sixties

R.I.P.

Finally back online due to Blogger problems.

Sad to hear the news last week that Suzanne Pleshette passed away. She was not one of my favorites in the least (that throaty bullfrog voice of hers was annoying) but she was a Sixties Starlet though she would never admit to it. Though most fans loved her in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds (1963) or as Bob New hart’s acerbic wife in the popular TV series The Bob Newhart Show, I only liked her in the glossy Rome Adventure (1962) where she played a staid librarian who journeys to Italy where she finds love with pretty boy Troy Donahue who is being kept by older Angie Dickinson. The musical score is lush, Rome never looked more stunning, and Suzanne is very pretty and likable in the role.

OOPS, AWHILE CAME QUICKER THAN I THOUGHT

Though my previous Blog entry on Bunny Lake Is Missing was supposed to be my last, my friend David Savage wrote an interesting piece about the screening of it at Film Forum for Cinema Retro magazine [www.cinemaretro.com.]. Check it out.

LAST WORD

For my final, for awhile anyway, Bunny Lake Is Missing post, I thought I’d give the lovely Carol Lynley the last word on the film. Below are her comments she gave to me for Filmfax magazine about working with Laurence Oliver:

“Working with Olivier was like getting handed a box of chocolates. He was wonderful. Most people have the impression that he was a stiff British actor, but he was the complete opposite. He was a jokester and a punster. He insisted we call him Larry. I grew up watching his movies so I was in complete awe of him. After I blew the first couple of takes with him, Otto pulled me aside and said he was going to fire me. I asked why and he said ‘Because you can’t act.’ I told him I was awed working with Olivier. He then looked at his watch and said in his Austrian accent, ‘Ve break for lunch now. I give you an hour to get over this.’ I did and then we came back and shot the scene. It came out great. I also learned a lot about acting from watching Olivier.”

BUNNY LAKE IS MISSING

Tonight is the screening of Otto Preminger’s cult classic mystery thriller Bunny Lake Is Missing (1965) starring Laurence Olivier, Carol Lynley and Keir Dullea (who will present the movie with Foster Hirsch) at the Film Forum. A new 35mm restoration print will be shown. Bunny Lake is one of my favorite movies of all time. I think everything about it is wonderful beginning with Saul Bass’s ingenious opening titles and Paul Glass’ haunting music. Click here to view the opening on YouTube.

For you Southern California fans, you are in luck as the Egyptian Theatre will be screening Bunny Lake on Jan. 26 with Carol Lynley in person to discuss the movie.