Friday, November 21, 2014
mike nichols
After I read the news of Mike Nichols death, early yesterday morning....All I could think about was what a great and special man he was----so talented in every way----writer, director, actor.....an exceptional human being in every way----the loss to his dear dear wife and family----the loss to all of us-----especially those of my generation.
I remember Nichols and May.....what a team they were----How truly side-splitingly funny they were---how we all bought their recordings, wanting to savor forever their on-the-nose-humor where human foibles were concerned---that GREAT sketch where they were mother and son-----it was truthful and painful and hysterically funny, all at the same time.
And his incredible gifts as a Director-----winning 9 Tony's. NINE!
A Grammy, a couple of Oscars and a couple of Emmy's, too......He was in that rarefied small group known as 'EGOTS'----people who had won the big four Awards given to those few people who have proven their talents in all the 'Arts'---Theatre, Movies, Music or Spoken Word and Television.....
I did not know Mike Nichols, though I spoke to him once, on the telephone---a funny story too long to go into here.....
But.....I felt like I knew him and more than that, that he knew me.
His work---his choices of plays and films touched me deeply.
"Angels In America"; and epic life-changing work, brought to the small screen by HBO....His love and attention and understanding of Tony Kushner's play spoke volumes to the heart and the head.
"Birdcage", a funny treasure of a film based on the French film, 'La Cage Aux Folles'....The casting was superb----Robin Williams and Nathan Lane and Gene Hackman and Diane Wiest among many other wonderful actors----
"Who'd Afraid Of Virginia Woolf", starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor----getting performances from them that were unforgettably memorable.....
He discovered Whoopi Goldberg doing stand-up in a small theatre in New York in 1984 and brought her to Broadway---making her "career".
The list goes on and on......films like "The Graduate", "Silkwood", "Catch-22" and on and on....He directed Robert Redford and Elizabeth Ashley on Broadway in "Barefoot In The Park", by Neil Simon.....and, again, Simon's "The Odd Couple" for Broadway, with Walter Mathau and Art Carney.....And another Neil Simon play, "The Prisoner Of 2nd Avenue", with my dear long-time friend, Lee Grant----I was at the Opening of that one, and on and on and on, gathering those 9 Tony's.....
It was Mike Nichols who brought "Death Of A Salesman" back to Broadway a few years ago, in a revival with Philip Seymour Hoffman......
When The American Film Institute honored Nichols with it's Life Achievement Award a few years ago, it was one of the most joyous evenings I have ever witnessed. The love in that room for this true genius, and 'mensch' of a man, was palpable.....
I've watched all of those evenings since they began televising them-----this one was unique. The true feelings of love and respect and yes, awe, were undeniably real.
Authentic.
Brilliant.
Sublime.
He was all those things
Why do I feel such a loss?
He was such an enormous presence in my world of 'show business' for over 55 years.
We were all so lucky to have had him in this world in our lifetime.
Someone you thought would go on, forever.
His death is another reminder of the fragility of life, especially as I grow older.
Another person who touched my life in such a deep way.
And of course, for those who really did know him and loved him---his beloved wife and children and grandchildren----and those incredibly lucky people who worked with him....
Well.....I cannot even imagine their loss.
RIP, dear dear Mike Nichols.
I thank you for touching my heart and my soul and for giving me so many wonderful and exciting experiences with your exceptional razor-like understanding and your unique talent, and for giving me unforgettable spectacular memories that have and will stay with me, forever.
More To Come..........
It was Mike Nichols who brought "Death Of A Salesman" back to Broadway a few years ago, in a revival with Philip Seymour Hoffman......
When The American Film Institute honored Nichols with it's Life Achievement Award a few years ago, it was one of the most joyous evenings I have ever witnessed. The love in that room for this true genius, and 'mensch' of a man, was palpable.....
I've watched all of those evenings since they began televising them-----this one was unique. The true feelings of love and respect and yes, awe, were undeniably real.
Authentic.
Brilliant.
Sublime.
He was all those things
Why do I feel such a loss?
He was such an enormous presence in my world of 'show business' for over 55 years.
We were all so lucky to have had him in this world in our lifetime.
Someone you thought would go on, forever.
His death is another reminder of the fragility of life, especially as I grow older.
Another person who touched my life in such a deep way.
And of course, for those who really did know him and loved him---his beloved wife and children and grandchildren----and those incredibly lucky people who worked with him....
Well.....I cannot even imagine their loss.
RIP, dear dear Mike Nichols.
I thank you for touching my heart and my soul and for giving me so many wonderful and exciting experiences with your exceptional razor-like understanding and your unique talent, and for giving me unforgettable spectacular memories that have and will stay with me, forever.
| posted by OldLady Of The Hills at 6:13:00 PM
Sunday, November 02, 2014
public opinion debate
How come this is acceptable
and
this
is
not?
I am not a prude by any means, but it seems to me the outfit that Miley Cyrus is wearing at this AMFAR Fund raiser is incredibly inappropriate and pretty close to cheesy porn......
(And Miley is not alone in this fashion statement)
Rihanna came in a close second in the cheesy department?
Is this how we, as women, want to be defined?
I thought we had moved on from all this......
Boy, was I
Wrong!
On the other hand.....
A mother breast feeding her baby is a very beautiful and natural thing to see in my humble opinion......
Is my "age" showing?
I think we are now in 'The Hand Basket', just about ready to take off for Hell!
What are your thoughts about all this?
More To Come........
this
is
not?
(And Miley is not alone in this fashion statement)
Is this how we, as women, want to be defined?
I thought we had moved on from all this......
Boy, was I
Wrong!
On the other hand.....
A mother breast feeding her baby is a very beautiful and natural thing to see in my humble opinion......
Is my "age" showing?
I think we are now in 'The Hand Basket', just about ready to take off for Hell!
What are your thoughts about all this?
More To Come........
| posted by OldLady Of The Hills at 4:13:00 PM
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