rebecca (1940) - alfred hitchcock

Another film starring Joan Fontaine that l have seen while off work (the others being Jane Eyre and Ivanhoe).    As Rebecca is an Alfred Hitchcock suspense, l half expected her to re-appear from the dead at any moment, and she might as well have done, the influence she had on all of the characters.  She is the dead wife of  Maxim de Winter (a dashing Laurence Olivier), who re marries a naive yet loving Joan Fontaine (who is never named in the film).  They move back to his country estate at Manderley, but the new Mrs de Winter feels Rebecca's presence everywhere.  Mrs Danvers the housekeeper (Judith Anderson) spooks her out, probably because of her floating, unblinking and unexpected appearances.  There are secrets to be told, blackmail regarding the death of Rebecca at sea, and there are also unexpected revelations aplenty.  Top stuff, despite the over emoting.  Yet another black and white classic, and if you want to see Hitchcock make his cameo, it's near the end while the policeman is talking about the car being illegally parked.

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ivanhoe (1952) -richard thorpe

Starring Robert Taylor as Ivanhoe, and Joan Fontaine and Elizabeth Taylor as the love interests, this is very similar to 'The Adventures Of Robin Hood', starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland (Fontaine's sister), only it's not as good.  Although Ivanhoe also features Robin Hood, the basic premise is the same.  Richard The Lionheart (Richard 1) is held captive abroad, and his evil brother John (Guy Rolfe) takes the throne in his absence.  Ivanoe (or Robin Hood) is loyal to Richard, battles John's men, and seeks the hand of the fair maiden.  Good for a bit of escapism, and as l have loads of time on my hands at present due to being off work but pretty much housebound, it was worth viewing. However, the film isn't that good (and features some cringe worthy singing at the start). Elizabeth Taylor looks great, and King John is suitably evil, but that's about it.  Give this a miss and go for the Robin Hood film instead.


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invisible dick

This strip was in Sparky comic, and is dying out to be reborn on ironic t-shirts.  Invisible Dick indeed.

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the african queen (1951) - john huston

After her fellow missionary brother dies (Samuel Sayer - played by Robert Morley), after an attack by the Germans in German East Africa at the start of the First World War, Rose Sayer (Katharine Hepburn) persuades Charlie Allnut (Humphrey Bogart) to take his steamboat down the treacherous Ulonga- Bora river to try and destroy a German gunboat with homemade torpedoes, as it is based in the lake at the end of the river, and preventing English counter attacks. Despite their differences, love blossoms (of course) as they overcome the dangers and obstacles in their way.  The African Queen is a classic, and Bogart is superb, even if you can't watch him nowadays without imagining people imitating him.  He won a well deserved Oscar for this in 1951, but l wasn't that keen on Hepburn's performance, and she looked too emaciated.  In the past, l have been amongst the reeds shown in the film, as they are in Dalaman, Turkey, and they sure are plentiful.  If l'd been aware that it had been filmed there at the time, l'd have leapt overboard and re-enacted some scenes, cigar and whisky in hand, leeches or no leeches, so it's probably a good job l didn't know.  I have however, wrestled naked in the amphitheater there, so it's not all bad (apart from the poor sods who viewed it).

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the strange necker cube

This is doing my head in, and I think l may need a lie down.  A version of the 1832 Necker Cube that makes me feel giddy (it doesn't take a lot).

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a rather large crocodile

That, brothers and sisters, is what you call a crocodile.  Not like the namby pamby ones you normally see.

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the wacky practicals bucket

What a brilliant idea by those folks at Wacky Practicals.  A flat bucket that can be transported easier, but is still long lasting and sturdy.  Available in red and blue (and more!)  Less that £20!!  Genius!!

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charlie brown and peanuts books

After the Dandy post, l was thinking about how comics from my childhood, and how they change, not just the stories, but the drawings themselves.  A great example is the early Charlie Brown 'Peanuts' strips by Charles M Shultz.  They look much different from the later versions l liked as a child, but certainly improved as they went on (although l was never keen on Woodstock, the bird).  Linus (Van Pelt) was my favorite, but l could definitely identify with some of Charlie Brown's problems.  I've still got the books somewhere (wrapped up in the garage is my bet), and l used to spend a lot of my dinner money buying them.  Money well spent l'd say.  Here's the last ever strip.

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the loss of the dandy

 The first issue in 1937

Some of the newspaper coverage

Kids looking like they are eating shit

A sad git who will miss it (I hasten to add this picture is not me).

So, it looks as though The Dandy, the UKs longest running childrens comic, is to cease publication in September.  This could be a ruse to increase readership, but its circulation has dropped from about 2 million a week in its heyday, to about 8,ooo now.  They have tried various rebranding exercises (Dandy 'Xtreme' anybody?), but the market has changed a lot in the last 10 or 20 years.  The Beano should survive for a bit longer, as that has circulation of about 30,000, but you can easily envisage that going down the pan in the future as well.  It's a shame, as these were essential reading to millions of UK kids, with some great storytelling and characters. To me, what ruins them, is when they try to make them too modern, glossy, TV orientated and  tacky, such as the fart and poo article above, which makes it look as though the young kid is going to eat the poo (I'd buy it if they made him).  If you are going to put TV stars or celebrities on the cover, it takes away it's identity, and there are lots of other magazines out there that look similar and cater for that.  Once kids get out of the habit of buying it every week, they often don't go back to doing so. Also, kids want funny, interesting or adventurous stories, and at a cheap price.  Sadly those days have gone, and their entertainment can now be found elsewhere (Hello Mr Computer!).  Lots of views are here, plus Lew Stringer's site is worth checking out.

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home (2008) - ursula meier

A Swiss film in French, Home tells the story of a family who live next to an unused road, leading an isolated yet idyllic life.  The road is then opened up as a motorway/highway, and their peaceful existence is shattered. It could be a metaphor for the encroaching industrialized (and polluting) ''progress', and how one deals with it, or maybe l could have had another funny turn.  The sunbathing daughter who is against the traffic and tries to ignore it (then rebels against it), eventually leaves home to join it.  The others worry about the noise, danger, and pollution, and retreat back into their home, sealing it off as protection against the road and traffic, until they can stand it no longer, and have to break free (as Freddie would say).  A gentle slow moving film, ideal for a rainy day, as most of these so called 'summer' days are turning out to be.

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john romita sr artwork

While perusing the Liveauctioneers site (as you do), l came across these little beauties.  Original artwork for The Amazing Spider-man no 43 by John Romita (Sr). Iconic stuff indeed, if (like me) you're a fan.
If l only had more money.......


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le boucher (1970) - claude chabrol

Le Boucher (The butcher) can be pretty ambiguous as far as understanding the story goes.  Behind the fact there is an unrequited love story between Popaul  the butcher (Jean Yanne) and Hélène (Stephane Audran), the village headmistress.  There are murders, suspicion, doubts, pent up frustrations and bad memories (plus 'blood, lots of blood'). Popaul is messed up from being in the army and growing up as a butchers son (and later, a butcher himself).  Hélène  is repressing herself and is single, due to an earlier relationship that has left her emotionally scarred (although she appears pretty happy for most of the film).  They fall for each other, but Popaul is rejected in his attempt to take it further, and is then suspected by Hélène of being responsible for some local murders.  She covers for him when she finds incriminating evidence, but there is a twist to this that could have been devised by Hitchcock himself. In the end, he comes to her home with a knife, and you are left to ponder at how you feel at the conclusion.  Was it her rejections that drove him to kill, or would he have done it anyway?  Does she have transference of guilt, or does he confirm that men are not to be trusted?  Does she fall for him in the end, or just feel sorry for him?   My own view (probably wrong) is that they are both messed up from their past experiences, both lonely and eager to please, but Popaul is pushed over the edge by rejection slightly sooner than he would have been without meeting Hélène.  The kiss at the end could be out of pity or just kindness being returned to someone who has always been kind to her.  What the hell, watch it yourself and make you're own mind up.  It's starting to make my head hurt thinking about it.


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van persie to united

 How he might look

This is one transfer that l thought would never happen.  Robin Van Persie has signed for Manchester United from Arsenal, as long as terms are agreed and he passes his medical.  He could even be turning out for United against Everton on Monday evening.  As long as he stays fit (and l really hope he does), he is one hell of a player, and his partnership with Wayne Rooney (mocked up above) should be awesome.  This will really strengthen United, but if l was an Arsenal fan, l would be really pissed of.  They need some new players, and at the moment, have no chance of competing for the title.  Unfortunately, Manchester City will still be difficult to beat, with Ciddy the main threat, but Chelsea have also been splashing the cash about to the tune of £60m, so they should be in contention as well.  I feel sorry for Dimitar Berbatov, as he is being edged out, and is one classy player, but he will always be a United legend for his hat trick against Liverpool.   Michael Owen would be a match made for Everton if they could afford his wages, and it's time for Danny Welbeck to show he has the makings of a top class striker, but l guess the long term plan behind the Van Persie move would give a couple of years for him and 'The Little Pea' to progress and develop.  I haven't even mentioned Kagawa, who is also someone who could become a real star for United, as he is like Anderson, but with talent and a finish.   It's back at the weekend!. As Delia would say "Let's be 'avin you".

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liverpool v manchester united 1972

As l am looking forward excitedly (but with a lot of trepidation) to the new football season, l was checking out some old football cuttings and memorabilia, and was reminded of this game.  It was 40 years ago to this very day that l went to it  -   Liverpool versus Manchester United at Anfield.  Our family were back in Bootle at the time, so l didn't have far to travel, but that didn't make up for Liverpool winning the game 2-0 (unless my memory has completely gone).  40 bleeding years!!  Where does the time go?

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octopus lamps by vladimir tomilov

These ultra cool designs of Octopus lamps are by Vladimir Tomilov, and l wouldn't mind one or two of these lights myself.  They remind me a bit of the aliens in The Simpsons (Kang and Kodos), but that probably says more about my warped viewpoint than about how the lamps look.  These little beauties are much, much sleeker and groovier (if the kids still say that).  More photographs of them are here, and Vladimir can be found here.

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