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Stephen Sondheim dead


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https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/26/theater/stephen-sondheim-dead.html 

   
 

 

Probably the greatest lyricist and composer from America . If not we’ll he was certainly the most original RIp 

 

Thank you for the music 

 

 

West side story 

 

Gypsy 

 

Into the woods 

 

Sweeney Todd 

 

Company ! 
 

and numerous others 

 

he wrote clever / intricate lyrics unlike the horrendous “ music” of his contemporary Andrew L Webber . Elaine stritch sings his classic “ I’m still here “ to perfection . An actress interpreting a song , incredible 

 

Edited by JamesM48
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41 minutes ago, Roxy Hearts said:

Wrote "send in the clowns". Could be an apt anthem for Westminster! They're already here 🤣

Yes he certainly did . Great song . Almost every great artist has sang it . 

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8 hours ago, JamesM48 said:

Yes he certainly did . Great song . Almost every great artist has sang it . 

Yep! The artists including Sinatra don't know what the song is about. I don't either 🤣

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13 hours ago, JamesM48 said:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/26/theater/stephen-sondheim-dead.html 

   
 

 

Probably the greatest lyricist and composer from America . If not we’ll he was certainly the most original RIp 

 

Thank you for the music 

 

 

West side story 

 

Gypsy 

 

Into the woods 

 

Sweeney Todd 

 

Company ! 
 

and numerous others 

 

he wrote clever / intricate lyrics unlike the horrendous “ music” of his contemporary Andrew L Webber . Elaine stritch sings his classic “ I’m still here “ to perfection . An actress interpreting a song , incredible 

 

That's all a bit too New York for me. There's a certain drabness about the New York sound and artists which is both likeable and unlikeable to me.

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1 hour ago, Roxy Hearts said:

That's all a bit too New York for me. There's a certain drabness about the New York sound and artists which is both likeable and unlikeable to me.

It’s camp show biz really . I love it ! I’ve saw Barbra Streisand live singing a few of his songs . Liza Minnelli too ! 

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8 hours ago, JamesM48 said:

It’s camp show biz really . I love it ! I’ve saw Barbra Streisand live singing a few of his songs . Liza Minnelli too ! 

I thought you might like it 🙂

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1 hour ago, Roxy Hearts said:

I thought you might like it 🙂

😁  Love my musicals seen all the greats on stage.

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1 hour ago, JamesM48 said:

😁  Love my musicals seen all the greats on stage.

Oliver!  is one of my favourite movies. Has everything. 

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5 minutes ago, Roxy Hearts said:

Oliver!  is one of my favourite movies. Has everything. 

Yes it’s great . My icon Judy Garland was considered to play Nancy but she was too unreliable by then to be hired . A missed opportunity but Shanni Wallis was terrific as her in the film . I’ve seen Wallis on stage actually in “ 42nd street “ . She was terrific even better was the young Up and coming supporting actress who was incredible at tap dancing . She was only 17 . Step up Catherine Zeta Jones . 

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3 minutes ago, JamesM48 said:

Yes it’s great . My icon Judy Garland was considered to play Nancy but she was too unreliable by then to be hired . A missed opportunity but Shanni Wallis was terrific as her in the film . I’ve seen Wallis on stage actually in “ 42nd street “ . She was terrific even better was the young Up and coming supporting actress who was incredible at tap dancing . She was only 17 . Step up Catherine Zeta Jones . 

My Dad was a Judy Garland fan. Great singer and good actress. Wizard of Oz is also a great film.

 

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21 minutes ago, Roxy Hearts said:

My Dad was a Judy Garland fan. Great singer and good actress. Wizard of Oz is also a great film.

 

Great ! She really was the “ worlds greatest entertainer “ she could do the lot , sing , act and dance . She was also a revolutionary concert performer who never stopped touring really . Sadly she was robbed blind by various agents and spongers , including most of her husbands who just used her . Still she left an incredible legacy . I’ve seen both her daughters on stage Liza and Lorna Luft . The apple didn’t fall very far from the tree . They were terrific on stage. I managed to even meet with Lorna and Spoke about her mum and how I admired her . She thanked me . 

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Seymour M Hersh

Was at the pics yesterday to see the Bond movie. There was a trailer for the West Side Story re-boot coming out next month. Big letters saying A Steven Spielberg film got me thinking no Steven it really isn't. 

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53 minutes ago, JamesM48 said:

Great ! She really was the “ worlds greatest entertainer “ she could do the lot , sing , act and dance . She was also a revolutionary concert performer who never stopped touring really . Sadly she was robbed blind by various agents and spongers , including most of her husbands who just used her . Still she left an incredible legacy . I’ve seen both her daughters on stage Liza and Lorna Luft . The apple didn’t fall very far from the tree . They were terrific on stage. I managed to even meet with Lorna and Spoke about her mum and how I admired her . She thanked me . 

👍Good man James.

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scott herbertson

Really odd coincidence. I chose the film for this weekend's Birnam Film Society about a year ago. Look at the writers.....

 

Image 1 - THE LAST OF SHEILA  1973 Original Cinema UK Quad Movie POSTER Raquel Welch RARE

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16 minutes ago, scott herbertson said:

Really odd coincidence. I chose the film for this weekend's Birnam Film Society about a year ago. Look at the writers.....

 

Image 1 - THE LAST OF SHEILA  1973 Original Cinema UK Quad Movie POSTER Raquel Welch RARE

He was an avid mystery and whodunnit fan and also did crossword puzzles for newspapers too. A varied set of skills. I haven't actually seen this film. I think it got decent to above average reviews. 

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On 28/11/2021 at 13:51, Seymour M Hersh said:

Was at the pics yesterday to see the Bond movie. There was a trailer for the West Side Story re-boot coming out next month. Big letters saying A Steven Spielberg film got me thinking no Steven it really isn't. 

 

 

Maybe in the Spielberg version the Sharks will be eaten by, er, sharks.

 

:shark:

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Seymour M Hersh
5 hours ago, Ulysses said:

 

 

Maybe in the Spielberg version the Sharks will be eaten by, er, sharks.

 

:shark:

 

Or a "close encounter" with the Jets. 

th-2.jpeg

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McGlynn The Money
On 27/11/2021 at 10:20, JamesM48 said:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/26/theater/stephen-sondheim-dead.html 

   
 

 

Probably the greatest lyricist and composer from America . If not we’ll he was certainly the most original RIp 

 

Thank you for the music 

 

 

West side story 

 

Gypsy 

 

Into the woods 

 

Sweeney Todd 

 

Company ! 
 

and numerous others 

 

he wrote clever / intricate lyrics unlike the horrendous “ music” of his contemporary Andrew L Webber . Elaine stritch sings his classic “ I’m still here “ to perfection . An actress interpreting a song , incredible 

 

 

Very sad news. The man was a genius.

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16 minutes ago, McGlynn The Money said:

 

Very sad news. The man was a genius.

He really was. Been listening to a lot of his stuff the last few days. Astonishing catalogue of music .  He started off by writing conventional musicals such as " West side story" ( although it was ground breaking due to its themes) to more classic almost camp Broadway such as " Gypsy" about the ultimate ego driven stage momma Rose to the comedy " a funny thing  happened on the way to the forum"  Then he really went into overdrive with his classic intricate multi layered unconventional  and clever musicals such as " Follies " " Company" " A little night music" " Sweeny Todd" etc. A genius really. He even wrote a musical about those people who assassinated  various presidents called " assassins" 

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McGlynn The Money
51 minutes ago, JamesM48 said:

He really was. Been listening to a lot of his stuff the last few days. Astonishing catalogue of music .  He started off by writing conventional musicals such as " West side story" ( although it was ground breaking due to its themes) to more classic almost camp Broadway such as " Gypsy" about the ultimate ego driven stage momma Rose to the comedy " a funny thing  happened on the way to the forum"  Then he really went into overdrive with his classic intricate multi layered unconventional  and clever musicals such as " Follies " " Company" " A little night music" " Sweeny Todd" etc. A genius really. He even wrote a musical about those people who assassinated  various presidents called " assassins" 

 

Aye, I love Assassins. Been ro see it a couple of times at the Festival. One of the great things about the Festival is there's usually one company or other doing a Sondheim production.

 

I love how his subject matter was so wide and varied. Not to mention the lyrics which were touching, poignant and funny among many other things.

 

 

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3 minutes ago, McGlynn The Money said:

 

Aye, I love Assassins. Been ro see it a couple of times at the Festival. One of the great things about the Festival is there's usually one company or other doing a Sondheim production.

 

I love how his subject matter was so wide and varied. Not to mention the lyrics which were touching, poignant and funny among many other things.

 

 

I have never seen Assassins but have heard its terrific. I had tickets to see " Follies " in London years ago with Diana Rigg and Eartha Kitt in the cast but couldn't go that night due to unforeseen circumstances.  A real miss there. Yes his lyrics are just incredible . 

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scott herbertson
10 hours ago, JamesM48 said:

He was an avid mystery and whodunnit fan and also did crossword puzzles for newspapers too. A varied set of skills. I haven't actually seen this film. I think it got decent to above average reviews. 

 

 

Yes - he and Anthony Perkins used to host 'murder mystery' evenings in Hollywood - would have loved to have attended one of those! I'm guessing this is a plot derived from one of those evenings.

 

As to the film I have mixed feelings - the acting is a bit hammy. The plot is a good one and is much loved by aficianados of mysteries (I count myself as one of them as I am a bookseller who specialises in Golden Age Detective fiction). However as with many on screen mysteries the lack of time to think abut the plot means its not really viable to consider solving it as a challenge (as it is for the Golden Age Detective stories it mimics). Still its fun to watch actors and actresses like James Mason, James Coburn, Ian McShane Joel Benjamin, Raquel Welch and Dyan Cannon at work.

 

Trivia - Raquel Welch accused the producer Herbert Ross of assault and battery on her in her dressing room. She wasn't a popular person on set and James Mason said of her after the film: "She was the most selfish, ill-mannered, inconsiderate actress that I have ever had the displeasure of working with."

 

That would be pretty hot stuff in these days of Weinstein etc

 

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45 minutes ago, scott herbertson said:

 

 

Yes - he and Anthony Perkins used to host 'murder mystery' evenings in Hollywood - would have loved to have attended one of those! I'm guessing this is a plot derived from one of those evenings.

 

As to the film I have mixed feelings - the acting is a bit hammy. The plot is a good one and is much loved by aficianados of mysteries (I count myself as one of them as I am a bookseller who specialises in Golden Age Detective fiction). However as with many on screen mysteries the lack of time to think abut the plot means its not really viable to consider solving it as a challenge (as it is for the Golden Age Detective stories it mimics). Still its fun to watch actors and actresses like James Mason, James Coburn, Ian McShane Joel Benjamin, Raquel Welch and Dyan Cannon at work.

 

Trivia - Raquel Welch accused the producer Herbert Ross of assault and battery on her in her dressing room. She wasn't a popular person on set and James Mason said of her after the film: "She was the most selfish, ill-mannered, inconsiderate actress that I have ever had the displeasure of working with."

 

That would be pretty hot stuff in these days of Weinstein etc

 

She sounds a nightmare . James mason was never one to gossip so I assume it must be true . Yes we have chatted before about our mutual love of the golden age of crime and you send me your website address . Can you resend it please ? One of my relatives is getting me the boom regarding Patricia Highsmith . It’s her diaries and notes . It’s had rave reviews so looking forward to reading that . 

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scott herbertson
Just now, JamesM48 said:

She sounds a nightmare . James mason was never one to gossip so I assume it must be true . Yes we have chatted before about our mutual love of the golden age of crime and you send me your website address . Can you resend it please ? One of my relatives is getting me the boom regarding Patricia Highsmith . It’s her diaries and notes . It’s had rave reviews so looking forward to reading that . 

 

 

Yes, I remember the conversation.

 

Just bought about 20 Highsmith first editions at an auction, some for my own collection. I was a great admirer of her books way back in the early 70s. A bookdealer friend of mine ran a shop in Soho called 'Murder One' and used to get visiting authors to sign their latest books which he would take orders for. He tipped me off that Highsmith was coming in (by letter, in those pre internet days). I posted him my best Highsmith first editions and she signed them, and he posted them back a few weeks later. Worth a fair bit now.

 

I've put a few of the Highsmiths from the latest auction lot up for sale recently  - https://www.hadwebutknown.com/?s=highsmith&post_type=product&type_aws=true&aws_id=1&aws_filter=1

 

But I kept the biographies  etc. Not her letters which have only just been published. I have duplicates of some of the biographies if you want a loan or if you are looking for any.


Scott

 

 

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Strangers.jpg

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17 minutes ago, scott herbertson said:

 

 

Yes, I remember the conversation.

 

Just bought about 20 Highsmith first editions at an auction, some for my own collection. I was a great admirer of her books way back in the early 70s. A bookdealer friend of mine ran a shop in Soho called 'Murder One' and used to get visiting authors to sign their latest books which he would take orders for. He tipped me off that Highsmith was coming in (by letter, in those pre internet days). I posted him my best Highsmith first editions and she signed them, and he posted them back a few weeks later. Worth a fair bit now.

 

I've put a few of the Highsmiths from the latest auction lot up for sale recently  - https://www.hadwebutknown.com/?s=highsmith&post_type=product&type_aws=true&aws_id=1&aws_filter=1

 

But I kept the biographies  etc. Not her letters which have only just been published. I have duplicates of some of the biographies if you want a loan or if you are looking for any.


Scott

 

 

 

IMG_0163.JPG

Strangers.jpg

Thanks . It’s a pity you don’t have the new diaries and notes book as I would have bought that or got my relative to ! As I like to support small businesses . I’ve not read all Highsmiths books as yet . Currently re reading “ people who knock on the door “ it’s just as good as I remember . She’s one of the only authors who’s books I have re read !i have re read the outstanding “ in cold blood “ by Truman Capote several times though . 

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Great that you have autographed books of hers . She really was an interesting person and extremely complicated . Heck’s looking forward to the diaries and notes as they are apparently quite candid and revealing . 

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scott herbertson
Just now, JamesM48 said:

Thanks . It’s a pity you don’t have the new diaries and notes book as I would have bought that or got my relative to ! As I like to support small businesses . I’ve not read all Highsmiths books as yet . Currently re reading “ people who knock on the door “ it’s just as good as I remember . She’s one of the only authors who’s books I have re read !i have re read the outstanding “ in cold blood “ by Truman Capote several times though . 

 

 

My favourite is Deep Water - a chilling book. Her short stories can be good too.

 

I'll have to buy her diaries myself though as usual I'll probably wait and try to pick up a copy cheap once its been around a few months (some people read stuff in the first burst of publicity, once and pass on to charity shops, so 6 months after publication some may pop up.) There was a good interview with the author on a radio 4 show (probably woman's hour at 9.30) recently.

 

 

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1 minute ago, scott herbertson said:

 

 

My favourite is Deep Water - a chilling book. Her short stories can be good too.

 

I'll have to buy her diaries myself though as usual I'll probably wait and try to pick up a copy cheap once its been around a few months (some people read stuff in the first burst of publicity, once and pass on to charity shops, so 6 months after publication some may pop up.) There was a good interview with the author on a radio 4 show (probably woman's hour at 9.30) recently.

 

 

I actually only really keep books I may re read again . I hate too much clutter . But I have kept most of Highsmiths books 📕 I’ll let you know how the diaries and notes is . 

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