Ambitious, Creative, and Indispensable: RIP, Gene Kelly (Pic of the Day)
This entry is part 12 of 12 in the series Pic of the Day. Sixteen years ago today, the world lost one of Hollywood’s greatest entertainers, dancers, choreographers, innovators, cinematographers, and genuine stars. What follows is a brief tribute to Gene Kelly including an explanation of his death and the industry’s response(s) thereafter. In July 1994, Gene Kelly suffered the first of two strokes. Although doctors at UCLA’s Medical Center labeled it “mild,” the stroke kept him in the hospital for nearly seven weeks. Kelly suffered another, much smaller stroke in...
Read MoreGene Kelly Cops a Feel in The Pirate
This entry is part 11 of 12 in the series Pic of the Day.For those unaware that Hollywood censored itself to avoid government intervention, here’s a quick history lesson to precede the brilliant rebellion that follows… In the late 1920s, some U.S. citizens, churchgoers, and government officials complained copiously about the movies’ depictions of sex and violence. “Motion pictures are too risque! They’re corrupting our children! They’re of the Devil!” To this end, Hollywood studio moguls hired a bunch of white Catholic men to sit in a room and come up...
Read MoreClue, the Movie, and Those Flames, on the Side of Her Face
This entry is part 10 of 12 in the series Pic of the Day.Twenty-six years ago today, Clue (Jonathon Lynn) was released in cinemas. A live-action version of the popular board game, the comedy/mystery movie garnered mixed reviews and grossed just short of its $15 million budget. So all in all, it wasn’t a big success. However, over the years, the movie has received a cult following and a relatively high score on Rotten Tomatoes (eh, not so high on MetaCritic). What was noteworthy about Clue, aside from its comedic cast and notably silly/punny dialogue (e.g., “Frankly, Scarlet, I...
Read MoreStevie Wonder “Sees” MLK Memorial
This entry is part 9 of 12 in the series Pic of the Day. An inspirational moment, singer Stevie Wonder is raised on a crane to “see” the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, dedicated this morning in Washington, D.C. According to NBC’s Brian Williams, Wonder is a “big backer of the project.” Indeed, the singer participated in the National Memorial “Dream Concert” (2007) and apparently helped to reschedule today’s dedication service (it was originally supposed to take place in August but was cancelled because of Hurricane Irene). I was surprised,...
Read MoreBuster and Bogie: Keep the Smiles to a Minimum, Please
This entry is part 8 of 12 in the series Pic of the Day.Some stars are identified by their smiles. Take Julia Roberts, for instance. Over the years, critics have described (as well as fetishized) her smile as “thousand-watt,” “million-dollar,” and the “most profitable asset in modern cinema.” (Eh, it’s not been a solid money-maker since 2001ish, but I digress.) Similarly, after Top Gun (1986) appeared on the scene, the media all but reduced Tom Cruise to his grin and dimples, which they often labeled as “cocky,” “flashy,” and...
Read MoreHere’s to George Strait’s “Baby Blue,” First Loves, and Tight-Rolled Jeans
This entry is part 7 of 12 in the series Pic of the Day.Sure, I have a few George Strait songs on my iPod. Who doesn’t? One is the classic “Amarillo by Morning” with its lovely twin fiddles at the end, and another is “Baby Blue,” a ballad that, when I hear its first twangy notes, immediately takes me back nearly 22 years. (For the love of God, am I really THAT old?! Also, who let me out of the house in that sweater, those bangs, and the whore-red lipstick?) In any case, “Baby Blue” recently surfaced on my iPod. I turned up the volume so that George...
Read MoreA Tribute to Gene Kelly’s Rug
This entry is part 6 of 12 in the series Pic of the Day.To lift viewers’ spirits, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) devoted yesterday’s schedule (Sept. 11) to films that celebrate New York City. Among the pictures shown: 42nd Street (Lloyd Bacon, 1933) Guys and Dolls (Joseph L. Mankiewicz, 1955) The Clock (Vincente Minnelli, 1945) Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977) On the Town (Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, 1949) On the Town is not my favorite Gene Kelly musical, but I am still a sucker for its opening number: three sailors bound off their ship in full/hot navy regalia, howl like a pack...
Read More9/11 Ninety Years Ago: Fatty Arbuckle Should’ve Nursed His Ass at Home
This entry is part 5 of 12 in the series Pic of the Day.Today is September 11, 2011, ten years after the terrorist attacks on America. As a result, hundreds of stories will fill the airwaves, blogosphere, and other social media outlets as reporters, bloggers, and otherwise (still) try to make sense of it all. First, they’ll ask interviewees, “Where were you on that beautiful clear morning?” Next, we’ll see those horrific images of the planes hitting the World Trade Center, of the Pentagon smoking, and of that jet-shaped indention in a grassy Pennsylvania field. Third,...
Read MoreColin Firth: Actor, Sex Symbol, Drag Queen
This entry is part 4 of 12 in the series Pic of the Day.Today, Colin Firth turns 51. That’s right, folks; the man above is 51 years old. I’m unsure when this particular photo was taken (8-10 years ago?), but if this is what middle age looks like or this, which I know was taken last week, sign me up. Trying to decide on one photo to represent this “pic of the day” entry is by far the most difficult thing I’ve done all week. Please keep in mind that over the past six days, I set the DVR for the upcoming fall season, watched the documentary Exporting Raymond, and...
Read MoreLos Pollos Hermanos: Chicken and Blue Magic Slushees, Sold Here!
This entry is part 3 of 12 in the series Pic of the Day. When I pulled up my Tumblr dashboard a few minutes ago, Gustavo Fring’s ever-so-serious face was staring back at me — not a bad way to begin a morning…well, unless you’re Hank Schrader or poor, unsuspecting Victor. Beware the box-cutter, young man. This (faux) advertisement for Los Pollos Hermanos, the fast-food chicken joint/crystal-meth shuttle service in AMC’s intense drama Breaking Bad, joins other online fan-based products, blogs, etc.: Los Pollos Hermanos T-shirts Los Pollos Hermanos Wiki page Los...
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Professor of film and Shakespeare. Advocate of social media. Lover of popular culture,