|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 30, 2009Show Mr. Peabody into the Library, please.Show Mr. Peabody into the Library, please.SHOW MR. PEABODY INTO THE LIBRARY, PLEASE.Such is the endless refrain uttered by the old lady in the mental hospital observation ward in the suspense thriller “Witness to Murder,” shown at “I Wake Up Dreaming,” the “Roxie’s Return to Noir” festival around the corner from my apartment. This woman is played by Adeline De Walt Reynolds, an actress born in Iowa in 1862, who survived the death of her husband (age 25), a juggler on the vaudeville circuit, in 1905, then a year later, the San Francisco earthquake, and who entered the University of California at age 64, earning her B.A. at age 70. Then, at age 78, she began her acting career. She was Charles Addams’ inspiration for the “Grandma” character in the Addams Family. Just goes to show you, you’re never too old to start something new. IN THE FILMBarbara Stanwyck witnesses a murder across the way from her bedroom window, but the body has been moved and the police can’t find any evidence of any crime. Others are so certain she must have been dreaming they begin to make her doubt if it was real. But she won’t relent! She knows what she saw! George Saunders, the murderer, tells her to stop harassing him, that she has an idée fixe about him born of imagination. He breaks into her apartment and types some threatening letters on her typewriter to make it seem she is stalking him, and she does begin to doubt her sanity, and ends up in the observation ward, where Mr. Peabody is constantly on the verge of being shown into the Library. I’M SUREwe’ve all been obsessed with something in our time, but love–or lust–is the ultimate idée fixe, yes? Once we get our mental and emotional hooks into someone, getting them out is as easy as removing a fishing lure from your tongue with one hand and a Cover Girl compact mirror. It might be someone you know, someone you once met, someone who has disappeared from your life, someone you’ll never meet, or someone you invented. THE SANTA ANA WINDSare blowing out of Hollywood early this year, a wave of warm air whooshing over the world from the general direction of the American Idol studios. There have been reports from all quarters that older women, especially, are likely to be swept up in the whirlwinds. A GENERAL METEOROLOGICAL ALERTbulletin has been issued: Exercise extreme caution that you get a grip, keep your feet on the ground and don’t lose your bearings, or one of these days you’re going to be showing Mr. Lambert into the Library. Just goes to show you, you’re never too old to be blown away. CORRECTION[The author knew as she was typing she would have to eat her words. Adam Lambert, according to those one degree of separation away from him, DOES radiate sex walking down the street, just like the Santa Ana winds. – Ed.]
The author is at is again. ------------------------------------------------------------ Blow my way
Who's reachin' out to capture a moment; everyone knows it's Windy copyright Alexandra Jones 2009 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
