The Drama League's Annual Benefit Gala at
the Plaza is one of the highlights of the season.
This year they honored Nathan
Lane and Fran
Weissler. Matthew
Broderick was
the host, and many distinguished guests attended.
Among them were Bonnie
Comley, Stewart F. Lane, Susan Stroman, Christine
Baranski and
many others too numerous to name. It is always a
delightful evening.
MoMA is presenting Modern Matinees: Douglas
Fairbanks Jr. November 1-December 28. I saw Chances, by Allan
Dwan, USA, 1931, about two English brothers (Douglas
Fairbanks Jr is one of them) who go off to war
in 1914. They are both in love with the same lady,
and we see how it is resolved. I became a friend
of Douglas Fairbanks Jr, who was charming and a
perfect gentlemen; in fact, he invited me to
photograph his last wedding and I attended the
reception afterwards. I am delighted that MoMA is
honoring him with this film series.
MoMA is presenting Catalan
Cinema's Radical Years 1968-1978 through November 10.
I saw L'orgia (The Orgy), by Francesc
Bellmunt, Spain, 1978. It takes place in
Barcelona, where a group of young people in their
twenties gather together in a girl's home that she
inherited from her grandmother for a weekend
dedicated to smoking marijuana, drinking and an orgy
of the title.
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They are all attractive,
and are not reluctant to bare their souls and their
bodies, now that they have freedom from the repressive
regime after the death of the dictator Francisco Franco.
Unfortunately, they are an aimless group, and I would
have liked to see them in a sequel 40 years later in
their sixties ,and see how their lives turned out. It is
an interesting film, with fine dialogue.
The 53rd Street Library presented Julie
and Julia ,
written and directed by Nora
Ephron ,
USA, 2009. It tells two true stories. One is how Julia
Childs ( Meryl
Streep )
went to Paris, when her husband was posted to the
American Embassy. She loved to eat, and became
a marvelous chef, and wrote a bestselling cookbook about
French cooking. The second story in which in alternating
scenes, Julie
Powell ( Amy
Adams ),
inspired by Childs, begins writing a blog, which also
becomes a bestselling cookbook. The two actresses are
superb. It is a funny film that will stimulate your
appetite.
Founding Artistic Director Susan
Charlotte presented The
Lottery,
by Shirley
Jackson,
as a Food For Thought Production at Chez Josephine, 414
West 42nd St. After a delicious lunch at the wonderful
restaurant, Louise
Lasser and Michael
Citriniti (photo
below of the two actors) headed the four
member cast, directed by Antony
Marsellis.
It was a delightful afternoon.
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