Archive for July, 2017

Adieu Jeanne Moreau Beloved Actress was Brilliant & Breathlessly Cool

Monday, July 31st, 2017
  • “Don’t take care of yourself because you want to stop time. Do it for self-respect. It’s an incredible gift, the energy of life. You don’t have to be a wreck. You don’t have to be sick. One’s aim in life should be to die in good health. Just like a candle that burns out.”
    “I am a woman with absolutely no sense of nostalgia”
    “While you work, while you create, you have doubts, and this is essential.”
    “I am open to what is irrational. I open doors to intuition, because rationality is really death.”
    . – Jeanne Moreau

    J. Moreau
    (This dress is designed by Pierre Cardin, from Losey’s film Eva. )

    (On Joseph Losey in 1983) I love the way he films; it’s very personal, very brilliant.

    Read more on her view on other directors at the bottom of this page.

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    Moreau with Pierre Cardin.
    She had a long affair with designer Pierre Cardin.. and a short marriage to Friedkin (director of The French Connection).
    Moreau lost a friendship with Coco Chanel after she started living with Pierre Cardin..

    Many years of collaboration of M. Duras and Jeanne Moreau..

    Her name has been often associated, both socially and professionally, to that of respected French writer and director Marguerite Duras; apart from their close friendship, Moreau starred in two movies based on Duras’ novels, Peter Brook’s Seven Days… Seven Nights (1960) and Tony Richardson’s The Sailor from Gibraltar (1967), was directed by Duras in Nathalie Granger (1972), was the narrator in another Duras screen adaptation, The Lover (1992) and even went on to portray Duras in the biopic Cet amour-là (2001)

  • Moreau and Ebert (happy days)

    Jeanne Moreau as star and as director – BY ROGER EBERT / November 21, 1976 –
    He captured Moreau’s free spirit well…. on her walking out on Warren Beatty when he was on a power trip at the meeting, or how Jean Eustache taught her to drink Jack Daniel.
    Ebert on Jeanne Moreau

  • Louis Malle, John Lennon, Yoko Ono e Jeanne Moreau, 1971 (AP Photo)
    (Louis Malle, Yoko, John and Jeanne at Cannes 1971)

  • Life in pictures

  • Jules et Jim (video from Independent obit)

  • Marlon on Jeanne Moreau..”I was told that Edward Albee judges actors–and perhaps all people–by their reaction, their enjoyment, their appreciation of Samuel Beckett. That’s fine; that’s sensible. I judge people–particularly actors–by those artists of acting they find remarkable and worth many visits. There are many, many wonderful people on this list, and I’ll share it with you, but today I’m thinking of Jeanne Moreau, and I have to tell you that I cannot fathom the company of anyone who isn’t astonished by this brilliant, brazen woman. Thank God for video! I’m up nights watching this woman, and re-evaluating everything I thought I knew.” –Marlon Brando on Jeanne Moreau/Interview with James Grissom

  • Previous post

  • (On Roger Vadim in a 1983 interview) He’s very charming, but he was very nervous on the set because co-star Gerard Philipe (who died soon afterwards) was very ill.

  • [on Luis Bunuel]: I consider him my Spanish father, and I called him that. We met simply because of box-office considerations – he didn’t know what actress he wanted for “Le Journal D’Une Femme De Chambre”, and the producers offered me. We met in an apartment in St. Tropez and enjoyed so much being together that we also had dinner. He was a fantastic person.
    (On Orson Welles in 1983) He transformed a town square in Spain into a Chinese marketplace. To me, that’s what film is about – magic!
    (On Luis Bunuel in 1983) I called him my Spanish father. He said, ‘If you had been my daughter, I’d have tied you up and kept you behind bars.’
    (On Michaelangelo Antonioni in 1983) He was a whole different experience. He doesn’t speak at all to he actors. We filmed at night. I couldn’t understand why we should be down on the set – but the result was good.
    (On Martin Ritt in 1983) That was a different experience for me. He would cover everything – closeups, medium shots, long shots, very few tracking shots. It took ages and ages to make a sequence, and I was used to working with people who did a sequence – and covered four pages – in one movement. So, I learned a new way of shooting.
    (On Ranier Werner Fassbinder in a 1984 interview) It was his ex-wife that told me he wanted me to be in the film. The picture was done in 24 days. Immediately, when I was on the set, I could feel his willpower. He was perfect in terms of creativity!
    (On Peter Brook in a 1983 interview) His approach is sometimes quite frightening because he reaches that part of you he wants to be sensitive – and it opens up incredible things.
    (On Jean-Luc Godard in a 1983 interview) I asked for him as the director of “Eva.” He signed the contract and was paid some money; he was supposed to deliver a first draft in four weeks time. He eventually sent it – in a one page letter! The producers screamed, ‘Where did you get that crazy bum?’ So, then I recommended Joe Losey
    (On Burt Lancaster after filming “The Train”) Before he can pick up an ashtray, he discusses the motivation for an hour or two. You want to say just pick up the ashtray and shut up! (In 1983 Moreau thinks her remarks were unfair to Lancaster.)

    Via

  • Two digital photo montages by Fung Lin Hall

    Jules et Jim Moreau Henry Miller Bicycles Henry Miller

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  • Esplanade, Paul Taylor & Rauschenberg Were Kindred Spirits, + Dogs Designed by Alex Kats

    Saturday, July 29th, 2017

  • Paul Taylor’s Esplanade – Part 1/5
    Part 2/5
    Part 3/5
    part 4/5

    Happy birthday Paul Taylor! (biography)

    Born on July 29, 1930, in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, Paul Taylor started the Paul Taylor Dance Company in 1954 and worked with icons like Martha Graham and George Balanchine. Taylor went on to establish a massive repertory with his company and created a distinct, acclaimed mode of choreography in works like “Esplanade” and “Arden Court.”

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    Kiki Smith and Paul Taylor
    (via)

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    The Paul Taylor Dance Company Performing Tracer, in 1962. Robert Rauschenberg’s Bicycle Wheel was the only scenery on stage.

    Kindred Spirits (youtube)

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    (Dogs designed by Alex Kats)
    Yerba buena SF 2015

    “I had seen Paul dance for the first time shortly before we met with Edwin [Denby] and thought his choreography was one of the most surprising things I had seen as an artist. Paul’s dancing seemed to be a real break with that of the previous generation: no expression, no content, no form, as he said, and with great technique and intelligence.”

    Alex Kats

  • Paul Taylor

    Paul Taylor proves staying power of ’70s and ’80s dance

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    Pictured all smiles and full of joy the dance trio Gwen Verdon, Mikhail Baryshnikov & Rudolf Nureyev in performance benefitting the Paul Taylor Dance Company ..(via)

    “S is For Stanley”, an Intimate Documentary film of Stanley Kubrick’s Driver/Handyman/

    Wednesday, July 26th, 2017
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    Emilio D’Alessandro, left, and Stanley Kubrick in the documentary “S Is for Stanley.”
    S For Stanley (See a trailer here)
    S Is For Stanley is a most delightful film, about a competent driver with modest ambition became indispensable to a genius filmmaker.

  • On the floor Stanley Kubrick by Weegee
    Stanley Kubrick photo by Weegee

    Much like Weegee, Stanley Kubrick started his career as a photographer on the streets of New York & contributed era defining shots to LIFE magazine. Kubrick admired Weegee’s photographs & during shooting of Doctor Strangelove employed him as a stills photographer. When Peter Sellers heard Weegee speak he apparently used Weegee’s peculiar voice as the basis for that of Dr Strangelove!

    Kubrick, Carl Jung and Arthur Schnitzler (Previous post)
    Kubrick was thinking a lot about ‘The Shadow Concept’ and decided to explore that in his next war film.

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    With Marlon during the making of One Eyed Jack.

    How Marlon fired Kubrick

    Looking back, Gus Van Sant -Birth of Indie films, Death Trilogy & His Polaroids

    Sunday, July 23rd, 2017
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    polaroid by Gus Van Sant

    Udo Kier <> <>1aaGusUoKier

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    (via)
    Happy birthday Gus Vant Sant!

    Initially Gus wanted Tom Waits for the role that went to Matt Dillon. Drugstore Cowboy was based on a true story. William
    S. Burroughs changed the profession for his part to that of a priest. He only wanted to work for one day so they shot everything in a day.

    Gus Vant Sant the evolution of Indie film (2015)

    John Waters and John Sayles inspired him to make films.

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    Paranoid Park 1aaChistopherGus
    See Skateboard art and a video of Skateboarding from Paranoid Park (camera by Christopher Doyle)

  • (Portrait of Lautrec on the wall, Gus Van Sant directing Joaquin Phoenix)

    After River’s death, Van Sant offered him a meaty role in the black comedy “To Die For,” co-starring Nicole Kidman and Matt Dillon. It was Joaquin’s first role in four years.
    Twenty-three years later, Van Sant and Joaquin Phoenix are together again in “Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot,” a film about the late quadriplegic cartoonist John Callahan, who lived in Van Sant’s hometown of Portland, Ore.

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    River Phoenix
    (via)

    Film Notes on Paul Schrader, Willem Dafoe +The Passing of Martin Landau, John Heard

    Saturday, July 22nd, 2017
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    Martin Scorsese and Paul Schrader (Schrader scripted Taxi Driver and Raging Bull)

    “I wrote Taxi Driver (1976) as personal therapy, not as a commercial project.” -Paul Schrader

  • Paul Schrader directed Natasha Richardson twice in Patty Hearst and the Comfort of the Strangers starring also Christopher Walken, Helen Mirren and Rupert Everett, script by Harold Pinter.

  • Willem Dafoe 1aaPaulDafoe
    (The Light Sleeper)

    Happy birthday Paul Schrader (22 July 1946) and Willem Dafoe (22 July 1955)
    Their more recent film was Dog Eat Dog .
    They have collaborated many times, The Light Sleeper, The Affliction and Auto-Focus.

  • Paul Schrader on Charlie Rose on Light Sleeper (Youtube)

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    Chilly Scenes of Winter (based on Anne Beattie’s Novel)

    RIP John Heard (with Mary Beth Hurt now Mrs. Paul Schrader here in this photo)
    Heard was also directed by Paul Schrader in Cat People.

    Jeff Bridges‏ tweeted.
    John Heard- what a wonderful actor. We were in the movie Cutter’s Way together & I got to experience his artistry and dedication first hand.

    John Heard played Jack Kerouac in Heart Beat with Nick Nolte and Sissy Spececk.

  • John Heard’s Final Inteview

  • RIP Martin Landau!
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    See more photos of Martin Landau and James Dean – here .

  • Wing Shya, Hong Kong Photographer Who Collaborated with Wong Kar Wai

    Sunday, July 16th, 2017
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    (Photo of Maggie Cheung by Wing Shya)

    Wing Shya (See more here)

    In 1997, appointed as the exclusive photographer and graphic designer; Shya began his collaboration with the renowned movie director, Wong Kar-Wai on Happy Together, continued then on In the Mood for Love, Eros and 2046.

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    Dystopic Visions from the movie sets of Wong Kar Wai

  • See a short video by Wong Kar Wai – Shanghai Diva here.

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  • 1aHKcheungHappytogether
    (From Happy Together)

  • RIP Liu Xiaobo Most Prominent Dissident Died, (December 28, 1955, July 13, 2017)

    Thursday, July 13th, 2017
  • NOBEL-PEACE/LIU
    Photo via

    Sad news ..

    Liu Xiaobo: China’s most prominent dissident dies

  • Liu Xiaobo persuaded student protesters to leave Tianamen Square.

  • The Passion of Liu Xiaobo

  • Liu XiaoboLiu-Xiaobo-006
    (Photo by his wife before his arrest)
    Previous post

    Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo, who was China’s most prominent human rights and democracy advocate, has died aged 61.
    The activist had been serving an 11-year prison term for “subversion” and was recently moved to a hospital due to a terminal liver cancer.
    A university professor turned tireless rights campaigner, Mr Liu was branded a criminal by authorities.
    The Nobel Committee said the Chinese government bore a “heavy responsibility” for his death.
    The campaigner was repeatedly jailed throughout his life. When not in prison, he was subject to severe restrictions while his wife, Liu Xia, was placed under house arrest.

    Long Hot Summer of Love from Germany, Sigmar Polke & Jurgen Trautwein

    Tuesday, July 11th, 2017
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    via

    See more art by Sigmar Polke from an archive here.

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    <> <> <> 1aDudegunJurgen

    See Jurgen Trautwein’s archive here.

  • Fugitive Kind, Tennessee Williams, Marlon Brando & the Passing of Vivien Leigh

    Friday, July 7th, 2017
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    Photo by Jo Healy/Erin Clermont 1948
    Outsider Art Tenessee Williams

  • SidneyLumet and Marlon Brando

    Fugitive Kind (Based on Tennesse Williams’s play Orpheus Descending)

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    Vivien Leigh
    Died:July 8, 1967,

    Leigh made just three more films after “Streetcar.” One of them, “The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone,” was based on a novel by Williams. She died in 1967 from chronic tuberculosis.

  • 25 Things you did not know about A Street car named desire.

    A streetcar named desire 1aBEliaLTennesse


  • Lady Hamilton (previous post)
    Olivier staged “A Streetcar named desire” in London earlier with Vivien.

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    Vivien Leigh

    Jean Cocteau – Postcard from Paris, Self-Portrait to Paul Valery -2017

    Wednesday, July 5th, 2017
  • Jean Cocteau by Man Ray 1cocteauManRay
    see portrait by Modigliani and other links here.

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  • Jean Cocteau Part II

  • True realism consists in revealing the surprising things which habit keeps covered and prevents us from seeing. Jean Cocteau

    Jean Cocteau (more quotes here)

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    Postcards from Paris

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    (With Francois Truffaut )

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    Self-Portrait by Jean Cocteau in a letter to Paul Valéry…
    Rilke and Paul Valery (previous post)

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    (Raymond Radiguet and Jean Cocteau)
    Paris Review – A Brief Strange Life of Raymond Radiguet.

  • Beauty and the Beast