Nothing is more enjoyable than trolling through video sites that feature some great singers enjoying each other’s company. That feeling is present here, as Eddie Fisher, Andy Williams, and Bobby Darin begin singing “Do Re Mi,” a little self-consciously at first, then warming to it as they feel the audience responding. The formal wear, the simple stage, and that beautiful Technicolor all make for a dazzling number.
Now, the affection that gay men have for Judy Garland is terribly cliché, but there is no denying how powerful this clip is if you know the story. President Kennedy often called Garland (an ardent supporter of his 1960 run for the presidency) when he was troubled. She would sing any song he requested — her knowledge of songs was encyclopedic. When he was killed, on November 22, 1963, her show was on hiatus. Her first live show on December 13 was, for her, a chance to pay tribute to a man she admired and loved. The poobahs at CBS decided that her tribute would or could be seen as an endorsement of specifically Democratic policies. As the Civil Rights Act was among them, they put the kibosh on her explicit dedication of songs to the slain president, for fear of losing viewers in the South. She wangled a tribute anyway, and her audience rewarded her with a standing ovation. Garland, no stranger to fans’ devotion, thought of this as one of the proudest moments of her life on stage.
Two of my favorite television memories: Carol Burnett’s takeoff on Gloria Swanson in “Sunset Boulevard” and the Dean Martin roasts. If you are a child of the 1970s you know just what I mean.
The brilliant “A Question of Attribution” (1992, dir John Schlesinger). Here, the about-to-be-exposed traitor Anthony Blunt (James Fox) has a confrontation with HMQ (Prunella Scales). As in all of Alan Bennett’s work, there is so much more going on here than meets the eye. The scene is about 20 minutes long, but you can get a nice taste of the tension in the air, and who really has the upper hand, in this short glimpse. Enjoy!
Pure, if not so simple. A bravura piece of acting from “30 Rock.”
And I don’t know to whom I’m referring. Rock Hudson and Mae West light up the legendary 1957 Academy Awards. Here the two, um. . . friends spark to “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” Fantastic!
It will be difficult (er, “dwefful diffy”) to convey how brilliant this adaptation of Benson’s novel is, but I urge you to see the serialization of “Mapp & Lucia” as soon as possible.
Here Tammy Wynette sleepwalks through the torchily unforgettable “Stand By Your Man.”
