The Men, the Poet and the Machine

Today is Veteran’s Day veteransday2008

“I am a bad patient’ a clip from The Men (youtube)

To prepare for the role of a paralyzed war veteran in “The Men,” Mr. Kanfer tells us, Brando checked into the Birmingham Veterans Hospital near Los Angeles, “learned how to live in a wheelchair, wear heavy leg braces, rely only on his arms for movement,” and he picked up from the patients there “a tough, ironic humor drained of lament and self pity.” (via)

See another clip “I am a bad patient”

Fred Zinnemann who directed “the Men” also made the “The Search” and “From Here to Eternity”.
Fred introduced Marlon Brando and Monty Clift to the world via Hollywood movies. The two great pioneer actors were both trained stage actors.
(Both Marlon and Monty were born in Omaha, Nebraska – M & M from Omaha.)
Home video of Marlon Brando, Monty Clift and Kevin McCarthy

(Kevin McCarthy narrated this video. Kevin was a brother of Mary McCarthy).

Frank O’Hara was a Veteran.

O’Hara served in the South Pacific and Japan as a sonarman on the destroyer USS Nicholas during World War II.
With the funding made available to veterans he attended Harvard University. (Wiki)

Grace to be born and live
as variously as possible
O’Hara’s Grave

(Click to animate) (Mars ice beats like a heart)

Phoenix Mars Lander is presumed dead.
Previous post Nasa Digi Day here.