A TREAT FOR FANS OF THIRTIES SWING, Jun 7 2004

Granted, DeeDee's voice wasn't beautiful in the vein of say Helen Forrest's, but it was very pleasant on the ears nevertheless. Some of her better-known recordings are: her lovely 1936 rendition of "Star Dust", "The Lady is a Tramp", "The Dipsy Doodle", "There's Frost on the Moon", "At the Codfish Ball", "Nice Work if You Can Get It", "Everybody's Doing It" and "San Francisco"

This CD is highly recommended for serious collectors of Swing-Era music: it's a nostalgic funfest which is a real find for those interested.

THE BEST OF BETTE!, Nov 22 2003

Korngold's score for "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex" is fine as are the various scores for "Deception", "The Letter" and "All This, and Heaven Too" & "In This Our Life". When Davis made "Dark Victory" she was a bit "upstaged" by Max Steiner's score towards the final fade-out of the film. Judy Traherne ascends the staircase, says good-bye to Daffy and Don (her dogs) and quietly insists that her maid Martha leave her alone, undisturbed to die in peace: "beautifully and finely". During this shot, the angels are singing ethereally and Davis flung herself at director Edmund Goulding during reheasal and demanded: "Damn it, who's playing this scene? Max or me??" No fears. It worked. Beautifully.

A FUN READ FOR FANS OF LA DAVIS, Nov 20 2003

There are various anecdotes in the book which are refreshing, surprising and funny: seems Bette was a most contradictory woman who could be extremely unpredictable: honest, caring and lovable one minute and harsh, cynical and monstrous the next. Apparently, like most great stars, geniuses, etc., she was quite insecure and a walking paradox who was fascinating but exhausting to be around!

The book is a valuable read for fans (and there are many) of this great First Lady of the Silver Screen because it reveals the real woman behind the legend. As I have long suspected, Moseley pointedly states that many things Davis said in print about her life were totally worthless as historical facts biograpy-wise, because she tended (as many stars of her era did) to romanticize/whitewash her personal life to the point of rendering it rather dull. And dull definitely is not an adjective one would use to describe this brilliant woman!

A SWEET BOUQUET IN MEMORY OF KATE., Aug 5 2003

I have to admit that certain things about Hepburn were very admirable: her loyalty to her family, her Yankee-bred way of living, her self-discipline and sometimes eccentrically delightful behaviour was fun to read about. The segment in which Michael Jackson came to visit was fascinating: funny and strangely thought-provoking. Seems Jackson had a yen for meeting the reclusive Greta Garbo and wanted Kate to set up an appointment. "Absolutely not, Michael" was her firmly polite reply. When author Scott A. Berg caught Kate rummaging thru his overnight bag in his guestroom he amusingly inquired "Find anything interesting"? - red-faced, Kate replied meekly "Not a God-****** thing!" She was "real people" after all!

A HEAVENLY PERFORMANCE FROM LA SWANSON., Jul 9 2003

It is quite amusing to think that both Mary Pickford and Mae West(!) were both originally sought to play the key role of Norma Desmond: the role seems to belong entirely to La Swanson. She's perfection personified in the part, giving her role much more dimension than I remembered priorly. Her fascinating voice and face make the film work when combined with Holden's repulsion at having to play gigolo to such a woman.

Holden's voice is music to the ears, and his playing is quite excellent: a finely etched study of a desperate young man caught in circumstances which simultaneously both benefit and disgust him, ironically.

As the normal girl who falls for Joe, Nancy Olson is an adequate 1950 All-American twenty-something gal and as Joe's true blue pal, Jack Webb can be seen in a very untypical performance.

And that brings us to Von Stroheim: his performance is rather kind and heartfelt - you feel a strange mixture of pity and anger for his character, who, in its own way, is just as pathethic as Ms Desmond herself.

A Hollywood satire on Hollywood. And a classic black comedy to boot!

P.S. As a footnote, the egotistical & definitely eccentric silent star, Mae Murray made a classic one-liner after seeing this film: "None of us floozies was ever THAT nuts"!

A GENIUS AND HIS MUSIC, April 2 2003

Born in NYC 23 May, 191O, Arthur Issac Arshawsky somehow escaped living a life of poverty via sheer will and determination to "be somebody": perhaps the most innovative and creatively intellectual of all the big-time leaders, one can hear Shaw's genius in his music: his diversity, originality and creative tendencies are fascinating and astounding to hear.

His initial band in 1936 included strings - something which was highly unusual for a swing band. "There's Frost on the Moon" vocalised by Peg La Centra and "Japanese Sandman" are both available on CD - as good examples of his music from this period.

In 1939, at the height of his popularity, Shaw - who could never abide bobby-soxers & autograph hounds - simply walked off the bandstand one night and fled to Mexico. Shaw loved music and all its aspects - but LOATHED the business side of his career. But he couldn't stay away for good. Artie was back on top with another great hit he found south of the border: "Frenesi".

This intellectual genius - still living in Southern California - married Kathleen Winsor, who authored "Forever Amber". Lana Turner was his young bride and another wife - Ava Gardner - was crazy about him. Shaw was also married to Scarlett O' Hara's younger sister - Evelyn Keyes. Creative, frustrated, brilliant and a perfectionist, Shaw's legacy is his fabulous music - most of which is re-mastered and available to the public on CD's. Perhaps the most inspired "small group" of the entire Swing Era was Artie's terrific Gramercy Five.

My personal favourites of his records are BEGIN THE BEGUINE, MOONGLOW, STAR DUST, DANCING IN THE DARK, OCTOROON, OUT OF NOWHERE, LOVE FOR SALE, NOCTURNE, CONCERTO FOR CLARINET, TEMPTATION, COMIN' ON, BACK BAY SHUFFLE, ONE FOOT IN THE GROOVE, ONE NIGHT STAND, CHANTEZ-LES BAS, FRENESI, SUMMIT RIDGE DRIVE, BLUES IN THE NIGHT, THE MAID WITH THE FLACCID AIR, SEPTEMBER SONG, BETWEEN A KISS AND A SIGH...among many others.