February 25, 2009
I'm sure most of you know by now that Delgo received poor critical reviews. I won't post links to them here -- isn't it painful enough? -- but once in awhile there are some kind words (here). An interview with "befuddled" writer/producer/director Mark Adler is here.
This is an old article about the making of Delgo that may interest you here.
Annie is on Disc One of this newly-released DVD set, playing opposite Robert Goulet!
Another must-have for your collection: Annie in Wintertime from April 1951! She's amazing in it.
For fun: Mel likes mushroom soup (link).
The newly-renovated Manhattan Marriage Bureau reopened last month -- Anne & Mel were married there in 1964 (link).
January 12, 2009
My friend and fellow fanne Jody H. sez:
I recently rented the Jack Paar collection from Netflix. I used to watch it with my Mom. Anyway, I knew AB was a frequent guest. There is about 5 seconds of her on the first DVD. I tried to take a screen shot for you -- I will try it again on a larger set.... Cute, huh? It is around '59 or '60, probably during the B'way run of TMW. That is Peggy Cass seated next to her. I am disappointed by the DVD -- I thought they would show old interviews -- instead, it is a lot of talking heads remembering Paar and his style.
Nice blog mention here, includes a nice pic I'd never seen before from the 50s. Link to larger image of the pic I'm talking about is here.
Imagine Anne having/needing a voice coach:
Arthur Joseph of the Vocal Awareness Institute explores the design of the human voice and its effect on the mind/body/spirit during a presentation hosted by the Design Innovation Institute (Dii) on Thursday, October 23, at 7:00 p.m. at The Neurosciences Institute in La Jolla, CA as part of their Performing Arts at The Neurosciences Institute program.
Joseph, a former University of Southern California professor, is the founder of the Vocal Awareness Institute. He has studied the physical, emotional and psychological aspects of the human voice for more than four decades and has used his knowledge to teach Hollywood’s elite, sport’s finest athletes, and major corporate giants how to transform their lives and guarantee success by maximizing the power of their voice. His clients include celebrities such as Anne Bancroft, Pierce Brosnan, Sean Connery, Angelina Jolie, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Magic Johnson, as well as corporate clients such as Deloitte & Touche, Ritz-Carlton Hotels and the Federal Reserve Bank. more
John Badham directed AB in Point of No Return, and here is an interesting interview.
When the meter's running at $6000 a minute, it must be hard to relax..?
You can never say the meter is running at $6000 a minute. You can never look at your watch, never let them see you sweat. You could be dying inside; you could see the sun setting in the west and you're about to go into quadruple overtime and you've got to stay calm, and say 'Well, what would happen if we try this? Let's try this...' And keep it really calm, because nobody can be creative if they're tense - that is just impossible. Stanislavsky used to say to an actor, 'Here, do this meaningful soliloquy from Hamlet, but go over there to the grand piano and pick up the corner of it first. Now talk!'. To make the point that under tension you need to be totally relaxed. An experienced actor knows how to do that because they've done it before. But even so, even James Garner or Anne Bancroft - who care deeply about what they do - need that encouragement.
A fun little quiz from this blog.
A distinguished bunch... ...who achieved fame in a variety of ways but have one thing in common. What was it?
Anne Bancroft, Claire Bloom, Alfred Brendel, Leslie Caron, Christopher Chataway, James Dean, Basil D'Oliveira, Lonnie Donegan, Mikhail Gorbachov, Goswell Frand, Larry Hagman, John le Carré, Arsenije Milosevic, Leonard Nimoy, Igor Oistrakh, Mordecai Richler, Boris Yeltsin.
[Of course, there are many possible answers, such as that all of them have, or had, two elbows but only one nose; this is not the answer I want. Other correct but unwanted answers are that none of them married Zsa Zsa Gabor and none of their names rhyme with Butterworth.]
Here is a helpful clue: the answer would be the same if you added Françoise Arnoul or Lionel Blair but NOT if you added Al Jolson or Tony Blair.
The answer is: they (and I) were all born in the same year. So far, only my n&d has got the answer. This seems odd: anything common to all has to be noted in their biographies and if you look up any of them (except Goswell Frand's) it will be the very first thing you see.
It was also said to have been a vintage year for red Burgundy.
This blogger loves the play The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window, and reports that the following letter which appeared in The NY Times in 1964 saved the play:
The news that Lorraine Hansberry's "The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window" faces closing should disturb all who love theatre.
Miss Hansberry's new play is a work of distinction. It contains the humor and insight we associate with the finest traditions of our stage, and it is written with profound respect for the human condition.
"Sidney Brustein" is concerned with the turbulent life of our times. It is, in turn, powerful, tender, moving and hilarious.
Whether it survives will be determined this week. We, the undersigned, who believe in it enough to pay for this ad, urge you to see it NOW.
James Baldwin, Anne Bancroft, Mel Brooks, Marlon Brando, Paddy Chayefsky, Sammy Davis Jr., Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, William Gibson, Lillian Hellman, Sidney Kingsley, Viveca Lindfors, Mike Nichols, Arthur Penn, Frank & Eleanor Perry, Shelley Winters
The New York Times, 1964
Isn't that amazing? The play nevertheless had an extremely brief run. Read more about Lorraine Hansberry here (she was terminally ill with cancer while the play was in rehearsal).
I see that Anne is listed at numerous websites as a person who struggled with ADHD. I had never heard this before, and am wondering if there is any truth there, or if it is just another internet rumor, such as the rumor about her conversion to Judaism. Just because it's on the internet doesn't make it true. I'll do some investigating and let you know what I find out.
It's time for me to stop for today, but there are many more news items yet to include here, plus a terrific surprise that Jody H. unearthed, just in time to give this site a badly-needed new year's kickstart. So please keep checking back, and I thank you again for your patience as the site's growth has slowed recently due to many pressures I'm dealing with.
December 3, 2008
Who could have imagined that a small tribute site like this would need a full-time staff?? It's unfortunate that so much needs to be done at this site for Annie at what is the busiest time of the year for my business (even in this rotten economy). She deserves a proper website update -- I've got new rare stuff to share with you guys -- but there is simply no time today. I will post the crucial stuff now and will get to the other goodies as soon as I can manage it. It may not happen until late December or early January, but you KNOW it's going to be fannetastic!
Many thanks to my regular visitors for your patience and continued support. My apologies, especially, to those of you who were kind enough to sign the guestbook and have been waiting to see your entries. I love reading the things you send, it makes me feel less alone knowing there are so many like-minded souls all over the world!
You guys need to email me and tell me what Annie stuff you're watching at the moment. I'm getting ready to watch Garbo Talks next. I haven't seen it in many years, do you think I'll be able to swing it without a total breakdown?
I'm sure the hard-core fans already heard this distressing news from last week.
Broadway Playwright William Gibson; Won Tony for 'The Miracle Worker'
I've got three interesting obituaries in forever versions, here. What a theatrical guru this man was. Think of what he represents to millions of people who experienced his work through Annie and other fine talents! I often shudder to think what we would have missed if he had not insisted on giving Annie her stages upon which to shine.
At what point during this scene do YOU usually cry? I couldn't tell you the precise moment for me, but I will say that by the time we get to the word "Teacher" I am a mess.
There have been many
exciting news items showing up for the release of Anne's upcoming movie, Delgo,
but this one truly moved me... a headline I could have gone my entire life
without having to read. On the other hand, I am so glad that someone
appreciates the importance of this moment.
(A lovely photo of Anne & Mel at the link.)
'Delgo' marks Bancroft's last performance
ATLANTA, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- The soon-to-be-released animated film "Delgo" features the final performance by Hollywood actress Anne Bancroft, Fathom Studios said Monday.
Bancroft, who is best known for her roles in "Great Expectations," "The Turning Point," "The Elephant Man," "The Graduate" and "The Miracle Worker," died in 2005 at the age of 73.
"Delgo," which was her last film acting job, is slated for release Dec. 12. The movie also features the voice talents of Freddie Prinze Jr., Jennifer Love Hewitt, Val Kilmer, Kelly Ripa, Chris Kattan, Michael Clarke Duncan, Eric Idle, Lou Gossett Jr., Malcolm McDowell and Burt Reynolds.
"When a carefree teenager forms a forbidden friendship with a spunky princess, hostilities between their two peoples escalate, setting the stage for an exiled empress to exact her revenge and reclaim her rule," Fathom said in a news release announcing the release date of the studio's first animated feature-length film.
source
Anyone who sees Delgo needs to email me and let me know what you think! I won't be able to see it for sometime, sadly.
Several fannes felt I should include this news item, and I think they're right. She was so wonderful in Fatso, among other terrific roles:
Estelle Reiner dies at 94
more
September 16, 2008
Finally! Delgo is set for a holiday release on December 12th (link).
Here's something fannetastic that arrived in my mailbox just in time for Annie's birthday tomorrow... a fresh new three-part interview with Mel Brooks! He discusses a variety of subjects, including his relationship with his fabulous wife, of course. Enjoy! (And my thanks to Jim at TV Time Machine for sending it.)
Anne's Annie Sullivan came in 5th in Times Online's list of the 15 most inspiring teachers in films (here). Each of the 15 performances has a clip associated with it (I have a soft spot for Remus Lupin at #4). I don't agree entirely with this list, but it's interesting nevertheless. The top 5 are certainly dead on. But hey, where is Sandy Dennis' Mrs. Barrett in Up the Down Staircase?
Jody sent these pics of Anne & Mel with Al Hirschfeld -- terrific!
Thanks to Jamie for this beautiful tribute to AB.
Charities are seeing hard times:
Hard times started to hit the Hamptons charity scene this summer.
The East End's whirlwind of fundraising auctions, garden tours and cocktail parties - previously untouched by the country's economic woes - finally was pinched by the twin forces of rising prices and falling incomes.
While final tallies aren't ready, organizers say dozens of nonprofit groups lost thousands of dollars because of smaller-than-expected attendance and dwindling corporate sponsorship.
In the most dramatic sign of turbulence, the Children's Museum of the East End canceled its annual dinner gala at a vineyard, which used to attract headline performers and crowds of 350, including celebrities such as Alan Alda, Peter Jennings, Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft.
more
This is something that only a Max Brooks fan will appreciate, but I am posting it here nevertheless. I was so excited last month to share The Miracle Worker with my son, who just turned nine. At the opening credits, upon seeing Helen stumbling over the hill with outstretched arms, with the beautiful musical score soaring, my son exclaimed, "Hey, a zombie movie!" Blame his generation -- they love zombies. My son enjoys watching Max's interviews and is looking forward to reading his books when he's older. He fully intends to be a zombie for Halloween this year, so it's on his mind. (Despite his heresy, I must clarify that he truly enjoyed the film and is not otherwise an insensitive child in any way whatsoever.)
