Wednesday 31 December 2008

Wordy Wednesday

I almost didn't write anything today. I had intended to, but a box arrived with some early Hitchcock films, including two I haven't seen (Pleasure Garden and Downhill), and a decent copy of The Lodger.

Pleasure Garden was the first film directed by Hitchcock (in 1925), and it tells the story of a chorus girl, her room-mate, and the men in their lives. Like a lot of his early films, it's not a thriller, but it was entertaining enough.
Pleasure Garden (1925)

The Lodger was his third (his second is lost), and is about a Ripper-style serial killer rampaging through fog-ridden London, and the concerns of a landlady that it's her lodger. The lodger is played by Ivor Novello, who was a famous "matinee idol", and the original intention was for him to be the murderer, but they had to change the ending because The Powers That Be wouldn't let a hearthrob film star be a serial killer.
The Lodger (1927)

Helena and the robot dog have arrived back here this evening. Apparently the dog was not a great hit with their cat, and amazingly the batteries still haven't run out. So I'm in for a fun New Year.

Talking of which, the Champagne's cooling in the fridge, and there are another six hours to go. I'm not going to get away with just watching the Cypriot New Year, because Helena wants to see our one - apparently they have a spectacular firework display on the TV. I'm sure it'll be fun.

I hope you all have fun too. See you next year...

33 comments:

Jean Knee said...

FIRST

Jean Knee said...

Happy New Year Brian.
We have our black eyed peas soaking right now for the Hoppin John.

Later we will watch the males shoot off ridiculously overpriced fireworks.

good times

Jean Knee said...

I like Jack the ripper type movies

Bee (the one who muses) said...

You guys are going to have more fun than me and the fuddy duddy husband. Usually my mom and I hang out until midnight while drinking mexican hot chocolate and making fun of Dan. :o(

This year I will be cleaning my house so that I don't have muddy floors for when my in-laws come over tomorrow. I'm making a ham, mashed taters and corn.

I hope to be the first one to wish you a Happy New Year at midnight your time.

for a different kind of girl said...

Hope you have a fantastic new year!

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year! (read this again in 42 min )

Jean Knee said...

It will be me wishing him Happy New year first.

I feel it in my bones

Jean Knee said...

Listen to this delightful story.We were invited to a party last week, we went, turned out to be one of those pyramid scheme things--we were tricked.
While we were there Drew asked them if the candleabra thing on their mantle was a menorah. It looked like one and he was just horsing around. So turns out the wife is furious with Drew because people will think she's Jewish or something. blah blah
We're having a block party tonight so I'm brushing up on my anti-semitic jokes and maybe later I'll burn a cross on their lawn. This seems like a good idea whatchya'll think?

Jean Knee said...

Happy New Year Brian!

Bee said...

dammit jean knee!

Happy New Year Brian!!

Bee said...

In my defense, Ruby took forever.

Bee said...

Have fun at your party jean knee!

Brian o vretanos said...

FADKOG:

Thanks!

Dan:

I waited the 42 mins...

Jean Knee:

That's incredibly impressive!

Bee:

Better late than never ;-)

Brian o vretanos said...

Jean Knee:

If you've not already watched it, have a look at Frenzy - one of Hitchcock's later films, and one of my favourites. The main two themes are Ripper and food, with the Ripper bits being pretty graphic and horrible, and the food bits being hilarious.

Brian o vretanos said...

Pyramid selling? Is that a variation on selling the Brooklyn Bridge? ;-)

Don't worry - with the current economic crisis, these people will be the first to starve (hopefully).

I picked up some Jewish jokes in my student days from Jewish friends, but as you know I can't tell jokes, so I won't attempt any...

Jean Knee said...

since I'm not really anti-semitic I guess I won't really tell any. How bout some blonde jokes? they always break the ice.

oh and there is this one lady there who always has her cleavage heaved up and sticking in your face. I think I'll tell her some fake boob jokes.

I need to watch something besides family/kid movies but when I have the chance I'd rather read. I like Alfred a lot too

Jean Knee said...

uhm, the ripper doesn't eat his victims does he?
I can see where that would be really funny ;)


I'm thinking about drinking a coffee toast at midnight, will you join me Bee? Brian will already be passed out with empty bottles around him.

oh who am I kidding I'll be in bed by then


so

Bee said...

"so" ... what jean knee??

Sure lets have some coffee! :o)

Brian o vretanos said...

I didn't say anti-semitic... the Jewish are like the Irish - they're brilliant at laughing at themselves.

I used to watch loads of films, but I prefer to concentrate on my Greek when I can, so I tend to watch films with Helena. Luckily, I've brought her up to enjoy crime films, and she doesn't bat an eyelid at black & white. She does draw the line at silent films (like the two I watched today), though.

Midnight your time will be 8am here, so I'll be quite happy to do the coffee toast thing.

No, the ripper type killers don't eat their victims, but the one in Frenzy is a fruit and veg seller, and the policeman who's trying to catch him is suffering because his wife's doing night classes in Cordon Bleu and he's getting such appetising dishes as Pig's trotter stew. The best bit is where the murder is trying to retrieve some incriminating evidence from a corpse that he's hidden in a lorry full of sacks of potatoes.

If you want to watch a brilliant film about cannibalism, you need to see "delicatessan". It's in French and set in Paris after World War III, when they've run out of non-human meat. Will our hero manage to survive with the help of the Vegetarian Underground???

Jean Knee said...

I know I'll already be in bed cuz I'm a wet blanket--

so (don't judge me)

Jean Knee said...

oh my gawwd I want to see that. I love cannibalism
Soilent Green, Eating Rahoul, The Donnor party...


Bee, are you really gonna be up?

Soilent Green Is People ahhhhhhhhh

Jean Knee said...

I'm on the verge of hysteria

Jean Knee said...

There was one picture about a cook who cheats with someon's wife and they cook him up--I can't remember but he did look a nice golden brown sitting there on the platter

Brian o vretanos said...

Delicatessen

Klearchos said...

My best wishes for a happy new year!!

Brian o vretanos said...

Klearchos:

Thankyou. Best wishes to you as well!

Bee said...

Yup I stayed up and Andy fell asleep about 2-3 minutes before midnight. His year did not start well. ;o)
Now I'm gonna have some coffee and I made a whole pot just for me.

Brian o vretanos said...

Bee:

I hope it's decaf...

Jean Knee said...

ironically I was up at midnight , but the computer is in the room my MIL was sleeping



Bee you beat Brian by quite a lot wishing me a Happy new year. I told you he'd be all passed out

Brian o vretanos said...

Jean Knee:

She might have beaten me - I didn't wake up until about 1.30am your time, and I felt rotten so went back to sleep - BUT I was eleventh...

Jean Knee said...

hey, you were 11 th and you didn't even mention it. hmmm

Brian o vretanos said...

I didn't even notice at the time...

Diva said...

Hitchcock.... yes!