Classical Music & Opera Forums

Nyoka:

The Twelve Chairs is one of my favorites with the very handsome Frank Langella. (My, what a hunk.) High Anxiety is my next favorite. Loved that airport scene.

Lulusheen:
Didn't you love the way Mel Brooks referred to the suave and sexy Frank Langella (in those days!) as "Mr. Bye de Bye?"

karlhenning wrote:I find it of interest to follow your discourse, my dears.

Fair disclosure: I don't generally care for Mel Brooks. It is highly unusual that I can more or less bear Young Frankenstein (the cinematography helps) ; )

Cheers,
~Karl

Kaypee luv:
This disclosure comes as no surprise.

"Oh, du, du du! Vhat a nice kuy!"

I know all of "I'm Tired" by heart, including all the flat notes. Madeline Khan just does me in with that film.

In High Anxiety, I love the "Hitchcockian shot" from beneath the glass-topped coffee table, with Korman and Leach continually putting their teacups down on top of the camera lens. And the attack of the birds! At his best, Brooks is brilliant.

I've always wanted to write to him about my ex-father-in-law, not exactly a card-carrying Nazi, but certainly with an idiosyncratic, shall we say, view of European history, thickly layered with pretensions to wisdom. One day, when my ex and I were visiting, he was complaining about "zose schtupid Amerricans, tink zey know everyting. Zey know notting of history, zo schtupid." "What do you mean?" I asked. "I am vatching a history documentary, and zey are showing zings untrue. I can tell you," he thundered, "HITLER VAS NEVAH A FIGGUH-SKATER!"

I thought I was going to have a serious internal injury.

Nyoka

Never saw that comment by Brooks but it is hilarious!

Time to see if I can rent it from Netflix. Need some wonderful laughs not to mention a glimpse of a young Langella.

On the subject of films, I have recently discovered some new sites (apparently kosher) to watch certain foreign productions online. I have been particularly interested in a new Taras Bulba, which finally opened in Russia about a month ago following nearly a year of delays. I like the Gogol novella (and despite that fact, I enjoy watching the 1962 Hollywood treatment with Yul Brynner and Tony Curtis every now and again! ). I am also fond of the "historical epic" film genre, and based on teaser trailers that have been online for awhile in anticipation of this release, I would like to see this film if only for the cinematography. Unfortunately, I am basically illiterate in Russian. I wonder what chances are that this movie, which from what I have read is cinematic awards material, will ever be subtitled and/or dubbed in English -- that would be nice.

Any comments from the Russian-speaking contingent here? (See, you can go ahead and watch it as-is now, and give us the benefit of a real report!)

Jessica, I haven't seen the film but I've read reviews. It was financed, if I recall correctly, by the Russian government (or by entities very closely tied to it) and is presented in a way to make it clear that Ukraine is "really" Russian (so, by implication, why all this silly business with independence?). That said, it sounds like the film is a visual treat.

Omigod, the occasional TV broadcast of that Brynner-Curtis Taras Bulba was reason for a ritualistic family gathering back in my childhood. Pass the petuhe! I still love that movie, especially the Franz Waxman score. Zaporozhe!

I'd be really interested in seeing that new film. But, as far as my relatives are concerned, the Ukraine is not, no, never, Russia. We celebrated Ukrainian Independence Day all through my childhood, although it related then to a brief (very brief) period in the distant past. Or else we were just anticipating!

Tony Curtis was so cute in that film!

I hope you understand that I disagree with the Russian propaganda concerning Ukraine's independence.

Brunnhi sez: Tony Curtis was so cute in that film!

-- Wasn't he just! (Even if stretching credibility that he was a wet-behind-the-ears youth just beginning university -- he had to be in his thirties at the time!) And his inability (or choice not) to drop his NY accent made his lines sound downright campy! Speaking of campy, Iove the Waxman score too -- part chaaarge-into-battle, part schmaltzy romance ...

And then, of course, there is Yul, in and out of scalplock ...

(I could be making this up, but it seems I read somewhere that there is some Ukrainian dialogue in the film, interspersed with the Russian?) I know more about historical politics in Russia than about present day, so cannot comment on the current controversy with respect to Ukraine ...

Hope there will come a way for us to see this "visual treat". . . . . Zaporozhe!

(P.S. brunnhi -- what's petuhe?)

karlhenning wrote:

jessica wrote:(P.S. brunnhi -- what's petuhe?)

Sort of looks like rooster.

Cheers,
~Karl

Ah, then it's not to do with expectorating ...

Morning, Karl, on this miserable, wet day. Wish I didn't have to go out but it's voting day so I must do my civil duty.

Hi, Jessie! "Petuhe" is more generally known as "pierogi" - those potato-cheese dumplings wrapped in soft dough and served with fried onions and mushrooms and sour cream. I think "pierogi" is a Polish or Russian word, because the hard "g" sound in Russian is softened to an "h" in Ukrainian. Like cabbage rolls - "golombki" in Russian, but "holubtsi" in Ukrainian. Or God - "Gospode" in Russian is "Hospode" in Ukrainian. Mind you, I don't really speak Ukrainian, just a few words, but I know the sounds from listening to my grandmother. (I was told by a Russian coach once that I sing Russian with a Ukrainian accent, but I think she was making it up, just being difficult.)

Yeah, no one could sport a scalplock like Yul!

I'm using my new laptop for the first time, after my ancient - six years old! - one quietly and irrevocably expired, and went to recycling heaven. This one is so light weight - kinda tiny screen, though, it makes me squint somewhat.

I have a victrola from 1904 which still functions just fine. And nothing to plug in, or recharge.

Actually, the word for rooster is "cahut". I was in grade one with a boy named Ron Cahut, who pushed me down during recess when I told everyone that his name was Ronnie Rooster. Even back then, I was enchanted by Stabreim!

brunnie:

How small is your laptop screen?

I have a 17" notebook (too big to be a laptop) which I can transport all over my apartment. While looking at new computers (I'm not ready yet; just like to look, so far), I was looking at 15" laptops which are just too small for me, after using a 17" one. My heart is now set on an 18" Sony which is a lot more than I paid for my notebook but it has a blu-ray disc player and a full-sized keyboard, unlike the 16.5" which doesn't have the separate cursor pad. It's amazing what you get used to. I won't settle for less than 17" or take a smaller keyboard. I just don't like HP. Between Vista and HP popups, I'm ready to ditch this computer. All I need is money.