April Stevens!

Firstly of all, Stinky must apologize to his legions of followers- known as Stinksters- for not having written lately. Stinky has been very tired, apparently from all this winning. And not only is Stinky tired, but his head is also spinning exactly as promised, as well as his various appendages being limp and his assorted orifices being  just a smidge leaky, to boot.

This post is courtesy of Stinky's significant auxiliary, Lynne deDarnell, who introduced Stinky to Teach Me, Tiger by April Stevens. Stinky's wholesome and unblemished better half thought the song was rather naughty, but to Stinky's worldly and well-traveled musical ears, the song was no more explicit in subject matter than many others.  However, there is April Steven's breathy performance, ripe for parody, if it is not one already, which is not lacking in immodesty.

Dig those "wa wa wa wa wah"s. How is this not meant to be funny? But perhaps Stinky is too sophisticated for his own good.

Finally, after listening to Ms. Stevens' emphysematous performance and discovering this photo of the charming Ms. Stevens, Stinky was reminded of what Kirk Douglas said to tubercular Jan Sterling in Billy Wilder's Ace in the Hole: "You don't look like a chest case to me."

This photo is posted for historical purposes only.

George Gobel!

Far be it from Stinky to judge anyone's obsessions. For example, Stinky's better half, Lynne deHamilton, is obsessed with something called My 600-Pound Life, which Stinky naturally thought was Rachael Ray's new show. Alas, it is not. But Stinky's better half is entitled to like any crummy show she pleases, as Stinky does not judge, no matter how ridiculous and embarrassing her tastes may be.

Of course, Stinky's obsessions are beyond ridicule and reproach. He is currently, and at least for the next ten minutes, obsessed with George Gobel. Here's a clip of Lonesome George pickin' and singin' from his mid-50s TV show.

Unfortunately, being a genius musicologist, amongst myriad other things of genius, Stinky is constantly reminded of things reminding him of other things, what with his brain being packed full of knowledge and stuff. The tune George sings here sounds to Stinky's clasically-trained ears as being extremely similar (as in just like) to the tune W.C. Fields sings in The Fatal Glass of Beer, as well as being somewhat thematically related, as Stinky's English Composition teacher might say.

Coincidence? Stinky wonders if this "tune" was invented by Fields or if it was a stock routine from vaudeville. Stinky will have to wonder, because he is too lazy to do the research.

Well, I'll be a dirty bird!

Stinky Insists He Heard This! Or Something Like It!

While watching a documentary on the YouTube last night, Stink is pretty sure he heard this narration:

               The unsuccessful search for the homosexual assailant proved fruitless.

Stinky Reviews the Reviews!

Firstly of all, Stinky would like to apologize for being a little cranky. He missed nap time. And he broke his favorite thermos, ruining his strawberry milk. And he had to clean his room before being allowed to  watch any Bruce Campbell movies. And it was fried liver for supper. Again. Is it not any wonder Stinky is a little out of sorts? One might even say a little prickly. Prickly.

Secondly of all and next to lastly, allow Stinky to state that everyone is entitled to his own opinion, no matter how silly and wrongheaded it may be. After all, this is America. For now.

Thirdly and lastly, allow Stinky to state that although Love in the Afternoon may not be one of Billy Wilder's towering masterpieces, Stinky considers it delightful and essential.

Apparently, Neil Lumbard of DVDtalk  does not regard Love In the Afternoon as a masterpiece, towering or otherwise, which is okay. Different strokes, Stinky always says, especially when he is too weary to utter a complete sentence.

Mr. Lombard begins by telling us that Love in the Afternoon is "based on the novel by Claude Anet." Which novel is that? And why is this relevant, considering the source material is never again referenced? The movie "stars Audrey Hepburn and Gary Cooper in the two leading roles." As stars, what other roles would they have?

A brief synopsis follows, and Mr. Lumbard says Ariane (star Audrey Hepburn) falls in love with playboy Frank (other star Gary Cooper) "despite his apparent lack of any real interest in her (and his blase attitude towards everything about her)". So why does he desperately try to see her the next day? He has a peculiar way of showing his blase attitude.  "He even forgets her name and simply refers to her as 'Thin Girl.'" No, she refuses to tell him her name, but he sees from her monogrammed purse her name begins with an "A". He spends the rest of the movie trying to guess it. Again, curious behavior for someone lacking any real interest.

Hepburn is "delightfully charming" - is there any other kind?- but Cooper "feels miscast". Too old, one may argue, but Gary Cooper, one of Hollywood's most elegant and charismatic leading men (especially before Capra cornified him) miscast as a playboy? Stinky is not prone to begging, but here he begs to differ.

The criticisms "the material....wasn't as good as it should have been", the screenplay "isn't as effective as it should have been", and "the film isn't as funny as it should  be" are pretty lazy. Without examples given, what does this even mean?

Stinky also finds it curious that Jay A. Morley is applauded for his costumes, but there is no mention of Art Director Alexandre Trauner, his first collaboration with Wilder. And "The music adapted by Franz Waxman (Rebecca, The Philadelphia Story, Sunset Boulevard) offers exuberant music by the composer. " Is it just Stinky, or is this sentence wordy and clunky? Why not say, "an exuberant score by Franz Waxman"? You are welcome.

He criticizes the film for its "silly over-the-top comedic sequences"- again, no examples- but the only scenes he praises are the ones with a performing band of Gypsies following Playboy Frank everywhere. Or, in other words, silly, over-the-top comedic sequences.

Mr. Lombard closes, "Love in the Afternoon is interesting when considered within the context of the filmography of Wilder and Hepburn but it doesn't muster up much enthusiasm on its own." Can someone please translate this into English for Stinky? Is it only recommended for fans of Wilder and Hepburn? Then why does he not say so?

Finally, a brief bio of Mr. Lumbard:

Neil Lumbard is a lifelong fan of cinema, and a student who aspires to make movies. He loves writing, and currently does in Texas.


Does? Does what?
 

Handed down for generations

         
 

Margie Singleton! The 'Too Many Rivers' Obsession Continues!

Stinky Fitzwizzle, the world's most celebrated and prominent self-proclaimed musicologist, is not necessarily proud to admit that until a few days ago, he had never heard of Margie Singleton. Perhaps Stinky does not get out as often as he should. But Ms. Singleton's country music songwriting, recording and performing career spanning sixty years, including the original recording of Harper Valley PTA, is nothing at which to sneeze. And at the current moment, Stinky is not sneezing.

True to his obsessive nature, Stinky happened upon this version of  his newest  new favorite  song, Harlan Howard's Too Many Rivers, after listening to many versions on what the kids these days are calling the youtube. Some were quite good, several made his ears hurt. After lengthy deliberation lasting nearly a couple of minutes, Stinky has chosen his favorite version, recorded in 1965 by the titular Margie Singleton. Stinky hopes he is saying that correctly.

Margie!

Stinky's Newest New Favorite Song!

Sometimes Stinky gets to feelin' weary, what with being at an advanced age (nearly fifteen), and going everywheres, seeing everything, setting trends, plating fashion, and whatnot. Those of you who are Stinky's peers, if indeed you do exist, know of what he speaks.

But every now and then, when the moon is purple and the cicadas chirrup, or whatever they do, Stinky hears a new song, and is given the courage to trod on.

High up Hillbilly Mt. Olympus, Roger Miller stands alone in his awesomeness; on the ledge below stand half a dozen (or about six) other country music songwriters, among them Harlan Howard.

Here's a Harlan Howard tune from 1965, Too Many Rivers, recorded by Brenda Lee. Stinky finds it difficult to believe he has lived all these years (practically fifteen) and has never heard this song before.

Patsy Cline, who died in 1963, recorded several Harlan Howard songs, but did not get a chance to record this one. Nor did Jim Reeves, who died the following year. According to Stinky's count, he recorded six Harlan tunes.

Many fine vocalists still around in 1965 and worthy of this song. What is your excuse?

Little Miss Dynamite, looking especially pouty.

Stinky's New Favorite Song!

Stinky's beloved ball-and-chain, Lynne deEvans, keeps saying that Stinky is becoming too obsessed with his latest crush, Kay Starr. Willikers, only because Stinky watches Kay Starr youtube videos til 4am, and he blurts out Kay's name at a fairly inopportune time*, he will probably never hear the end of it. Leave us agree, sweetheart, that mistakes were made on both sides (Benedict Cummerbund), and allow us to amble along to greener days and brighter pastures.

Now that Stinky has humbly and eloquently apologized, and has proved that he is the better man, leave us come to the reason that we are all gathered here together: Kay Starr.

Here is Stinky's favorite new song, The Breeze, recorded in, say, 1953, because Stinky does not feel like doing any proper research, but written and published some twenty years earlier by Sacco, Smith and Lewis (whoever they are), who have just made Honorable Mention in Stinky's completely arbitrary Songwriter's Hall of Fame. Belated recognition is better than no recognition at all, Stinky always says.

I know you all lead busy lives, what with the approaching holidays, and after that, the Armageddon, but if you can set aside 2:33 for this delightful ditty, you will thank Stinky.

Kay!

*an isle in Home Depot, when Kay was heard on the overhead music. What did you think Stinky meant?