Blowfish member’s 2013 solo disc, True Believers.

5. Long Time Gone –Billie Joe Armstrong (of Green Day) & Norah Jones teamed up this year to record their own edition of 1958’s Everly Brothers album, Songs Our Daddy Taught Us. This is one of the strongest selections on that 2013 collaboration, Foreverly.

6. Sleeping With the Television On – Power popper Kurt Baker rocks out on this remake of a track from Billy Joel’s Glass Houses. Baker’s version is on his 2012 EP Want You Around.

7. Jolene – The White Stripes – The alternative rockers cover Dolly Parton’s classic on their album Under Great White Northern Lights (2009).

8. Somebody’s Been Sleeping - Foghat - Originally recorded by 100 Proof Aged in Soul, a group created by Motown songwriters Holland-Dozier-Holland, British rockers Foghat recorded their take on the song for 1979’s Boogie Motel.

9. When I Write The Book – Andrea Re - The Nick Lowe/Rockpile hit is re-worked into a slow burning soul tune by Andrea Re. It’s from the 2001 tribute album Labour Of Love: The Music of Nick Lowe.

10. Stop Her On Sight (S.O.S.) - Marshall Crenshaw - Best known for his hit Someday, Someway, Crenshaw does a nice job with this live version of an Edwin Starr song. This is one of the bonus tracks on the reissue edition of his debut album, Marshall Crenshaw, originally released in 1982.

11. For What It’s Worth - Lou Rawls - 60s rock meets classic soul on Rawls’ cover of the Buffalo Springfield hit. It’s on the disc I Can't Make It Alone: The Axelrod Years.

12. Magnet & Steel – Popdudes faithfully re-do Walter Egan’s hit, from 2013’s Drink a Toast To Innocence: A Tribute To Lite Rock.

Bonus Track: Hush – Billy Joe Royal – A sort of reverse cover for our bonus song. Billy Joe Royal recorded this Joe South penned tune in 1967, before Deep Purple released the most well known version of the song in 1968. Royal’s original recording is on The Very Best of Billy Joe Royal: The Columbia Years 1965-1972.

John Fogerty Takes the Oakdale Theatre on a Trip to "Bayou Country" & Beyond

John Fogerty’s songs (both with Creedence Clearwater Revival & solo) have become part of the American lexicon, so it’s no surprise that he played to a packed house at the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, CT on Saturday, November 9. He’s touring in support of his new album, Wrote A Song For Everyone, on which he re-recorded some of his classic tunes with artists like Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban, Bob Seger, Dawes and Kid Rock. On this tour, he’s performing a CCR album in its entirety each night, followed by some additional songs. Before the concert started, a slide show related some information on John’s life & music. Then a brief series of video clips & photos from throughout his career continued as the lights came down. It was a nice way to start the show, and a further reminder of his standing as a rock icon, and of the many memorable songs he's written and recorded.

 Fogerty took the stage, launched into the CCR hit “Hey Tonight” and followed it up with a fantastic, swamp-infused version of "Born On The Bayou." This kicked off almost two and a half hours of classic rock & roll. At this show, he played 1969’s Bayou Country, (though he saved one song from the album for the encore) and a host of other CCR and solo classics. It’s amazing to think there was a long period in the 1980s where he didn’t play any CCR material live at all, due to long standing legal battles with his record company regarding ownership of his music. But those issues are long past; John was shredding the guitar, jamming with his band and running back & forth across the stage, looking like he was about half his 68 years. His voice sounded great as well. He was having a ball, and seemed to have an endless supply of energy throughout the night.

 Song after song had the crowd singing along, cheering and dancing; How can you stay seated when you hear “Lookin’ Out My Back Door” or “Up Around The Bend?” There were also a few stories, including a funny one about CCR following The Grateful Dead at Woodstock, and playing to a sleepy (or was that stoned?) audience at 2:30 in the morning, which was followed by a phenomenal version of "Who''ll Stop The Rain?" The band was nothing short of amazing, offering stellar support; the group included veteran rocker Kenny Aronoff on drums, Bob Malone on keyboards, James Lomanzo on bass and Devon Pangle & John's son Shane, both on guitar. This was truly a talented group of musicians, and John clearly enjoyed playing with them, as well as hanging back on occasion and giving them each a chance to take the spotlight. His sheer joy & enthusiasm was contagious, and the audience loved every minute of this epic show.

Other highlights included an audience participation version of “The Midnight Special” and a lengthy, super-charged take on “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” after which John called Aronoff “the greatest rock & roll drummer in the world.” The last portion of the show was a non-stop parade of electric, full tilt rock & roll, ranging from a cover of Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman" to the CCR staple “Down on the Corner” as well as the 1985 comeback hits “Centerfield” and “The Old Man Down The Road.” The show reached a climax with a blistering version of the classic “Fortunate Son." When John & the band returned for the double-barreled encore of “Bad Moon Rising” & “Proud Mary” the crowd roared its approval. This was a wonderful night of music, celebrating not only John’s musical legacy, but also the enduring power of rock & roll.

Set List:

Hey Tonight

Born On The Bayou

Bootleg

Good Golly Miss Molly

Penthouse Pauper

Graveyard Train

Keep On Chooglin'

Joy Of My Life

Green River

Porterville

Who’ll Stop The Rain?

I Heard It Through The Grapevine

Lookin’ Out My Back Door

Mystic Highway

Ramble Tamble

Hot Road Heart

Commotion

Long As I Can See The Light

The Midnight Special

Have You Ever Seen The Rain?

Oh, Pretty Woman

Down On The Corner

Centerfield

Up Around The Bend

The Old Man Down The Road

Fortunate Son

Encore:

Bad Moon Rising

Proud Mary

Here are links to John performing "Fortunate Son" with Foo Fighters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWOWGZ_xX0U, "Looking Out My Back Door" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tRZG5qRDaw and "Wrote A Song For Everyone," with Miranda Lambert, from the album of the same name, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgkBJJOPl-Y. And here's a link to a previous post containing a review of Wrote A Song For Everyone: http://jveclectic.blogspot.com/2013/06/new-releases-from-john-fogerty-natalie.html.

Next time: A visit to Room 237

The "Rocket Man" Flies High at Bridgeport's Harbor Yard Arena

We knew it going to be a special evening at Bridgeport’s Harbor Yard Arena (aka Webster Bank Arena) last night when Elton John’s cello players (who tour & record on their own as 2Cellos) started the show by powering through covers of “Smooth Criminal” & “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” That got the crowd warmed up for what turned out to be an incredible show. It was the opening night on Elton’s tour to support his current release, The Diving Board. But this wasn’t just about selling copies of the new album, or a perfunctory run through of “greatest hits.” Elton and his band roared through an energetic, passionate two & a half hour set that touched on music from throughout his long career, hitting several emotional touchstones for his fans throughout the night.

Opening with a powerful version of the classic “Funeral for a Friend\Love Lies Bleeding,” we were treated to a set packed with classics, which included such iconic songs as “Levon, Philadelphia Freedom, Tiny Dancer and Don’t Let The Sun Go Down on Me.” But there were also a few album cuts and surprises, such as: "Your Sister Can’t Twist (But She Can Rock & Roll)” and “All The Young Girls Love Alice” from 1973’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, an album which is celebrating its 40^th anniversary this year. And how about a performance of a deep cut like "Holiday Inn" from Madman Across The Water (1971)? Elton also performed several songs from The Diving Board, including “Home Again” and  “Oceans Away.” This was a show filled with musical high points, but for this fan, two of the best numbers were “Mona Lisas & Mad Hatters,” from 1972’s Honky Chateau, and “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” from 1975’s autobiographical Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy. Elton also did a solo turn at the piano, performing the title cut of his 1992 album, The One.

Elton performing live on a previous tour

Elton & his band were in fine form, rocking out and encouraging the audience to have a good time. It was clear from their enthusiastic performances that they were having as much fun as we were. Though he referred a few times to almost losing his voice, Elton sounded great, and had an incredible amount of energy. It was wonderful to see longtime sidemen Davey Johnstone (guitar) & Nigel Olsson (drums) looking happy to still be jamming with him after all these years. The entire band was wonderful, including an amazing quartet of backup singers: Tata Vega, Jean Witherspoon, Lisa Stone & her mom Rose Stone, who was a founding member of Sly & The Family Stone. Also on board for the show were Matt Bissonette on bass, Kim Bullard on keyboards and John Mahon on percussion.

There’s no doubt that Elton is a master showman, and he knows how to put on a great concert; not only was the music stellar, but the lighting effects & production were fantastic during the show as well. Elton mentioned that he keeps doing what he’s doing because of his love of the music & performing, and the support of his fans. In fact, before he began the encore, he walked along the front of the stage and actually signed items for people for a few minutes. You don't see many people at Elton's level of fame doing that at a show. To say he had the audience in the palm of his hand might be understating things. As a fan from way back (yes I owned his albums on vinyl), I’m a little biased on the subject, but of the three times I’ve seen Elton, this amazing night in the Park City may have been the best yet. I was moved, I was transported (lots of memories brought back during the show), I was rocked & rolled, I was energized, and I was thoroughly entertained. Thanks for a great night, Sir Elton.

Set List:

Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding

Bennie & The Jets

Candle In The Wind

Grey Seal

Levon

Tiny Dancer

Holiday Inn

Mona Lisas & Mad Hatters

Believe

Philadelphia Freedom

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Rocket Man

Hey Ahab

I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues

The One

Oceans Away

Voyeur

Someone Saved My Life Tonight

Sad Songs Say So Much

All The Young Girls Love Alice

Home Again

Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me

I’m Still Standing

The Bitch Is Back

Your Sister Can’t Twist (But She Can Rock & Roll)

Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting

Encore: 

Your Song

Crocodile Rock

Here are links to Elton performing “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z314pQhLb2Q & "Mona Lisas & Mad Hatters," http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrOu0oc9aB4 "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJSeDujoC4c and “opening act” 2Cellos covering “Smooth Criminal”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx0xCI1jaUM&feature=share.

Next time: John Fogerty rocks The Oakdale Theatre

A Question of "Gravity"

Gravity (2013) is a fantastic film with solid work from George Clooney & Sandra Bullock. It’s essentially a two-character drama played out on the vast canvas of space. During a mission to perform service on the Hubble Space Telescope, a Russian missile strike on a defunct satellite causes a storm of debris. The space shuttle Explorer is damaged & rendered unusable by the debris, and astronaut Matt Kowalksi (Clooney) and Mission Specialist Dr. Ryan Stone must get to the International Space Station. With a dwindling air supply and not many options, our heroes have to race against time to find an alternate way home. And that’s essentially the story; it’s a simple tale that is well told & excitingly played out.

The film is equal parts character study, science-fiction adventure and a survival against the odds thriller. Clooney & Bullock prove why they’re movie stars with excellent performances that play up the personality traits we love about them, yet add some depth to what could have been stock characters in the hands of lesser actors. Bullock in particular gives a fine, emotionally layered portrayal.The film is visually dazzling, with wonderful production design, effects work & cinematography.The 3D here is effective as well; while it's not overwhelming, it adds another level of depth & reality to the story, creating an immersive experience. While many current movies don’t seem worth going out to the theater to view, this is one film that cries out to be seen on an Imax screen.

Directed, produced & co-written by Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men, Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban), this is a meticulously designed, shot & edited film. Cuaron & his crew should be commended for producing one of the best-looking science-fiction films of recent years. There are some interesting perspective shots, camera angles & of course, those beautiful space & star field vistas you’ll view during the film. But for all its grand scale, there’s still a kind of closeness & a “you are there” feeling. You’ll sense that you’re right there with the characters as they experience every trial, tribulation & success as the story unfolds. At the time of this writing, Gravity is still in theaters; this is one of those movies that lives up to its advance hype; see it on the big screen before it finishes up its first run. Here’s a link to the film’s trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiTiKOy59o4.

Retro Scary Movie: The Haunting

Claire Bloom & Julie Harris

The Haunting (1963) is widely regarded by fans and critics as one of the best horror films of all time. Dr. John Markway (Richard Johnson) heads a group of people who are going to investigate unusual activity in a mansion called Hill House. It’s a supposedly haunted dwelling where unexplained events & several mysterious deaths have occurred. The others in the group are: Theodora (Claire Bloom), a psychic; Luke (Russ Tamblyn), a member of the family that currently owns the house, and the meek, sensitive Eleanor. As the quartet settles in, strange things begin to happen; doors seem to move by themselves, there are odd noises & ghostly apparitions. Most of the paranormal events affect Eleanor. Her delicate psyche appears to the target of the forces in the house, and the ghostly presence seems to focus on events in her own life. What's the real secret of Hill House? Will the house possess Eleanor, and consume her mind & soul?

The movie is based on the Shirley Jackson novel, The Haunting of Hill House. Director Robert Wise previously worked with iconic horror producer Val Lewton, and that influence is strongly felt here. It’s a visually interesting film; the horror is suggested rather than shown outright. What you don't see scares you a lot more than what you do see. The actors are all excellent in their roles, but Julie Harris is a particular standout as Eleanor, whose fractured mind may reflect the ominous events occurring in the house. It’s a movie that works well as a psychological thriller, in addition to being a terrifying ghost story. Long a favorite of famous fans like Stephen King and Martin Scorsese, The Haunting is a classic tale of terror. The movie would be perfect viewing for Halloween or a cold winter’s night. The Haunting has just been released on Blu-ray and features a commentary by members of the cast & crew that was ported over from a previous DVD release. Here's a link to the trailer for The Haunting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-zIjOnl7ms.

“Silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone.” - From the novel by Shirley Jackson

The Terror Continues in "Insidious: Chapter 2"

When we last left the Lamberts at the end of Insidious (2011), it appeared the evil spirits that haunted them had been driven away. But as Insidious: Chapter Two begins, the family is still being plagued by mysterious events. Josh (Patrick Wilson) insists that everything’s fine, and the supernatural forces that pursued them are gone. But his wife Renai (Rose Byrne) and their children continue to experience strange occurrences. She also suspects something’s wrong with her husband, as his behavior becomes more & more erratic. In order to get some answers, Josh’s mother Lorraine (Barbara Hershey) tracks down one of the paranormal investigators who helped Josh as a child. But the forces they're dealing with are much darker than they realize, and it will take all their love & strength to defeat them.

The story builds on the events of the first film, with some nice twists along the way. There are a couple of eerie scare sequences, including a visit to a run down, deserted hospital. The ultimate reveal regarding the identity of the demonic villain is appropriately horrific. Unlike many sequels, the movie doesn’t alter or rewrite what happened in the previous story. The main characters are interesting & well developed. A couple of younger ghost hunters featured in the film are played for comic relief, they're sometimes a bit over the top, but they don’t completely wear out their welcome. By the way, one of those ghost trackers is played by the movie's co-story writer & screenplay author, Leigh Whannell. The performances are uniformly strong, with Wilson, Byrne & Hershey particular standouts.

Despite the fact that Director James Wan kicked off the Saw franchise in 2004, his style here is refreshingly restrained. He accomplishes a lot with creepy atmosphere & suggestion; he doesn’t rely on blood & gore. Though there are some very good special effects, they aren't overdone or over-used either. There are a few “jump scare” moments that just might catch you off guard. In fact, Wan has helped power a resurgence of old school terror films with the first Insidious, and this past summer’s fact-based ghost story The Conjuring. The film’s strength is in the characters; we really care about this family and what happens to them. At the end of the movie, the door is left open for a third chapter, which could take the series in a new direction. If it’s anywhere near as good as the first two films, it would be a welcome addition to the terrifying saga.

James Wan is proving himself to be on of our best genre filmmakers, and his love for classic horror shows in his well-crafted movies. The first film, Insidious, is currently available on Blu-ray & DVD, and The Conjuring will be released on video on October 22. Insidious: Chapter 2 is currently in theaters. If you’re a fan of terror tales like Poltergeist, The Legend of Hell House & The Haunting, this movie should be on your must see list. Here’s a link to the trailer for Insidious: Chapter 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBbi4NeebAk.

Make "The Friedkin Connection"

William Friedkin, the talented director behind such films The Exorcist (1973) & To Live & Die in L.A. (1985), has recently published his autobiography, The Friedkin Connection. It’s a great read about his life in the movie business. He sticks to discussing his professional career, after a brief history of his formative years in the book’s early pages. Starting out as a director of documentaries & television shows, Friedkin charts his path working on films like The Night They Raided Minsky’s (1968) & the 1967 Sonny & Cher vehicle Good Times. He’s open about his frustrating experiences on these early projects, which were not very successful. Then we get to his Oscar winning classics The French Connection & The Exorcist. The bulk of the book focuses on these two movies; Friedkin goes into great detail about the productions, and the challenges he faced making both films. For The French Connection, he was still considered a newcomer, even though he had directed several films previously, and faced numerous battles with studio heads over the film’s budget & shooting schedule. On The Exorcist, there were numerous bumps in the road in bringing the novel to the screen, including dealing with the controversial subject matter, and getting the right cast & crew together. There are fascinating behind the scenes details about both movies. These stories are the best parts of the book, and offer real insight into the moviemaking process.

Friedkin is candid about his successes & failures, and owns up to his own faults when relationships with his collaborators turned out badly. Another film extensively covered is 1977’s Sorcerer, an expensive remake of the classic French film The Wages of Fear (1953), which spiraled over budget & out of control during production. It later flopped at the box office, though it has had a bit of a critical re-evaluation in recent years. There’s also a section on the controversial film Cruising (1980), a murder mstery set in the world of gay sex clubs, which starred Al Pacino. Despite his candor, there’s no mention of two notorious failures, Deal of The Century (1983) and The Guardian (1990), both of which were troubled productions that turned out badly. One weakness of the book is that there’s less focus on the second half of Friedkin’s career; his later films are given much shorter shrift, though there are still some interesting anecdotes, especially regarding To Live & Die in L.A. What some readers may find surprising is that Friedkin later had success directing operas, collaborating with the likes of Placido Domingo. In the final portions of the book he does talk about his home life, discussing some personal health issues & his fourth marriage, to studio head Sherry Lansing. A few more words about his personal life would have been welcome, since he’s very open about it in the later portion of his life story. He also focuses on two recent film projects, both based on plays by Tracy Letts, Bug (2006) and Killer Joe (2011). This is a well-written, honest & entertaining read, especially if you’re a fan of Friedkin’s work as a director.