tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post34781505157205584..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: 4th of July memoriesBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-60386219239552835772017-07-05T12:57:27.956-07:002017-07-05T12:57:27.956-07:00To Jim's post I would add W.C. Fields, who beg...To Jim's post I would add W.C. Fields, who began as a comic juggler. You can see his physical skills in the early silents. Also, many of Lloyd's stunts were done after his right hand was maimed in an explosion. Look closely and you'll see the prosthesis.<br /><br />People who care about movies remember Buster Keaton. People who don't can barely remember Natalie Wood. Buttermilk Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07430011403223875192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-80298951202056803132017-07-05T05:31:34.115-07:002017-07-05T05:31:34.115-07:00Buster Keaton would have been 69 at that point.
N...Buster Keaton would have been 69 at that point. <br />Not old by today's standards at all. <br />only a couple years older than Ken is today. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-91045376898068299362017-07-05T05:11:21.126-07:002017-07-05T05:11:21.126-07:00When you look back at all the stars of early cinem...When you look back at all the stars of early cinema it's amazing how physical many of them were. Buster Keaton was brought up being thrown around on the stage. Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel (and quite a few of the lesser known comedians) started out with Fred Karno, and by all accounts his stage shows were a bit of a live version of a Keystone film. But with no retakes. You can see Harold Lloyd's strength when he's dangling beneath that clock face held on by one hand, Lupino Lane's (check You Tube if you don't know him) trademark move was to do the splits then appear to be lifting himself back up by the collar, even though his thigh muscles were doing all the work. And even Cary Grant started out as an acrobat.<br /><br />So here's a sort of Friday question if you want an excuse to talk about old comedy. Are there any actors around today who still have those physical skills? The only one I can think of is Jackie Chan, who's getting on a bit I suppose. Do acting classes today teach anything other than how to say your lines while not falling over the scenery? Or does it all come down to a pretty face, winging it, CGI and stand-ins?Jimnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-71254228705612822482017-07-04T16:12:43.437-07:002017-07-04T16:12:43.437-07:00I am not embarrassed to be an American. I am not embarrassed to be an American. Stevensnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-87416536234718840502017-07-04T14:38:29.180-07:002017-07-04T14:38:29.180-07:00Our dog Buddy would also sit beside a family membe...Our dog Buddy would also sit beside a family member who was under the weather. Very loyal.<br /><br />My brother and his family had a cat named Babs. She never got drunk, but she got stoned like anything on catnip. I saw her, on a catnip high, fall UP the stairs. Yes, up; she was on one step, twirled like the cartoon Tasmanian Devil, and endedis no up on a higher step. Their current cat, Razzle, is unaffected by catnip, however.Liggienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-25107348174790873682017-07-04T14:13:32.229-07:002017-07-04T14:13:32.229-07:00During the Rob Ford era I was embarrassed to be a ...During the Rob Ford era I was embarrassed to be a Torontonian.FFShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12957594809079628577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-49467591418001672652017-07-04T11:09:15.114-07:002017-07-04T11:09:15.114-07:00Buster Keaton has never been more revered than tod...Buster Keaton has never been more revered than today among anyone who writes of film comedy history; he's always top choice in any vintage comedy screenings. DVDs of his work remain popular. Still, I'll admit not many people today would recognize his name out of hand, but for a mostly forgotten person he's very well remembered!Barry Rivaduehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02398166395997803552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-79544918900966074852017-07-04T11:00:37.039-07:002017-07-04T11:00:37.039-07:00As I follow the Nats while they dismantle the Mets...As I follow the Nats while they dismantle the Mets (up 9-2, mid 8th), I'm not either. We will survive.<br /><br />(If you're wondering what's happened to the lady in my avatar, Photobucket's new policy denying users access to third-party images unless you pay a hefty sum for an account -- $399.99 annually for unlimited access -- has blocked Carole's appearance, for now. Hope to find her a new photo home.)<br /><br />Oh, and congrats to SAG-AFTRA and the producers/studios for reaching an agreement this morning, apparently the second time in four years an actors' strike has been averted on Independence Day.VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-49536084548267481382017-07-04T10:52:58.419-07:002017-07-04T10:52:58.419-07:00I love my country. I'm ashamed by my president...I love my country. I'm ashamed by my president.<br /><br />On July 4, 1970, we went to see "Catch 22" in Westwood Village and then to a picnic in Malibu hosted by<br />Monty Hall, who was an old friend of my father's. Very much America on many levels.brucehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04867539918269604287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3261374678769029392017-07-04T09:28:59.540-07:002017-07-04T09:28:59.540-07:00I'm not embarrassed to be an American.I'm not embarrassed to be an American.ScarletNumbernoreply@blogger.com